UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Cash Payments at National Highway Fee Plazas Likely to be Discontinued from 1st April 2026

Q1. The mandatory FASTag regime at National Highway fee plazas, including levy of double user fee on non-compliant vehicles, is implemented and enforced by which one of the following?

• A. National Highways Authority of India
• B. National Payments Corporation of India
• C. Indian Highways Management Company Limited
• D. Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs

Q2. With reference to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), consider the following statements. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. It functions under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
2. It was constituted under the National Highways Authority of India Act, 1988.
3. It is responsible for the development and maintenance of National Highways entrusted to it.
4. It is an operating division of the Reserve Bank of India.

• A. 1, 2 and 3
• B. 2 and 4
• C. 1 and 3 only
• D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q3. With reference to the functions of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), consider the following statements. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

1. It levies and collects user fee at National Highway fee plazas under the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules.
2. It is a statutory body established by an Act of Parliament.
3. It monetises highway assets through models such as Toll-Operate-Transfer (TOT).
4. It is the statutory regulator of the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) used at fee plazas.

• A. 1 and 2
• B. 2 and 3
• C. 1 and 4
• D. 4 only

Q4. With reference to the proposed discontinuation of cash payments at National Highway fee plazas, consider the following statements. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. After the transition, toll at National Highway fee plazas is to be paid through FASTag or UPI.
2. The measure is to apply to over 1,150 fee plazas on National Highways and Expressways.
3. A stated objective is to consolidate the gains achieved in Electronic Toll Collection.
4. The measure also discontinues cash toll collection at all State Highway fee plazas.

• A. 1, 2 and 3
• B. 2 and 4
• C. 1 and 4
• D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q5. In the context of moving to digital-only tolling in 2026, the FASTag penetration on National Highways cited by NHAI is approximately what proportion of toll transactions?

• A. about 75 per cent
• B. about 85 per cent
• C. about 90 per cent
• D. about 98 per cent

Q6. The FASTag Annual Pass is valid for one year or for how many toll plaza crossings, whichever is earlier?

• A. 100
• B. 200
• C. 250
• D. 300

Q7. The FASTag Annual Pass is activated on a vehicle's existing FASTag primarily through which one of the following official platforms of NHAI?

• A. Rajmarg Yatra App
• B. mParivahan App
• C. BHIM App
• D. DigiLocker App

Q8. The National Electronic Toll Collection (NETC) programme that underpins FASTag was developed and is operated by which one of the following?

• A. National Highways Authority of India
• B. National Payments Corporation of India
• C. Reserve Bank of India
• D. Indian Highways Management Company Limited

Q9. The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), which operates the National Electronic Toll Collection system, functions under the authorisation of which one of the following?

• A. Securities and Exchange Board of India
• B. Reserve Bank of India
• C. Ministry of Road Transport and Highways
• D. Telecom Regulatory Authority of India

Q10. The record single-day toll collection through FASTag on National Highways reached the highest figure of approximately which of the following amounts?

• A. over Rs 80 crore
• B. over Rs 106 crore
• C. over Rs 144 crore
• D. over Rs 193 crore

Q11. With reference to the 'One Vehicle, One FASTag' initiative of NHAI, consider the following statements. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

1. It discourages the use of a single FASTag for multiple vehicles.
2. It discourages the linking of multiple FASTags to a single vehicle.
3. It requires users to complete the KYC of their latest FASTag as per RBI guidelines.
4. It permits a vehicle to retain and simultaneously use all its previously issued FASTags.

• A. 1 and 2
• B. 2 and 3
• C. 3 and 4
• D. 4 only