Exemption Rules for Short-Range Automotive Radar Systems (77-81 GHz)

The Ministry of Communications (Department of Telecommunications) in India has established the "Use of Short-Range Automotive Radar System in the 77-81 GHz band (Exemption from Licensing Requirements) Rules, 2026." These rules provide a framework for the license-exempt operation of specific automotive radar equipment within the designated frequency range.

Scope and Application

The regulation applies to Short-Range Automotive Radar Systems, defined as radio equipment installed on a vehicle for radiolocation purposes. The definition of "vehicles" is broad and includes:

• Passenger cars, buses, and trucks.
• Aircraft while taxiing on the ground.
• Railroad locomotives, train cars, monorails, or trams.
• Construction vehicles, motorcycles, and scooters.
• Boats or ships operated within India's territorial waters.

Technical Specifications and Parameters

To qualify for license exemption, devices must operate on a non-interference, non-protection, and non-exclusive basis and strictly adhere to the following technical parameters:

• Frequency Band: 77-81 GHz.
• Maximum Average Equivalent Isotropic Radiated Power (EIRP): 50 dBm (measured over a 1 MHz resolution bandwidth using an average detector and integrated over the total emission bandwidth).
• Maximum Peak Equivalent Isotropic Radiated Power (EIRP): 55 dBm (measured over a 1 MHz resolution bandwidth using a peak detector over the entire emission bandwidth).
• Maximum Emission Bandwidth: 4 GHz.
• Maximum Unwanted Emissions Limit: -30 dBm/MHz.

Regulatory Requirements and Licensing Exemptions

The establishment, maintenance, and operation of these systems are permitted without the assignment of a specific radio frequency. Furthermore, no license is required for the possession, sale, or hire of such systems, provided they meet the technical requirements. However, the government reserves the right to direct users to take corrective measures—such as relocating equipment, reducing power, or changing antenna types—if the device causes harmful interference to licensed radio systems.

Type Approval and Conformity Assessment

Manufacturers and importers must ensure equipment conforms to specific standards and approval procedures:

• Standards: Equipment must comply with standards notified by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) or the Central Government. In the absence of local standards, relevant international standards (such as those from ITU, ETSI, or ANSI) apply.
• Equipment Type Approval (ETA): Permission must be sought for each equipment type by submitting an application through the official government portal.
• Exemption from Application: An application is not required if approval for a similar equipment type has previously been accorded and published on the official portal.
• Application Details: The approval process requires comprehensive technical data, including transmitter details (frequency range, stability, spurious radiations, modulation type) and receiver details (sensitivity, selectivity, noise temperature).

Commercialization and Labeling

While the regulation focuses on the exemption from individual operating licenses, commercialization is contingent upon the equipment being type-approved and its details being published on the government's specified portal. The application for approval includes identifying information such as the manufacturer's name, the Indian agency (if applicable), and product identification (model number).

Effective Date

These rules came into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette (June 11, 2026).