Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has notified a nationwide cashless treatment scheme for road accident victims, effective from May 5, 2025. Victims will be entitled to cashless medical treatment of up to ₹1.5 lakh per person per accident, for up to 7 days post-accident, particularly during the “golden hour”.
Key Highlights
- Scheme Name: Cashless Treatment of Road Accident Victims Scheme, 2025
- Effective Date: May 5, 2025
- Treatment Cap: ₹1.5 lakh per person per accident
- Duration of Coverage: Maximum of 7 days from the date of accident
- Applicability: All road accidents involving a motor vehicle on Indian roads
- Purpose: Free immediate medical treatment to save lives during the “golden hour”
Key Features
- Designated Hospitals:
- Around 30,000 hospitals onboarded by State/UT governments with the National Health Authority (NHA).
- If a designated hospital lacks trauma care, it must refer the victim to another designated hospital, update the portal, and arrange transportation.
- Non-Designated Hospitals:
- Can offer stabilisation treatment only, not full cashless benefits.
- Must follow guidelines specified in the scheme.
- Golden Hour Provision:
- Scheme notified under Section 162(2) of the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019.
- “Golden hour” is defined under Section 2(12A) as the first hour post-trauma, crucial for saving lives.
Institutional Structure
- Implementing Agency:
- National Health Authority (NHA)
- Will coordinate with police, hospitals, and State Health Agencies.
- Steering Committee:
- 17-member body to be constituted, headed by the Road Transport Secretary, to oversee implementation.
- State-Level Implementation:
- State Road Safety Council to act as nodal agency for:
- Hospital onboarding
- Coordinating treatment
- Payment settlements via portal
- State Road Safety Council to act as nodal agency for:
Implementation Structure
| Entity | Role |
| National Health Authority (NHA) | Implementing agency, in coordination with police, hospitals, and State Health Agencies |
| Designated Hospitals | About 30,000 hospitals to provide immediate treatment to victims |
| Non-Designated Hospitals | May offer only stabilisation care before referring to a designated hospital |
| Inter-Hospital Transfer | Designated hospital must arrange transfer and update portal if required facilities are unavailable |
| State Road Safety Council | Nodal agency in each state/UT for coordination, hospital onboarding, payments, and portal use |
| Steering Committee | 17-member committee headed by Road Transport Secretary to monitor scheme implementation |
Background & Budget
- Reason for Notification:
- Scheme was part of the 2019 Motor Vehicles Act, but remained unimplemented.
- Supreme Court reprimanded the Centre in April 2025 for the delay.
- MoRTH launched a pilot scheme on March 14, 2024.
- Budget Allocation:
- ₹272 crore allocated for the scheme in FY 2025-26
Road Accident Statistics (MoRTH Data)
| Year | Total Accidents | Fatalities |
| 2022 | 4.61 lakh | 1.68 lakh |
| 2023 | 4.80 lakh (+4.2%) | 1.72 lakh (+2.6%) |
Significance for India
- India reports the highest number of road accident fatalities globally.
- This scheme aligns with India’s commitment to reduce road fatalities under the Brasilia Declaration and UN Global Road Safety goals.