Planning For Diwali, Chhath Vacation? Grab IRCTC’s 20% Train Ticket Discount Before Rush Begins; Here's How

Jam-packed reserved ticket coaches and overcrowded railway stations have become common across the country during Diwali and Chhath celebrations. To facilitate easier travel with comfort, the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) is offering up to 20% discount on railway ticket booking for round trip.

The IRCTC train ticket booking discount will be applicable on certain dates and can be availed only if the passengers book their return ticket as well. Here are all the details about the IRCTC train ticket discount booking.

IRCTC Train Ticket Discount Booking

There will be a 20% discount on return journey tickets for round-trip packages during Chhath and Diwali celebration this year in October and November. According to a PIB release, bookings under the discounted system have been started from August 14, 2025. The package is available on experimental basis and will offer a chance for people to plane a five-week vacation to benefit from reduced fares.

IRCTC Diwali, Chhath Discount Ticket Booking Dates

The discounted round-trip package allows travel between October 13 and October 26, 2025. Return journeys can be booked from November 17 to December 1, 2025. Notably, the standard advance reservation period of 60 days does not apply to these discounted tickets.

What Is The Eligibility For The Train Ticket Booking?

The only eligibility for this train ticket booking system is that passengers must book ticket for both forward as well as return trips for the same group of individuals. The passenger details for both the journeys should match exactly.

According to a PIB release dated August 9, 2025, "Bookings start on 14 August 2025 for onward travel between 13 October and 26 October 2025. The onward ticket must be booked first, and the return ticket can then be booked using the connecting journey feature for travel between 17 November and 1 December 2025."

Is There Any Refund on Cancellation?

No, tickets booked under this offer can't be refunded or modified. Additionally, reservation must be made online or at a reservation desk. Both the tickets need to be confirmed and shall be made in the same class with same origin and destination pair.

The IRCTC railway ticket booking scheme is applicable for all classes and in all trains including special trains except those having flexi fare. Additionally, no discounts, rail travel coupons, voucher based bookings, passes or PTOs, etc shall be admissible during return journey booking on concessional fare. Both onward and return journey tickets must be booked using the same mode either online or counter booking.

The discount system for railway ticket booking has been implemented as a pilot project to tackle the sudden surge in passenger rush during the festive season. Indian Railways see a phenomenal surge in train passengers during Diwali and Chhath festival celebrations as lakhs of people return to their home.