Indian Railway offers a wide range of travel concessions or discounts and free season ticket to students across India to support education, research, and academic travel. These benefits include discounts on passenger tickets, season tickets, and even completely free Monthly Season Tickets (MST) for school students. But it is not available online ticket, you have to go railway ticket counter to get this discount.
Below is a complete category-wise guide to all student concessions available in India.
Railway ticket discounts for Students Traveling to Hometowns & Educational Tours
General Category
- 50% concession in Second Class and Sleeper Class
- 50% concession in MST and QST
SC/ST Category
- 75% concession in Second Class and Sleeper Class
- 75% concession in MST and QST
Girls (up to Graduation) and Boys (up to Class 12)
(Including Madrasa students commuting between home & school)
- Free Second Class MST
2. Students of Government Schools in Rural Areas – Study Tours (Once a Year)
- 75% concession in Second Class
3. Girls from Government Schools in Rural Areas – Entrance Exams
(For national-level medical, engineering & competitive exams)
- 75% concession in Second Class
4. Students Appearing for UPSC & SSC Main Written Examinations
- 50% concession in Second Class
5. Foreign Students Studying in India
(For attending government camps, seminars & educational tours)
- 50% concession in Second and Sleeper Class
6. Research Scholars up to 35 Years
(For travel connected to research work)
- 50% concession in Second and Sleeper Class
7. Participants of Work Camps (Students & Non-Students)
- 25% concession in Second and Sleeper Class
8. Marine Engineering & Navigation Cadets
(Travel between home and training ship)
- 50% concession in Second and Sleeper Class
2. Season Tickets (MST & QST) for Students
Railways provide First and Second Class Season Tickets up to a maximum distance of 150 km.
- Student MST: Charged at 50% of normal adult MST fare
- Student QST: Charged at 2.7× Student MST fare
Age limit for student season tickets:
- General: Up to 25 years
- SC/ST: Up to 27 years
- Research Scholars: Up to 35 years
Special Note for SC/ST Students
- MST: 50% below normal Student MST fare
- QST: 2.7× concession MST fare
3. Free MST for School Students
Indian Railways also provides completely free Monthly Season Tickets (MST):
- Boys: Up to Class 10
- Girls: Up to Class 12
- Valid only between home and school
These Free MSTs come with the tag:
“Millennium Gift from Railways”
Conditions for Free MST
- Only MSTs are issued (no QST).
- Valid up to 150 km.
- Second Class only – not valid on Mail/Express/Superfast trains.
- No surcharge applicable.
- All other rules of concessional MSTs apply.
How to apply for discounts Railway ticket for Students
The Discount is not available online, visit Railway counter
Tell Your destination and ask for Concessions
Show valid school identity card or college identity card
If verified instantly student will get 50% to 75% concession of ticket
General Guidelines for Railway Concessions for Students
- All railway concessions will be calculated based on the basic fare of Mail/Express trains, no matter which train you actually travel in — Mail, Express, or Passenger.
- Concessions will not be given if the travel cost is paid by:
- Central Government
- State Government
- Local authorities
- Statutory bodies
- Government corporations
- Universities
Exception:
Students taking part in tournaments that are organized or recognized by schools or universities are still eligible for railway concessions.