In a significant push to boost digital transactions, the Indian Railways has announced a new discount scheme for passengers booking unreserved tickets through its official RailOne mobile application. The national transporter will offer a flat 3 per cent discount when the payment is made using any digital mode.
Expanding Digital Benefits Beyond R-Wallet
This move marks a major expansion of the existing digital incentive. Currently, a 3 per cent cashback is provided exclusively to users who pay for their unreserved tickets via the Railways' own R-wallet on the RailOne app. The new policy, however, extends this financial benefit to encompass all digital payment methods, including UPI, credit cards, debit cards, and net banking.
An official clarified the operational difference: the current system provides a cashback after the transaction is completed, while the new scheme will offer an upfront discount applied directly at the time of purchase. Importantly, the existing cashback for R-wallet users will continue to run concurrently with the new all-digital discount.
Scheme Duration and Implementation
The discount initiative is set to be a time-bound offer. According to a letter issued by the Railway Ministry to the Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS) on December 30, 2025, the scheme will be in force for a period of six months. The effective dates are from January 14, 2026, to July 14, 2026.
The ministry has directed CRIS, the IT arm of the railways, to implement the necessary software changes in the RailOne app to facilitate this new discount structure. Furthermore, CRIS has been asked to submit feedback on the scheme's performance in May 2026 for a comprehensive review by the ministry.
Exclusive to RailOne App, Aligning with Digital India
The Railway Ministry has specified that this 3 per cent discount will be applicable only on the RailOne platform. It will not be available on any other website or application used for online booking of unreserved tickets. This underlines the railways' strategy to promote its dedicated app as the primary digital interface for ticketing services.
This decision is aligned with the broader Digital India vision and the railways' own push towards a cashless ecosystem. Unreserved travel constitutes a massive share of daily passenger movement, and incentivizing digital payments for this segment is expected to streamline operations, reduce cash handling, and enhance passenger convenience.
The move is seen as a strategic effort to accelerate the adoption of digital booking channels among the vast population of unreserved ticket users, making the process faster and more rewarding.
