TrainsDateDivyang (Disabled Persons) Railway Concession: Rules & How to Apply
Indian Railways offers some of the steepest fare concessions on its network to Divyangjan — persons with disabilities — along with a dedicated berth quota and an escort travelling at the same discounted rate. The rules are detailed, and the paperwork takes patience, but the savings are substantial once it's set up.
Who Qualifies
Eligibility follows the disability categories defined under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, with a minimum disability threshold (commonly 40%) for most categories:
- Orthopaedically handicapped / paraplegic persons unable to travel without an escort
- Persons with visual impairment (blindness or low vision)
- Persons with hearing and speech impairment (both together)
- Persons with intellectual disability
- Persons with mental illness requiring an escort
Concession Percentages
| Category | Classes | Concession |
|---|---|---|
| Orthopaedically handicapped / paraplegic (+ escort) | Second, Sleeper, First, AC Chair Car, AC 3-Tier | 75% |
| Blind persons (+ escort) | Second, Sleeper, First | 50–75% depending on class |
| Deaf and hearing-speech impaired (+ escort) | Various | Similar tiered concession |
| Any eligible category in AC 2-Tier / First Class | Higher AC classes | Typically reduced, around 25–50% |
The escort travelling with the disabled passenger gets the same percentage concession as the passenger — this is one of the most generous parts of the scheme, since escort travel is rarely discounted elsewhere in the fare system.
Berth Quota and Seating
Non-suburban trains carry a reservation quota of roughly 4 Sleeper berths and 2 berths in 3AC earmarked for concessional Divyangjan bookings. Where feasible, the system tries to allot a lower berth to the disabled passenger and a middle or upper berth nearby to the escort. If a lower berth opens up later in the journey, the TTE is authorised to reassign it to the disabled passenger travelling on this concession.
How to Apply for the Divyangjan ID
- Register online at the official portal (divyangjanid.indianrail.gov.in) with your details and disability documentation.
- Submit the concession form along with supporting documents (UDID/disability certificate, Aadhaar, photos) — either fully online or at your nearest Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) office, depending on the current process.
- Verification can include a physical check at the DRM office before the ID is approved.
- Once approved, link the Divyangjan ID to your IRCTC account — the concession then applies automatically at booking.
Processing typically takes anywhere from a few weeks to about two months, depending on document verification, so it's worth applying well before you actually need to travel.
Onboard Facilities
Beyond the fare concession, Indian Railways provides free wheelchairs at major stations, SLRD coaches with wider doorways and modified toilets on many trains, and Sahayak/Yatri Mitra Sewa porter-and-wheelchair assistance at big stations for a nominal charge when a personal escort isn't available.
Useful tools: IRCTC booking date calculator · advance reservation period (ARP)