Senior citizen concession on Indian Railways has been withdrawn since 20 March 2020, and it has not been restored. If you are 60 or 58 and looking for the 40% or 50% discount that used to apply, it is not available at booking today — on IRCTC, at a counter, or anywhere else. Anything you read that says otherwise is describing the rules as they stood before March 2020.
That is the short answer. What follows is where it comes from, what senior citizens do still get (which is worth knowing, because it is real and it is often missed), and where the question of restoring the concession currently stands.
The current position
The withdrawal came through Railway Board circular No. TC-II/2003/20/Covid19, issued in March 2020. Its subject line is the "withdrawal of concession in passenger fare for all categories of passengers except 4 categories of Divyangjan and 11 categories of patients", and the operative sentence reads:
"…it has been decided, as a special case, that no concessional UTS and PRS Ticket for all categories of passengers except Students, 4 categories of Divyangjan and 11 categories of patients shall be issued."
The circular says this "shall be applicable for tickets booked on or after 20.03.2020 till further advice". The measure was framed at the time as a COVID-19 step to discourage non-essential travel. The pandemic restrictions ended years ago; this particular measure did not.
IRCTC's own published page on the subject states it plainly, in a note at the top: "Please note, Senior Citizen Concession has been withdrawn w.e.f. 20.03.2020." The explanation of the 40% and 50% rates still sits below that note, which is very likely why so much of the material circulating online repeats those figures as though they were current. They describe the scheme as it was, not as it is.
As of September 2026 the concession has not returned. The Railway Ministry has been asked about it repeatedly in Parliament and has consistently replied that there is no proposal to restore it.
What the concession was, before March 2020
For context — and only for context, because none of this applies today:
| Passenger | Minimum age | Concession (until 19.03.2020) |
|---|---|---|
| Male senior citizens | 60 years | 40% off the basic fare |
| Female senior citizens | 58 years | 50% off the basic fare |
It applied across classes on Mail, Express, Rajdhani, Shatabdi, Jan Shatabdi and Duronto trains. The lower qualifying age for women was deliberate, not an error.
What senior citizens still get
This is the part worth reading, because it survived the 2020 withdrawal intact and a lot of travellers do not realise it exists. The fare concession went; the berth provisions did not.
Automatic lower-berth allotment. Senior citizens and women aged 45 and above are considered for a lower berth automatically, subject to availability — you do not have to select the preference during booking for it to be applied. Pregnant women are covered too.
An earmarked lower-berth quota. Indian Railways sets aside a combined quota per coach for senior citizens, women aged 45+ and pregnant women:
| Class | Lower berths earmarked, per coach |
|---|---|
| Sleeper (SL) | 6–7 |
| AC 3-Tier (3AC) | 4–5 |
| AC 2-Tier (2AC) | 3–4 |
The exact count varies with how many coaches of that class the train is running.
Reallocation after departure. If lower berths are still vacant once the train has left, the travelling ticket examiner can move senior citizens, passengers with disabilities and pregnant women who were given a middle or upper berth down to a lower one. It is worth asking the TTE rather than assuming.
None of these reduce the fare. They make the journey considerably more comfortable, which for an overnight trip is often the thing that actually matters.
Who does still get a fare concession
The March 2020 circular kept three groups, and they remain in place:
- Four categories of Divyangjan (persons with disabilities) — see our Divyangjan concession and quota guide.
- Eleven categories of patients, covering conditions such as cancer, thalassaemia, heart and kidney treatment travel.
- Students, under the existing student concession rules.
Age alone does not place anyone in these categories. A senior citizen travelling for cancer treatment qualifies as a patient, not as a senior citizen.
Will it be restored?
It has been raised persistently, and it is worth being precise about what has actually happened versus what has only been discussed.
What has happened: MPs have repeatedly demanded restoration in both Houses. A Parliamentary Standing Committee has recommended bringing the concession back, at least for Sleeper and 3AC. The Railway Ministry's answer has not changed — there is no proposal under active consideration, and the ministry's stated position is that passenger fares are already subsidised for every traveller.
What has only been floated: press reports have described options such as raising the qualifying age to 70, or limiting any restored concession to non-AC classes. These are proposals, not rules. Nothing of the sort is in force, and no date has been announced.
Treat any headline promising the concession is "back" with suspicion unless it cites a Railway Board circular. Several fact-checks have had to address exactly that claim.
Booking as a senior citizen today
A few practical points that follow from all of the above:
The senior-citizen option at booking is still there — it just does not discount anything. Entering an accurate age still matters, because that is what drives the automatic lower-berth consideration and the earmarked quota. Enter the real date of birth.
Carry original photo ID with date of birth. Aadhaar, PAN, Passport, Voter ID or a driving licence all work. This is standard practice for any reserved journey.
Do not expect a reduced fare on Tatkal. Tatkal never carried the senior citizen concession even before 2020, and it carries no concession now.
Book early for the berth, not the discount. The lower-berth quota is small and it goes quickly. Booking when the reservation window opens is the single most effective thing a senior traveller can do.
Common misconceptions
"The IRCTC website still lists 40% and 50%, so it must be available." IRCTC's page describes the scheme and carries a withdrawal notice above it. The rates are historical.
"It was a COVID measure, so it must have lapsed." The circular says the withdrawal applies "till further advice". No further advice restoring it has been issued.
"My relative got a discount last year." Worth checking what the discount actually was. Divyangjan, patient and student concessions all continue, as do state-level schemes on other transport that are sometimes confused with railway fares.
Rules do change, and this one is under sustained political pressure. Before a journey that depends on it, check irctc.co.in or a Railway Board circular directly rather than a summary — including this one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is senior citizen concession available on train tickets in 2026?
No. It was withdrawn with effect from 20 March 2020 by Railway Board circular TC-II/2003/20/Covid19 and has not been restored. IRCTC's own concession page carries the same withdrawal notice.
What was the senior citizen concession before it was withdrawn?
Men aged 60 and above received 40% off the basic fare and women aged 58 and above received 50%, across classes on Mail, Express, Rajdhani, Shatabdi, Jan Shatabdi and Duronto trains. These rates are historical and do not apply to bookings today.
What benefits do senior citizens still get on Indian Railways?
The berth provisions continue. Senior citizens and women aged 45 and above are automatically considered for a lower berth subject to availability, and a quota of roughly 6-7 lower berths per Sleeper coach, 4-5 per 3AC coach and 3-4 per 2AC coach is earmarked for them and for pregnant women. A TTE can also move them to a lower berth that falls vacant after departure.
Which concessions did survive the March 2020 withdrawal?
Four categories of Divyangjan, eleven categories of patients, and students. Age alone does not qualify anyone for these.
Will the senior citizen concession be restored?
No date has been announced. MPs have repeatedly demanded it and a Parliamentary Standing Committee has recommended restoring it for at least Sleeper and 3AC, but the Railway Ministry's position remains that there is no proposal under active consideration. Reported options such as raising the age to 70 or limiting it to non-AC classes are proposals only, not rules.
Should I enter my age at booking if there is no discount?
Yes. An accurate date of birth is what drives the automatic lower-berth consideration and the earmarked quota, so entering it correctly still affects what berth you are given.