Supreme Court mandates travel insurance for every railway ticket, including counter sales

A Supreme Court ruling now requires that all railway tickets sold in India, including those issued at station counters, carry mandatory travel insurance effective October 27, 2026. The court explicitly placed responsibility on the Railway Board to enforce the directive within two weeks, threatening direct accountability for any lapse. The decision follows criticism that the board had not yet devised a mechanism to extend coverage to offline purchases.

Manas Kapoor, Business Head of Travel Insurance at Policybazaar, described the order as a positive step toward enhancing passenger safety and providing affordable financial backup for accidents. The scheme is limited to Indian citizens purchasing e-tickets via IRCTC; foreign nationals are excluded. Insurers will send policy information by SMS and email, and passengers must fill nomination details online, with claims defaulting to legal heirs if omitted. This move aims to embed financial protection into every rail journey across the country.