Budget 2026: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is set to unveil the budget on February 1, 2026. Senior citizens are eagerly anticipating what the budget will bring. Elderly travelers are particularly hopeful for government support. Indian Railways has raised train fares starting December 26, 2025. As a result, senior citizens are concerned that their travel expenses will increase significantly now.
Post-Covid, life has returned to a semblance of normalcy, but one benefit has yet to be reinstated. Prior to the pandemic, senior citizens enjoyed discounts on railway tickets, a perk that was suspended during Covid and has not been reintroduced since then.
📌 Also Read: Your Home Electricity Bill Will Be Zero - Take Advantage of This Government Scheme - Here's How to Apply
Fare Increases by Railways
The Railways has opted to raise fares for journeys exceeding 215 kilometers. The new rates will be 1 paisa per kilometer for the general category and 2 paisa per kilometer for both non-AC and AC categories of mail and express trains. The Railways anticipates that this decision will yield an additional revenue of around Rs 600 crore. However, this will have a direct effect on passengers, particularly the elderly.
What was the senior citizen discount like before?
Before the pandemic, the Railways provided substantial ticket discounts for senior citizens. Up until 2019, men aged 60 and older received a 40% discount, while women aged 58 and above enjoyed a 50% discount. This discount applied to trains such as Mail, Express, Rajdhani, Shatabdi, and Duronto. For instance, if a first AC ticket for a Rajdhani train was priced at Rs 4,000, a senior citizen could purchase it for approximately Rs 2,000–Rs 2,300. Long-distance travel was significantly more economical back then.
📌 Also Read: Gold Rate Today - Silver Dips by ₹5,100 in 2 Days, Check Latest 22K & 24K City-Wise Gold prices
Why was this facility shut down during Covid?
In 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the government temporarily halted this exemption. The reasoning at that time was due to low passenger numbers and the financial strain on the railway. However, circumstances have shifted. Trains are now full again, and revenue has improved—yet the exemption remains unreturned. This has frustrated elderly passengers.
What can we anticipate from the budget?
Senior citizens express that their income becomes restricted after retirement. Many rely on pensions or savings. They often need to travel for medical appointments, religious events, or to visit their children. In this context, increasing fares become a financial strain. They feel that reinstating the ticket discount would offer them significant relief. Now, all eyes are on February 1, 2026, when Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will unveil the budget. Senior citizens are hopeful that this time the government will address their long-standing request. If the railway ticket discount is reinstated, it will benefit millions of elderly passengers.