AIS-140 for School Buses: What Schools Need to Know

Last checked: 3 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. In Maharashtra, the Gazette of 16 July 2026 says every school bus, education institution bus and school van must install a Vehicle Location Tracking Device (VLTD) with a panic button, conforming to specifications not inferior to AIS-140 (rule 10(xxix)(a)). A plain GPS tracker with no panic button and no AIS-140 specifications does not fit that clause. 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.

What is AIS-140?

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 made these devices compulsory for 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 and panic button (rule 10(xxix)(a)): a VLTD with a panic button, 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 sets a test requirement for this system. Read the exact words in the Gazette.
• Time to comply (rule 11C): within three months from Gazette publication (16 July 2026). 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.

The panic button

The Gazette asks for a VLTD with a panic button. The panic button is part of the tracking device. 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. We do not say the app SOS is the panic button the Gazette names.

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 must 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 made these devices compulsory for public service vehicles by a notification of 25 October 2018.

Is AIS-140 needed on school buses in Maharashtra?

The Gazette of 16 July 2026 says every school bus, education institution bus and school van must install a VLTD with a panic button, conforming to specifications not inferior to AIS-140 (rule 10(xxix)(a)). Other states may have different orders.

Does a school bus need a panic button?

In Maharashtra, yes: the Gazette asks for a VLTD with a panic button. The button is part of the device. Ask the seller where it is fitted and how the alert is sent.

Is a basic GPS tracker enough?

A tracker that is not built to AIS-140 specifications and has no panic button 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 free school demo · Chat with us on WhatsApp · Call +91 8600 002222

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