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Side-by-Side Comparison|Updated March 2026

ICICI Bank Parakram Select Credit Card vs ICICI Bank Parakram Credit Card

Detailed comparison of fees, rewards, benefits, and value to help you choose the right credit card for your spending pattern.

ICICI Bank

ICICI Bank Parakram Select Credit Card

8.5/10
Annual FeeFree
Base Rewards0.25%
NetworkRuPay
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ICICI Bank

ICICI Bank Parakram Credit Card

8/10
Annual FeeFree
Base Rewards0.25%
NetworkVisa
View Full Details

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

FeatureICICI Bank Parakram Select Credit CardICICI Bank Parakram Credit Card
Annual FeeFreeFree
Joining FeeFreeFree
Fee Waiver SpendN/AN/A
Base Reward Rate0.25%0.25%
Reward CurrencyICICI Bank Reward PointsICICI Bank Reward Points
NetworkRuPayVisa
Editor Rating8.5/108/10
Forex Markup3.5%3.5%

Accelerated Rewards

ICICI Bank Parakram Select Credit Card

No accelerated rewards listed

ICICI Bank Parakram Credit Card

  • 0% on CSD Purchases
  • 0% on Grocery
  • 0% on Departmental Stores

Pros & Cons

ICICI Bank Parakram Select Credit Card

Pros

  • Lifetime Free (LTF) card with no joining or annual fees for defense personnel.
  • High reward rate of 2.5% (10 RP per ₹100) on CSD, grocery, and departmental stores.
  • Comprehensive insurance coverage including ₹20 Lakhs Air Accident Cover.
  • Complimentary golf access (1 round/month) on meeting spend criteria.

Cons

  • Strict eligibility limited only to Indian Defence and Paramilitary personnel.
  • Spend-based criteria (₹75,000/quarter) required to unlock domestic lounge access.
  • Low base reward rate of 0.5% on general spends.

ICICI Bank Parakram Credit Card

Pros

  • Lifetime free card with no joining or annual fees for defense personnel.
  • Accelerated 5X reward points on CSD, grocery, and departmental store spends.
  • Complimentary domestic airport and railway lounge access.
  • Personalized touch with Defence Services title embossed on the card.

Cons

  • High spend requirement of ₹75,000 per quarter to unlock airport lounge access.
  • Reward points on accelerated categories are capped at 1,000 per month.
  • Redemption handling fee of ₹99 plus GST applies to every request.

Our Verdict

ICICI Bank Parakram Select Credit Card edges ahead overall with a stronger combination of rewards and value. However, ICICI Bank Parakram Credit Card could be the better pick if its specific category strengths match your spending habits.

Choose ICICI Bank Parakram Select Credit Card if

Tailored benefits for military staff including CSD rewards and zero fees.

Choose ICICI Bank Parakram Credit Card if

Tailored benefits for CSD purchases and zero maintenance costs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better: ICICI Bank Parakram Select Credit Card or ICICI Bank Parakram Credit Card?
ICICI Bank Parakram Select Credit Card edges ahead overall with a stronger combination of rewards and value. However, ICICI Bank Parakram Credit Card could be the better pick if its specific category strengths match your spending habits.
What is the annual fee difference between ICICI Bank Parakram Select Credit Card and ICICI Bank Parakram Credit Card?
ICICI Bank Parakram Select Credit Card has no annual fee, while ICICI Bank Parakram Credit Card has no annual fee.
Which card has better rewards: ICICI Bank Parakram Select Credit Card or ICICI Bank Parakram Credit Card?
ICICI Bank Parakram Select Credit Card offers a base reward rate of 0.25%. ICICI Bank Parakram Credit Card offers 0.25% base rewards with bonuses on CSD Purchases and Grocery. The better choice depends on your primary spending categories.
Can I have both ICICI Bank Parakram Select Credit Card and ICICI Bank Parakram Credit Card?
Yes, many users hold multiple credit cards to maximize rewards across different spending categories. ICICI Bank Parakram Select Credit Card and ICICI Bank Parakram Credit Card can complement each other if they cover different reward categories.
Which card is better for beginners: ICICI Bank Parakram Select Credit Card or ICICI Bank Parakram Credit Card?
For beginners, ICICI Bank Parakram Select Credit Card may be more approachable with no annual fee. However, evaluate based on your expected spending pattern rather than fee alone.

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