Published: 17 February 2026PIB / DD News / NewsonAirGovernance
PM RAHAT Scheme Launched: Cashless Treatment Up to ₹1.5 Lakh for Road Accident Victims
AQuick answer
PM RAHAT scheme launched in February 2026 provides cashless treatment up to ₹1.5 lakh for 7 days to road accident victims at all designated hospitals, integrated with ERSS 112, funded via the Motor Vehicle Accident Fund — addressing India's 1.5 lakh annual road deaths.
Key facts
PM RAHAT (Prime Minister - Road Accident Victims' Hospitalisation and Assured Treatment) Scheme was launched in February 2026 to provide cashless emergency treatment to road accident victims.
Victims receive cashless treatment up to ₹1.5 lakh for 7 days at all designated government and empanelled private hospitals across India.
The scheme is integrated with Emergency Response Support System (ERSS) 112 for quick activation at the accident site.
Funding is through the Motor Vehicle Accident Fund (MVAF), established under the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019.
India reports approximately 1.5 lakh road accident deaths annually — one of the highest in the world — making this scheme a critical road safety intervention.
PM RAHAT complements the existing 'Golden Hour' concept in trauma care and is relevant for RPSC questions on social welfare schemes and road safety policy.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the PM RAHAT (Road Accident Victim Hospitalization and Assured Treatment) scheme in February 2026, providing every road accident victim with cashless treatment up to ₹1.5 lakh per victim for up to 7 days from the date of accident. The scheme covers trauma care, surgery, and stabilisation at designated hospitals across all categories of roads — national highways, state highways, and urban roads.
The scheme is integrated with the Emergency Response Support System (ERSS) 112 helpline, enabling victims, Rah-Veers (Good Samaritans), or bystanders to call 112 and receive details of the nearest designated hospital. The technology backend combines the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways' Electronic Detailed Accident Report (eDAR) system with the National Health Authority's Transaction Management System (TMS 2.0) to enable end-to-end digital processing from accident reporting to hospital reimbursement. Funding flows through the Motor Vehicle Accident Fund (MVAF): insured vehicle accidents are covered by general insurers while uninsured and hit-and-run cases are funded by the Union government. India records approximately 1.5 lakh road accident deaths annually — the highest in the world — making PM RAHAT a critical public health and road safety intervention. For Rajasthan, one of India's highest road accident states due to its vast highway network and desert terrain, the scheme is expected to significantly improve Golden Hour survival outcomes.
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Mains angle
Q: Evaluate the PM RAHAT scheme launched in February 2026 as a public health intervention for road accident victims, and explain its funding architecture and technological backbone.
Answer (50 words):
PM RAHAT provides cashless treatment up to ₹1.5 lakh per victim for seven days at designated hospitals on national, state and urban roads. Integrated with ERSS 112 helpline and eDAR-TMS 2.0 backend, it is funded through the Motor Vehicle Accident Fund, addressing India's annual 1.5 lakh road-accident deaths.
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Linked questionEasy
What is the PM RAHAT scheme primarily about?
Explanation · Correct answer B
PM RAHAT provides cashless treatment support for road accident victims. The treatment cover is up to Rs 1.5 lakh per victim, subject to a maximum period of 7 days from the date of accident.
What is the PM RAHAT scheme and when was it launched?
PM RAHAT (Prime Minister - Road Accident Victims' Hospitalisation and Assured Treatment) is a Central Government scheme launched in February 2026 to provide cashless emergency medical treatment to road accident victims across India. It aims to address India's high road accident fatality rate, which stands at approximately 1.5 lakh deaths annually.
What is the coverage amount and duration of cashless treatment under PM RAHAT?
Under PM RAHAT, road accident victims can receive cashless treatment of up to ₹1.5 lakh for a period of 7 days from the date of the accident. This treatment is available at all designated government hospitals and empanelled private hospitals across India.
How is PM RAHAT integrated with emergency response systems?
PM RAHAT is integrated with the Emergency Response Support System (ERSS) 112, the national emergency helpline, to enable quick activation of the scheme at the accident site. This integration ensures faster response and reduces delays in providing critical medical care during the Golden Hour.
How is the PM RAHAT scheme funded?
The PM RAHAT scheme is funded through the Motor Vehicle Accident Fund (MVAF), which was established under the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019. The MVAF is a dedicated corpus to provide compensation and medical assistance to road accident victims in India.
What is the 'Golden Hour' concept and how does PM RAHAT relate to it?
The Golden Hour refers to the first hour after a traumatic injury, during which prompt medical treatment significantly increases the chances of survival. PM RAHAT complements this concept by ensuring that accident victims receive immediate cashless medical care without administrative delays, improving survival outcomes.
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