Supreme Court Mandates Travel Insurance for All Counter-Booked Train Tickets by October 2026
In a landmark directive aimed at enhancing passenger safety and financial security, the Supreme Court of India has ordered that travel insurance will become a compulsory feature for all train tickets purchased at physical station counters starting October 27, 2026. This significant shift in railway policy follows a judicial review prompted by the tragic train accident that occurred in Odisha in June 2023.
Judicial Intervention for Passenger Safety
The directive was issued by a Supreme Court bench comprising Justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and R. Mahadevan on October 6, 2026. During the proceedings, the bench emphasized that insurance should no longer be treated as a mere elective add-on for offline passengers. By making the coverage mandatory for counter-booked tickets, the Court seeks to ensure that every individual traveling via the Indian Railways network is afforded a baseline of protection in the event of an untoward incident.
Currently, insurance is an optional service for those booking tickets through the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) online portal or mobile application. While digital users have long had the choice to opt into this coverage for a nominal fee, those visiting station counters have largely remained outside this protection net.
Implementation and Premium Uncertainty
While the current online insurance premium is set at a highly subsidized rate of INR 0.45 per passenger, authorities have yet to finalize the pricing structure for counter-booked tickets. It remains unclear whether the premium for physical tickets will mirror the online rate or be adjusted to account for administrative integration.
The logistics behind this transition—specifically how the railways will generate insurance certificates for manual bookings and establish a seamless mechanism for identity verification and claim processing—are currently under development. The Court has directed the railways to establish a robust framework to ensure that the transition from an optional service to a universal requirement is executed efficiently.
Scope and Coverage Details
The mandate applies to a vast majority of the traveling public, though there are specific age-based stipulations. Insurance coverage is not applicable to children under the age of five, as they are typically issued tickets without an allocated berth or seat. Conversely, children between the ages of five and 11, who may travel with or without a berth, are eligible for the coverage.
The current insurance scheme offers a significant safety net, providing a coverage sum of INR 10,00,000 in the event of a passenger’s death during transit. Under the established framework, once a passenger is insured, the legal liability and the subsequent claims process remain strictly between the policyholder and the designated insurance provider, effectively insulating the railway administration from direct dispute liabilities.
As the October 2026 deadline approaches, the Indian Railways is expected to work closely with insurance firms to integrate this requirement into their manual ticketing systems. This move is being viewed by legal experts and consumer advocates as a proactive step toward universalizing accountability in public transportation, ensuring that no traveler remains unprotected in the face of unforeseen tragedies.
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