For Prelims: Golden Hour, Cashless Treatment, Scheme Name, Coverage Amount, Treatment Duration, Key Concept, Current Context
For Mains: Golden Hour, Cashless Treatment, Inter-departmental Coordination
Source:
Dainik Bhaskar
5 facts for one-day exams
SSC, railway, police and teaching exams ask direct questions like these.
- PM Rahat Yojana provides cashless treatment up to ₹1.5 lakh for 7 days to road accident victims.
- The 'golden hour' is the first hour after an accident.
- Awareness hoardings will be placed along highways.
- Dial-112 (ERSS) is involved in the emergency response process.
Why in the news?
Bihar is implementing the PM Rahat Yojana to provide cashless treatment up to ₹1.5 lakh for seven days to road accident victims and to ensure timely care during the 'golden hour' (first hour after the accident). A state-level workshop in Patna coordinated police, health, and transport departments to streamline hospital registration, police verification, and claim processes.
Summary
- PM Rahat Yojana provides up to ₹1.5 lakh cashless treatment for seven days to eligible road accident victims in Bihar.
- The 'golden hour' (first hour after accident) is critical; timely hospitalisation can save many lives.
- Awareness boards at hospitals and hoardings on highways will be installed for public outreach.
Highlights
Cashless Treatment Up to ₹1.5 Lakh
PM Rahat Yojana offers road accident victims cashless medical care for up to 7 days, removing financial barrier during the critical golden hour.
Golden Hour Focus
The first hour after an accident is vital; prompt hospitalisation can save many lives.
Awareness Drive on Highways
Information boards at hospitals and hoardings along highways will publicise the scheme.
Background
Road accidents are a major public health and safety challenge in Bihar. The PM Rahat Yojana was designed to ensure that accident victims receive timely medical treatment without worrying about costs, especially during the 'golden hour' (first hour post-accident).
Key Analysis and Impact
The scheme provides cashless treatment up to ₹1.5 lakh for a maximum of 7 days. It requires coordination between police (for verification and Dial-112), health departments (for hospital registration and claims), and transport departments (for awareness). The TMS 2.0 portal and iRAD/eDAR system are used for registration and data management. This reduces out-of-pocket expenditure for poor families and can improve survival rates.
Way Forward
The workshop aimed to streamline processes and ensure 100% registration of accident victims at empanelled hospitals. Awareness through hospital boards and highway hoardings will help reach more people. Success depends on sustained inter-departmental coordination and regular training.
Bihar connection
Background GK
Textbook concepts you need to understand this news
- Golden Hour
- The first hour after a traumatic injury (such as a road accident) during which prompt medical treatment can significantly reduce mortality and complications.
- Cashless Treatment
- Medical care provided to a patient without requiring upfront payment; the hospital bills the insurer or scheme directly.
Facts to remember
Tap a card to see the answer. Try to recall it first.
How exams will ask this
- Data: ₹1.5 lakh cashless treatment for 7 days for road accident victims under PM Rahat Yojana
Don't make this mistake!
Examiners may ask the amount as ₹1.5 lakh OR the duration as 7 days, or confuse PM Rahat Yojana with other accident-related schemes like PM Suraksha Bima Yojana. They may also ask the 'golden hour' definition – the first hour, not the first 24 hours.
Write these in mains answers
- Golden Hour, Cashless Treatment, Inter-departmental Coordination
Stuck? Get it in one tap
The PM Rahat Yojana is a government scheme that pays for the hospital treatment of people injured in road accidents, up to ₹1.5 lakh and for up to 7 days. The idea is that victims should not worry about money, especially in the first hour after the accident (the 'golden hour'), which is critical for saving lives. The Bihar government is now training police, hospitals, and transport officials to make sure the scheme works smoothly, and it is putting up signboards on highways to tell people about it.
- PM Rahat Yojana provides cashless treatment up to ₹1.5 lakh for 7 days to road accident victims.
- The 'golden hour' is the first hour after an accident.
- Awareness hoardings will be placed along highways.
- Dial-112 (ERSS) is involved in the emergency response process.
- Governance: Government schemes and welfare policies
- Society: Health and road safety
Related concepts: Golden Hour, Cashless Treatment
Practice questions
Pick an answer, then read the explanation.
- Q1Hard
Consider the following statements regarding PM Rahat Yojana:
- 1.It provides cashless treatment up to ₹1.5 lakh for road accident victims for a maximum of 7 days.
- 2.The scheme covers all medical expenses for the entire duration of hospitalisation.
- 3.The 'golden hour' refers to the first hour after the accident.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation: Statement 1 is correct: the scheme provides up to ₹1.5 lakh cashless treatment for 7 days. Statement 2 is incorrect: the scheme covers only the first 7 days, not the entire hospitalisation. Statement 3 is correct: the 'golden hour' is the first hour after the accident.
- Q2Medium
What is the maximum amount of cashless treatment provided to a road accident victim under PM Rahat Yojana?
Explanation: The scheme provides up to ₹1.5 lakh cashless treatment for a maximum of 7 days. ₹1 lakh and ₹2 lakh are not correct figures under this scheme. ₹50,000 is lower than the actual amount.
- Q3Medium
What is the primary objective of the PM Rahat Yojana?
Explanation: The scheme's core aim is to remove financial barriers so that accident victims get timely medical care in the golden hour. Compensation is not the focus; it is about treatment. Road infrastructure and free transport are not part of this scheme.
Frequently asked questions
1. What is PM Rahat Yojana?
PM Rahat Yojana is a scheme that provides cashless medical treatment up to ₹1.5 lakh for road accident victims for a maximum of 7 days after the accident.
2. What is the 'golden hour' in road accidents?
The 'golden hour' is the first hour after a road accident. Getting the victim to a hospital within this hour can significantly reduce the risk of death.
3. How will people know about PM Rahat Yojana?
Information boards will be placed at empanelled hospitals, and hoardings will be installed along highways to raise public awareness about the scheme.
All sources
- Original4 November 2026 · Read story
