India has removed the licence requirement for automotive radar sensors, a move expected to accelerate the adoption of advanced vehicle safety technologies and autonomous driving features across the country.

The decision was announced through a government notice issued on Thursday. Under the new policy, radar sensors operating in the 77GHz to 81GHz frequency band will no longer require a separate licence. As a result, automakers can deploy the technology without obtaining individual airwave assignments from the government.

The move comes as India continues to face significant road safety challenges. According to the latest official figures, the country recorded more than 177,000 deaths in nearly half a million road accidents in 2024, making its roads among the deadliest in the world.

Industry players are expected to benefit from the policy change. Major automakers including Maruti Suzuki, Tata Motors and Mahindra & Mahindra can now more easily integrate automotive radar sensors into their vehicles. In addition, global suppliers such as Bosch and Continental are also likely to gain from increased demand for radar-based safety systems.

Radar sensors play a critical role in modern vehicle safety technologies. They help vehicles detect surrounding objects, maintain safe distances and support features such as emergency braking, adaptive cruise control and blind spot warnings. Furthermore, these systems serve as a foundation for higher levels of autonomous driving.

The regulatory update also aligns India with international standards. The United States, the European Union and global telecommunications standards already designate the 77GHz to 81GHz spectrum range for vehicle radar applications.

Consequently, automakers and technology suppliers can now use the same hardware platforms globally instead of developing India-specific versions. This could reduce costs, simplify deployment and encourage wider adoption of automotive radar sensors in the country’s growing automotive market.

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