Train ticket insurance: What changes for passengers booking at railway counters from October 27?

Passengers buying train tickets at railway reservation counters will be brought under the railway travel insurance framework from October 27, 2026, following a direction from the Supreme Court.

In its October 6 order in Union of India v. Radha Yadav and connected matters, the Supreme Court directed Indian Railways to extend insurance coverage to tickets sold at railway reservation counters, noting that passengers booking online were already able to access the facility by paying an additional amount.

The direction addresses the gap between online and offline bookings. However, the order does not specify the premium or the operational procedure that will apply to passengers purchasing tickets at railway counters.

What is the existing IRCTC travel insurance scheme?

Under the existing online booking arrangement, eligible Indian citizens can opt for travel insurance while booking eligible e-tickets through IRCTC. According to the existing policy information cited by IRCTC, the premium is 45 paise per passenger, inclusive of taxes.

The insurance is optional under the existing online scheme. Passengers who choose the facility receive policy details from the insurance company through SMS and email to their registered contact details. They can also check their policy number through their IRCTC booking history.

How much insurance coverage is available?

The existing IRCTC travel insurance policy provides benefits for specified losses arising from covered railway accidents or untoward incidents. The benefits include:

• Death: ₹10 lakh.

• Permanent total disability: ₹10 lakh.

• Permanent partial disability: Up to ₹7.5 lakh.

• Hospitalisation expenses for injuries: Up to ₹2 lakh.

• Transportation of mortal remains: ₹10,000.

These amounts are subject to the applicable policy terms, conditions and exclusions. The ₹10 lakh benefit is not an automatic payment to every passenger involved in a railway accident.

What changes for passengers booking at railway counters?

From October 27, 2026, the Supreme Court's direction requires tickets sold over the counter at railway stations to be covered by insurance in the same manner as tickets purchased online.

This would extend the insurance facility to passengers who buy their tickets directly at reservation counters instead of using IRCTC's online booking platform.

However, the existing online booking process cannot automatically be assumed to apply to counter bookings. The Court's order does not spell out how counter-ticket passengers will be enrolled, whether they will need to pay a separate premium.