India, April 7 -- LUCKNOW When the Central government scrapped the use of beacons for VIPs in 2017, it was hailed as the end of an era of entitlement. But the 'VIP culture' hasn't disappeared on the roads of Uttar Pradesh; it has merely evolved. In place of the red/blue lights, a new fleet of unauthorised symbols - multicolour lights, stiff flags, embroidered insignias and bold institutional labels - has emerged to assert authority.

Experts say that there is no provision under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, or the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, permitting the display of flags on vehicles. Yet, across the state, bureaucrats are increasingly using small, stiff red or blue flags mounted on the bonnet of official cars. These often carry ...