National Road Safety Board (NRSB): Functions, Objectives & Road Safety

Subject: GS 2: Polity & Governance

Context: The Central Government has constituted the National Road Safety Board (NRSB) under Section 215B of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, amid rising road accident fatalities. 

• According to the Road Accidents in India 2024 report of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), 1,77,175 people lost their lives in road accidents in 2024, the highest number recorded so far.

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About the National Road Safety Board (NRSB)

• Constitution: The National Road Safety Board (NRSB) is a statutory advisory body constituted under Section 215B of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, inserted through the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019.
• Composition: The Board comprises experts and representatives from the Central and State Governments with expertise in road engineering, vehicle safety, traffic management, law enforcement, and public health.
• Objective: To advise governments on measures to improve road safety, reduce road crashes, and strengthen road safety governance.

Mandate of the Board

• Advises the Central and State Governments on road safety matters.
• Comprises a mix of technical experts and government officials.
• Positioned as a coordinating and advisory body rather than a regulator with enforcement powers.

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Associated Constitutional and Legal Provisions

• Constitutional Provisions:
  • Article 21: The Right to Life includes the right to safe roads and safe mobility, as recognised through judicial interpretation.
  • Article 38: Directs the State to promote the welfare of people by securing a social order based on justice.
  • Article 47: Mandates the State to improve public health, which includes preventing deaths and injuries caused by road accidents.
  • Seventh Schedule: Road transport and traffic involve shared responsibilities of the Union and the States, requiring cooperative federalism for effective road safety governance.
• Legal Provisions:
  • Motor Vehicles Act, 1988: Provides the legal framework for road transport, licensing, vehicle registration, road safety, and traffic regulation.
  • Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019: Introduced Section 215B, enabling the establishment of the National Road Safety Board and strengthened penalties for traffic violations.
  • Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989: Prescribe standards relating to vehicle safety, registration, licensing, and emission norms.

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