#1
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Best for · IRCTC
Best Credit Card for IRCTC Bookings in India (2026)
IRCTC SBI Platinum is the dedicated co-branded card — 1% surcharge waiver + 5x reward on IRCTC. RBL IRCTC for moderate-frequency users.
If you book ₹5K+/month on IRCTC (regular intercity train travel), the IRCTC SBI Platinum's IRCTC-specific bonus rate makes it worth the ₹500 joining fee. For occasional bookings (1-2/month), Axis ACE or HDFC Millennia work fine without the IRCTC-specific card.
Typical spend in this category: ₹2,000–10,000/month
Why these specific cards
IRCTC SBI Platinum: 10% value back on IRCTC (5x reward + 1% surcharge waiver) + ₹500 joining fee. RBL IRCTC: 5% on IRCTC + lounge access. For occasional bookings under ₹3K/month, a unisex card like Axis ACE (4% via Google Pay billpay) is more flexible.
Top 3 cards for irctc
Curated picks based on category-specific reward rates and fit. See our rating methodology for how we evaluate.
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What to evaluate before picking
- Frequency: 2+ bookings/month → IRCTC co-branded
- 1% surcharge waiver vs flat reward — waiver compounds for high-ticket bookings
- Lounge access from RBL IRCTC for long-journey travelers