The Indian Railways has generated an additional Rs 8,913 crore between March 2020 and February 2025 by discontinuing ticket concessions for senior citizens. These figures were revealed through Right to Information (RTI) applications filed with the Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS), an agency under the Ministry of Railways.
Before March 20, 2020, men and transgender persons above the age of 60 received a 40 percent discount, while women over 58 enjoyed a 50 percent discount on all train classes. These concessions were suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic and have not been reinstated since.
Over 31 Crore Senior Citizens Affected
According to RTI activist Chandra Shekhar Gaur, a total of 31.35 crore senior citizens travelled on Indian Railways without any concession between March 2020 and February 2025. This includes 18.279 crore men, 13.065 crore women, and 43,536 transgender individuals.
The revenue collected from these passengers amounted to Rs 20,133 crore. Without the pre-pandemic concessions, passengers paid Rs 8,913 crore more than they would have otherwise.
Ministry Justifies the Withdrawal
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw addressed the issue in Parliament on March 19, 2025, explaining that Indian Railways already provides an average subsidy of 46 percent to every passenger. In his statement, he clarified that if the cost of service is Rs 100, the average ticket price is only Rs 54.
The minister also noted that additional concessions still exist for specific groups, including persons with disabilities, certain categories of patients, and students.
Public Demand for Restoration Grows
RTI activist Gaur has been consistently advocating for the reinstatement of senior citizen concessions. He argues that citizens who have contributed to the country through taxes deserve some relief in their older years.
He questioned the government’s commitment to welfare, asking, “On what ground does the government call itself a welfare state?”
The issue continues to generate debate, with many calling on the government to reintroduce the benefits for senior citizens.
