Sarathi Driving Licence Portal Explained
The Sarathi portal is India's official digital system for driving licence services, operated under the national Parivahan transport framework. While Parivahan manages transport databases and enforcement, Sarathi is the platform that citizens directly use for driving licence-related actions.
Sarathi is used for:
- Learning Licence (LL) applications
- Permanent Driving Licence (DL) issuance
- Driving test scheduling
- Licence renewal & duplication
- Status tracking and RTO coordination
Every online or offline DL application in India ultimately passes through Sarathi backend validation.
What Is Sarathi Portal?
Sarathi is the driving licence processing engine of India.
It handles citizen-facing workflows, while Parivahan controls:
- National DL database
- Traffic enforcement access
- Inter-state licence verification
👉 In simple words:
- Sarathi = Application & Test System
- Parivahan = Storage, Law & Enforcement System
Services Available on Sarathi Portal
Sarathi supports the complete driving licence lifecycle:
🔹 Learning Licence (LL)
- New learner licence application
- Online learning licence test
- LL download & validity tracking
âž¡ Related guide: Learning Driving Licence Rules.
🔹 Permanent Driving Licence (DL)
- Conversion from LL to DL
- Driving test appointment booking
- DL approval & dispatch
âž¡ Related guide: Permanent Licence Rules.
🔹 Licence Renewal & Duplicate DL
- Renewal before / after expiry
- Duplicate DL for lost or damaged licence
- Address & name correction processing
âž¡ Service links:
How Sarathi Works Step-by-Step
- Applicant submits request on Sarathi portal
- Documents verified digitally via Parivahan
- RTO assigns test or processing stage
- Test result uploaded by RTO examiner
- Licence approved and stored in Parivahan
- DL becomes available on DigiLocker & mParivahan
âž¡ Learn system flow: How Parivahan Works.
Sarathi + Parivahan + DigiLocker (How They Connect)
| Platform | Role |
|---|---|
| Sarathi | Application & test workflow |
| Parivahan | Central DL database & enforcement |
| DigiLocker | Legal digital DL storage |
| mParivahan | Police & citizen verification app |
This integration ensures:
- Fake licences are instantly detected
- Inter-state verification is automatic
- Digital DL is legally valid nationwide
âž¡ Digital DL guide: DigiLocker & Driving Licence.
How Traffic Police Use Sarathi Data
Traffic police do not access Sarathi directly, but:
- Sarathi updates Parivahan
- Parivahan syncs with mParivahan
- Police verify DL status in real time
This is why expired, suspended, or fake licences are detected instantly during checks.
âž¡ Related law: Driving Licence Laws in India.
Common Issues Users Face on Sarathi
- LL test not updating
- Driving test result pending
- Application stuck at RTO
- Incorrect DL details
- Delay in approval
âž¡ Problem-solving pages:
Is Sarathi Mandatory?
Yes.
Even offline RTO applications are uploaded into Sarathi.
No driving licence in India exists outside Sarathi + Parivahan systems.
Frequently Asked Questions
1.Is Sarathi a government portal?
Yes. It operates under the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH).
2.Can I apply without Sarathi?
No. All DL services are processed through Sarathi.
3.Is Sarathi different from Parivahan?
Yes. Sarathi handles applications; Parivahan stores and enforces data.
4.Is Sarathi data used by traffic police?
Indirectly, yes—through Parivahan and mParivahan integration.
Legal Disclaimer
This page is for informational purposes only. Procedures may change as per government notifications. Always verify with official RTO or transport authorities.