Insurance to Become Mandatory for Train Tickets From October 27

• 15 Oct 2026
• 211 Views

The apex court of India, the Hon’ble Supreme Court, has directed Indian Railways to extend insurance coverage to passengers who purchase train tickets offline via station counters, starting 27 October 2026. Currently, this insurance is available only to passengers who book their travel online by paying a small additional fee. On 6 October, a bench comprising Justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and R. Mahadevan issued this order while hearing a petition related to Odisha train accident that occurred in June 2023. 

The petition called for an investigation into the train crash and claimed that the failure to implement Kavach train protection system contributed to the incident. It also urged railway authorities to deploy this safety system across the entire railway network in the country. 

SC Flags Delays in Offline Ticket Insurance 

The apex court, during previous hearings, granted Indian Railway authorities time to develop a mechanism for extending insurance coverage to passengers purchasing tickets offline, including to those coming from economically weaker sections of society. However, during the hearing on October 6, the bench observed that no progress had been made by the authorities. Therefore, the court decided to issue a directive mandating the coverage. The court also cautioned that the Railway Board would be held directly responsible for any failure to implement this order. 

The order read, “The Court has granted sufficient time to the authorities to devise a mechanism for extending such coverage to persons belonging to the lowest strata of society, who, in most cases, purchase their tickets at the railway reservation counters while undertaking journeys by train. As there has been no progress on this aspect either, we direct that within two weeks, i.e., with effect from 27.10.2026, all tickets sold over the counter at all railway stations shall also be covered by insurance in the same manner as tickets purchased online.”

How will SC Mandate Benefit Train Passengers?

At present, travel insurance is only available to those train passengers who buy their train tickets online via the official Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation's (IRCTC) web portal or mobile app. While making payment for the train tickets online, users can tick the travel insurance box to purchase train travel insurance. By ticking the box, the users can get coverage against specified losses that arise from train accidents and certain other incidents during the journey.

The coverage amounts under the existing railway travel insurance scheme are as follows: The travel insurance policy is available to online ticket holders on an optional basis for a premium of 45 paise per passenger, including taxes w.e.f. 17 February 2024. It is still uncertain how the Railway Board will implement the directive for offline ticket bookings especially since the Supreme Court has held the board directly responsible for any failure to comply with its order. 

Manas Kapoor, who is the Business Head of Travel Insurance @ Policybazaar, said the following regarding the SC mandate: “Making insurance mandatory for all train travellers is a welcome step towards strengthening passenger safety and financial protection in India. The Supreme Court's decision strengthens the importance of travel insurance and recognises it as an essential safeguard rather than an optional add-on. For millions of Indians who rely on railways as an affordable and accessible mode of transport, insurance at an affordable premium can provide crucial financial support to passengers and their families in the event of unforeseen accidents. This move brings the safety and well-being of the common man into sharper focus and reinforces the need to make financial protection an integral part of every journey.”

Source:- Microsoft News (MSN)