Government Approves Lifetime Rail Travel for Gallantry Awardees, Spouses and Families

The Ministry of Defence has approved lifetime train travel concessions for recipients of the Sena Medal, Nau Sena Medal and Vayu Sena Medal awarded for gallantry, in a welfare measure that also extends the benefit to eligible family members.

Under the newly approved scheme, awardees will be entitled to lifetime rail travel on Indian Railways in First Class, Second AC and AC Chair Car. The concession is being introduced as part of a broader effort to recognise personnel decorated for bravery and to provide long-term support to their families.

The facility will also be available to the spouses of eligible awardees. In the case of widows and widowers of gallantry awardees, the concession will continue until remarriage, according to the approved arrangement.

The Ministry has further expanded the scope of the benefit to include parents of unmarried personnel who were posthumously awarded the Sena Medal, Nau Sena Medal or Vayu Sena Medal for gallantry. This ensures that families of those who made the ultimate sacrifice are also covered under the scheme.

To reduce paperwork and streamline access, the government has introduced a digital process for registration and issue of travel passes. Eligible beneficiaries can register through the Indian Railway Concession Card Portal at irccp.indianrail.gov.in/IRCCP.

Once the details are verified and authenticated, electronic passes will be issued online. Ticket booking using the approved concession facility through the IRCTC web portal will begin from November 1, 2026.

The initiative is intended to acknowledge the courage, sacrifice and service of gallantry awardees while also extending practical support to their families. It also reflects the government’s continuing emphasis on welfare measures for serving personnel, veterans and the families of soldiers who have made significant sacrifices in the line of duty.