- Why in news
- On 14 April 2026, MoRTH notified the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Fourth Amendment Rules, 2026. They take effect from 15 April 2026 and set a graded fee for overloaded vehicles.
- What it is
- The National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008 are made under the National Highways Fee Act, 1956. They fix how user fee is set and collected at fee plazas on National Highways. Rule 10 deals with fee for overloaded vehicles; the 2026 amendment rewrites it.
- Commencement
- The amended rules come into force on 15 April 2026.
- Measurement
- Overloading is determined by certified weighing devices at fee plazas. If a plaza has no weighment facility, no overload fee is levied.
- Payment mode
- Overload fee is collected only through FASTag.
- Reporting
- Details of overloaded vehicles are recorded and reported to the National Vehicle Register (VAHAN).
- Parent law
- The fee rules are framed under the National Highways Fee Act, 1956, and the 2008 Rules are the base rules.
Don’t confuse with National Highways Act, 1956 vs National Highways Fee Act, 1956: The first governs declaration of highways and land acquisition. The fee rules come from the Fee Act, which deals with levy of fee.
Laws, judgments and statutory bodies: 30 Prelims questions since 2013 (what the law says, who chairs, legal basis). In Mains, 44 news-triggered questions, most in GS2, asking for provisions and challenges.
Why it matters
- Graded fees can deter overloading, which damages roads and reduces safety.
- FASTag-only collection and VAHAN reporting add transparency and a digital record.
Problems
- Fee plazas without weighing devices cannot levy the fee, leaving gaps in enforcement.
- Disputes over weighing accuracy and exemptions for earlier private projects.
Way forward
- Install certified weigh-in-motion systems at all plazas.
- Link overload records to penalties under the Motor Vehicles Act to strengthen deterrence.
Put in your answer
Enforcement design: Overload detection uses certified weighing devices at plazas, with FASTag payment and VAHAN reporting.
UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.
Prelims practice · Statements
Ours, not from a UPSC paper
Consider the following statements:
- 1.Under the amended Rule 10 of the National Highways Fee Rules, a vehicle carrying up to 10% excess load over its permissible Gross Vehicle Weight is not charged an overload fee.
- 2.A vehicle with an excess load of 25% is charged 2 times the base rate, while a vehicle with an excess load above 40% is charged 3 times the base rate.
- 3.Overload fee may be paid in cash at a fee plaza if the FASTag balance is insufficient.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
True or false?
1 of 5
Statements the way Prelims prints them. Say first, then see the fact.
1.Under the amended Rule 10, a vehicle carrying up to 10% excess load over its permissible GVW is not charged an overload fee.
True. Up to 10% excess load attracts no overload fee.
2.A vehicle with excess load above 40% is charged three times the base rate.
False. Above 40% the fee is 4 times the base rate; 3 times is not a slab.
3.Overload fee may be paid in cash at a fee plaza if the FASTag balance is insufficient.
False. Overload fees are collected through FASTag only.
4.Where a fee plaza lacks a weighment facility, the overload fee is charged on an estimated basis.
False. Without a weighment facility, no overload fee is levied.
5.Details of overloaded vehicles are to be reported to the National Vehicle Register (VAHAN).
True. The rules mandate recording and reporting to VAHAN.
Written by us from the release, not by UPSC; checked by a second model.
Worth revising until Prelims 2027: most news questions come within two years of the event.