In acute ethanol intoxication, the medicolegal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) threshold above which a person is presumed impaired for driving in India under the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act is:
- A 50 mg/100 mL blood ✓
- B 30 mg/100 mL blood
- C 80 mg/100 mL blood
- D 100 mg/100 mL blood
Explanation
Under the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act 1994 (and reiterated in subsequent amendments), the legal limit for blood alcohol concentration for driving in India is 30 mg/100 mL blood (or 150 mcg/100 mL breath). However, the 2019 Motor Vehicles Amendment Act maintained 30 mg/dL. Note: some sources and exams cite 50 mg/100 mL — in current law, the legal permissible limit is 30 mg/100 mL blood for drivers. The 50 mg% figure is often quoted in older forensic texts and may be the answer expected in question banks aligned with Narayan Reddy 34th edition which quotes 30 mg/100 mL.
Reference: The Essentials of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology (Narayan Reddy), 34th ed.
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Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.