Learn Indian road signs and practise the DL test
A visual, plain-language guide to regulatory, warning and informatory signs—plus practice questions based on official learner-licence topics.
Three road-sign families to remember
Mandatory / regulatory
Tell you what you must or must not do. Disobeying them may be an offence.
Cautionary / warning
Warn of hazards or changes ahead so you can slow down and prepare.
Informatory
Guide you to destinations, facilities, routes and useful services.
Mandatory and regulatory signs
Red circles commonly prohibit or limit an action; blue circles commonly show a compulsory direction. STOP and GIVE WAY have distinctive shapes.
Come to a complete stop.
Yield to traffic with priority.
Do not enter from this direction.
No vehicles in the indicated class.
U-turn is prohibited.
Right turn is prohibited.
Left turn is prohibited.
Do not pass another vehicle.
Do not sound the horn.
Parking is prohibited.
Stopping is prohibited.
Do not exceed the shown speed.
Continue only in the shown direction.
Turn or keep left as shown.
Turn or keep right as shown.
Follow the circular direction.
Route reserved for cycles.
Vehicles above the shown load are barred.
Cautionary and warning signs
Most warning signs are red-bordered triangles. Reduce speed, scan ahead and be ready to respond.
Informatory signs
These signs help you find routes, destinations and roadside facilities.
Fast memory method
Shape first, colour second, symbol third. A red circle usually restricts; a red triangle warns; a blue circle commands; a blue or green rectangle guides. Then read the symbol for the exact instruction. Always obey the actual roadside sign even if its appearance varies slightly.
15-question learner’s licence practice test
Choose an answer before opening each question. Give yourself one point for every correct answer. This practice set covers common road-sign and road-safety topics; it is not the official exam.
1. What must you do at a STOP sign?
A) Slow only · B) Stop completely · C) Sound horn
2. A red-bordered triangle usually means:
A) Warning · B) Parking · C) Compulsory direction
3. A circular sign showing “50” means:
A) Minimum 50 · B) Maximum 50 · C) Route 50
4. At a GIVE WAY sign you should:
A) Accelerate · B) Yield priority · C) Park
5. A horn crossed by a red slash means:
A) Horn compulsory · B) Horn prohibited · C) Repair horn
6. A school-ahead sign requires you to:
A) Speed up · B) Slow and watch for children · C) Use high beam
7. Which vehicles should receive free passage in an emergency?
A) Ambulance and fire service · B) Private cars · C) Buses only
8. In India, a motor vehicle normally travels on:
A) Left side · B) Right side · C) Centre
9. A slippery-road warning means:
A) Brake sharply · B) Reduce speed and avoid sudden inputs · C) Overtake
10. A blue circular arrow pointing left means:
A) Left turn prohibited · B) Compulsory left · C) Parking left
11. Before an unmanned railway crossing, you should:
A) Rush across · B) Stop, look and listen · C) Follow the vehicle ahead blindly
12. A pedestrian-crossing warning tells a driver to:
A) Ignore pedestrians · B) Slow and yield as required · C) Park on crossing
13. A learner’s licence is generally valid for:
A) 30 days · B) 6 months · C) 5 years
14. When an official test question uses a sign image, first identify:
A) Vehicle colour · B) Sign shape and colour · C) Road name
15. Where should you check the current state-specific test process?
A) Random social post · B) State transport department / Sarathi · C) Unknown agent
How did you score?
13–15: strong start—review official material before the test. 10–12: revisit the sign families and retake. Below 10: study each category slowly, then try again. Actual pass rules and question counts can vary by jurisdiction.
Prepare for the official DL learner test
- Open the official Sarathi portal and select your state.
- Use your state’s learner-licence learning material or question bank.
- Study traffic signs, signals, rules of the road, accident duties, railway-crossing precautions and required documents.
- Practise recognising the sign before reading answer choices.
- On test day, read every option carefully and follow the instructions shown by the licensing authority.