1. In order to usher in transparency and e-governance through induction of IT in Transport Sector, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, in consultation with National Informatics Centre (NIC), State/UT Governments and Smart Card Industry, have developed a standardized software.

1. The software has been made available to States and UTs free of cost.
2. The software covers both back-end automation of RTOs and front-end computerization to enable issue of:

1. Smart Card based driving licenses,

        ii.    Registration Certificates/permits for transport vehicles.

c.    Under an MOU, National Informatics Centre has been remitted to oversee smooth implementation of the programme through out the country.

1. Smart Card was defined in the Gazette Notification No. G.S.R. 400 (E), dated 31^st May, 2002.
2. This Gazette Notification also empowered the States to prescribe the date of introduction of Smart Card based documents. 
3. Further, precise specifications to be adopted for smart cards, hand held terminals, printers and smart card readers were also circulated to all States/UTs.
4. By a recent Gazette Notification No. G.S.R. 513(E) issued on 10-08-2004, these specifications have been embodied in the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 to ensure their uniform applicability throughout the country.
5. The Notification lays down the specifications for the microprocessor chip based smart card of minimum 4KB memory capacity which must conform to specifications of International Organization for Standardization (ISO)/International Electro Technical Commission (IEC).
6. The note to the Notification clarifies that the microprocessor chip of the smart card shall contain the information prescribed under Central Motor Vehicles Rules and shall not contain any other information not prescribed.   
7. In case the States / Union Territories require extra information to be stored, they may use any other additional information storage media or technological media, outside the microprocessor chip embodied in the smart card so long as such media do not conflict with the prescribed smart card or its operation.
8. The symmetric key infrastructure for both Smart Card based driving license and Registration Certificate have established at the Central level. State level operations are being commenced by Governments of Delhi, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Tripura and West Bengal. Several other States are in various stages of progress on this account.