Railway Subsidy on Ticket – IRCTC Subsidy
‘Give Up’ concession scheme-Senior Citizens in Railways
Ministry of Railways
Voluntary Surrender of Subsidy Scheme in Railways
Option for give up of concession in the passenger fare for senior citizens to the element of 100% was already available. However w.e.f. 22.07.2017 option has also been given to give up 50% of concession value for senior citizens.
Number of senior citizens who gave up concession for the period 22.07.2025 to 30.11.2025 are as under:-
(a) 100% of concession value: 5.67 lakh.
(b) 50% of concession value: 5.81 lakh.
The ‘give up’ concession scheme has the effect of increasing the earnings of the Railways which is pooled together to meet the revenue expenditure of the Railways including the development of Railway stations.
This Press Release is based on the information given by the Minister of State for Railways Shri Rajen Gohain in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha on 03.01.2025 (Wednesday).
Source: PIB
Here’s a clear breakdown of railway ticket subsidies and concessions—both general and IRCTC-specific:
1. General Indian Railways Subsidy
- Government heavily subsidizes train travel. In FY 2025-24, Indian Railways provided approximately ₹60,466 crore in subsidies—covering about 45% of passenger travel costs. For every ₹100 of service cost, passengers paid only around ₹55.
- In FY 2025-23, subsidies amounted to ₹56,993 crore, around 46% of fare reduction.
- Certain groups—like persons with disabilities, students, and patients—receive additional concessions beyond these subsidies.
2. Concessions for Specific Categories
Even with widespread subsidies, Indian Railways offers further fare reductions to certain groups:
- Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjans): Up to 75% concession in various classes—including Second Class, Sleeper, First Class, 3AC, AC Chair Car; lower percentages apply for premium classes and season tickets.
- Students, Artists, Sportspersons: Up to 75% concession in applicable classes.
- Patients (11 medical categories): Concessions range from 50% to 100%, depending on illness and class, and may extend to escorts as well.
- Others: Farmers, awardees, war widows, and medical professionals also qualify for varying concessions, detailed in the broader concession policies.
3. Senior Citizen Concessions
- Concessions for senior citizens (40% for men ≥ 60 yrs, 50% for women ≥ 58 yrs) were suspended in March 2020 due to COVID-19.
- Indian Railways has not reinstated these concessions. Official statements affirm there are no current plans to bring them back.
- Social media posts claiming their restoration are false.
4. IRCTC-Specific Subsidy (“Give It Up” Scheme)
- IRCTC allowed passengers (especially seniors) to forgo their concession voluntarily and contribute more—modelled after LPG subsidy opt-out efforts. This “Give It Up” option empowered users to either fully or partially waive their concession.
- This approach helped raise funds and is part of an ongoing awareness campaign
- However, since senior concessions remain suspended, this scheme is largely inactive for that group now
Summary Overview
| Segment | Subsidy / Concession Status |
|---|---|
| General Subsidy | ~45–46% fare reduction; continues for all passengers. |
| Persons with Disabilities | Up to 75% concession across various classes and tickets. |
| Students / Patients / Others | Up to 75%—with extensive benefits, especially for critical categories. |
| Senior Citizens | Concessions suspended since March 2025; no reinstatement yet. |
| IRCTC “Give It Up” Option | Allowed voluntary opt-out of concession; less relevant now due to suspension. |
If you’d like help identifying eligibility for a particular category (e.g., students or patients), navigating concession options on IRCTC, or using IRCTC features from Naugachhia or elsewhere, I’m here to assist!