IRCTC Travel Insurance: Rules, Coverage & Nominee Guide

TL;DR

IRCTC Travel Insurance is an optional cover available during booking on the IRCTC website or app. At just ₹0.45 per passenger, it provides up to ₹10,00,000 (10 Lakhs) for death or permanent disability, and ₹2,00,000 for hospitalization. Crucially, you must fill in nominee details via the provider's link post-booking to avoid legal delays. The policy is only for Indian citizens traveling on confirmed or RAC tickets.

What is IRCTC Travel Insurance and How Does It Work?

IRCTC Travel Insurance is an optional, passenger-friendly scheme offered by Indian Railways to cover passengers against accidents, injury, or death during a train journey. It is only available for Indian citizens who book e-tickets online via the official IRCTC website or mobile app. The coverage begins when you board and ends when you deboard.

When you book a ticket online, IRCTC offers you the option to opt-in for travel insurance. This scheme is not available for counter tickets or for foreign nationals. The insurance provider is randomly selected by the system from a panel of empanelled public and private insurers, such as SBI General Insurance or Liberty General Insurance.

The coverage spans the entire duration of the journey, including any scheduled halts. It covers incidents like train collisions, derailments, or other accidental events under the Railways Act, 1989. However, the policy does not cover any self-inflicted injuries or accidents that happen outside the railway station premises.

What is the Cost of Indian Railways Travel Insurance?

The cost of Indian Railways travel insurance is extremely low, currently set at just ₹0.45 (45 paise) per passenger, including all applicable taxes. This nominal premium is flat for all classes of travel—from Sleeper class to First AC. The premium is non-refundable even if you cancel your train ticket later.

The premium amount is automatically added to the ticket fare if you opt-in. Because the premium is incredibly cheap, it is highly recommended to select it for every booking.

Here is a quick look at the pricing rules:

Uniform Premium: Whether you travel in a general second-class coach or a premium Executive AC Chair Car, the premium remains exactly ₹0.45.
PNR-Wide Application: If you select the insurance option, it applies to all passengers booked under that single PNR (except children under 5 years, who travel for free without a berth).
Cancellation Policy: If you cancel your confirmed ticket, the ₹0.45 premium is not refunded.

How Do You Fill Nominee Details for IRCTC Travel Insurance?

To fill nominee details for IRCTC travel insurance, click the registration link sent to your registered email address or mobile number by the insurance company after booking. Enter the nominee’s name, age, relationship, and address on the insurance provider's portal. Completing this step is critical to ensure a hassle-free claim settlement process.

Many passengers make the mistake of opting in for the insurance but neglecting to fill in the nominee details. If you fail to register a nominee, any potential claim payouts in the event of an accident will be delayed, requiring your family members to obtain a Succession Certificate from a civil court.

After booking your ticket:

Look for an SMS or email from the assigned insurance provider (SBI General, Liberty General, etc.).
Click the unique URL provided in the message.
Enter your PNR and fill in the nominee's details.
Save the digital policy certificate for your records.

What is Covered Under IRCTC Travel Insurance Policies?

IRCTC travel insurance covers passenger death and permanent disability up to ₹10,00,000 (10 Lakhs) caused by train accidents or untoward incidents. It also provides up to ₹7,50,000 (7.5 Lakhs) for partial disability, up to ₹2,00,000 (2 Lakhs) for emergency hospitalization expenses, and ₹10,000 for transporting mortal remains back home.

The policy payout structure is strictly defined by the railway board. It is designed to offer maximum financial security to the victim's family at a microscopic cost.

Coverage Type	Payout Limit (INR)	Beneficiary
Death	₹10,00,000	Nominee / Legal Heir
Permanent Total Disability	₹10,00,000	Insured Passenger
Permanent Partial Disability	₹7,50,000	Insured Passenger
Hospitalization for Injury	₹2,00,000	Hospital / Insured Passenger
Mortal Remains Transportation	₹10,000	Family / Legal Representative

How Do You Claim IRCTC Train Travel Insurance?

To claim IRCTC train travel insurance, submit a completed claim form along with required documents to the assigned insurance company within 4 months (120 days) of the accident. Essential documents include the train ticket, PNR, government-issued photo identity card, medical reports, or official railway authority certificates verifying the incident details.

Do not contact IRCTC or the railway station master for the insurance payout. You must contact the specific insurance company assigned to your PNR.

Here is the step-by-step claim process:

Identify your insurer from your booking confirmation email or SMS.
Download the claim form from their website.
Gather required documents: TTE certificate or Station Master certificate confirming the accident, medical bills, FIR copy, and identity proof.
Submit the physical or digital documents to the insurer's claims department within 120 days.

Does Travel Insurance Cover Waitlisted (WL) or RAC Tickets?

Yes, travel insurance applies to waitlisted and RAC tickets, but only if they upgrade and you travel. WL full form is Waiting List; if a ticket stays waitlisted, it gets automatically cancelled and refunded. Once you progress from WL (Waiting List) → RAC (Reservation Against Cancellation) → Confirmed, the insurance becomes fully active upon boarding.

For example, if you start at a queue position like WL/10 and your ticket progresses to WL/1 by chart preparation, you are still waitlisted. If it does not clear further, the ticket is auto-cancelled and refunded. In this case, the ₹0.45 insurance premium is non-refundable, but you have no active coverage.

However, if you purchase a current available ticket—which is a fully confirmed seat with coach/berth numbers that opens 4 hours before departure and closes 30 minutes before—the travel insurance coverage is immediate and active as soon as you step onto the train.

For passengers navigating uncertain waitlists or seeking alternative travel routes, digital tools make the process seamless. Services like LastBerth let you perform a PNR status check to check your confirmation probability and discover alternative seat options. If your train is fully booked, the Finding Smart Seats feature lets you split your journey across multiple segments, and the Seat Status Coach Journey Lookup helps you find vacant berths after chart preparation.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What does WL stand for in Indian Railways?

WL full form is Waiting List. It indicates that the passenger does not have a confirmed seat yet and is in a queue to get a seat if other confirmed passengers cancel their bookings.

Is IRCTC travel insurance mandatory?

No. IRCTC travel insurance is completely optional. You can choose to opt-in or opt-out by checking or unchecking the box during the passenger details entry page.

Can a foreign citizen buy IRCTC travel insurance?

No. The travel insurance scheme offered on the IRCTC portal is strictly for Indian citizens. Foreign nationals booking tickets are not eligible for this cover.

What happens if I forget to fill in the nominee details?

If you forget to fill in the nominee details, the insurance remains valid, but any claim processing will become complex. The payout will only be released to legal heirs after they produce a Succession Certificate from a civil court.

Is the travel insurance premium refunded if the train is cancelled?

If the train is cancelled by the railways, you will receive a full refund of your ticket fare, but the ₹0.45 travel insurance premium is generally non-refundable as it goes directly to the insurance service provider.