MSRTC NCMC Card Rule Relaxed: Women Get 50% ST Bus Concession Without the Card Till December 31, 2026
Women can claim the 50% ST bus concession without an NCMC card from 7 November to 31 December 2026. What this means for Pune travellers and the new deadline.
Photo: Prabirghose / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Pune, 8th November 2026: Women can take the 50% concession on Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) buses without a National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) from 7 November to 31 December 2026. The card becomes compulsory again from 1 January 2027.
Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik, who also chairs MSRTC, announced the relaxation on Friday, 6 November, after weeks of complaints about card registration problems.
What the NCMC card rule was
From 1 October 2026, MSRTC made the NCMC smart card compulsory for women and senior citizens who want concession fares on ST buses.
Women get a 50% fare concession on all types of ST buses under the state’s Mahila Sanman Yojana. Many passengers, especially in rural areas, reported trouble registering, activating and recharging the card, as reported by Deshdoot.
What changes from 7 November
- Women can get the concession fare without showing an NCMC card until 31 December 2026.
- The card rule returns from 1 January 2027.
- MSRTC will hold special registration camps at gram panchayat level with local representatives and passenger groups.
MSRTC has not said which ID conductors will ask for during this period. Carry your Aadhaar card or another government photo ID, as you did before the card rule, to avoid arguments on board.
Does the relaxation cover senior citizens
This is not clear yet. The rule that started on 1 October covered both women and senior citizens. But the announcements reported so far by The Free Press Journal and others speak only of women.
If you are a senior citizen, ask at the depot enquiry counter before your trip, or keep your NCMC card if you already have one. We will update this story once MSRTC clarifies.
Why MSRTC eased the rule
About 1.10 crore NCMC cards have been registered and handed out so far. Even so, many eligible women had not completed the process.
MSRTC’s average daily earnings fell from about Rs 33 crore in September to about Rs 28 crore in October, according to The Free Press Journal and Civic Mirror. MSRTC has not officially said the card rule caused this drop.
Deshdoot reported that the decision followed requests from social organisations, public representatives and party leaders during the festival season.
What it means for Pune travellers
Diwali week is one of the busiest times at Pune’s ST stands. Swargate, Shivajinagar (Wakdewadi) and Vallabhnagar in Pimpri-Chinchwad handle heavy traffic to Satara, Kolhapur, Solapur, Nashik and Marathwada.
A worked example: if a full ST fare for a trip from Swargate is Rs 400, a woman passenger pays about Rs 200 with the concession, card or no card, until 31 December.
For booking tips, depot details and other concessions, read our MSRTC ticket booking and concessions guide. If you are travelling by private bus instead, our story on the RTO fare cap and complaint number explains your rights.
What you should do before 31 December
- If you do not have an NCMC card, ask at your nearest ST depot or a gram panchayat camp how to register before the deadline.
- If you have a card but it is not working, get it checked at the depot pass counter now rather than in the last week of December.
- Keep a photo ID handy on every trip during the relaxation period.
We will update this story when MSRTC publishes the camp schedule for Pune district or clarifies the rules for senior citizens.
Frequently asked questions
Do women need an NCMC card for the ST bus concession now?
No, not until 31 December 2026. Women can get the 50% concession without the card during this period, and the rule returns on 1 January 2027.
Is the NCMC relaxation also for senior citizens?
MSRTC’s announcements so far mention only women. Senior citizens should check at the depot until MSRTC clarifies.
What ID should I carry on ST buses during the relaxation?
MSRTC has not specified one. Carrying Aadhaar or another government photo ID is the safest option.
Where can I get an MSRTC NCMC card in Pune?
Ask at the enquiry or pass counter of your nearest ST depot, such as Swargate or Shivajinagar. MSRTC is also holding registration camps at gram panchayat level.
