By India Today Education Desk: Have you ever noticed the different-coloured number plates on vehicles in India and wondered what they meant? The colour of a vehicle’s number plate can provide important information about the owner and the intended use of the vehicle.
Here is what you need to know about the different types of number plates in India:
1. RED COLOUR NUMBER PLATE
This type of plate is reserved for the President of India and Governors of various states. The license number is replaced by the Emblem of India on these vehicles.
However, it is important to note that the number plate of the Prime Minister of India’s car is white, like a common man’s car.
2. BLUE COLOUR NUMBER PLATE
The blue number plate is assigned to vehicles used by foreign delegates or ambassadors. The number is written on this plate in white ink, and it uses the code of the diplomat’s country instead of the code of the state in India.
These types of plates are used by foreign embassies or diplomats.
3. WHITE COLOUR NUMBER PLATE
If the number is written with black ink on a white number plate, it means that the car belongs to a common citizen.
However, it cannot be used for commercial purposes, such as hiring passengers or freight.
4. YELLOW COLOUR NUMBER PLATE
If the number of a vehicle is written with black ink on a yellow plate, it is classified as a commercial vehicle.
These vehicles, such as trucks and taxis, can be used for carrying passengers or freight, and the drivers must have a commercial driving license.
5. MILITARY VEHICLES
Military vehicles follow a unique numbering system that uses 11 digits. The numbers are registered under the Ministry of Defence in New Delhi.
The first/third character is an upward-pointing arrow, known as a Broad Arrow, used in many parts of the British Commonwealth. The two digits succeeding the arrow show the year in which the Military procured the vehicle.
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The allocation of number plates in India is efficiently done by the government. Traffic police can easily recognise a vehicle’s intended use and owner based on its number plate alone.
This number system has been developed to run the country’s traffic administration properly. Remember to keep an eye out for these different-coloured number plates when driving on the road!