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Colour Blindness and the Indian Driving Licence: What to Know

  • Colour vision is one of the items checked during the Form 1A medical examination for an Indian driving licence. The concern is practical: traffic signals, brake lights, and road signs use red, amber, and green, so a driver must reliably distinguish those colours.

  • This page explains how colour vision is typically tested, what types of colour vision deficiency tend to matter, and what your options are if you know you have a colour vision issue.

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Quick facts

  • Colour vision is tested during the Form 1A medical exam, commonly using Ishihara pseudoisochromatic plates.
  • The most common form of colour vision deficiency (CVD) is red-green CVD, which is what matters most for driving safety.
  • The 2020 MoRTH amendment enables people with mild to medium colour blindness to obtain driving licences, subject to the required examination and applicable rules.
  • The current Form 1A asks the examiner to test colour vision using a standard Ishihara chart and record whether severe or total colour blindness is present. Discuss the result and licence category with the authorized examiner.
  • If you fail the in-person colour vision test, the medical practitioner records this on Form 1A, you cannot bypass it through an online-only workflow for the impacted categories.

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Open the Form 1A hub to see your state's process and what to do next.

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Prefer clarity before you pay?

Read the steps + FAQs below. Written for patients, not policy documents.

Types we support

Choose the closest match so the certificate format and wording fit your use case.

Most colour vision testing during Form 1A is done using Ishihara plates: a series of dotted images where a number or path is visible only if your colour vision is normal.

Clear guidance and an application flow designed for real-world acceptance.

If the doctor sees results that suggest CVD, they may attempt confirmatory testing or note the finding and refer you for an ophthalmologist evaluation before issuing the medical certificate.

Clear guidance and an application flow designed for real-world acceptance.

If you already know you have CVD (many people are diagnosed in childhood school screenings), tell the doctor up front. It does not automatically mean a 'fail' for non-transport categories, but the assessment will be more thorough.

Clear guidance and an application flow designed for real-world acceptance.

How it works

A simple flow that feels like a modern healthcare app, not a confusing form.

1

During Form 1A, the doctor performs the colour vision check along with the rest of the eye examination (visual acuity, gross field of vision, etc.).

Pick the right option so the certificate matches what your HR/college expects.

2

If your colour vision is found to be impaired, the doctor uses clinical judgement based on severity, the licence category you've applied for, and the relevant Motor Vehicles rules in your state.

Follow the next step and submit complete details to avoid delays.

3

If you suspect or have a confirmed diagnosis of CVD, consider an ophthalmologist evaluation before the Form 1A appointment so you have the relevant report in hand.

Follow the next step and submit complete details to avoid delays.

Trust, legitimacy & privacy

Clear answers to the questions people have before paying.

Driving safety, not labels

Colour vision testing exists because traffic signals depend on it. The goal is safety, not gatekeeping.

Severity matters

The 2020 MoRTH amendment enables people with mild to medium colour blindness to obtain driving licences, subject to the required examination and applicable rules.

Be transparent with the doctor

Telling the doctor you have known CVD before the exam ensures the right tests are done and the form is filled correctly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Written in plain language to reduce doubts.

Will colour blindness automatically fail my driving licence?
Not automatically. The outcome depends on the severity of the colour vision deficiency, the category of licence (private vs transport), and the doctor's clinical judgement based on Motor Vehicles rules.
What test is used to check colour vision in Form 1A?
Most commonly the Ishihara plate test, sometimes supplemented by other clinical assessments if findings are unclear. The exact protocol depends on the medical practitioner.
Can I get a transport / commercial licence if I have red-green CVD?
The current Form 1A asks the examiner to test colour vision using a standard Ishihara chart and record whether severe or total colour blindness is present. Discuss the result and licence category with the authorized examiner.
Is there an online way to do the Form 1A colour vision test?
Online colour vision tools can be useful for self-screening, but the colour vision check that goes on Form 1A must be performed by the medical practitioner during the in-person examination.
What if I disagree with the doctor's colour vision finding?
You can seek a second clinical opinion from an ophthalmologist and bring that report to a fresh Form 1A appointment. The final decision still rests with the medical practitioner who signs the form.

Explore PingMeDoc

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Official Parivahan Form 1A and examination requirementsForm 1A guidance hubEye test & vision requirements for DLForm 1A for transport / commercial licenceOnline colour vision self-check tool

Start your Form 1A application

Open the Form 1A hub to see your state's process and what to do next.

Open Form 1A Hub