This RuPay co-branded card is built entirely around train travel. Bookings on the IRCTC website and the Rail Connect app earn 5 reward points per Rs 100, and since each point is worth a full rupee when you pay for train tickets through HDFC SmartBuy, that is a straight 5% back on your train bookings. Booking through SmartBuy adds a further 5% cashback, and the 1% transaction charge on IRCTC bookings is reversed.
You also get 8 visits a year to select IRCTC Executive Lounges at railway stations and a Rs 500 gift voucher every quarter on Rs 30,000 of spends. Away from trains the card is ordinary, earning just 1 point per Rs 100, so it works best as a second card kept only for railway bookings.
Annual Fee (+ 18% GST)₹500 (₹590 incl. GST)
Fee Waiver₹1,50,000 annual spend
Joining PerkGift voucher worth Rs 500 on the first transaction within 37 days of card issuance
Primary Reward5 Reward Points per Rs 100 on the IRCTC website and Rail Connect app and 1 point per Rs 100 on other spends, plus an additional 5% cashback on train bookings via HDFC SmartBuy; 1 point = Rs 1 for train ticket booking
Airport Lounge Access8 complimentary visits a year to select IRCTC Executive Lounges (maximum 2 per quarter); these are railway station lounges, not airport lounges
Forex Markup3.5% + 18% GST
RuPay UPIYes — RuPay UPI enabled
Best ForFrequent train travellers who book most tickets on IRCTC and can use railway executive lounges
Reward points give their full Rs 1 value only when redeemed for train tickets through HDFC SmartBuy. Points are not earned on EMI interest, fuel, wallet loads, gift vouchers, prepaid card loading, cash advances, government charges, education and rental transactions. Reward points on UPI spends are capped per calendar month. The 1% fuel surcharge waiver applies on transactions of Rs 400 to Rs 5,000, up to Rs 250 per statement cycle.