The process of getting a driving license in Uttar Pradesh may soon become much stricter.
The Yogi Adityanath government is planning major changes to ensure that only trained and qualified drivers receive licenses.
The move is aimed at reducing road accidents, many of which are caused by driver error.
Recently, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath chaired a road safety review meeting, where officials were directed to explore a system similar to the passport application process for issuing driving licenses.
Driving License Process May Soon Resemble Passport Verification
The government wants to make the driving license system more reliable and transparent.
Under the passport system, applicants undergo biometric verification and police verification, while the entire process is managed online.
A similar framework is already partially in place for driving licenses.
Applicants currently submit online applications and complete biometric verification at transport offices.
After receiving a learner’s license, they must pass a driving test before obtaining a permanent license.
The final driving license is issued only after the Regional Inspector (RI) submits a satisfactory report.
However, unlike passports, police verification is not currently required for driving licenses.
Officials are now studying whether a passport-style verification system can be introduced under the existing provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act.
Private Companies to Handle Driving Tests
Another significant change is related to driving tests.
At present, most of the driving license process is managed by a private company, while applicants visit transport offices only for biometric verification and testing.
The government has now handed over the management of driving tests to private entities.
In the future, applicants may need to visit designated private centers instead of transport offices to take their driving tests.
Authorities are reviewing the available infrastructure and legal provisions before implementing the proposed changes.
Contractual Employees’ Salaries to Be Paid Through Outsourcing Portal
In a separate development, the Power Corporation has instructed all electricity companies to release the June salaries of contractual employees through the outsourcing portal in July.
However, this decision has sparked concerns among employee representatives.
The Sangharsh Samiti has alleged that the move could pave the way for the removal of contractual workers.
According to the committee, the corporation should instead bring these employees under the state government’s outsourcing corporation framework.
Committee convener Shailendra Dubey stated that discrepancies between employee records on the portal and the workers currently employed could lead to salary delays, payment denials, or even termination of services for many contractual employees.
The issue has raised concerns among workers, who are now waiting for further clarification from the Power Corporation regarding the implementation of the new system.
