India’s Ministry of Communications (Department of Telecommunications) has released draft rules titled “Use of Short-Range Automotive Radar System in the 77 to 81 GHz Band (Exemption from Assignment Requirement) Rules, 2025.” These rules aim to facilitate advanced automotive safety technologies by exempting frequency assignment for radar systems under specific conditions.

Key Highlights

• Scope: Applies to short-range automotive radar systems operating in the 77–81 GHz frequency band.
• Exemption: No frequency assignment required for installing, maintaining, or operating such radar systems on a non-interference, non-protection, and shared (non-exclusive) basis.
• Technical Parameters:
  • Max Average EIRP: 50 dBm
  • Max Peak EIRP: 55 dBm
  • Emission Bandwidth: 4 GHz
  • Unwanted Emissions Limit: –32 dBm/MHz
• Operational Restriction: Use is limited to vehicles only, including cars, buses, trucks, motorcycles, ships, and even aircraft while taxiing.

Compliance and Safety

All equipment must be type-approved and conform to international or national standards such as ITU, ETSI, ANSI, BIS, TEC, and ICNIRP. Manufacturers must apply for type approval using the prescribed format provided in the annexure.

Interference Management

If harmful interference occurs with licensed systems, authorities may require users to relocate equipment, reduce power, or use special antennas. Failure to comply could lead to discontinuation of use.

Next Steps

The draft rules are open for public comments for 30 days from publication in the Official Gazette (November 26, 2025). Stakeholders can submit objections or suggestions to the Joint Secretary (Telecom), Department of Telecommunications.