Important Digital Platforms for Transport Governance in India

Digital platforms support transport governance by bringing vehicle, driver, accident and insurance information into more accessible systems. Their value lies in streamlining public services and enabling authorities to verify related records across databases.

Parivahan: An Umbrella Platform

Parivahan is an initiative of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) and provides access to citizen-facing transport services. Its key applications include VAHAN, which manages vehicle-registration information, and SARATHI, which manages driving-licence information.

• Integrated services: The platform brings together online services for vehicle owners and drivers, reducing reliance on manual processes.
• Governance objective: Its applications are intended to improve accessibility, data accuracy and consistency in transport-related records.

VAHAN and SARATHI

VAHAN is the national vehicle-registration database, managed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC) under MoRTH. It collates information from Road Transport Offices (RTOs) and supports a national vehicle register. SARATHI is the corresponding national database for driving-licence information, also managed by NIC under MoRTH.

• VAHAN records: Its functions include vehicle registration, fitness, taxation, permits and pollution under control (PUC) certificates.
• VAHAN services: Online services include new registration, registration renewal, transfer of ownership and fitness-certificate issuance.
• Inter-state information: VAHAN enables data sharing across states and Union Territories, supporting more consistent vehicle-related information.
• Registration certificates: Vehicle registration certificates are often issued as smart cards containing essential vehicle details.
• SARATHI records: The system manages learner’s licences, driving licences and conductor licences.
• SARATHI services: It supports applications for new and renewed licences, duplicate licences and international driving permits.
• Standardisation: SARATHI helps standardise licence-issuance processes and data formats across the country.
• Authenticity: A centralised database can help identify and prevent fraudulent activity involving driving licences.

eDAR: Accident Reporting and Claims

The Electronic Detailed Accident Report (eDAR) portal, operated by NIC, digitises detailed road-accident reports. It is intended to make accident information available through a unified platform and support the processing of motor-accident compensation claims.

• Standardised reporting: eDAR supports consistent collection and reporting of road-accident data.
• Information recorded: Records include accident details, vehicles and individuals involved, and preliminary investigation findings.
• Claims process: A common digital record can help make relevant accident information accessible for compensation-claim processing.
• Timely uploads: The Supreme Court has directed states to promptly upload road-accident data to eDAR.

Insurance Data and Accident-Response Support

The Insurance Information Bureau (IIB) functions under the regulatory oversight of the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI). It is a central repository for insurance-related data, including information relevant to motor insurance.

• Data use: IIB collects, compiles and disseminates insurance data; coverage and claims history can support risk assessment and claims processing.
• Cross-verification: Insurers can use the information to verify policy details and previous claims, helping detect potentially fraudulent activity.
• PM-RAHAT: The scheme provides cashless treatment of up to ₹1.5 lakh per road-accident victim for up to seven days after the accident.
• Accident response: Including PM-RAHAT in the integration process connects accident records with information relevant to treatment support.

Database Integration and Governance Considerations

The Supreme Court has directed the integration of eDAR with VAHAN, SARATHI and IIB databases to create a national digital record for each road crash. The aim is to enable cross-verification of police accident reports, vehicle-registration details, driving-licence particulars, insurance coverage and claims history. The integration is also to cover hit-and-run cases and the PM-RAHAT scheme.

• Data integration: Linking the records can make information held by different systems available for accident-related verification.
• Accountability: Timely data uploads and compliance reporting are important to implementing the Court’s directions.
• Privacy: Linking personal, vehicle and insurance records makes responsible handling and access to data an important governance consideration.
• Implementation: Coordination among the Centre, states and other authorities is required to complete integration and establish dedicated Special Investigation Teams (SITs).

Key Prelims Takeaways

• Parivahan: MoRTH’s umbrella platform includes VAHAN and SARATHI.
• VAHAN: National vehicle-registration database managed by NIC under MoRTH.
• SARATHI: National database for driving-licence information, also managed by NIC under MoRTH.
• eDAR: NIC-operated portal for digitising accident reports and supporting compensation claims.
• IIB: Insurance-data repository functioning under IRDAI’s regulatory oversight.
• PM-RAHAT: Cashless treatment up to ₹1.5 lakh per victim for up to seven days after a road accident.

Recent Context

On October 8, 2026, the Supreme Court directed states to upload accident data promptly and ordered integration of eDAR with VAHAN, SARATHI and IIB, including hit-and-run cases and PM-RAHAT. The Centre, states and other authorities have until November 5, 2026, to complete integration and file compliance reports; states without dedicated SITs were given four weeks to establish them.