Indian Railways is extending its Optional Travel Insurance Scheme to passengers booking reserved tickets at physical railway reservation counters, bringing offline bookings under an insurance facility previously available through the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) online platform.
The rollout follows a direction from the Supreme Court requiring the Railways to extend insurance coverage to tickets purchased over the counter. The Railway Board instructed railway zones to make the necessary arrangements for implementation from October 27.
Editorial Insight
Key Highlights
Important points readers should notice.
Issue/Event: Extension of optional railway travel insurance to reservation counters
Location: Railway reservation counters across India
Authority/Organisation: Ministry of Railways and Railway Board
Action Taken: Counter-booking arrangements introduced from October 27, 2026, following a Supreme Court direction
Impact: Eligible passengers purchasing reserved tickets offline can opt for insurance under the applicable scheme
Under the scheme, eligible passengers can opt for travel insurance by paying a premium of 45 paise per passenger, inclusive of taxes. The maximum benefit can reach ₹10 lakh for specified covered events, including death or permanent total disability resulting from a covered railway accident or untoward incident.
The insurance remains optional. Passengers should explicitly choose the facility when booking their tickets rather than assume that coverage is automatically included with every reserved ticket.
Who Can Opt for the Insurance?
Editorial Analysis
Why This Matters
The extension makes optional railway travel insurance available to a wider group of passengers by including eligible reserved tickets purchased at physical counters. For passengers who do not routinely use online booking services, the change creates another route to access the insurance facility. The low premium may make the option accessible to many travellers, although passengers should assess the policy terms and exclusions before opting in. The development also highlights the importance of understanding the difference between an insurance benefit and automatic compensation. The maximum coverage is subject to the terms of the policy and the circumstances of a covered incident. For the Railways, the implementation will require reservation systems and counter staff to support the booking option, collect the premium correctly and record passenger details for policy issuance.
The extension is intended to make the insurance facility accessible to passengers who purchase reserved tickets directly from railway reservation counters instead of booking through the IRCTC website or app.
According to the reported Railway Board instructions, the facility applies to eligible confirmed, Reservation Against Cancellation (RAC) and partially confirmed reserved tickets, subject to the scheme's conditions.
Passengers choosing insurance must provide a valid mobile number and pay the ticket fare, including the insurance premium, through an accepted digital payment method. Cash payment is not accepted for the insurance option under the counter-booking arrangement.
The registered mobile number is important because the insurance policy details are communicated to passengers through their contact information. Passengers should check that their details are recorded correctly and follow any instructions provided by the insurer for completing policy formalities.
Unreserved and general tickets should not be assumed to qualify for the scheme. Passengers should confirm their eligibility and the applicable policy conditions at the reservation counter before completing the booking.
How Much Insurance Coverage Is Available?
The existing Optional Travel Insurance Scheme provides different benefits depending on the nature of a covered incident and the resulting loss.
The reported benefit limits include:
- Death: Up to ₹10 lakh.
- Permanent total disability: Up to ₹10 lakh.
- Permanent partial disability: Up to ₹7.5 lakh.
- Hospitalisation expenses for injuries: Up to ₹2 lakh.
- Transportation of mortal remains: Up to ₹10,000.
These amounts are subject to the insurance policy's terms, exclusions and claim requirements. The ₹10 lakh figure is a maximum benefit for specified covered events, not a guaranteed payment to every passenger involved in a railway accident.
Passengers should review the insurer's policy documents to understand what is covered, what evidence may be required for a claim and how to contact the insurance company if an incident occurs.
Why Digital Payment Is Mandatory
One important condition of the counter-booking facility is that passengers opting for insurance must pay digitally.
The Railway Board's instructions specify that the insurance premium must be collected along with the ticket fare through digital payment methods. The passenger's mobile number and other required details must also be recorded accurately to support policy issuance.
This requirement means passengers intending to purchase the insurance should be prepared to use an accepted payment method, such as UPI, a debit or credit card, or another supported digital payment facility.
Passengers who pay in cash should not expect the insurance option to be added under the counter-booking arrangement. Those who want the cover should confirm the payment procedure with the reservation staff before completing the transaction.
Why the Supreme Court's Direction Matters
The expansion follows a Supreme Court direction concerning the availability of railway travel insurance for passengers purchasing tickets at physical counters.
The earlier arrangement primarily made the optional facility available to eligible passengers booking reserved e-tickets online. Extending it to counter bookings addresses a difference in access between online and offline ticket purchasers.
Passengers continue to make their own choice about whether to opt for insurance, subject to the applicable booking and policy requirements. The extension does not replace railway safety measures or change the need for passengers to follow official travel instructions.
The development is particularly relevant to people who prefer booking tickets at railway stations or rely on physical reservation counters rather than digital booking platforms.
What Passengers Should Check Before Booking
Passengers planning to opt for insurance should confirm that their ticket qualifies under the scheme, provide accurate contact details and ensure they can complete the required digital payment.
They should also retain their ticket and policy communication, read the insurer's terms and understand the process for reporting an incident or filing a claim.
The insurance facility is intended to provide financial protection for specified covered events. It should not be confused with a universal guarantee of compensation for every injury, delay, cancellation or other railway-related inconvenience.
The actual benefits payable will depend on the nature of the incident, the policy conditions and the evidence submitted during the claim process.
