Indian Railways is expanding its lifetime free rail travel facility to more Armed Forces personnel who have received gallantry awards, along with certain eligible family members.
Under the expanded scheme, recipients of the Sena Medal (Gallantry), Nao Sena Medal (Gallantry) and Vayu Sena Medal (Gallantry) will be eligible for free travel on Indian Railways.
The facility is being introduced through a digital and paperless system. Eligible beneficiaries will have to register online and complete an eligibility verification process before receiving an electronic pass. Ticket bookings through IRCTC under the expanded facility are scheduled to begin on November 1, 2026.
Who is eligible?
The expanded benefit covers Armed Forces personnel who have received:
- Sena Medal (Gallantry)
- Nao Sena Medal (Gallantry)
- Vayu Sena Medal (Gallantry)
Eligible recipients can travel without paying fare in First Class, Second AC (2AC) and AC Chair Car. One accompanying companion will also be allowed to travel without paying the fare.
Family members can also avail the benefit
The facility also covers certain family members of eligible gallantry award recipients.
This includes spouses of Army, Navy and Air Force personnel who received the specified medals. Widows and widowers of gallantry award recipients can also qualify, provided they have not remarried.
If an unmarried Armed Forces personnel received a gallantry medal posthumously, their parents can also be eligible for the benefit.
IRCTC bookings to begin from November 1
The new system will cover registration, verification and ticket booking digitally.
Eligible beneficiaries will first have to register through the Indian Railway Concession Card Portal (IRCCP). After their eligibility is verified, an electronic e-pass will be issued.
The e-pass can then be used to book eligible train tickets through the IRCTC platform. The expanded booking facility is scheduled to start on November 1, 2026.
Six major gallantry awards already covered
Lifetime free rail travel was already available to recipients of six major gallantry awards: Param Vir Chakra, Maha Vir Chakra, Vir Chakra, Ashoka Chakra, Kirti Chakra and Shaurya Chakra.
The latest expansion adds the Sena Medal, Nao Sena Medal and Vayu Sena Medal awarded for gallantry to the list.
The Defence Ministry’s digital system is aimed at simplifying the registration and verification process by replacing physical paperwork with online verification and electronic passes.