Lok Sabha Q&A: National Implementation and Impact of the Cashless Treatment Scheme for Road Accident Victims in India
SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being | SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways | National Health Authority
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways in the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3018 on 18 December 2025 provided updated data on road accident fatalities, revealing a rising trend over recent years with 168,491 deaths in 2022, 172,890 in 2023, and 177,177 in 2024 (provisional data including West Bengal).
The Ministry also notified the Scheme for Cashless Treatment of Road Accident Victims, 2025, transitioning from pilot programs to full nationwide implementation. This statutory initiative ensures immediate medical relief for victims of accidents involving motor vehicles, regardless of their insurance status. The scheme is designed to maximize survival during the Golden Hour by integrating the police-led eDAR (electronic Detailed Accident Report) platform with the National Health Authority’s TMS 2.0 for seamless hospital claim processing and end-to-end digitization.
Key operational features of the scheme include:
Financial Coverage: Victims are eligible for a treatment cover of up to Rs. 1.5 lakh, applicable for a maximum of 7 days from the date of the accident.
Mandatory Stabilization: All hospitals are required to provide stabilization treatment for up to 24 hours in non-life-threatening cases, extending to 48 hours for life-threatening cases at designated facilities.
Digital Integration: A complete digital trail is established from the moment an accident is reported via the 112 Emergency Response Support System (ERSS) to the final payment disbursement.
Funding Mechanism: The scheme is jointly funded by insurance companies for insured vehicles and through Central Government budgetary support for uninsured vehicles.
Pilot Success: During initial testing in states like Punjab and Assam, 5,480 victims successfully received cashless treatment, with over Rs. 73 lakh disbursed from the Motor Vehicle Accident Fund.
What is the “Golden Hour” in the context of road accident trauma care? The “Golden Hour” refers to the critical first hour following a traumatic injury, such as a road accident, when prompt medical intervention and stabilization have the highest likelihood of preventing death or permanent disability. The 2025 Scheme is specifically designed to address this window by mandating immediate stabilization at the nearest hospital and providing a time-bound digital framework for victim admission and police authentication.
Policy Relevance
This scheme operationalizes the mandate of the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019, creating a legally binding framework for universal trauma care. By providing a statutory precedence over other state or central health schemes, it standardizes accident response protocols across India. Furthermore, the integration with the 112 ERSS and eDAR digitizes the entire lifecycle of an accident claim, reducing administrative delays that often hinder the poor from accessing life-saving emergency care.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders: How can the Ministry ensure that non-designated private hospitals comply with the mandatory 24/48-hour stabilization protocols without facing reimbursement delays?
Follow the full news here: NEW CASHLESS SCHEME FOR INJURED DUE TO ROAD ACCIDENTS