Asia
India.
Section 134A of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 (inserted by the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019) protects a Good Samaritan from civil or criminal action for harm resulting from negligence while giving emergency care to a motor vehicle accident victim. Section 135 of the Companies Act, 2013 sets a corporate social responsibility spending requirement for larger companies, and the National Service Scheme enlists student volunteers in community service.
Is there a legal duty to help a stranger?
LimitedSection 134 of the Motor Vehicles Act requires the driver or person in charge of a vehicle involved in an accident to take all reasonable steps to secure medical attention for an injured person, unless impracticable for reasons beyond his control. That duty falls on the driver, not on bystanders; no general duty for strangers was found in the sources reviewed.
Are people who help protected?
LimitedSection 134A provides that a Good Samaritan is not liable for civil or criminal action for injury or death of a motor vehicle accident victim resulting from the Good Samaritan's negligence while rendering emergency medical or non-medical care. The Good Samaritan Rules (GSR 594(E), September 29, 2020) add that no one may compel a helper to disclose personal details. The scope is road accidents, and the 2016 Supreme Court decision in Save Life Foundation v. Union of India approved earlier guidelines.
How the government promotes giving and service
Ways to give and volunteer
India has a very large nonprofit sector, with strong government volunteer programs for young people and public blood and organ systems. Foreign funding is tightly regulated, so check that a group is registered.
Check a charity before you give
A government portal from NITI Aayog where nonprofits register and can be looked up.
Give your time
Give money, blood or a donation
In an emergency or a crisis
Before you act
- Fake charity appeals and UPI payment scams are common, so pay only to a verified account in the group's registered name and ask for a receipt. Donations may qualify for tax relief only for approved organizations.
- Foreign funding to Indian groups is regulated under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, so only give to groups that hold current FCRA registration. Foreigners need a proper visa for volunteering, and a tourist visa generally does not allow it.
This list covers a few national starting points, not every local group, and sites can change. Checked 2026-10-28. Listing an organization is not an endorsement, and none of them has endorsed this site. Some official sites block automatic checks, so a link may need a second try.
One thing worth knowing
India pairs a statutory liability shield for roadside helpers (Section 134A) with a national scheme that offers a cash reward and certificate for them, according to a 2026 government release.
What this does not mean
The statutory text was read in a private reproduction and the CSR text on a state government portal because the official India Code and Ministry of Corporate Affairs sites did not load for this research; check indiacode.nic.in. The shield covers negligence in road accident aid, not other emergencies, and the reward scheme details come from a press release. This is a plain-language summary of public sources, not legal advice, and it does not rank countries. No government named here has endorsed this site. Not reviewed by a lawyer. Statutes were read in public sources and may have changed. Last checked October 26, 2026.