Budget 2026: Senior Citizens Hope for Train Ticket Discounts Amid Fare Hikes

• Senior citizens are eagerly awaiting the Union Budget 2026, hoping for the reintroduction of train ticket discounts.
• Indian Railways increased passenger fares on December 26, 2025, impacting travel costs, especially for retirees.
• Before Covid, men aged 60+ received a 40% discount, and women aged 58+ received up to a 50% discount on various train types.
• The senior citizen concession was suspended in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic due to financial pressure on Indian Railways.
• Despite improved railway revenues and full capacity operations, the discounts have not been reinstated, causing frustration among the elderly.

Why It Matters: Senior citizens are urging the government to restore pre-Covid train ticket discounts in Budget 2026.