IRCTC SBI RuPay Credit Card – Benefits, Fees & Eligibility

Introduction

The IRCTC SBI RuPay Credit Card, issued by SBI, is a co-branded credit card designed primarily for individuals who frequently travel by Indian Railways. Positioned as a mid-range travel card, it offers significant value-back on railway ticket bookings, complimentary railway lounge access, and a rewarding points system on retail purchases. Key differentiating benefits include up to 10% value back on IRCTC bookings, 4 complimentary railway lounge accesses annually, and a welcome bonus of 350 reward points.

Welcome Benefits

• Receive 350 activation bonus Reward Points on a single transaction of ₹500 or more within 60 days of card issuance.
• Fuel and cash spending are not included in the eligible transaction for the welcome bonus.
• Bonus Reward Points will be credited within 45 days of the eligible transaction.
• 1 Reward Point is equivalent to Re. 1.

Fees

• Joining Fee: ₹500 + taxes
• Renewal Fee: ₹500 + taxes (per annum)
• Spend-Based Waiver: The renewal fee cannot be waived for the IRCTC SBI RuPay Credit Card.
• Rewards Redemption Fee: ₹99
• Foreign Currency Markup: 3.5% on all foreign currency spends.
• Interest Rates: 3.75% Per Month (45% Per Annum)
• Fuel Surcharge Waiver: Enjoy a 1% fuel surcharge waiver across all petrol pumps in India on transactions between ₹500 to ₹3,000. A maximum waiver of ₹100 is applicable per statement cycle, per credit card account.
• Cash Advance Charges: 2.5% of the advanced amount or ₹500, whichever is higher.
• Add-on Fee: Nil (per annum).
• Railway Ticket Transaction Charges: Save 1% on transaction charges when booking railway tickets through the IRCTC website (www.irctc.co.in). This waiver is applicable only on bookings made at www.irctc.co.in and not through any IRCTC partner website.

Rewards

• General Retail Spends: Earn 1 Reward Point for every ₹125 spent on non-fuel retail purchases, including railway ticket purchases at www.irctc.co.in and the IRCTC Mobile App (Android only).
• IRCTC Value Back: Get up to 10% value back as reward points when buying tickets through the IRCTC App and Website for AC1, AC2, AC3, Executive Chair car, and Chair Car. Reward Points on IRCTC bookings are calculated on the booking base fare, including the Primary Cardholder’s fare and all co-travellers’ fares.
• Renewal Benefit: Receive 500 Reward Points on payment and realization of the renewal fee. These 500 Reward Points are valued at ₹500.
• Travel Benefits:
  • Railway Lounge Access: Enjoy 4 complimentary railway lounge accesses per year in India (maximum 1 per quarter) through the Railway Lounge Program. This benefit is applicable only for primary cardholders.
  • Hotel Accommodation: Access accommodation at more than 5000 hotels across 350+ cities in India.
  • IRCTC Travel Offers: Book airline tickets with IRCTC at unbeatable prices and access a wide range of tailor-made packages (adventure, wildlife, pilgrimage, leisure tours) across India from the IRCTC Website.

Rewards Redemption Guide

• Reward Points are credited to the cardholder’s IRCTC Loyalty Account.
• Points can be redeemed via the IRCTC website or mobile app (Android only).
• Reward Points accrued in a customer’s SBI Card account will not be credited to their IRCTC loyalty account if the status of the loyalty account is blocked, inactive, or suspended.
• 1 Reward Point is equivalent to Re. 1.
• Reward Points are valid for two years.

Card Eligibility Criteria

• Applicants must be at least 18 years of age or above.
• Applicants should have a regular source of income, whether salaried or self-employed.
• A decent credit score or credit history is preferred (preferably above 700).

Card Review

The IRCTC SBI RuPay Credit Card is an excellent choice for individuals who frequently travel by Indian Railways. Its co-branded nature with IRCTC provides significant advantages, including up to 10% value back on railway ticket bookings and 4 complimentary railway lounge accesses annually, which is a major highlight. Beyond railway-specific benefits, the card also offers a decent rewards program on general retail spends and other travel-related perks like hotel accommodation options. While the renewal fee is not waivable, the overall value proposition, especially for railway commuters, makes it a compelling option. This card is highly recommended for those seeking a credit card with special benefits tailored for railway travel, combined with general rewards and savings offers.

Important Product Details

• Earn 1 Reward Point for every ₹125 spent on retail purchases, including railway tickets booked at the IRCTC Website or IRCTC mobile app.
• Receive 350 bonus reward points as a welcome gift on a transaction of over ₹500 within 60 days after the card set-up date (excluding fuel or cash spends).
• Get up to 10% value back as reward points on buying AC1, AC2, AC3, and AC CC tickets through the IRCTC website & IRCTC Mobile App (for Android only).
• Enjoy 4 complimentary railway lounge accesses every year (1 per quarter) for primary cardholders.
• Save 1% on transaction charges on railway ticket bookings through the IRCTC website.
• Benefit from a 1% fuel surcharge waiver on all fuel transactions across India for transactions between ₹500 and ₹3,000, with a maximum waiver of ₹100 per statement cycle.
• UPI Spends: The card can be easily linked to UPI applications like Google Pay, PhonePe, etc.
• Flexipay EMI: Convert transactions of ₹2,500 and above into easy monthly installments.
• Easy Money: Obtain a draft or cheque against your cash limit delivered to your doorstep.
• Balance Transfer: Transfer outstanding balances from other banks to your IRCTC SBI RuPay Credit Card and pay them back through easy EMIs at a lower interest rate.
• Renewal Benefit: Earn 500 Reward Points (valued at ₹500) upon payment and realization of the renewal fee.
• Global Acceptance: The card is accepted at over 24 million outlets globally, including 3,25,000 outlets in India. Look for the Visa sign of acceptance.
• Cash on the Go: Withdraw cash from over 1 million Visa ATMs worldwide, including over 18,000 Visa ATMs in India and more than 10,000 State Bank ATMs.
• Contactless Advantage: Utilize Tap & Pay functionality for effortless, fast, convenient, and secure everyday payments. Your card remains in your hand, and Visa PayWave’s unique security key ensures only one transaction is processed even if tapped multiple times.

Other Details

• The complimentary Railway lounge access is only for primary cardholders, not for add-on card members.
• In case of railway ticket cancellation, a charge of 1% of the total refund amount will be debited to your card.
• The waiver of 1% transaction charges on railway ticket bookings through www.irctc.co.in will be reviewed and credited on a monthly basis as per the updated Merchant ID / Terminal ID list.
• Cheques payable outside clearing zones are not accepted; only local cheques or drafts payable in Delhi are accepted for payments.
• All applicable taxes would be charged on all fees, interest, and charges.
• The value proposition of this co-brand product may be jointly funded by SBI Card and IRCTC, potentially involving fee and revenue sharing between the two parties.
• Continued use of the card will be deemed as acceptance of any amendments to the Terms and Conditions.
• For assistance, contact the SBI Card Helpline at 1860 180 1290 or 39 02 02 02 (prefix local STD code).
• Any disputes arising between the Cardholder and SBICPSL shall be subject to arbitration by a sole arbitrator appointed by SBICPSL, with proceedings conducted as per the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, in New Delhi, in English.
• SBICPSL may engage agents and/or third parties for marketing, sales, or other related services.