Can spending just 45 paise on a train ticket provide ₹10 lakh in accident insurance? Yes, but receiving that amount depends on the type of injury and the policy’s conditions.
Indian Railways’ 45-paise travel insurance scheme covers specified accidents and untoward incidents during eligible train journeys. Following a Supreme Court order, the Railway Board has directed that the facility also be offered at reserved-ticket counters from October 27, 2026. Previously, the optional cover was available through IRCTC e-ticket bookings.
Key Highlights
- Insurance costs 45 paise per passenger, including taxes.
- Maximum death or permanent total disability cover is ₹10 lakh.
- Reserved-ticket counter bookings become eligible from October 27, 2026.
- Claims must generally be submitted within four months.
- Insurers must settle payable claims within 15 days of receiving the final required document.
Why Is Indian Railways Extending 45-Paise Insurance to Counter Tickets?
A passenger booking online could already purchase accident insurance. Someone purchasing the same reserved journey at a railway counter did not have that option.
The Supreme Court questioned this difference while hearing Union of India vs Radha Yadav. Its October 6, 2026 order directed Railways to extend insurance to counter tickets from October 27.
The Railway Board subsequently instructed reservation offices to introduce the option. Under the announced arrangements, counter passengers must provide their mobile number and pay digitally.
The change could reach a substantial number of travellers. In Tamil Nadu alone, around 30,000–35,000 passengers travel on approximately 14,500 tickets booked daily at reservation counters, The New Indian Express reported on October 26.
There is one limitation. The announced implementation concerns reserved Passenger Reservation System (PRS) tickets. Ordinary unreserved general-class tickets are not included in the existing insurance arrangement.
Who Is Eligible and How Much Does the Insurance Pay?
Under IRCTC’s official insurance terms, Indian citizens holding confirmed, RAC, or partially confirmed reservations can purchase coverage when booking.
The premium has remained 45 paise per passenger since February 17, 2024. Once insurance is selected for a PNR, every passenger covered by that booking must be insured.
| Covered Event | Maximum Insurance Benefit |
| Accidental death | ₹10 lakh |
| Permanent total disability | ₹10 lakh |
| Permanent partial disability | ₹7.5 lakh |
| Hospitalisation due to covered injury | ₹2 lakh |
| Transportation of mortal remains | ₹10,000 |
These are category-specific benefits, not a guaranteed ₹10 lakh payment for every accident.
The policy covers eligible railway accidents and defined untoward incidents, including certain accidental falls. Coverage generally runs from the train’s actual departure at its originating station until arrival at the destination, including boarding and alighting.
Children below five travelling without a reserved seat or berth are excluded. Eligible ticketed children aged five to eleven are covered, including those without a separate berth.
How Can Passengers Buy the 45-Paise Railway Travel Insurance?
There is no separate insurance application to complete before an eligible ticket purchase.
For IRCTC e-tickets, the process is straightforward:
- Visit IRCTC’s official booking website or use its authorised app.
- Select the optional travel insurance checkbox during booking.
- Pay the ticket fare and insurance premium together.
- Save the policy information sent by the insurance company.
- Complete nominee details using the insurer’s link.
From October 27, passengers buying eligible reserved tickets at PRS counters can request the same protection. Digital payment and a valid mobile number are required.
Keep the insurance policy number accessible. For online bookings, it can also be found in IRCTC’s booked-ticket history.
An important distinction: the insurer issues the policy and handles compensation, not IRCTC.
How to Claim Railway Travel Insurance After an Accident
The claims process begins with the insurance company identified in the policy documents.
IRCTC’s published terms require written claim submission within four months of the insured incident.
The documents depend on the claim:
- Death: Railway accident report, claim form, nominee identification, bank details, and supporting death records.
- Disability: Medical assessment, disability certificate, relevant investigation reports and railway incident documentation.
- Hospitalisation: Discharge summary, original medical bills, prescriptions, payment receipts and railway accident report.
Where no nominee was registered, legal heirs may need succession documents.
The policy requires payable benefits to be released within 15 days after the insurer receives the last necessary document. That does not mean every submitted claim is automatically approved.
There is evidence of actual payouts. In an August 6, 2025 Lok Sabha reply, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw reported 333 settled claims and ₹27.22 crore paid over the preceding five years.
Before your next railway booking, inspect the insurance option and save the policy details. If an insured incident occurs, contact the insurer promptly rather than waiting until the four-month deadline approaches.
FAQs
Is Indian Railways’ 45-paise travel insurance compulsory?
No. The insurance remains optional for passengers. However, when selected for an eligible booking, coverage applies to all passengers under that PNR.
Can passengers claim ₹10 lakh for any railway accident?
Not automatically. ₹10 lakh applies to covered death or permanent total disability. Other injuries have separate benefit limits, with payment subject to the policy.
Are passengers buying railway counter tickets eligible for insurance?
Eligible reserved-ticket passengers can opt for insurance from October 27, 2026. They must provide a mobile number and pay through an accepted digital payment method.
What happens if a passenger forgets to add nominee details?
The policy can still provide coverage. However, death claims without a registered nominee may require legal heirs to submit additional documentation establishing their entitlement.
How long does railway travel insurance claim settlement take?
IRCTC’s terms specify payment within 15 days after receipt of the final necessary document for an accepted claim. Missing evidence can delay processing.
Indian Railways Related Articles
1. Will IRCTC Make Tatkal Booking Faster?
Check out the IRCTC website changes and Tatkal booking updates.
2. How Can You Book Festival Trains?
Find easy steps to book festival special train tickets.
3. Is Railway Ticket Insurance Now Mandatory?
Uncover the October 27 insurance changes and passenger benefits.
4. What Changed in Tatkal Booking Rules?
See the latest Tatkal ticket booking rules and requirements.
5. Which Trains Are Cancelled or Diverted?
Browse train cancellations, diversions and important travel updates.
