Indian Railways Festival Round Trip Scheme: Save 20% on Return Tickets for Diwali and Chhath Travel

Indian Railways has announced a special initiative for passengers this festive season. To ease travel during Diwali and Chhath Puja, the railways has launched a Round Trip Ticket Scheme, offering up to 20% discount on the base fare of return tickets. The scheme, effective from August 14, 2025, is designed to help manage heavy passenger traffic and ensure better utilization of trains in both directions.

What Is the Round Trip Scheme?

Under this scheme, passengers booking onward and return tickets together during the festive window will be eligible for a discount. The 20% concession applies only on the base fare of the return ticket, while reservation charges, superfast charges, GST, and other taxes will remain unchanged.

For example, if the total fare of a ticket is ₹1,000 with a base fare of ₹700 and additional charges of ₹300, the 20% discount will apply only to the ₹700 portion.

Travel Dates for the Scheme

The scheme is valid for journeys booked within these specific dates:

• Onward journey: October 13 to October 26, 2025

• Return journey: November 17 to December 1, 2025

This means, if you are traveling from Delhi to Lucknow for Diwali, you can also book your return journey from Lucknow to Delhi within the specified dates and avail the discount.

How to Avail the Scheme Step 1: Book the Onward Ticket

• Visit the IRCTC website or app.

• Select “Trains” from the menu.

• Either click on “Festival Round Trip Scheme” or choose travel dates between October 13–26, 2025 for the onward journey.

• Enter source and destination stations, travel date, and class of travel.

• Complete the booking and note the PNR number.

After booking, the confirmation page or the “Booked Ticket History” will display an option: “Book Return Ticket (20% Discount).”

Step 2: Book the Return Ticket

• Click on “Book Return Ticket (20% Discount).”

• Ensure that the source, destination, class, and passenger list remain the same as the onward ticket.

• Choose return dates between November 17 and December 1, 2025.

• Select the preferred train and proceed with booking.

• Once payment is completed, the e-ticket will reflect PNR numbers for both journeys.

Important Rules and Conditions

• The discount is only on the base fare of the return ticket.

• The scheme applies only to selected trains and special trains. Passengers must check availability while booking.

• Both onward and return tickets must be for the same station pair (e.g., Delhi–Lucknow and Lucknow–Delhi).

• Advance Reservation Period (ARP) will not apply to the return ticket booked under this scheme.

Why This Scheme Matters

Every year, Indian Railways experiences an enormous rush of passengers during festivals like Diwali and Chhath, especially on routes connecting major cities and towns. Tickets often sell out quickly, leading to inconvenience for passengers.

The Round Trip Scheme not only offers cost savings but also ensures more systematic planning of journeys. By encouraging passengers to book onward and return tickets together, the scheme will help the railways manage demand better and balance passenger loads in both directions.

Key Highlights at a Glance

• Scheme Start Date: August 14, 2025

• Onward Journey Window: October 13–26, 2025

• Return Journey Window: November 17–December 1, 2025

• Discount Offered: 20% on the base fare of return tickets

• Availability: Only on selected trains and special trains

• Booking Mode: Online via IRCTC website or app

Conclusion

The Indian Railways Festival Round Trip Scheme 2025 is a welcome move for millions of passengers traveling home during Diwali and Chhath. With a 20% discount on return ticket base fares and simplified booking through IRCTC, this initiative promises both savings and convenience. Passengers are advised to check train availability early and book their tickets within the specified dates to take full advantage of the scheme.