The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways on January 4, 2026 highlighted the Rah-Veer (Good Samaritan) initiative, which was notified under Section 134A of the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019. The scheme protects citizens who voluntarily help road accident victims during the Golden Hour — the first 60 minutes after a serious injury when timely medical care can prevent death or disability. Under the scheme, a Good Samaritan, known as a Rah-Veer, who takes a victim to a hospital within the Golden Hour is eligible for a monetary reward of ₹25,000 along with a Certificate of Appreciation from the government. The recognition can be availed up to five times a year for repeated acts of bravery. The legal framework guarantees that Rah-Veers face no civil or criminal liability when acting in good faith. They have the right to anonymity and cannot be compelled to disclose their name, address, or other personal details unless they voluntarily wish to become a witness. Hospitals are mandated to provide emergency care without demanding any payment from the Good Samaritan, and they must issue an acknowledgement to the helper. Police interaction is limited to a single voluntary statement at a time and place convenient to the Rah-Veer. The Ministry emphasised that a significant share of preventable road-accident deaths in India occurs due to bystander hesitation during the Golden Hour, with fears of legal hassles, police procedures, and hospital payment demands acting as the main barriers. The Rah-Veer initiative aims to overcome these concerns and convert ordinary citizens into life-savers on Indian roads, which witness one of the highest road-fatality burdens globally.