Government revises FASTag guidelines for Divyangjan category, removing annual renewal requirement

Welfare Schemes & Infrastructure · 2 October 2026 · Based on The Hindu (original report)

2-minute summary

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has revised the guidelines for issuing and renewing exempted FASTags for the Divyangjan (persons with disabilities) category. Under the new rules, the previous mandate requiring annual renewal of exempted FASTags has been eliminated. Instead, validity will now be linked to the beneficiary's percentage of disability as indicated on their disability certificate or Unique Disability ID (UDID) card. FASTags for individuals with 70% to 100% disability will be valid for five years, while those for individuals with 40% to less than 70% disability will be valid for three years. This reform aims to simplify toll-related procedures, reduce compliance burdens, and enhance the 'ease of living' for persons with disabilities (PwDs) across India's National Highway network.

Why it's in the news

The Government of India revised the FASTag guidelines in October 2026 to eliminate the annual renewal requirement for the Divyangjan category. This administrative reform simplifies toll-exemption procedures by linking FASTag validity directly to the severity of the disability.

Facts to remember

Under the revised October 2026 guidelines, exempted FASTags for Divyangjan with 70% to 100% disability are valid for five years.
Exempted FASTags for Divyangjan with 40% to less than 70% disability are valid for three years under the new rules.
The nodal ministry responsible for issuing these revised guidelines is the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH).
Toll exemptions and FASTag administration are governed under the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008.
The Unique Disability ID (UDID) project is implemented by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

Background and context

FASTag is an electronic toll collection system in India, operated by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), employing Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology for making toll payments directly from the prepaid or savings account linked to it. Under the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008, certain categories of vehicles, including those customized for or driven by persons with disabilities (Divyangjan), are exempted from paying toll fees. Previously, beneficiaries had to renew their exempted FASTags annually, creating significant administrative hurdles, frequent paperwork, and physical verification challenges for individuals with mobility limitations. This reform leverages the digital database of the Unique Disability ID (UDID) card to automate and extend validity periods, aligning with the government's broader 'Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan' (Accessible India Campaign) to ensure barrier-free movement.

Constitutional provisions

Article 21 — The right to life with dignity includes the right to barrier-free access, ease of movement, and hassle-free access to public infrastructure for persons with disabilities.
Article 41 — Directs the State to make effective provisions for securing the right to work, education, and public assistance in cases of unemployment, old age, sickness, and disablement.

Committees and reports

Central Advisory Board on Disability — Advised state and central ministries to simplify administrative procedures and integrate digital databases like the UDID to ensure seamless access to public concessions.

Government schemes

Accessible India Campaign (Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan) — A nationwide flagship campaign for achieving universal accessibility for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) in the built environment, transport system, and ICT ecosystem.
Unique Disability ID (UDID) Project — Aims to build a holistic end-to-end integrated system for issuing national identity cards for PwDs to encourage transparency, efficiency, and delivery of government benefits.

International organisations

United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) — India is a signatory and ratified the convention in 2007, which mandates state parties to take appropriate measures to ensure PwDs have access, on an equal basis with others, to physical environments and transportation.

Previous UPSC questions on this theme

Mains GS-3 2024 — What is the technology being employed for electronic toll collection on highways? What are its advantages and limitations? What are the proposed changes that will make this process seamless? Would this transition carry any potential hazards?

Mains practice: Analyze how administrative reforms in digital infrastructure can promote 'ease of living' and social inclusion for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) in India. Highlight the significance of recent changes in the highway toll exemption guidelines.

Administrative reforms in digital public infrastructure are vital to transforming welfare delivery from a source of bureaucratic friction into an instrument of empowerment. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) revising the FASTag guidelines for the Divyangjan category in October 2026 is a prime example of this transition.

• **Constitutional and Legal Mandate**: The reform aligns with Article 21 (Right to Dignity) and Article 41 (Public Assistance in cases of disablement) of the Constitution. By easing access, it fulfills the core objectives of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016, which mandates barrier-free transport systems for individuals with benchmark disabilities (defined as 40% or more of a specified disability).

• **Enhancing Ease of Living**: Previously, the annual renewal requirement for exempted FASTags forced PwDs to undergo repetitive, exhausting physical and administrative verifications. Extending the validity to 3 years (for 40% to <70% disability) and 5 years (for 70% to 100% disability) directly reduces this compliance burden.

• **Inter-Ministerial Convergence**: The guidelines utilize the Unique Disability ID (UDID) database managed by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. This integration minimizes leakages, eliminates duplicate verifications, and ensures data-driven, objective governance under the National Highways Fee Rules, 2008.

**Way Forward**:

• **API Integration**: Real-time integration between the VAHAN database (vehicle registration) and the UDID portal should be established to automate the issuance of exempted FASTags at the point of vehicle purchase.

• **Infrastructure Sensitization**: Toll plazas must feature dedicated, clearly marked lanes with RFID readers calibrated to recognize exempted vehicles without causing delays.

• **Awareness Campaigns**: Nodal agencies should collaborate under the Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan to educate rural beneficiaries about these extended validity rules.

In conclusion, simplifying digital touchpoints for vulnerable groups is essential to transitioning from a 'regulatory state' to a 'welfare state,' directly contributing to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 10 of reducing inequalities.

Prelims practice questions

Q1. Consider the following statements regarding the revised FASTag guidelines for the Divyangjan category issued in October 2026: 1. Exempted FASTags issued to persons with 70% to 100% disability will be valid for five years. 2. Exempted FASTags issued to persons with 40% to less than 70% disability will be valid for three years. 3. The guidelines completely eliminate the requirement of annual renewal for exempted FASTags. How many of the above statements are correct?

Only one
Only two
All three
None

Answer: C. All three statements are correct. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways revised the guidelines to eliminate the annual renewal requirement. Under the new rules, validity is linked to the percentage of disability: 5 years for 70%-100% disability, and 3 years for 40% to less than 70% disability.

Q2. Consider the following statements: Statement-I: The Unique Disability ID (UDID) card serves as a key document for verifying eligibility under the revised FASTag guidelines for Divyangjan. Statement-II: The Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016 defines a 'person with benchmark disability' as one with not less than 40% of a specified disability. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect
Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct

Answer: B. Both statements are correct. Statement-I is correct as the UDID card is the primary verification record under the revised guidelines. Statement-II is correct as the RPwD Act, 2016 sets the benchmark disability at 40%. However, Statement-II does not explain why the UDID is used for FASTag verification; it merely provides the statutory definition of benchmark disability.

Q3. The toll exemptions and FASTag administration on National Highways in India are primarily governed under which of the following regulatory frameworks?

Rights of Persons with Disabilities Rules, 2017
Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989
National Highways Authority of India Act, 1988
National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008

Answer: D. As stated in the news, the exempted FASTag may be renewed subject to continued eligibility and compliance with the provisions of the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008.

Revision flashcards

What is the statutory definition of a 'person with benchmark disability' under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016? An individual with not less than 40% of a specified disability, certified by a competent medical authority.
Which Union Ministry is responsible for implementing the Unique Disability ID (UDID) project in India? Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities).
Under the revised guidelines of October 2026, what is the validity of exempted FASTags for Divyangjan with 70% to 100% disability? Five years (replacing the previous requirement of annual renewal).
Under the revised guidelines of October 2026, what is the validity of exempted FASTags for Divyangjan with 40% to less than 70% disability? Three years.
Why did the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways eliminate the annual renewal requirement for exempted FASTags for Divyangjan? To promote 'ease of living,' simplify toll-related procedures, and reduce administrative hurdles for persons with disabilities.