The IRCTC Senior Citizen Concession was a special fare discount provided by Indian Railways to elderly passengers. It helped reduce travel expenses for seniors booking reserved train tickets through the IRCTC platform or railway reservation counters.
Many passengers still search online asking:
- What is senior citizen concession in IRCTC?
- How to avail senior citizen concession in IRCTC?
- Why no senior citizen concession in IRCTC currently?
This guide answers all those questions with the latest 2025 update, eligibility, rules, and expected return.
Table of contents
- 1 What is IRCTC Senior Citizen Concession?
- 2 How to Avail IRCTC Senior Citizen Concession (Earlier Process)
- 3 Why No Senior Citizen Concession in IRCTC Right Now?
- 4 Eligibility Criteria (Earlier Rules)
- 5 Documents Required (When Active)
- 6 Train Classes Applicable Earlier
- 7 Will Senior Citizen Concession Return?
- 8 FAQs
- 9 Conclusion
What is IRCTC Senior Citizen Concession?
Senior Citizen Concession in IRCTC refers to the discounted ticket price offered to elderly travellers booking train tickets in India. Under this scheme:
- Male passengers aged 60 years or above
- Female passengers aged 58 years or above
were eligible for reduced fares on most reserved classes including Sleeper, 3AC, 2AC, and others.
The concession amount varied depending on the class and distance, and passengers had to carry the same government ID used during booking.
How to Avail IRCTC Senior Citizen Concession (Earlier Process)
A common question users search is: How to avail senior citizen concession in IRCTC?
Earlier, the process was simple and available during online ticket booking.
Steps (When the feature was active):
- Login to your IRCTC account
- Select your train and travel details
- Under passenger form, select Senior Citizen Concession
- Provide valid ID proof (Aadhaar, PAN, Voter ID, etc.)
- Proceed with payment
Why No Senior Citizen Concession in IRCTC Right Now?
Many users ask: Why no senior citizen concession in IRCTC?
Indian Railways suspended the concession in 2020 during the COVID-19 period to reduce financial burden and avoid crowding.
Official Reasons Given:
| Reason | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Revenue Loss | Railways said concessions cost thousands of crores annually |
| Passenger Load | Indian Railways was running trains with restrictions |
| Operational Cost Increase | Fuel, maintenance, and staff cost rose sharply |
| Digital Modernization | Focus shifted to new tech like Vande Bharat |
As of 2025, there is no active senior citizen concession in IRCTC, and the option is removed from online ticket booking.
Eligibility Criteria (Earlier Rules)
| Category | Minimum Age | Status (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Female Senior Citizen | 58 years | ❌ Suspended |
| Male Senior Citizen | 60 years | ❌ Suspended |
Documents Required (When Active)
- Aadhaar Card
- Voter ID
- Passport
- Driving License
- PAN Card
Passengers needed to present the same ID during travel.
Train Classes Applicable Earlier
| Train Class | Concession Allowed Earlier |
|---|---|
| Sleeper | ✔ Yes |
| 3AC / 2AC / 1AC | ✔ Yes |
| Chair Car | ✔ Yes |
| Second Sitting | ✔ Yes |
Will Senior Citizen Concession Return?
There are ongoing discussions about restoring concessions, possibly in a partial or income-based system. Some proposals include:
- Concession only for Sleeper and 3AC
- Optional paid add-on instead of free discount
- Limits based on annual income
Nothing is officially confirmed yet.
FAQs
1. Is senior citizen concession available in IRCTC now?
No, it is still suspended.
2. Why no senior citizen concession in IRCTC now?
Due to high revenue loss and operational cost increase post-COVID.
3. How to avail senior citizen concession in IRCTC when restored?
It will likely return through the booking form during ticket reservation, just like earlier.
4. Is concession available on Tatkal or Premium Tatkal?
No — even before suspension, it was not allowed on Tatkal or Premium Tatkal bookings.
5. Are other concessions still available?
Yes — Divyang, medical, student, and patient concessions are still active.
Conclusion
The IRCTC Senior Citizen Concession was a beneficial scheme that helped millions of elderly travelers save money on railway journeys. While it remains discontinued for now, there is a possibility it may return in a revised format in the future.
Until then, stay updated through:
👉 Cancelled Train List Today
👉 IRCTC Refund Rules
The proposed Senior Citizen should be extended to Tatkal Booking also.
The senior citizen concession should not have been removed at all. While booking Tatkal ticket
seniors should have given priority in queue also.