Last updated: 6 October 2026
Quick Answer: Road signs in India fall into three groups: mandatory, cautionary and informatory. Mandatory signs are circular, except Stop and Give Way, and must be obeyed; cautionary signs are red-bordered triangles warning of a hazard ahead, and informatory signs are rectangles giving directions and facilities. All three follow one national standard, IRC:67, and road markings carry their own rules.
On an unfamiliar road, and in the learner's licence test, the shape of a sign tells you most of what you need before you read the symbol inside it. Traffic signs in India follow one national standard, the Indian Roads Congress Code of Practice for Road Signs (IRC:67).
What are the three types of road signs in India?
Road signs in India are grouped into mandatory, cautionary and informatory signs. The shape identifies the group, and the colour tells you whether the sign forbids something, orders it, or simply informs you.
| Type | Shape | Colour | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mandatory (regulatory) | Circular, except Stop and Give Way | Red ring to forbid, blue circle to order | An order you must obey |
| Cautionary (warning) | Triangular | Red border, black symbol on white | A hazard ahead |
| Informatory (guide) | Square or rectangular | Varies by road category | Direction, destination, facilities |
State traffic police publish the same three groups. The Delhi Traffic Police road signs chart prints the traffic signs and meanings for all three on one page.
What do mandatory road signs mean?
Mandatory signs give orders. They are enforceable under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, and ignoring one can bring a penalty. The group splits in two: signs that forbid, and signs that instruct.
Which signs tell you what you must not do?
These are the prohibitory signs. Look for a red circular ring, usually with a diagonal bar, and a black symbol on white.
| Sign | What it means |
|---|---|
| No Entry | No traffic may enter the road ahead |
| One Way | Entry against the flow is restricted |
| Right Turn Prohibited | You may not turn right |
| U-Turn Prohibited | You may not take a U-turn here |
| Overtaking Prohibited | You may not pass another vehicle |
| Horn Prohibited | A silence zone, so no honking |
| No Parking, No Stopping | You may not park, or not even wait |
| Speed Limit | The maximum speed for the road ahead |
| Truck Prohibited, Cycle Prohibited | No entry for that vehicle |
Which signs tell you what you must do?
These are the compulsory signs. They are circular too, but they carry a white symbol on a blue background, and that colour is the quickest way to tell them from a prohibition.
| Sign | What it means |
|---|---|
| Compulsory Keep Left | Drive in the left lane |
| Compulsory Ahead Only | Go straight, no turning |
| Compulsory Turn Left / Turn Right | Take the turn shown |
| Compulsory Cycle Track | The track is for cycles only |
| Compulsory Sound Horn | Sounding the horn is compulsory |
| Restriction Ends | The earlier restriction no longer applies |
Why are Stop and Give Way shaped differently?
Because they are the only two mandatory signs that are not circular, so they stay recognisable at a distance.
- Stop is an octagon, used where traffic must halt before entering a major road or intersection.
- Give Way is a downward-pointing triangle, telling you to let traffic with right of way go first.
What do cautionary road signs mean?
Cautionary signs warn you of a hazard or an unusual road condition ahead, in time to slow down. These are the road safety signs you meet most often outside cities.
| Sign | What to expect | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Right / Left Hand Curve | The road bends | Slow before the bend |
| Hair Pin Bend | A very sharp bend | Drop speed, hold your lane |
| Steep Ascent / Descent | A sharp climb or drop | Change down early |
| Narrow Bridge | Bridge narrower than the road | Let oncoming traffic clear |
| School Ahead | Children nearby | Slow down, watch for pedestrians |
| Pedestrian Crossing | A zebra crossing ahead | Be ready to give way |
| Speed Breaker | A hump on the road | Slow down before it |
| Slippery Road | The surface loses grip | Brake early and gently |
| Cattle, Men at Work | Animals or roadworks | Slow down |
| Unguarded Railway Crossing | A level crossing, no gate | Check the track both ways |
What do informatory road signs mean?
Informatory signs give information rather than an order: direction, distance, destination and roadside facilities. They are square or rectangular, and they are what you navigate by.
| Sign | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| Advance Direction Sign | The junction layout before you reach it |
| Destination Sign | Direction and distance to places on that road |
| Re-Assurance Sign | Confirms you are on the right road |
| Hospital, First-Aid Post | Medical help nearby |
| Petrol Pump, Eating Place, Resting Place | That facility is nearby |
| Park This Side, Taxi Stand, Cycle Stand | Where you, or that vehicle, may park |
| No Thorough Road | The road ahead has no exit |
| Flood Gauge | The water level, and the danger level |
What do road markings and lane lines mean?
Road markings are every line, pattern, word and colour painted on the road surface or kerb, and they regulate traffic exactly as a sign does. The Delhi Traffic Police guide to road markings sets out the meanings below.
| Marking | What it means |
|---|---|
| Broken white centre line | Overtake across it only when the far side is clear |
| Double white or yellow lines | No overtaking, no crossing, no U-turn |
| Small broken white lines | Lane dividers, so keep between them |
| Single yellow or white edge line | No parking, though you may stop |
| Double yellow or white edge lines | Neither parking nor stopping allowed |
| Stop line | Stop behind this solid line on red |
| Zebra crossing | Stop and give way to pedestrians |
| Yellow box junction | Enter only with clear space ahead |
What are the common mistakes people make with road signs?
Three mix-ups trip up most learners:
- Treating Give Way as Stop. Give Way asks you to yield; only Stop requires you to halt.
- Confusing the Pedestrian Crossing sign with the crossing itself. The triangle warns a crossing is coming; the painted stripes are where pedestrians have right of way.
- Crossing a double line to overtake. A broken centre line allows it when the far side is clear. Double lines do not.
Which road signs come up in the learner's licence test?
All three groups, plus the markings. Rule 11 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 makes the test a check of your knowledge of traffic signs, traffic signals and the rules of the road. Nothing above is off the syllabus.
To apply for a driving licence online in India, start on the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways' Sarathi driving licence portal, choose your state, and file the learner's licence application first. Our application guide covers the documents and slot booking.
Our learner's licence test questions and answers page carries the practice question bank. The RTO practical driving test then checks whether you obey these signs on the road.
Rather not deal with the portal? Jaagruk Bharat's team can help you apply for a learner's licence with document checks and slot booking. The licence is always issued by your RTO.
