Lok Sabha Question No. 2902 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-06
Subject: Rail Travel Insurance
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Shri Babu Singh Kushwaha

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2902 TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.08.2025

## RAIL TRAVEL INSURANCE

† 2902.   SHRI BABU SINGH KUSHWAHA:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that optional travel insurance is offered to passengers who  book  e-tickets  through  the  Indian  Railways  Catering  and  Tourism Corporation (IRCTC);
- (b) if  so,  the  details  of  the  total  premium  collected  from  passengers  by  the insurance companies under rail travel insurance during the last five  years, year and company-wise;
- (c) the total number of claims received/ accepted/ pending during the said period as on date;
- (d) the  details  of  total  amount  distributed  by  the  insurance  companies  to  the affected passengers/ their relatives under these claims;
- (e) whether  the  said  insurance  scheme  is  monitored  by  the  Government  and ensures timely and transparent delivery of insurance benefits to the beneficiaries, if so, the details thereof; and
- (f) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  review  and  make  the  said    scheme more effective and passenger-friendly and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a) to (f) :  All reserved passengers can book tickets through online mode or at reservation counters. An Optional Travel Insurance Scheme (OTIS) is

available as an option for the Confirmed/RAC passengers who book an online e-ticket.  Any  passenger  who  wishes  to  avail  insurance  benefit  can  opt  for this scheme at the time of booking the ticket at his/her own discretion. The scheme is  available  to  the  passengers  who  book  e-tickets  and  it  provides additional  insurance  cover  to  those  who  have  opted  for  it  and  paid  the premium.

Currently, the premium is Rs. 0.45/- (Forty Five Paisa) per passenger per  trip  inclusive  of  all  taxes  to  avail  insurance  through  Optional  Travel Insurance Scheme.

The passenger opts for the insurance scheme at the time of booking ticket  and  pays  the  premium  along  with  fare.  The  passenger  receives  the policy  information  through  SMS  on  their  registered  mobile  and  email  IDs directly  from  Insurance  Company  along  with  the  link  for  filing  nomination details.  The  insurance  company  is  directly  responsible  for  policy  issuance and  claims  settlement.  The  claim  liability  is  between  the  insured  and insurance company.

Passenger file the claim directly with the insurance company as per the documents received through e-mail from the insurance company. Filing of claim  is  a  continuous  process  between  the  passenger  and  insurance company.  During  the  last  05  years  333  claims  were  settled  by  insurance companies after filing of claims by passengers and an amount of Rs. 27.22 Crores has been paid by the insurance companies to the passengers.

The Optional Travel Insurance Scheme is an effective and passengerfriendly  scheme.  It  offers  insurance  coverage  at  a  low  premium  of ₹ 0.45/-, making  it  affordable  and  accessible  for  all  passengers  who  book  e-ticket. Passengers can seamlessly opt-in/opt-out easily by simply checking the Tick Box while booking tickets on IRCTC website or app. The process is simple and  integrated,  requiring  no  separate  application  or  documentation  at  the time of booking.

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