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Road Signs in India: Mandatory, Cautionary and Informatory
Indian road signs come in three types, and the shape tells you which. Circles are mandatory: a red ring forbids something and a blue circle orders something. Triangles with a red border warn you of a hazard ahead. Rectangles, usually blue or green, give information such as directions and facilities. STOP (a red octagon) and Give Way (a triangle pointing down) have their own shapes.
- Circle
- Mandatory
- Triangle
- Cautionary (warning)
- Rectangle
- Informatory
- Octagon
- STOP
- Practise
- Mock test with signs
On this page
What are the three types of road sign?
| Type | Shape and colour | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Mandatory (regulatory) | Circle. Red ring = prohibition; blue circle = compulsory. Plus STOP (octagon) and Give Way (triangle pointing down) | Gives an order you must obey |
| Cautionary (warning) | Triangle pointing up, red border, white inside, black symbol | Warns of a hazard ahead |
| Informatory | Rectangle, usually blue or green | Gives directions, distances and facilities |
How do you read a road sign quickly?
YouSign typeDecision
- Look at the shape first, then the colour, then the symbol
- Is it a circle?No: a triangle warns; a rectangle informs
- Red ring: something is prohibited. Blue circle: something is compulsory
- Obey it until a new sign or a "restriction ends" sign
What do the mandatory signs mean?
Prohibitory signs, STOP and Give Way
Other prohibitory signs in the official lists include one way, all motor vehicles prohibited, trucks prohibited, pedestrians prohibited, overtaking prohibited, and width, height, length and load limits.
Compulsory signs
Other compulsory signs include turn left, turn right, ahead or turn left, ahead or turn right, compulsory cycle track and minimum speed.
What do the cautionary signs warn of?
Other warning signs include right and left bends, hairpin and reverse bends, steep descent, narrow road, road widens, loose gravel, hump or rough road, dangerous dip, speed breaker, cycle crossing, school ahead, men at work, cattle, falling rocks, ferry, cross road and side roads. When you see one, slow down and be ready to act.
What do the informatory signs tell you?
- Facilities: fuel, hospital, first aid, eating place, light refreshment, resting place, repair, police station, bus stop, railway station.
- Parking and stands: parking this side or both sides, scooter and motorcycle parking, cycle stand, taxi and auto-rickshaw stands.
- Directions: advance direction signs, destination and distance signs, confirmatory signs, and place names.
Which signs do people often get wrong?
| Mistake | What it really means |
|---|---|
| "A blue circle is just information" | A blue circle is compulsory. Blue rectangles are information. |
| "No parking means I can't stop at all" | One red bar allows a brief stop to get in or out; two crossed bars mean no stopping at all. |
| "A speed limit lasts only a short distance" | It applies until another limit sign or a restriction-ends sign. |
| "Give Way means stop" | Slow down and give way; stop only if traffic is coming. STOP means stop every time. |
Road markings and traffic lights are explained in road markings and signals. Test yourself with the mock test.
Frequently asked questions
What are the three types of road signs in India?
Mandatory signs (circles), cautionary signs (triangles) and informatory signs (rectangles).
What does a blue circular sign mean?
It is a compulsory instruction, such as keep left or ahead only.
What is the difference between No Parking and No Stopping?
One red bar is no parking (a brief stop to get in or out is allowed). Two crossed red bars mean no stopping or standing at all.
What does a red triangle mean?
A warning of a hazard ahead, such as a bend, school or pedestrian crossing.
What should I do at a STOP sign?
Stop at the stop line, or at the sign if there is no line, give way to traffic on the main road, and go only when it is clear.
Sources
- Howrah Rural Police (Government of West Bengal) – traffic signs and symbols (accessed 25 Oct 2026)
- Delhi Traffic Police – road signs and Uttarakhand Transport – 80 road signs (accessed 25 Oct 2026)
- Mira-Bhayandar Vasai-Virar Police – traffic signs: sign shapes (accessed 25 Oct 2026)
- Motor Vehicles (Driving) Regulations, 2017 (G.S.R. 634(E)), as reproduced in Kerala Police circular 15/2018: STOP, Give Way, duty to know signs (accessed 25 Oct 2026)
Sign drawings on this page are simplified illustrations of the official shapes and colours. Page history: 25 Oct 2026: first published. 25 Oct 2026: sources limited to government websites.