Railway Counter Insurance: Digital Payment Mandatory from Oct 27
Indian Railways mandates digital payments for counter ticket insurance starting October 27, 2026, following a Supreme Court directive.
Passengers booking reserved tickets at physical railway counters will face a significant change in how they purchase travel insurance. Starting October 27, 2026, any passenger opting for insurance during a counter booking must complete the entire transaction via digital payment.
Supreme Court Directs Equal Insurance Coverage
This new regulation follows a directive issued by the Supreme Court of India on October 6, 2026. The bench, consisting of Justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and R. Mahadevan, mandated that offline counter-booked tickets must offer the same travel insurance coverage as those purchased online. To ensure compliance, the Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS) has already implemented the necessary software updates across all reservation counters.
Why Digital Payment is Now Required
The shift to mandatory digital payments is driven by a practical challenge regarding the 45-paise insurance premium. Because small denomination coins—specifically the 5, 10, 20, and 25 paise coins—are no longer legal tender, collecting the premium in cash has become difficult. As a result, if a passenger chooses to include insurance, the entire transaction, including both the ticket fare and the insurance premium, must be settled digitally.
Insurance Benefits and Eligibility
The insurance policy is designed to provide financial security for Indian citizens. It is available for those holding confirmed, Reservation Against Cancellation (RAC), or partially confirmed tickets. The coverage includes:
- Up to ₹10 lakh for death or permanent complete disability resulting from accidents or untoward incidents.
- Coverage for hospitalization expenses.
- Costs associated with the transportation of mortal remains.
Important Booking Requirements
To facilitate the issuance of the policy, passengers are required to provide a valid mobile number at the time of booking. This ensures that confirmation details and policy information can be sent directly via SMS and email.
Cancellation Policy Details
Passengers should be aware of the specific rules regarding ticket cancellations. If a ticket is canceled, ₹0.09 of the 45-paise insurance premium will be forfeited, in addition to any standard cancellation fees charged by the Railways.