Indian Railways- Ahead of festive season, Indian Railways gives big gift to passengers. Indian Railways has started a special round trip scheme for passengers. Its purpose is to make ticket booking easier on special festivals like Diwali and Chhath. Under this scheme, passengers will now be able to get a discount of 20% on the base fare on return tickets. This will enable better use of trains in both directions.
What is the round trip scheme of Railways?
This scheme has come into effect from August 14, 2025. It has been started especially to reduce the crowd during festivals like Diwali and Chhath Puja. Passengers can book onward and return tickets together within the prescribed dates. The discount will be available only on the base fare of the return ticket.
This means that if you have to go from Delhi to Lucknow to celebrate the festival with your family and then return, then you will be able to take advantage of this scheme. For this, while booking a ticket from Delhi to Lucknow, you will also have to book a ticket from Lucknow to Delhi. And the discount will be available on the fare of this return ticket.
How to take advantage of the new railway scheme
To avail the benefit of the railway’s round trip scheme, it is mandatory to first book the onward ticket. Only after that the return ticket can be booked on fixed dates through the connecting journey feature. The benefit of this scheme will be available only if the tickets are booked till certain dates.
Entry Date: 13 October 2025 to 26 October 2025
Return date: November 17, 2025 to December 1, 2025
How to book onward tickets?
- Go to IRCTC and select “Trains” from the menu.
- Click on “Festival Round Trip Scheme” or select dates 13–26 October 2025 from the general booking flow.
- Read the terms and conditions and proceed further.
- Select source-destination station, travel date and class.
- Complete the booking and note down the PNR number.
The option “Book Return Ticket (20% Discount)” will be visible in the confirmation page or Booked Ticket History.
How to book a return ticket?
- Click on “Book Return Ticket (20% Discount)”.
- The source and destination must be the same as in the onward ticket. The class and passenger list must also be the same.
- Select travel date between Nov 17 and Dec 1, 2025.
- Select the preferred train and complete the booking.
- After payment, PNR numbers of both the journeys (onward and return) will be displayed on the e-ticket.
Be sure to keep these things in mind
20% discount will be applicable only on the base fare of the return ticket. Suppose the total fare of a train ticket is Rs 1,000. In this, the base fare is Rs 700, reservation charge Rs 40, superfast charge Rs 75 and GST/other taxes Rs 185. So the discount will be applicable only on the base fare i.e. Rs 700. You will have to pay the remaining Rs 300 (reservation, superfast, tax) as it is.
Advance reservation period will not be applicable on return tickets. Both tickets should be from the same station pairing. Also, the scheme is applicable only on selected trains and special trains. So you should check while booking the ticket whether you are getting this benefit or not.