Indian Railways offers concessions on train tickets to specific set of passengers which includes persons with disabilities, students, war widows, senior citizens, farmers, artists and sports persons among others. Indian Railways has a total network of 1,08,706 kilometres across broad gauge, meter gauge and narrow gauge and operates 11,000 trains on a daily basis. Out of 11,000 trains operated by Indian Railways 7,000 are passenger trains, according to the carrier’s website, www.indianrailways.gov.in. Indian Railways concession rules are not granted for any journey the cost of which is borne by the central or state government, Indian Railways said. Passengers have to mention the type of concession they want to avail while booking train ticket on the IRCTC web portal irctc.co.in or at Railways reservation centre.
IRCTC Train Ticket Concession: Here are details of concession being offered by Indian Railways to different categories of persons:
| CATEGORY OF PERSONS | PERCENTAGE ELEMENT OF CONCESSION |
|---|---|
| Disabled passengers | |
| Orthopaedically Handicapped/ Paraplegic persons alongwith an escort (cannot travel without escort) traveling for any purpose | — 75% in 2nd class, SL, 1st class, 3AC, AC chair car
— 50% in 1AC and 2 AC — 25% in 3AC & AC Chair Car of Rajdhani/Shatabdi trains — 50% in MST & QST — One escort is also eligible for same element of concession |
| Blind persons traveling alone or with an escort for any purpose | |
| Mentally retarded persons traveling with an escort for any purpose | |
| Deaf & Dumb persons (both afflictions together in the same person) traveling alone or with an escort for any purpose. | — 50% in 2nd class, SL, 1st class — 50% in MST & QST — One escort is also eligible for same element of concession |
| Patients | |
| Cancer patients traveling alone or with an escort for treatment/periodic check-up. | — 75% in 2nd class, 1st class, AC chair car
— 100% in SL & 3AC — 50% in 1AC & 2AC — One escort eligible for same element of concession(except in SL and 3AC where escort gets 75%) |
| Thalassemia patients traveling alone or with an escort for treatment/periodic check-up | — 75% in 2nd class, SL, 1st class, 3AC, AC chair car
— 50% in 1AC & 2AC — One escort is also eligible for same element of concession |
| Heart patients traveling alone or with an escort for heart surgery | |
| Kidney patients traveling alone or with an escort for kidney transplant Operation/Dialysis | |
| Haemophilia Patients – severe & moderate form of disease – traveling alone or with an escort for treatment/periodical check up. | — 75% in 2nd class, SL, 1st class, 3AC, AC chair car
— One escort is also eligible for same element of concession |
| T.B./Lupas Valgaris patients traveling alone or with an escort for treatment/periodic check-up | — 75% in 2nd class, SL, 1st class
— One escort is also eligible for same element of concession |
| Non-infectious Leprosy patients – for treatment/periodic checkup. | |
| AIDS patients – for treatment/check-up at nominated ART Centres | — 50% in 2nd class
— 50% in MST & QST — One escort is also eligible for same element of concession |
| Ostomy patients – traveling for any purpose. | |
| Patients suffering from Aplastic Anaemia travelling for treatment/periodical check-up to recognized hospitals by Mail/Express Trains. | — 50% in basic fares of SL, AC-2-tier, 3AC, AC chair car classes. |
| Patients suffering from Sickle Cell Anaemia travelling for treatment/periodical check-up to recognized hospitals by Mail/Express Trains. | — 50% in basic fares of SL, AC-2-tier, 3AC, AC chair car classes. |
| Senior Citizens | |
| Men – 60 years and above
Women – 58 years and above – traveling for any purpose. |
— 40% in all classes
— 50% in all classes — Also in Rajdhani/ Shatabdi/ Duronto trains |
| Awardees | |
| Recipients of Presidents Police Medal for Distinguished Service and Indian Police Award for Meritorious services, after the age of 60 – traveling for any purpose. | — 50% for men
— 60% for women — In all classes and Rajdhani/ Shatabdi/Jan Shatabdi trains also |
| Shram Awardees – Industrial Workers awarded the Prime Minister’s Shram Award for Productivity and Innovation – traveling for any purpose. | — 75% in 2nd and SL class |
| National Awardee Teachers – honoured with National Award by the President of India for exemplary service in the field of education – traveling for any purpose. | — 50% in 2nd and SL class |
| Either of parents accompanying the Child Recipients of National Bravery Award – traveling for any purpose. | — 50% in 2nd and SL class |
| War Widows | |
| War Widows – traveling for any purpose. | — 75% in 2nd and SL class |
| Widows of Policemen and Paramilitary personnel killed in action against Terrorists and Extremists – traveling for any purpose. | — 75% in 2nd and SL class |
| Widows of I.P.K.F. Personnel killed in action in Sri Lanka – traveling for any purpose. | — 75% in 2nd and SL class |
| Widows of defence personnel killed in action against terrorists & extremists Extremists – traveling for any purpose. | — 75% in 2nd and SL class |
| Widows of Martyrs of Operation Vijay in Kargil in 1999 traveling for any purpose. | — 75% in 2nd and SL class |
| Students | |
| Students going to hometown and educational tours : –
— General Category – — SC/ST Category – — Girls upto Graduation and boys upto 12thstandard (including students of Madrasa) between home & school (MST) |
— 50% in 2nd and SL class — 75% in 2nd and SL class — Free second class MST |
| Students of Govt. schools in rural areas – for study tour – once a year. | — 75% in 2nd class |
| Entrance exam – Girls of Govt. schools in rural areas for national level for medical, engineering, etc. entrance exam | — 75% in 2nd class |
| Concession to students appearing in main written examination conducted by UPSC & Central Staff Selection Commissions. | — 50% in 2nd class |
| Foreign students studying in India – traveling to attend camps/seminars organised by Govt. of India and also visit to places of historical & other importance during vacations. | — 50% in 2nd and SL class |
| Research scholars upto the age of 35 years – for journeys in connection with research work. | — 50% in 2nd and SL class |
| Students and non-students participating in Work Camps | — 25% in 2nd and SL class |
| Cadets and Marine Engineers apprentices undergoing Navigational/ Engineering training for Mercantile Marine – for travel between home and training ship. | — 50% in 2nd and SL class |
| Youths | |
| Youths attending National Integration Camps of :-
(a) National Youth Project (b) Manav Uththan Sewa Sami ti |
— 50% in 2nd and SL class — 40% in 2nd and SL class< |
| Unemployed youths :
(i) To attend interview for job in Public Sector Organisations (i.e. Central/ State Govt offices, Statutory Bodies, Municipal Corporation, Govt Under-taking, University or Public Sector Body.) (ii) To attend interviews for jobs in Central & State Govt. |
— 50% in 2nd and SL class — 100% in 2nd class |
| Bharat Scouts & Guides – for scouting duty. | — 50% in 2nd and SL class |
| Kisans | |
| Kisans and Industrial Labourers – for visit to agricultural/industrial exhibitions. | — 25% in 2nd and SL class |
| Kisans traveling by Govt. sponsored Special trains. | — 33% in 2nd and SL class |
| Kisans & Milk Producers – visit to National level Institutes for learning/raining better farming/ dairy | — 50% in 2nd and SL class |
| Delegates for attending Annual Conferences of : (i) Bharat Krishak Samaj and (ii) Sarvodaya Samaj, Wardha. |
— 50% in 2nd and SL class |
| Artists and Sports Persons | |
| Artistes – for performance. | — 75% in 2nd class, SL class
— 50% in 1st & AC chair car, 3AC, 2AC — 50% in of Rajdhani/Shatabdi/Jan Shatabdi AC Chair car, 3AC & 2AC trains |
| Film Technicians – Travelling for film production related work | — 75% in SL class
— 50% in 1st & AC chair car, 3AC, 2AC — Including Rajdhani/Shatabdi |
| Sportsmen participating in : (i) All India and State tournaments (ii) National tournaments |
— 75% in 2nd and SL class — 50% in 1st class — 75% in 2nd, SL class |
| Persons taking part in Mountaineering Expeditions organised by IMF | — 75% in 2nd and SL class — 50% in 1st class |
| Press Correspondents accredited to Headquarters of Central & State Governments/Union Territories/ Districts – for press work.
Spouse/Companion/Dependent children (upto 18 yrs) |
— 50% in all classes and in all inclusive fares of Rajdhani/Shatabdi/Jan Shatabdi trains.
— 50% concession twice every financial year. |
| Medical Professionals | |
| Doctors Allopathic – traveling for any purpose. | — 10% in all classes and Rajdhani/ Shatabdi/Jan Shatabdi trains |
| Nurses & Midwives – for leave and duty. | — 25% in 2nd and SL class |
| Others (Conference, Camps, Tours etc) | |
| Delegates for attending Annual Conferences certain All India bodies of social/cultural/educational importance. | — 25% in 2nd and SL class |
| Bharat Sewa Dal, Bangalore – for attending camps/meetings/rallies/ trekking programmes. | — 25% in 2nd and SL class |
| Volunteers of Service Civil International – for social service. | — 25% in 2nd and SL class |
| Teachers of Primary, Secondary and Higher Secondary Schools – for educational tours. | — 25% in 2nd and SL class |
| Members of St. John Ambulance Brigade and Relief Welfare Ambulance Corps, Calcutta – for ambulance camps/ competitions. | — 25% in 2nd and SL class |
| Izzat MST | |
| Izzat MST to persons with monthly income not exceeding 1500/-, working in unorganised sectors – for journeys upto maximum 100 Kms. | — Rs. 25/- |
Here are rules for availing concession for travelling in Indian Railways:
Indian Railways concession is applicable only on the basic fare and not on other charges like superfast surcharge, reservation fee, etc, Indian Railways said.
In case of Rajdhani, Shatabdi or Jan Shatabdi trains the concession shall be admissible on the total charges (including catering fee) of these trains.
The concessions will be admissible subject to the minimum distance of 300 kilometres, except in the case of students, blind, orthopedically handicapped/paraplegic persons, TB and cancer patients.
Only one type of concession is admissible at a time at the choice of passenger and no person is allowed two or more concessions simultaneously.
Except senior citizens, concession on Indian Railway is admissible on production of the requisite certificate from the concerned person.
In the case of senior citizens, no proof of age is required at the time of purchasing tickets. Concession tickets are issued on demand made through the option in reservation form. However, they are required to carry some documentary proof showing their age or date of birth and produce it if demanded by some Railway Official during the journey.
The holder of a concession ticket is not permitted to change the ticket to a higher class even by paying the difference of actual fares.
Source:-ndtv
