IRF Seeks Helmet Tax Exemption to Make Safer Gear Affordable for Riders

September 18, 2025: Road accidents involving two-wheelers have surged year-on-year across India. Despite knowing the consequences, a majority of two-wheeler riders do not wear helmets. As a measure to control the growing number of fatalities, the International Road Federation (IRF) has requested the central government to revise the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on helmets. The proposition is to slash it from the current 18% to zero. If approved, it will increase the affordability factor and possibly reduce the fatalities among two-wheeler riders, a group highly vulnerable to road accidents.

Helmet Usage and Fatalities

In 2023, two-wheelers accounted for nearly 45% of deaths (77,539) due to road accidents, which is an alarming figure as per data from the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH). About 50.000 of these riders died because they weren’t wearing helmets. One stark observation in the report was that even today, helmet usage, mostly among lower and middle-lower-income groups, remains low. On the other hand, even those who do buy usually opt for cheaper and substandard helmets that fail to offer adequate protection.

IRF’s Proposal Details

IRF president emeritus K. K. Kapila has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asking for helmets to be classified as essential safety gear and for GST to be reduced to “nil”. The aim is to discourage the sale of inferior helmets and encourage wider use of quality gear among all riders. Kapila emphasises that many helmets in the current market do not meet safety standards.

Economic and Safety Implications

IRF argues that eliminating GST on helmets will make certified helmets affordable for more people. This could help reduce the burden of head injuries in road accidents. The proposal also points out that two-wheelers are involved in a disproportionately high share of road deaths and that affordable safety gear is a key factor in preventing fatalities.

Current Policy Context

Helmets are required under the Motor Vehicles Act and must comply with Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) specifications. However, despite the law, enforcement remains uneven, and many casualties among riders are attributed to non-use of helmets or use of non-standard helmets. The IRF’s recommendation for tax exemption comes amid rising concern over road safety and growing calls for reforms in vehicular safety policy.

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