National News

Free Bus Travel for Women in India

June 27 , 2026 13 hrs 0 min 86 0

A recent review highlighted the implementation of free bus travel schemes for women across different States and one Union Territory in India.
Eight States and one Union Territory currently provide free bus travel for women in government-run buses, with eligibility rules varying across regions.
The eligible States and Union Territories are Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Delhi, Punjab, Karnataka, Kerala, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir.
Most States issue a 'zero-ticket', which is a free ticket used for travel records, after verifying the passenger's identity.
Some States have introduced smart cards or QR code-based cards to verify eligible passengers and issue zero-tickets.
The schemes generally apply only to government-operated buses, while premium, luxury and interstate services are excluded in many States.
Tamil Nadu, Delhi, Kerala, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh also extend the benefit to transgender persons, while Tamil Nadu additionally covers persons with disabilities under its scheme.