Vyaya

IRCTC SBI Card Review 2026: Fees, 10% Value Back, Is It Worth It?

Get 10% value back on IRCTC AC ticket bookings with the IRCTC SBI Card. Check fees, railway lounge access, and reward redemption details in our 2026 review.

Vyaya Team · Mar 2026
5 min read
Value Score
7.0 / 10
Annual Fee
₹500
Best For
frequent-rail-traveler
Network
Visa
Expert Verdict

The IRCTC SBI Card is a niche travel card that offers exceptional value for frequent Indian Railways passengers booking AC class tickets. While its utility for non-railway spends is minimal, the 10% value back and lounge access make it a must-have for train commuters.

IRCTC SBI Card credit card by SBI Card - Visa network
REWARD SUMMARY
0.8% Base Rewards
Make your train travel more rewarding.
← Tap to flip back

The Bottom Line

The IRCTC SBI Card is a niche travel card that offers exceptional value for frequent Indian Railways passengers booking AC class tickets. While its utility for non-railway spends is minimal, the 10% value back and lounge access make it a must-have for train commuters. With a ₹500 annual fee, it offers 350 bonus points and railway lounge access. For anyone researching irctc sbi card, the verdict is simple: conditional.

It earns a base reward rate of 0.8% and stacks best when your spending lines up with frequent-rail-traveler.

What we like
+10% value back on AC1, AC2, AC3, and AC CC train ticket bookings via IRCTC
+1% transaction charge waiver on railway ticket bookings made through the IRCTC website
+4 complimentary railway lounge access per year (1 per quarter) at participating stations
+Reward points can be redeemed 1:1 for booking train tickets on the IRCTC platform
What we don't
Very low base reward rate of 1 point per ₹125 (approx. 0.8% value)
No airport lounge access; benefits are strictly limited to railway travel
No spend-based annual fee waiver available for this variant

Who Should Get This Card

Use this as a quick filter before comparing rewards or fees in detail.

Best fit for

Ideal
+
frequent-rail-traveler

High value back on AC class train tickets and complimentary railway lounge access.

Best value above ₹10,000/month

Probably not for

Skip
air-traveler

The card offers no airport lounge access or airline-specific rewards.

general-spender

Base reward rate is significantly lower than other entry-level cashback cards.

Is It Worth It For You?

Slide to your typical monthly card spend. We'll do the rest.

Calculate Your Value

Adjust your typical monthly spend by category.

🍽️
Dining
05,000Max ₹50k
Est. Returns
✈️
Travel
010,000Max ₹1L
Est. Returns
🛒
Shopping
08,000Max ₹80k
Est. Returns
🥬
Groceries
06,000Max ₹40k
Est. Returns
Annual rewards0
Annual fee-₹500
Net Value (Year 1)-500
Net Value (Year 2+)-500

Sign in for personalized estimates based on your actual spending

Reward Rates

IRCTC SBI Card offers 0.8% basic reward rate.

Quick Calculator

Estimate earnings for a specific purchase

Flat 0.8% on all spends

Welcome Offer

350 Bonus Points

₹100 cashback on first ATM cash withdrawal within 30 days

Milestone Benefits

Spend ₹0

Credited upon payment of the annual renewal fee

Fees & Charges

Joining fee₹500
Annual fee₹500
Fee waiverN/A

Eligibility

  • Min Income: ₹2.4 Lakhs
  • Min Credit Score: 700
  • Minimum age 21 years. Available for salaried individuals with monthly income > ₹20,000 and self-employed with ITR > ₹3 Lakhs.

Compare with Alternatives

Feature
IRCTC SBI Card by SBI Card - credit card comparison
IRCTC SBI Card
SBI Card
Current Card
IRCTC SBI Card Premier by SBI Card - credit card comparison
IRCTC SBI Card Premier
SBI Card
View Details
Annual Fee
₹500
₹1,499
Joining Fee
₹500
₹1,499
Reward Rate
0.8%
0.8%
Network
Visa
Visa
Best For
frequent-rail-traveler
frequent-rail-travelerdomestic-traveler

Frequently Asked Questions

3 data-backed answers from our card database

What is the annual fee for the IRCTC SBI Card?+

The joining fee is ₹500 + GST, and the annual renewal fee is ₹500 + GST. Note that you receive 500 reward points upon payment of the renewal fee.

Does this card offer airport lounge access?+

No, the IRCTC SBI Card (Platinum) only offers complimentary access to select railway lounges in India, capped at 4 visits per year.

How do I redeem my reward points?+

You must link your IRCTC SBI Card loyalty number with your IRCTC login ID. Points can then be redeemed 1:1 for train ticket bookings on the IRCTC website or Android app.

Ready to apply?

₹500 fee. Excellent rewards. Apply now securely.

Apply on SBI Card

Explore More on Vyaya