Government offers free lifetime railway travel to Indian armed forces gallantry awardees

Govt extends AC rail travel perks to Sena, Navy, and Air Force medal winners. Representational Image

In a major welfare step, the Government of India has granted railway concessions to recipients of the Sena (Indian Army), Nau Sena (Navy) and Vayu Sena (Air Force) Medal gallantry awards.

Under the new order, these awardees will be eligible for free lifetime travel on Indian Railways. The benefit will also extend to their spouses, including widows or widowers (until remarriage) and parents of unmarried awardees who received the honour posthumously.

They will be allowed to travel in First Class, 2 AC and AC Chair Car categories, along with one companion.

The move is aimed at recognising their service and sacrifices for the nation.

Framework of cooperation

Alongside this announcement, Indian Railways and the Indian Army have introduced a "Framework of Cooperation" to support soldiers transitioning into civilian life.

This initiative focuses on creating better job opportunities for ex-servicemen and ex-Agniveers after retirement. It also aims to spread awareness about career options in the Railways and provide a structured support system for those leaving military service.

Officials said the collaboration is designed to make the shift from military to civilian careers smoother and more organised.

Reservation and recruitment efforts

Indian Railways already has provisions to support veterans through reservations in jobs. Ex-servicemen are given a 10 percent reservation in Level-2 and above posts and 20 percent in Level-1 posts. For ex-Agniveers, the reservation stands at 5 percent in Level-2 and above posts and 10 percent in Level-1 posts.

In 2024 and 2025, a total of 14,788 railway posts were reserved for ex-servicemen. These included 6,485 Level-1 posts and 8,303 Level-2 and above posts.

Recruitment is carried out through Railway Recruitment Centres (RRCs) and Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs) via competitive exams.

Contract jobs to fill vacancies

To address immediate staffing needs, the Railways has also decided to hire ex-servicemen as ‘Pointsmen' on a contract basis until regular recruitment is completed.

Currently, over 5,000 Level-1 posts are being processed across railway zones and divisions. So far, nine divisions have signed agreements with Army organisations to recruit personnel for these roles. The Army has also been asked to actively coordinate with railway divisions to speed up hiring.

However, the partnership between Indian Railways and the Army goes beyond employment. Both institutions already work closely in logistics and movement of personnel. Projects like Dedicated Freight Corridors and the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link have improved troop and equipment mobility.

The new framework also promotes skill-sharing initiatives through collaborations with institutions like Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya.

Officials said this initiative reflects the government's effort to use the experience, discipline and leadership skills of armed forces personnel while supporting national development.

(With ANI Inputs)