India’s Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has notified the Use of Short-Range Automotive Radar System in the 77-81 GHz Band (Exemption from Licensing Requirements) Rules, 2026, published as G.S.R. 468(E) on June 11, 2026. The rules exempt 77-81 GHz automotive radar equipment from frequency licensing under the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 and the Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1933. They establish technical operating parameters, an equipment type approval process, and a framework for resolving interference with licensed spectrum users. The notification gives manufacturers of automotive radar systems a clear regulatory pathway to market in India.
What Are Short-Range Automotive Radar Systems (SRARS)?
The rules define a Short-Range Automotive Radar System as radio equipment operating in the 77-81 GHz band that is installed on a vehicle for radiolocation purposes, typically supporting functions such as collision detection and driver assistance. This frequency band sits within the millimeter-wave range used internationally for automotive radar applications.
License Exemption Conditions: Non-Interference and Non-Protected Basis
Under the new rules, the establishment, maintenance, and operation of SRARS equipment is exempt from radio frequency assignment, provided it operates on a non-interference, non-protection, and non-exclusive basis. No license is required for the possession, sale, or hire of qualifying SRARS equipment, removing a regulatory barrier that previously applied to automotive radar devices operating in this band.
Technical Parameters for 77-81 GHz Automotive Radar Equipment
The rules set specific technical limits that SRARS equipment must meet: a maximum average EIRP of 50 dBm, a maximum peak EIRP of 55 dBm, a maximum emission bandwidth of 4 GHz, and a maximum unwanted emissions limit of -30 dBm/MHz. Equipment must conform to standards published by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) or notified by the Central Government, and where no such domestic standard exists, equipment may instead conform to relevant international standards from bodies including the ITU, ETSI, ANSI, and ICNIRP.
Equipment Type Approval Requirements Through the DoT Portal
SRARS equipment must obtain equipment type approval through an application submitted on a DoT-specified portal, which requires technical specifications for both the transmitter and receiver components. Type approval is not required if a prior approval already exists and has been published for the same equipment type, allowing subsequent importers or manufacturers of identical equipment to rely on existing approvals rather than repeating the process.
The rules include a mechanism to protect licensed spectrum users from harmful interference caused by exempted SRARS equipment. Licensed users experiencing interference can prompt directives requiring SRARS operators to take corrective action, such as relocating equipment, reducing transmission power, or using specified antenna types, reinforcing that the license exemption does not override the operating rights of licensed spectrum holders.
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Quick Country Facts
India
Certification Body: Ministry of IT and Communications, Wireless Planning & Coordination Wing
Certification Type: Mandatory
License Validity: Indefinite
Application Language: English
Legal License Holder: Local Representative
In-Country Testing Requirement: Testing Not Required
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