PM Rahat Scheme 2026:The government has rolled out PM RAHAT (Road Accident Victim Hospitalisation and Assured Treatment), a nationwide scheme designed to provide cashless medical care to road accident victims and ensure that financial constraints do not delay life-saving treatment.The initiative aims to strengthen India’s emergency response system by guaranteeing immediate medical support during the critical “Golden Hour” — the first hour after an accident, when timely intervention can significantly improve survival chances.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today inaugurated the Seva Teerth complex in Delhi, which will house his new office. In its very first set of decisions after shifting to Seva Teerth, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the PM RAHAT Scheme, doubling the target of Lakhpati Didis to six crores, the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund doubled to two lakh crore rupees and the Startup India Fund of Funds 2.0 with a corpus of 10 thousand crore rupees. Mr Modi signed important files relating to important decisions for farmers, women, youth and vulnerable citizens. Mr Modi’s first decisions from Seva Teerth reflect a spirit of Seva and touch every section of society. 

PM Rahat Scheme

Under PM RAHAT, every eligible road accident victim will be entitled to cashless treatment of up to ₹1.5 lakh for a period of seven days from the date of the accident, regardless of the category of road on which the incident occurred.In non-life-threatening cases, stabilisation treatment will be provided for up to 24 hours. In life-threatening cases, it can extend up to 48 hours, subject to verification through an integrated digital system.

Under the PM RAHAT scheme, accident victims will get cashless treatment of up to 1.5 lakh rupees, ensuring that no life is lost due to a lack of immediate medical help. The government has crossed the landmark of 3 crore Lakhpati Didis, more than a year ahead of the original March 2027 timeline. The Prime Minister has now set a new, ambitious target of 6 crore Lakhpati Didis by March 2029, doubling both scale and aspiration.

The Agriculture Infrastructure Fund was doubled to two lakh crore rupees, aimed at strengthening India’s entire agriculture value chain. The Prime Minister has approved the Startup India  Fund of Funds 2.0 with a corpus of 10 thousand crore rupees for the Next Wave of Innovation to power India’s innovation ecosystem, especially in deep tech, early-stage ideas, advanced manufacturing and breakthrough technologies.

Linked to 112 Emergency Helpline

The scheme is integrated with the Emergency Response Support System (ERSS) 112. Accident victims, Good Samaritans (Rah-Veer), or anyone present at the scene can dial 112 to receive information about the nearest designated hospital and request ambulance assistance.

This linkage is expected to improve coordination between emergency responders, police authorities and hospitals, helping victims reach medical facilities more quickly.

How Payments Will Be Made

Hospitals will be reimbursed through the Motor Vehicle Accident Fund (MVAF).

If the offending vehicle is insured, the payment will come from contributions made by general insurance companies. In cases involving uninsured vehicles or hit-and-run incidents, the government will cover the costs through budgetary allocations.

Approved claims will be settled within 10 days by the State Health Agency, providing financial assurance to hospitals and encouraging uninterrupted treatment.

Why It Matters

India records a significant number of road accident deaths every year, many of which could be prevented with timely medical intervention. Studies indicate that nearly half of such fatalities can be avoided if victims receive hospital care within the Golden Hour.

By removing upfront payment barriers and ensuring faster emergency coordination, PM RAHAT seeks to reduce preventable deaths and strengthen the country’s emergency healthcare ecosystem.

In essence, the scheme ensures that accident victims receive immediate treatment without worrying about costs, a step aimed at saving lives and improving road safety outcomes nationwide.