**Executive Summary**
This document is a statement from the Minister of Road Transport and Highways answering questions raised in Lok Sabha regarding the Cashless Treatment for Road Accident Victims Scheme, 2025. The scheme, notified on May 5, 2025, provides cashless treatment to road accident victims. Comprehensive guidelines and SOPs for implementation were issued on June 4, 2025.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Scheme Overview**
* The Cashless Treatment for Road Accident Victims Scheme, 2025, has been notified under Section 162 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.
* Comprehensive guidelines and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for implementation have been issued.
* **Treatment Coverage**
* Treatment cover is provided up to Rs. 1.5 lakh per victim for a maximum of 7 days from the date of the accident.
* The cover applies to victims involved in road accidents caused by motor vehicles.
* Stabilization treatment is provided for up to 24 hours in non-life-threatening cases and up to 48 hours in life-threatening cases, subject to police response.
* All hospitals, whether designated or not, are required to provide stabilisation treatment to victims.
* The scheme provides cashless coverage for stabilisation for up to 24 hours, extendable to 48 hours in life-threatening situations.
* **Implementation and Funding**
* The scheme is implemented using eDAR (for police reporting) and TMS 2.0 (for hospital treatment and claims).
* Reimbursement is done through the Motor Vehicle Accident Fund (MVAF), funded by insurance companies and budgetary support.
* The scheme takes precedence over other Central/State level schemes.
* **Emergency Response Enhancement**
* The scheme focuses on strengthening emergency medical response during the golden hour.
* Convergence with the 112 Emergency Response Support System facilitates prompt ambulance dispatch and police notification.
* The scheme also provides for SMS alerts to District Police officials and District Collectors.
* A referral mechanism exists for transferring patients from non-designated to designated hospitals.
* **Hospital Designation and Awareness**
* Designated hospitals include those empanelled under Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) that comply with NHA guidelines.
* States/UTs have been communicated with to designate additional hospitals, especially around accident hotspots.
* The Sadak Suraksha Abhiyaan has been launched through the Central Bureau of Communication to raise awareness.
* **Road Safety Strategy**
* Government is using a multi-pronged approach: Education, Engineering, Enforcement and Emergency Care.
* **Implementation and Monitoring Bodies**
* The State Road Safety Council (SRSC) is the nodal agency for implementation in each State/UT.
* The District Road Safety Committees (DRSC) are responsible for overall monitoring and coordination at the district level.
**Impact Analysis**
**Road Accident Victims**
* **Impact:** Access to timely and cashless medical treatment, potentially reducing fatalities and improving recovery.
* **Action Required:** Be aware of the scheme and its provisions, and seek treatment at the nearest hospital in case of an accident.
**Hospitals (Designated and Non-Designated)**
* **Impact:** Opportunity to provide essential medical services and receive reimbursement, increased patient load.
* **Action Required:** Follow the scheme guidelines and SOPs, provide stabilisation treatment, and participate in the claims process. Non-designated hospitals are required to stabilise and then transfer to a designated hospital.
**Police Officials**
* **Impact:** Enhanced tools for accident reporting (eDAR), prompt notification for action.
* **Action Required:** Utilize eDAR for accident reporting and respond promptly to accident notifications.
**State/UT Governments**
* **Impact:** Responsibility for implementing and monitoring the scheme.
* **Action Required:** Designate hospitals, sensitize stakeholders, and ensure the scheme's effective implementation through the SRSC.
**District Collectors**
* **Impact:** Responsibility to take early and time bound action in light of the scheme.
* **Action Required:** Take early and time bound action.
**Insurance Companies**
* **Impact:** Contribution to the Motor Vehicle Accident Fund (MVAF) for insured cases.
* **Action Required:** Fulfill contribution obligations to the MVAF.
Key Entities Referenced
Cashless Treatment for Road Accident Victims Scheme, 2025: A scheme providing cashless treatment up to ₹1.5 lakh for road accident victims, with stabilization treatment and a maximum cap of 7 days from the date of accident.
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways: The central government ministry responsible for the implementation of the scheme.
Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, Section 162: The legal mandate that enables the Cashless Treatment for Road Accident Victims Scheme, 2025.
Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY): An existing health insurance scheme whose empanelled hospitals are being leveraged for the Cashless Treatment Scheme.
State Road Safety Council (SRSC): The nodal agency responsible for implementation of the Scheme in the respective State/UT
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 168
ANSWERED ON 11TH DECEMBER, 2025
CASHLESS TREATMENT FOR ROAD ACCIDENT VICTIMS
*168. Shri Ravindra Dattaram Waikar:
Shri Naresh Ganpat Mhaske:
Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS be pleased
to state:
(a) whether the Government has updated the cashless treatment
scheme for road accident victims and if so, the key features of the
revised scheme;
(b) the manner in which the expanded/revised scheme aims to
improve emergency medical care and reduce fatalities due to road
accidents;
(c) whether there are plans to increase the number of empanelled
hospitals and trauma care centers under this scheme and if so, the
details thereof;
(d) the steps being taken to enhance awareness and accessibility of
the cashless treatment scheme across the country; and
(e) the manner in which this initiative aligns with the Government's
commitment for improving road safety and providing timely medical
assistance to accident victims?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
(SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)
(a) to (e) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) to (e) OF THE
LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 168 ANSWERED ON
11.12.2025 ASKED BY SHRI RAVINDRA DATTARAM WAIKAR AND
SHRI NARESH GANPAT MHASKE REGARDING “CASHLESS
TREATMENT FOR ROAD ACCIDENT VICTIMS”
(a) In accordance with the legal mandate under Section 162 of the
Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, Cashless Treatment for Road Accident
Victims Scheme, 2025 (Scheme) has been notified vide S.O. 2015(E)
dated 05.05.2025. Further, comprehensive guidelines detailing the
process flow, roles and responsibilities of various stakeholders, and
the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for its implementation
have been issued vide S.O. 2489 (E) dated 04.06.2025. Key features
of the scheme are as under:
(i) Treatment cover upto Rs. 1.5 lakh per victim will be provided,
subject to a maximum cap of 7 days from date of accident. The
treatment cover will be available to those victims who are involved
in road accidents caused by use of motor vehicles.
(ii) Every road accident victim shall be provided stabilization
treatment for up to 24 hours in non-life-threatening cases and up to
48 hours in life-threatening cases at designated hospitals, subject
to police response.
(iii) This statutory scheme will take precedence over any other
Central / State level schemes.
(iv) The Scheme is being implemented through the amalgamation
of two existing platforms i.e. eDAR (electronic Detailed Accident
Report) used by Police officials for reporting of accidents and TMS
2.0 (Transaction Management System) of National Health Authority
(NHA) used by hospitals for treatment, claim submission and
processing of payments. The reimbursement to hospitals is being
done through Motor Vehicle Accident Fund (MVAF) which is funded
through contributions from General Insurance companies for cases
where the offending Motor Vehicle is insured and through budgetary
support for other-than-insured cases.
(b) The Scheme focuses on strengthening emergency medical
response during the golden hour i.e. the time period lasting one hour
following a traumatic injury during which there is highest likelihood
of preventing death by providing prompt medical care.
Further, to support the time bound transfer of the victim from the
accident spot to the nearest hospital, convergence with 112(Emergency Response Support System) has been undertaken which
can help in prompt dispatch of nearest available ambulance as well
as early intimation to jurisdictional police officials about the
occurrence of the road accident. The scheme also provides for SMS
alerts to District Police officials and District Collectors for early &
time bound action.
All hospitals, whether designated or not, are required to provide
stabilisation treatment to victims. The Scheme provides cashless
coverage for stabilisation for up to 24 hours, extendable to 48 hours
in life threatening situations, thereby ensuring immediate life saving
intervention during the golden hour to road accident victims.
The guidelines also provides for a referral mechanism. If a victim
reaches a non-designated hospital, the hospital is required to
stabilise the patient and has the provision to transfer the patient to
a designated hospital, ensuring continuity of care across both
designated and non-designated hospitals.
(c) As per the Scheme guidelines notified vide S.O. 2489 (E) dated
04th June, 2025, designated hospitals under the Scheme-including
empanelled hospitals under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri
Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) that comply with the guidelines
issued by the National Health Authority (NHA) for this scheme, shall
be deemed designated hospitals for the purposes of the Scheme.
Multiple communications have been done with States/UTs to
designate additional hospitals especially around accident hotspots
under the Scheme as per the Hospitals Empanelment guidelines
issued vide OM S-12018/81/2024 dated 20 May 2025 and mandate
hospitals as per local laws to provide emergency care to the victims
of road accidents.
(d) Besides sensitizing the States/UTs, the Sadak Suraksha
Abhiyaan has been launched through Central Bureau of
Communication to create awareness on programs and policies
including Cashless Treatment to Road Accident Victims Scheme.
Accessibility under the Scheme is also being ensured by leveraging
the extensive network of hospitals already empanelled under
Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY)to ensure that victims can access cashless treatment across wide
existing national network.
(e) Government in the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways
has formulated a multi-pronged strategy to address the issue of
road safety based on Education, Engineering (both of roads and
vehicles), Enforcement and Emergency Care.
The Scheme has been notified in accordance with the legal
mandate under Section 162 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 by
adopting Whole-of-Government Approach, wherein the utilization of
existing infrastructure has been integrated with the use of
technology.
The judgement of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in Pt. Parmanand
Katara vs. Union of India (1988) has stated that every injured citizen
brought for medical treatment should instantaneously be given
medical aid to preserve life. The Law Commission of India, in its
201st Report on Emergency Medical Care to Victims of Accidents
and During Emergency Medical Condition (2006) has stated that at
least 50 per cent of the fatalities can be averted if the victims are
admitted to a hospital within the Golden Hour.
The Scheme focuses on strengthening emergency medical response
during the golden hour i.e. the time period lasting one hour following
a traumatic injury during which there is highest likelihood of
preventing death by providing prompt medical care.
The State Road Safety Council (SRSC) set up under section 215(2) of
MV Act, 1988 shall be nodal agency responsible for implementation
of the Scheme in the respective State/UT. The responsibility for
overall monitoring and coordination of the Scheme implementation
in the district shall be of the District Road Safety Committees
(DRSC) set up under section 215(3) of MV Act, 1988. The split of
responsibilities as well as the detailed Standard Operating
Procedure (SOPs) for each stakeholder in respective scenarios has
already been provided in the Guidelines issued vide S.O. 2489 dated
04.06.2025.
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