AIS-140 for School Buses: What Schools Need to Know
Last checked: 5 October 2026. Our own product, so read with that in mind. My School Ride is a product of Satcop India Pvt. Ltd, the company behind this website. We show where each fact comes from. How we compare
Quick answer
AIS-140 is an Indian standard for vehicle location tracking devices and their emergency buttons. The Gazette of 16 July 2026 (Maharashtra) says every school bus, education institution bus and school van is to have a Vehicle Location Tracking Device (VLTD) conforming to specifications not inferior to AIS-140 (rule 10(xxix)(a)). A plain GPS tracker with no AIS-140 specifications does not match those words. This is what the Gazette text says, not legal advice. Other states may have different orders, so check yours.
Satcop India, the company behind My School Ride, describes its AIS-140 device on its website as "Designed to meet AIS 140 standards as laid down by ARAI, physically tested by ICAT for 60 days — with GPS, GLONASS, and IRNSS (GAGAN) support." We use those words exactly and add nothing to them.
AIS 140 for school bus: what the standard is
AIS-140 is an Indian standard for vehicle location tracking (VLT) devices and their emergency buttons. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) used it when it asked for these devices on public service vehicles (notification of 25 October 2018, released by PIB on 31 October 2018). Under the national system:
- A VLT device with emergency buttons sends the vehicle's location and alerts to a monitoring system.
- When someone presses the emergency button, the alert goes to the state's emergency response system.
- The device maker uploads each device's details to the national VAHAN database.
What the Maharashtra Gazette asks for school buses
The Gazette of 16 July 2026 amends the school bus rules. In simple words:
- Device (rule 10(xxix)(a)): a VLTD conforming to specifications not inferior to AIS-140.
- Digital Safety Monitoring System (rule 10A): the tracking device, a link to the State-level monitoring platform, CCTV or video surveillance, and an app with live tracking, digital attendance, automated alerts and role-based access. Rule 10A also has a clause on testing this system. Read the exact words in the Gazette.
- Time to comply (rule 11C): the Gazette says within three months from Gazette publication (16 July 2026). It also says that if a vehicle does not comply in time, the permit is liable to suspension or cancellation. We do not give a calendar date. Ask your RTO about the date that applies to you.
SOS and safety inputs: what the site says
As described on the Satcop India website, its AIS-140 device has "Safety I/O" that includes SOS/panic, immobilisation, and ignition, door and tamper alerts. The My School Ride driver app also has an SOS to admin.
What My School Ride says
As described on the Satcop India website, My School Ride uses a 4G GPS device fitted on the bus that sends location about every 5 seconds to a live map for parents and the school. The same site describes Satcop's AIS-140 device separately. The school page does not say which device model is fitted on a given bus, and we do not say it is the AIS-140 device. Ask us for the device model and its test details for your buses. We do not say any set-up meets the Maharashtra rules by itself.
What to ask any seller
- What is the model name of the device on the bus? Is it built to AIS-140 specifications?
- Which agency tested it, and can I see the test details?
- Does the device have a panic button, and where is it fitted?
- How does the device link to the State-level monitoring platform in my state?
- Does my state or RTO have a list of device makers I am asked to buy from?
- What do the data subscription, installation, warranty and GST cost?
- What does my RTO say about my set-up?
What about cost?
We do not give a price here. Prices differ by state and by what is included. See our school bus GPS price guide for the cost items and sourced figures.
Price: Ask for a quote.
Where My School Ride fits
My School Ride is a school bus tracking system from Satcop India Pvt. Ltd, with a parent app, a GPS device on the bus, RFID attendance and optional cameras. It is made for school transport, so tracking, attendance and cameras sit in one system.
Frequently asked questions
What is AIS-140?
AIS-140 is an Indian standard for vehicle location tracking devices and their emergency buttons. MoRTH asked for these devices on public service vehicles in a notification of 25 October 2018.
Is AIS 140 mandatory for school buses?
The official Gazette of 16 July 2026 says every school bus, education institution bus and school van in Maharashtra is to have a VLTD conforming to specifications not inferior to AIS-140 (rule 10(xxix)(a)). It says vehicles are to comply within three months from Gazette publication (16 July 2026), and that after that the permit is liable to suspension or cancellation (rule 11C). This is what the Gazette text says, not legal advice. Other states may have different orders, so ask your RTO or Transport Department. We do not give a calendar date.
Does AIS 140 apply to school buses?
In Maharashtra, the Gazette applies to school buses, education institution buses and school vans, and asks for a VLTD (Vehicle Location Tracking Device) conforming to specifications not inferior to AIS-140. If your school is in another state, ask your RTO what applies there.
Is AIS-140 GPS mandatory in Mumbai and Pune?
The Gazette is a Maharashtra notification, so it is a state notification, not one for a single city. Mumbai and Pune are in Maharashtra. Please confirm with your RTO how it applies to each of your vehicles.
What is a VLTD in Maharashtra?
VLTD means Vehicle Location Tracking Device. The Maharashtra Gazette of 16 July 2026 asks for a VLTD on school buses, education institution buses and school vans.
I already have a GPS device on my school bus. Do I need a new one for AIS 140?
It depends on the device. The Gazette asks for a VLTD conforming to specifications not inferior to AIS-140. Ask the seller for the model name and the test details. Then check with your RTO before you buy anything new.
What happens if a school bus does not have AIS-140 after the time is over?
The Gazette says (rule 11C) that a vehicle that does not comply within three months from Gazette publication (16 July 2026) is liable to have its permit suspended or cancelled. Ask your RTO about the date that applies to you.
Is a basic GPS tracker enough?
A tracker that is not built to AIS-140 specifications does not fit the Maharashtra clause. See our guide on AIS-140 vs basic GPS for school buses.
Is the My School Ride GPS device an AIS-140 device?
The Satcop India school page describes a 4G GPS device on the bus and does not say which model it is. The Satcop India AIS-140 page describes its AIS-140 device. Ask us for the model name and test details for your buses.
How much does an AIS-140 device for a school bus cost?
The Gazette gives no price. Ask for a quote that lists the device, panic button, data subscription, installation, warranty and GST.
See it for your buses
Tell us your city and how many buses you run. We will walk you through how the GPS device, the panic button, the parent app and the options for cameras and attendance work together. Book a demo · Chat with us on WhatsApp · Call +91 8600 002222
Sources
| # | Source | URL | What it supports | How checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maharashtra Government Gazette, Extraordinary, Part IV-A, No. 309, 16 July 2026 | https://transport.maharashtra.gov.in/Site/Upload/GR/SchoolBusFinalRulesGazette16072026.pdf | Rules 10(xxix)(a), 10A and 11C | Downloaded and read in full, 3 Oct 2026 |
| 2 | PIB, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, release of 31 Oct 2018 | https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=184510 | AIS-140 background, emergency alerts, VAHAN upload | Opened and read, 2 Oct 2026 |
| 3 | satcop.com AIS-140 / IRNSS page | https://www.satcop.com/ais-140irnss/ | Satcop India's own wording on its AIS-140 device and its safety I/O | Fetched 2 Oct 2026 |
| 4 | satcop.com school bus page (My School Ride) | https://www.satcop.com/school-bus-tracking-solution/ | My School Ride 4G GPS device, about 5 second refresh, driver app SOS to admin | Fetched 2 Oct 2026 |