IRCTC SBI RuPay Credit Card – Benefits, Fees & Eligibility

IRCTC SBI RuPay Credit Card

Introduction

The IRCTC SBI RuPay Credit Card is a co-branded credit card designed for individuals who frequently travel by railways, offering a host of exclusive benefits in partnership with IRCTC. This card comes with an affordable joining fee and provides substantial value back on railway ticket bookings, along with general retail spends. Cardholders can enjoy welcome bonus reward points, complimentary railway lounge access, and various travel-related perks, making it a suitable choice for railway enthusiasts and travelers seeking convenience and savings.

Welcome Benefits

• Get 350 activation bonus Reward Points on a single transaction of Rs. 500 or more within 60 days of card issuance.
• Fuel and Cash spends are not included in the eligible transaction for welcome bonus.
• Bonus Reward Points will be credited to the IRCTC SBI Card (on RuPay platform) account within 45 days of the eligible transaction.
• Each Reward Point is equivalent to ₹1.

Fees

• Joining Fee (one-time): Rs. 500 + Taxes/GST
• Renewal Fee (per annum): Rs. 500 + Taxes/GST
  • Earn 500 Reward Points on payment of the Renewal fee.
  • The renewal fee cannot be waived for this card.
• Add-on Fee (per annum): Nil
• Rewards Redemption Fee: Rs. 99
• Foreign Currency Markup: 3.5% on all foreign currency spends.
• Interest Rates: 3.75% per month (45% per annum)
• Fuel Surcharge:
  • Enjoy a 1% fuel surcharge waiver across all petrol pumps in India.
  • Applicable on transactions between Rs. 500 and Rs. 3,000, exclusive of GST and other charges.
  • Maximum surcharge waiver of Rs. 100 per statement cycle per credit card account.
• Cash Advance Charges: 2.5% of the transaction amount or Rs. 500, whichever is higher.
• Railway Ticket Cancellation Charges: In case of cancellation of any railway ticket booked using the IRCTC SBI Card (on RuPay platform) online on irctc.co.in, a charge of 1% of the total refund amount will be debited to your card.
• Transaction Charges Waiver on IRCTC:
  • Save 1% transaction charges, exclusive of GST and all other charges, when booking railway tickets on irctc.co.in using your IRCTC SBI Card (on RuPay platform).
  • This waiver will be reviewed and credited as per the updated Merchant ID / Terminal ID list on a monthly basis, applicable only on bookings made at www.irctc.co.in and not through any IRCTC partner website.

Rewards

• Railway Ticket Bookings:
  • Earn up to 10% Value Back as Reward Points when buying tickets through irctc.co.in & IRCTC Mobile App for AC1, AC2, AC3, Executive Chair car, and Chair Car.
  • W.e.f. 26 Dec'24, the accrual of Reward Points on ticket purchases at www.irctc.com will be based on the booking amount, including the primary cardholder’s individual fare and all other co-travelers' fares.
  • Save 1% transaction charges on railway ticket bookings made on www.irctc.co.in.
• General Retail Purchases:
  • Get 1 Reward point for every Rs. 125 spent on non-fuel retail purchases, including railway ticket purchases made at www.irctc.co.in and IRCTC Mobile App (Android only).
• Milestone Benefit: Earn 500 Reward Points on payment of the Renewal fee.
• Travel Benefits from IRCTC:
  • Log on to irctc.co.in and avail exclusive travel privileges.
  • Book airline tickets with IRCTC at unbeatable prices.
  • Access a wide range of tailor-made packages for adventure, wildlife, pilgrimage, and leisure tours to various places in India.
  • Avail accommodation at over 5,000 hotels, covering 350 cities in India.
• Railway Lounge Access:
  • Enjoy 4 complimentary railway lounge access in a year to participating lounges in India.
  • A maximum of 1 complimentary access is allowed per quarter.
  • To avail the offer, use your IRCTC SBI Card (on RuPay platform) at the respective lounges.
  • Complimentary access to railway lounges is applicable only for primary cardholders, not add-on card members.
• Fuel Surcharge Waiver: 1% fuel surcharge waiver on transactions between ₹500 - ₹3,000 at all petrol pumps in India, with a maximum waiver of Rs. 100 per statement cycle.
• Offers from RuPay: The card brings great offers on travel, golf, dining, and other entertainment options from RuPay.

Rewards Redemption Guide

• Reward Points accrued will be transferred to the cardholder’s IRCTC Loyalty Account.
• You can link your IRCTC SBI Card loyalty number with your IRCTC login ID to redeem your Reward Points on the IRCTC Website and Mobile App (Android only).
• Reward Points will not be credited to the IRCTC loyalty account if its status is blocked, inactive, or suspended.
• Reward Points are valid for two years.
• A Rewards Redemption Fee of Rs. 99 is applicable.

Card Eligibility Criteria

• Age: The applicant should be at least 18 years or above.
• Income: A regular source of income is required, whether the applicant is salaried or self-employed.
• Credit Score: The applicant should have a decent credit score or credit history, preferably above 700.

Card Review

The IRCTC SBI RuPay Credit Card is an excellent choice for individuals who frequently use Indian Railways for travel. Its primary strength lies in providing significant value back on railway ticket bookings, along with a waiver on transaction charges, directly translating into savings for frequent train travelers. The inclusion of 4 complimentary railway lounge accesses annually greatly enhances the travel experience, offering comfort before journeys. Beyond railways, the card also provides benefits like fuel surcharge waivers, global acceptance, and the convenience of contactless payments. While it may not offer extensive benefits in categories like movies, dining, golf, or international lounge access, its core value proposition for railway travel and general retail spends makes it a strong contender for its target audience. The ability to link with UPI applications further adds to its modern utility. Cardholders also benefit from features like Flexipay, Balance Transfer on EMI, and add-on card facilities, providing financial flexibility.

Important Product Details

• Designed for Rail Travelers: Best suited for individuals who travel frequently through Indian Railways.
• High Value Back on IRCTC Bookings: Up to 10% value back as Reward Points on AC1, AC2, AC3, Executive Chair car, and Chair Car tickets booked via IRCTC.
• Welcome Bonus: Receive 350 bonus Reward Points on a minimum transaction of ₹500 within 60 days of card issuance (excluding fuel and cash).
• Reward Rate: Earn 1 Reward Point for every Rs. 125 spent on non-fuel retail purchases, including railway ticket purchases on IRCTC.
• Railway Lounge Access: Get 4 complimentary railway lounge access per year (maximum 1 per quarter) for primary cardholders.
• Transaction Charge Waiver: Save 1% transaction charges on railway ticket bookings made through www.irctc.co.in.
• Fuel Surcharge Waiver: Enjoy a 1% fuel surcharge waiver on transactions between Rs. 500 - Rs. 3,000, capped at Rs. 100 per statement cycle.
• Renewal Benefit: Earn 500 Reward Points upon payment of the annual renewal fee.
• Contactless Technology: First credit card live on RuPay Contactless (National Common Mobility Card) for fast and secure daily purchases.
• Global Acceptance: Usable at over 44 million merchant locations in 190 countries globally and 3.7 million terminals in India, looking for Pulse, Discover & Diners Plus signages.
• Add-on Cards: Apply for add-on cards for family members above 18 years of age.
• EMI Conversion: Convert transactions of Rs. 2,500 or more into easy monthly installments (Flexipay) and transfer outstanding balances from other bank credit cards to this card at a lower interest rate (Balance Transfer on EMI).
• UPI Spends: The card can be easily linked to popular UPI applications like Google Pay and PhonePe.
• No Renewal Fee Waiver: The renewal fee of Rs. 500 + GST cannot be waived.
• Rewards Redemption Fee: A fee of Rs. 99 is charged for reward point redemption.
• Foreign Currency Markup: A 3.5% foreign currency markup fee applies to international transactions.

Other Details

• Cash Withdrawal: As an IRCTC SBI Cardholder, you can withdraw cash from over 2 million global ATMs in 190 countries/territories, including over 43,000 SBI ATMs in India. Look for Pulse, Discover & Diners Plus signages for international acceptance.
• Easy Bill Pay Facility: Use the Easy Bill Pay facility to ensure timely payment of electricity, insurance, telephone, and other utility bills.
• SBI Drop Box Locator: To locate the nearest SBI Card drop box, send an SMS with "PIN" your 6-digit pin code (xxxxxx) to 56767. (Premium SMS charges apply).
• Railway Ticket Booking Process:
  • Go to irctc.co.in.
  • Register free of cost.
  • Log in with your username and password.
  • Follow website instructions to make reservations.
  • Make payments through your SBI Card at payment gateways.
  • All transactions on irctc.co.in are governed by their terms and conditions.
• Helpline:
  • From BSNL/MTNL numbers: 1800 180 1295
  • From all other numbers: 39 02 12 12 (Prefix your STD code if using a mobile phone).
• Payment Settlement Order: Details regarding the order of payment settlement for a cardholder account are available on the sbicard.com website.
• Payment Restrictions: Cheques payable outside clearing zones are not accepted; only local cheques or drafts payable in Delhi are accepted.
• Tax Applicability: All taxes would be charged as applicable on all fees, interest, and charges.
• Co-brand Product Funding: The value proposition of this co-brand product may be jointly funded by SBI Card and IRCTC based on their financial arrangement, which may involve fee and revenue sharing.