Supreme Court orders insurance cover for counter-booked train tickets from October 27

Court direction for counter-booked tickets

The Supreme Court has directed Indian Railways to provide insurance coverage for train tickets purchased at booking counters from 27 October 2026. Reporting on the order says passengers who buy tickets offline should not lose access to protection that is already available with eligible online reservations. The direction arose during proceedings examining wider railway passenger safety measures.

Why insurance eligibility details matter

Current online travel insurance has been optional for eligible bookings for a nominal premium. The precise counter-ticket process, eligibility limits and claims terms should be checked against the Railways’ implementation notice rather than assumed to match every aspect of online booking.

Railway implementation and other safety questions

The bench also questioned the progress of safety systems such as Kavach and asked for better evidence about investments and on-ground progress. Passengers should retain their ticket and watch for Railway Board instructions explaining enrollment and how claims would be processed.

Sources and verification

Read the report and check for later revisions: Primary reporting source

Photo is an archival image, not a photo of this event.

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