Vehicle beacon lights in India

In the Republic of India, the number of beacon vehicles, as per norms, at any given time should not exceed 50 in the center or in the state government.

Law, policy and rule
The list of people entitled to the colours is detailed by the central government and the state government. The law which governs the beacon and its colors is stated in rule 108 clause III of Central Motor Vehicles Rules of 1989.

Code law for beacons
In pursuance of powers under clause (iii) of proviso to rule 108 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules 1989, the Central Government has, vide Notification No. 52 (E) dated 11–01–2002 of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways specified what a vehicle carrying the following high dignitaries shall be permitted to use.

With flasher

 * President
 * Vice-President
 * Chief Justice of India
 * Prime Minister
 * Deputy Prime Minister
 * Justices of the Supreme Court
 * Speaker of the Lok Sabha
 * Cabinet Ministers of the Union
 * Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission
 * Leaders of the opposition in the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha
 * Chief Justices of High Courts Within & Outside their respective jurisdictions
 * Justices of High Courts Within & outside their respective jurisdictions
 * Governors of States within and outside their respective States.
 * Lt. Governors of Union Territories within their respective Territories.
 * Chief Ministers of States Within and outside their respective States.
 * Cabinet Ministers of states Within their respective States.
 * Chairman, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Commission

Without flasher

 * Chief Election Commissioner
 * Comptroller and Auditor General of India
 * Deputy Chairman, Rajya Sabha
 * Deputy Speaker, Lok Sabha
 * Ministers of the State of the Union
 * Members of the Planning Commission
 * CBDT Chairman
 * Attorney General of India
 * Cabinet Secretary
 * Chief Commissioner of Income Tax
 * Chiefs of Staff of the three services holding the rank of full General or equivalent rank
 * Deputy Ministers of the Union
 * Officiating Chiefs of Staff of the three services holding the rank of Lt. General or equivalent rank

Amber beacon

 * Chief Secretary
 * Commissioner of Income Tax
 * Additional Commissioner of Income Tax
 * Director General of Police
 * District Magistrate

Blue beacon

 * Police vehicles
 * Ambulances

Criticism
On August 5, 2013, theSupreme Court of India while hearing cases related to unauthorized use of sirens and beacons, came down heavily on the use of red beacons by VIPs. The court has asked all state governments to review the security given to VIPs.The apex court also said that the use of red beacons by authorities is reminiscent of British Raj. The court stated that a regular review should be done by a committee headed by a High Court judge.The court also added that it  not satisfied with the definition of high dignitaries who are permitted to use beacons and hooters. While three color codes - red for VIPs and security personnel;  blue  for ambulances, yellow and amber for internationally recognized aviation colors, West Bengal government wants to change the color of the beacons to green.