Indian Railways will extend its optional travel insurance scheme to eligible passengers booking reserved tickets at Passenger Reservation System (PRS) counters from 27 October 2026, offering coverage of up to Rs 10 lakh for a premium of 45 paise per passenger. The facility was previously available only to passengers booking reserved e-tickets through the IRCTC platform.
The insurance will remain optional. Passengers choosing the cover at a PRS counter will have to select the insurance option on the revised reservation form, provide a mobile number and pay both the ticket fare and premium digitally. Western Railway will make the revised forms available at all its PRS centres and provide passengers with information about the insurance, digital payment requirement and mobile-number requirement.
Under the reported scheme, eligible passengers will receive up to Rs 10 lakh in the event of death or permanent total disability caused by a railway accident or other incident covered by the policy during the journey. Permanent partial disability will be covered up to Rs 7.5 lakh, while hospitalisation expenses resulting from an injury may be covered up to Rs 2 lakh. Subject to the policy’s terms and conditions, assistance of Rs 10,000 will also be available for transportation of the deceased’s body.
The scheme will apply only to Indian citizens. Passengers holding confirmed, RAC or partially confirmed tickets can opt for the cover. If the insurance option is selected for tickets booked under a single PNR, all eligible passengers on that PNR will receive coverage.
Children below five years who are booked without a berth or seat will not be eligible for the insurance. Children aged five to 11 will be eligible whether they are booked with or without a berth, according to the reported conditions. The premium will be 45 paise per passenger, inclusive of taxes.
After booking, policy details will be sent to the passenger’s registered mobile number. Passengers will then be required to use the link provided in the message to visit the insurer’s website and enter necessary details, including nominee information. In the event of death, the insurance amount will be paid to the declared nominee. If no nominee has been registered, settlement will be made according to the applicable rules on the basis of a legal-heir or succession certificate.
The insurance company concerned will be responsible for issuing the policy and processing claims. The extension brings passengers who continue to use railway reservation counters into a protection system that had been limited to online IRCTC bookings, while retaining digital payment and post-booking documentation as conditions for accessing the cover.
