Indian Railways Concession Rules: Know the Rules and list of categories to avail Concession on Train tickets in Indian Railways, else you will be in trouble

Indian Railways Concession Rules: Know the Rules and list of categories to avail Concession on Train tickets in Indian Railways, else you will be in trouble during your train journey.

Indian Railways allows concession is admissible to Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjans), Patients and Students in their train ticket fares . The rules, procedures, entitlements, purposes, etc for train ticket fare concessions are mentioned under different serial numbers in IRCA Coaching Tariff, Part I (Vol. II), which is available on the Indian Railways Website.

According to the latest notification, ticket fare concessions are currently granted to 4 categories of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan), 11 categories of Patients, and 8 categories of Students. These concessions apply only to the basic fare of Mail/Express trains, and no concession is allowed on additional charges such as superfast surcharge, reservation fee, or for journeys sponsored by government or corporate bodies.

Indian Railways Concession for Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan)

Under the new rules, concessions for Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjans) include up to 75% discount in Second AC, Sleeper, First Class, and AC Chair Car coaches. Persons with blindness, hearing and speech impairment, orthopaedic disability, and intellectual disability (w.e.f. 01.06.2025) are eligible for these benefits, with one escort also receiving the same concession.

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Concession for Medical Patients

Indian Railways has allowed up to 100% concession in some categories for medical patients. Cancer patients traveling in Sleeper and 3AC classes will get a full 100% train ticket fare Concession, while other patients such as those with Thalassemia, Heart Disease, Kidney ailments, Haemophilia, TB, Lupas Valgaris, non-infectious leprosy, AIDS, Ostomy, Sickle Cell Anaemia, and Aplastic Anaemia will receive concessions between 50% and 75% on their ticket fare. Escorts accompanying these patients are also eligible for concessions in most cases.

Student Concession in Indian Railways

Students are eligible for concessions on ticket fares depending on the purpose of travel. General category students traveling to hometowns or on educational tours are allowed a 50% concession in Second and Sleeper classes, while SC/ST students receive a 75% concession. Special provisions have been made for girl students up to graduation and boys up to class 12, which allows them free travel in second-class Monthly Season Tickets (MST) between home and school.

Other eligible student categories include government school students in rural areas traveling for study tours, girls attending national-level entrance exams, research scholars up to the age of 35, foreign students studying in India, and candidates appearing for UPSC or Central Staff Selection Commission exams.

General Concession Rules for Indian Railways

Indian Railways has clarified that only one type of concession can be availed at a time. To avail the concessio benefits, the passenger(s) need to show a valid certificate from an official government officer. Concessions are not available on luxury trains such as Rajdhani, Shatabdi, Vande Bharat, Duronto, Gatimaan, Garib Rath, and Humsafar, or for online bookings, except for eligible Persons with Disabilities holding a valid Railway Divyangjan ID card.

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Indian Railways has made it mandatory for concession tickets must be booked at station counters or authorized booking offices, and misuse of these benefits may lead to the revocation of the concession or penalties.

The full list of rules, procedures, and eligibility criteria is available on the Indian Railways official website under the IRCA Coaching Tariff, Part I (Vol. II).