New Delhi, Jan. 17 -- Passenger vehicles sold in India will face stricter fuel efficiency testing from October 1, 2026, with the Union road transport ministry proposing mandatory measurement of mileage with air conditioning switched on - a move expected to bridge the gap between advertised figures and real-world driving conditions. A draft amendment to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules proposes that fuel consumption testing for all M1 category (passenger) vehicles manufactured or imported in India be conducted under the new AIS-213 standard, which mandates AC operation during testing. The change is expected to yield more realistic fuel efficiency figures for consumers while tightening compliance requirements for manufacturers. The draft rules are open to public objections and suggestions for 30 days.Separately, the ministry has proposed upgrading vehicle safety assessment protocols under Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (Bharat NCAP) 2, with revised standards taking effect from October 1, 2027.P6...