PM Rahat Scheme is now live across India, and it can be a real lifesaver if you or anyone near you ever meets with a road accident. Officially launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 14 February 2026, this scheme gives every road accident victim free cashless medical treatment of up to ₹1.5 lakh for 7 days - no paperwork, no advance payment, no questions about your income or insurance status.
The full name is Pradhan Mantri Road Accident Victims Hospitalization and Assured Treatment Scheme. Ministry of Road Transport and Highways runs it with the goal of saving lives during the "Golden Hour", the first hour after an accident when getting the right treatment makes the biggest difference. Studies show that nearly 50% of road accident deaths in India can be prevented if the victim is taken to a hospital within that first hour.
What is the Golden Hour and Why Does it Matter?
Medical experts call the first hour after a serious injury the "Golden Hour" because treatment given in this window greatly improves the chances of survival. In India, thousands of road accident victims die every year not because treatment was unavailable, but because hospitals demanded advance payments that families could not arrange in time. PM Rahat Scheme removes that financial barrier completely. The moment a victim is brought to an empanelled hospital, treatment starts - and the hospital gets paid by the government later.
The scheme works on any road - highways, state roads, or city streets. Whether the accident vehicle was insured or it was a hit-and-run case, the victim still gets free treatment. No one is turned away. Treatment is available at over 36,000 hospitals empaneled under Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), so finding a nearby hospital should not be a problem in most parts of the country.
PM Rahat Scheme Key Highlights
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Scheme Name | PM Rahat Scheme (Pradhan Mantri Road Accident Victims Hospitalization and Assured Treatment) |
| Launched By | Prime Minister Narendra Modi |
| Launch Date | 14 February 2026 |
| Nodal Ministry | Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) |
| Benefit Amount | Up to ₹1.5 lakh cashless treatment per victim |
| Coverage Duration | 7 days from the date of accident |
| Empaneled Hospitals | 36,000+ hospitals under Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY |
| Emergency Helpline | Dial 112 |
| Application Mode | No prior registration needed - walk into any empaneled hospital |
| Official Website | morth.nic.in |
Who Can Get Benefits Under PM Rahat Scheme
One of the best things about this scheme is that it has almost no restrictions on who can use it. Any person injured in a road accident involving a motor vehicle in India can get free treatment. There is no income limit. There is no requirement to have insurance. Even foreign nationals injured in road accidents in India are covered. The only conditions to keep in mind are simple.
- The accident must be reported to the police within 24 hours of it happening - this is needed to start the verification process through the eDAR platform.
- The victim must be admitted to a hospital within 24 hours of the accident - so reaching the hospital quickly is very important.
- Treatment must be taken at a hospital that is empaneled under Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY and meets the scheme's guidelines - with over 36,000 such PMJAY hospitals across India, finding one nearby should not be difficult.
What Treatment is Covered
PM Rahat covers trauma care, surgery, and stabilization treatment required right after a road accident. The treatment package includes both trauma and poly-trauma care. For injuries that are not life-threatening, stabilization care is covered for up to 24 hours. For life-threatening conditions, the coverage extends to 48 hours at the initial stage. After that, the full 7-day treatment period covers ongoing hospitalization up to the ₹1.5 lakh limit.
No advance payment or deposit is required at the hospital. The victim or their family does not have to worry about arranging money. The hospital directly uploads the patient details and treatment costs into the system, and the government settles the payment later.
How to Get Treatment Under PM Rahat Scheme
There is no application form to fill and no registration needed. Anyone at the accident spot, the victim, a family member, a bystander, or even a Good Samaritan, can call 112 and get help.
STEP 1 - As soon as a road accident happens, call 112 (the national emergency helpline). PM Rahat Scheme is fully linked with the Emergency Response Support System (ERSS) 112. The 112 operator will share the location of the nearest empaneled hospital and send an ambulance to the accident spot.
STEP 2 - Take the victim to the nearest empaneled hospital. The ambulance crew can also transport the victim directly. If the condition is stable enough, the victim can be taken by any person present at the scene - a co-passenger, a police officer, a Good Samaritan, or a family member.
STEP 3 - At the hospital, inform the staff that the patient is a road accident victim and should be admitted under PM Rahat Scheme. The hospital will start free cashless treatment right away without asking for advance payment.
STEP 4 - The hospital uploads the patient details, accident information, and treatment records into the Transaction Management System (TMS 2.0). The police will verify the accident details through the electronic Detailed Accident Report (eDAR) platform within 24 hours for non-serious cases and 48 hours for life-threatening cases.
STEP 5 - Once verified, the hospital gets paid by the government through the Motor Vehicle Accident Fund (MVAF). If the accident vehicle had insurance, the insurance company settles the payment. For hit-and-run or uninsured cases, the central government pays from its budget. All approved claims are paid to hospitals within 10 days.
Rah-Veer: Reward for Good Samaritans Who Help
PM Rahat Scheme also takes care of people who step up to help accident victims. Under the linked Rah-Veer Scheme, any Good Samaritan who helps a road accident victim during the golden hour gets a reward of ₹25,000 from the government.
How the Payment System Works for Hospitals
Hospitals that provide treatment under PM Rahat do not have to wait long for their money. The scheme uses a fully digital end-to-end process. The hospital uploads all patient and treatment details on TMS 2.0. After police verification through eDAR, the State Health Agency reviews and approves the claim. Once approved, payment is sent to the hospital within 10 days.
For insured vehicles, the General Insurance Company makes the payment. For hit-and-run or uninsured cases, the funds come from the Motor Vehicle Accident Fund under the Government of India's budget. This setup gives hospitals the confidence to treat accident victims without worrying about whether the family can pay.
PM Rahat Scheme in Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh is one of the states that is actively rolling out PM Rahat Scheme. State Health Minister Y Satya Kumar Yadav announced that the scheme will be put into action through the Dr NTR Vaidya Seva Trust. In AP, the scheme will cover treatment at 687 empanelled private hospitals and 17 government hospitals that have ortho and poly-trauma care facilities. A special wing has been set up within the Trust just to manage this scheme. Approvals for treatment will be issued within six hours of a hospital submitting the patient's case. Police verification of accident details will be done within 24 hours using the eDAR system. Currently, the AP government spends around ₹27 crore every month on accident-related treatments through the Trust, with about 70% of that amount going to road accident cases.
Documents Needed
One of the best parts of this scheme is that there is very little documentation needed at the time of emergency treatment. Hospitals do not ask for proof of income, insurance papers, or an Aadhaar card before starting treatment. Only a basic identity document may be needed for record-keeping, and even that is collected after the treatment starts. Detailed documentation - accident report, police verification - is handled by the hospital and police through the eDAR and TMS 2.0 systems. The victim's family does not need to run around for paperwork while the patient is getting treated.
Grievance Redressal
If there is any problem with treatment coverage or a claim gets stuck, there is a proper system in place to sort it out. Each district has a Grievance Redressal Officer nominated by the District Road Safety Committee. This committee is chaired by the District Collector or District Magistrate. If the issue is not resolved at the district level, it can be escalated to the State Road Safety Council. At the central level, an inter-ministerial steering committee oversees the overall working of the scheme.
FAQ's
What is PM Rahat Scheme?
PM Rahat Scheme is a central government scheme launched in February 2026 that gives road accident victims free cashless medical treatment of up to ₹1.5 lakh for 7 days at empanelled hospitals across India.
Who is eligible for PM Rahat Scheme?
Any road accident victim in India, regardless of income or insurance status, is eligible. Even foreign nationals injured in road accidents in India can benefit. The accident must be reported within 24 hours and the victim must be admitted to a hospital within 24 hours.
How do I get treatment under PM Rahat Scheme?
No prior application or registration is needed. Just call 112 after the accident, go to the nearest empanelled hospital, and inform them about the accident. Treatment starts right away without any payment upfront.
Which hospitals are covered under PM Rahat Scheme?
All hospitals empanelled under Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) that meet the scheme's guidelines are covered. As of March 2026, over 36,000 hospitals across India are part of the network.
What happens in a hit-and-run accident?
Even in hit-and-run cases, the victim gets full treatment under PM Rahat. The hospital is paid from the Motor Vehicle Accident Fund through government budget, so there is no issue with getting treatment just because the other vehicle ran away.
Does PM Rahat Scheme cover accidents on city roads?
Yes, PM Rahat covers road accidents on all types of roads - national highways, state highways, and even roads within city limits. The type of road does not affect eligibility.
How quickly will the hospital get paid?
Once the claim is approved by the State Health Agency, the hospital gets paid within 10 days. This makes sure hospitals are not at a loss and keeps them motivated to treat accident victims quickly.
What is the Rah-Veer reward and who gets it?
Any Good Samaritan who helps a road accident victim during the golden hour gets ₹25,000 as a reward from the government under the Rah-Veer Scheme, which runs alongside PM Rahat.