Indian Railways has long been the backbone of transportation in India, connecting millions of people across vast distances. With the introduction of the Round Trip Scheme, the Indian Railways aims to make travel even more affordable, convenient, and efficient. This new initiative allows passengers to save on their return journey, making it an ideal option for those planning round trips, especially during peak travel seasons like Diwali and Chhath Puja. Here, we’ll dive into the details of this exciting scheme, its benefits, how to book tickets, and everything you need to know to make the most of it.
What is the Round Trip Scheme?
The Round Trip Scheme is a new initiative introduced by Indian Railways to encourage passengers to plan their return journeys by offering a 20% discount on return tickets. This scheme is designed to ease the pressure on railway services during peak travel periods, such as the festive seasons, and help optimise the use of trains by offering cost-effective options for return trips.
How Does the Round Trip Scheme Work?
In simple terms, the Round Trip Scheme offers a 20% discount on the base fare of return tickets when you book IRCTC ticket both the onward and return tickets in advance through the same booking mode. This initiative applies to trains during specific periods and is available to all confirmed (CNF) ticket holders, ensuring a smoother journey for passengers.
Key Features of the Round Trip Scheme
- Discount Offer: Passengers can avail of a 20% discount on the base fare of return tickets.
- Travel Period: The scheme is applicable for travel between specific dates. For example, for the 2025 festive season, the onward journey dates are between October 13 and 26, 2025, and the return journey dates are between November 17 and December 1, 2025.
- Booking Platforms: The scheme can be availed through the IRCTC Rail Connect App, RailOne App, or Railway Reservation Counters.
- Eligibility: Only confirmed tickets (CNF) are eligible for this scheme. Flexi and dynamic fare trains are excluded.
- Refund Policy: No refunds on tickets booked under this scheme will be allowed, so passengers must be certain about their travel plans before irctc ticket booking.
- Booking Mode: Onward and return tickets must be booked using the same mode—online or at the counter.
How do you book tickets under the Round Trip Scheme?
Booking tickets under the Round Trip Scheme is a straightforward process, and passengers can easily do it through the IRCTC website, mobile app, or railway counters. Here’s how you can book your tickets:
Step 1: Booking the Onward Journey
- Open the IRCTC Rail Connect App or visit the official website to search for trains.
- Select the Festival Round Trip option available on the app or website.
- Choose the dates for your onward journey. For example, the eligible dates for the 2025 festival season are between October 13 and 26, 2025.
- Select your train, class of travel, and passenger details.
- Proceed to payment, and once the payment is successfully processed, you will receive your onward journey PNR.
Step 2: Booking the Return Journey
- Once the onward journey is booked, you will see the option to Book Return Journey with a 20% discount.
- Choose the return journey dates between November 17 and December 1, 2025.
- Ensure the source and destination stations, class of travel, and passenger details are the same as your onward journey.
- Confirm the booking and proceed with the payment for your return tickets.
- After payment, you will receive your return journey PNR and onward and return journey details.
Booking via Railway Reservation Counters
You can visit any railway reservation counter if you prefer to book your tickets at the station. You can inform the counter staff that you wish to book tickets under the Round Trip Scheme. They will help you with the process and ensure that onward and return tickets are booked using the same mode.
Benefits of the Round Trip Scheme
1. Cost Savings
The primary benefit of this scheme is the 20% discount on return tickets, which can make a significant difference for travellers, especially during peak seasons. This discount helps to reduce the overall cost of round-trip travel, making it more affordable.
2. Convenient Planning
With the Round Trip Scheme, passengers can plan their entire journey. IRCTC ticket bookingthe onward and return tickets together helps streamline travel plans and ensures that seats are secured well before the rush begins.
3. Reduced Congestion
The festive season often sees a massive surge in the number of passengers, leading to crowded trains and stations. By encouraging booking and offering a discount, the scheme helps ease the congestion, making travel more comfortable for everyone.
4. Optimised Train Utilisation
The scheme ensures better utilisation of trains, as both the onward and return trips are pre-booked. This allows Indian Railways to manage resources more effectively and ensure smoother operations during high-demand periods.
5. Encourages Early Bookings
One of the most significant advantages of this scheme is that it encourages early booking, which helps passengers avoid the last-minute rush and ensures that they get confirmed tickets for their preferred trains.
Things to Keep in Mind
While the Round Trip Scheme offers a lot of benefits, there are certain points that passengers should keep in mind:
- Non-Refundable: Tickets booked under the scheme are non-refundable. Passengers must be aware of their travel dates and plans before booking.
- Confirmed Tickets Only: Only confirmed tickets (CNF) are eligible for this scheme. Passengers with waitlisted or RAC tickets cannot avail of the discount.
- No Modifications Allowed: Once the onward journey is booked, no changes can be made to the passenger details, class of travel, or stations for both onward and return tickets.
- Booking Mode: Both onward and return tickets must be booked through the same mode, whether online or at the counter.
Who Should Opt for the Round Trip Scheme?
This scheme is ideal for those who plan their travel and are certain about their travel dates. It is especially useful for passengers travelling during peak seasons, such as Diwali or Chhath Puja, when demand for train tickets is high. Additionally, those looking to save on travel costs and avoid the hassle of booking return tickets separately should take advantage of this scheme.
Conclusion
Indian Railways’ Round Trip Scheme is an excellent opportunity for travellers to save on their return journey tickets while ensuring a smoother and more efficient travel experience during the busy festive season. By offering a 20% discount, the scheme makes round-trip travel more affordable and encourages passengers to plan their trips. Whether travelling for the holidays or visiting family, this scheme is a great way to ensure your travel is cost-effective and hassle-free.
FAQs – Indian Railways Round Trip Scheme
The Round Trip Scheme is an initiative by Indian Railways that offers a 20% discount on return journey tickets when both the onward and return tickets are booked in advance. This scheme is available for specific travel dates and aims to make travel more affordable and convenient during peak seasons.
Only passengers with confirmed (CNF) tickets are eligible for this scheme. Passengers with waitlisted or RAC tickets are not eligible. The scheme is applicable for both online and counter bookings, provided the tickets are booked in advance for the onward and return journey.
For the 2025 festive season:
Onward Journey Dates: October 13 – 26, 2025
Return Journey Dates: November 17 – December 1, 2025
Tickets for the Round Trip Scheme can be booked through:
IRCTC Rail Connect App
RailOne App
Railway Reservation Counters
Both onward and return tickets should be booked using the same mode (either online or at the counter).
1. Open the IRCTC Rail Connect App or visit the IRCTC website.
2. Select the Festival Round Trip option.
3. Book the onward journey within the eligible dates.
4. After completing the onward journey booking, click on Book Return Journey (20% Discount) to avail the discount for the return trip.
5. Complete the payment, and you will receive your PNR for both onward and return journeys.
Passengers can avail a 20% discount on the base fare of the return journey tickets. This discount is applied only to the return tickets, not the onward journey.
No, once the onward journey is booked, no modifications can be made to the passenger details, class of travel, or stations for both onward and return tickets. Additionally, tickets booked under this scheme are non-refundable.
No, the Round Trip Scheme is not applicable for Flexi or Dynamic fare trains. Only trains with confirmed availability (CNF) can be used for this scheme.
If you miss your onward journey, the return journey ticket will not be valid, and you will need to book a new ticket at the regular fare. The discount is only available for the round trip if both journeys are completed as per the scheme’s terms.
Yes, return tickets must be booked for travel between the return journey dates specified for the scheme. For 2025, these dates are from November 17 – December 1, 2025.
No, both the onward and return tickets must be booked together to avail of the 20% discount on the return journey. The scheme is valid only when both tickets are booked under the same mode and linked to the same PNR.
If you do not use the return ticket after booking it under this scheme, you will not receive any refund, as tickets under this scheme are non-refundable. It’s important to be sure about your travel plans before making the booking.
Both onward and return tickets must be booked for the same class of travel.
The source and destination stations should be the same for both onward and return journeys.
Passengers must ensure they have confirmed (CNF) tickets to be eligible for the discount.
Yes, passengers can book both onward and return tickets under the Round Trip Scheme at railway reservation counters. However, it is important to inform the counter staff about your intention to avail the scheme so they can assist you with the process.
When you book your onward journey ticket, the 20% discount option for the return journey will be displayed on the Booking Confirmation Page. You will then be able to proceed with booking the return ticket at the discounted fare.
No, the Round Trip Scheme is only applicable if both onward and return tickets are booked together through the same mode (either online or at the counter). Separate bookings for onward and return journeys are not eligible for the discount.
Yes, the Round Trip Scheme is available for all confirmed (CNF) tickets in all classes of travel. However, please ensure that you are not booking trains under the Flexi or Dynamic fare category.
Yes, the Round Trip Scheme can be used to book tickets for special trains, provided the train has confirmed (CNF) availability and is not under the Flexi or Dynamic fare category.
If you face any issues while booking your tickets under the Round Trip Scheme, you can reach out to the IRCTC customer support team through their official helpline or visit the nearest railway reservation counter for assistance.
For more detailed information about the Round Trip Scheme, including any updates or changes, you can visit the official IRCTC website or check the IRCTC Rail Connect App.
Disclaimer
The information provided in this article and FAQ is based on the latest updates available as of August 2025. Indian Railways reserves the right to modify or cancel the Round Trip Scheme without prior notice. Before booking, passengers are advised to verify the details, terms, and conditions on the official IRCTC website or mobile app.
