SimplifyCards take
A quick decision view before the full facts.
Good fit if: you want a card built for train travel, IRCTC, and rail lounge.
Why it can work
It combines accelerated rewards on IRCTC ticketing website and rail connect app and milestone rewards.
Where value may drop
The renewal fee is waived only on Rs 1.5 lakh of annual spend. Fuel, rent, and wallet loads don't earn rewards. Monthly reward caps apply on the top categories.
Quick facts
The key fields before the full details.
Reward calculator
Enter your monthly spend to estimate how many reward points you earn and what they are worth.
Milestone rewards
Milestone value is estimated and only counts once you reach each spend threshold.
What your points are worth
Same points, very different value depending on how you redeem.
How you earn it
| Category | Monthly spend | Reward Points/yr |
|---|---|---|
| Travel (cab, train, etc.) | Rs 5,000 | 3,000 |
| Other spends | Rs 8,000 | 960 |
| Insurance | Rs 2,000 | 240 |
Estimates only. Reward rates, caps, and redemption values follow each bank's current terms and can change.
Best for / avoid if
Who this card suits — and who should skip it.
Best for IRCTC Ticketing Website And Rail Connect App
5 Reward Points / Rs 100 spent
Best for travel and redemptions
Earns reward points you can put toward flights, hotels, or transfer partners.
Avoid for heavy international use
A 3.5% forex markup is on the higher side for overseas spends.
Avoid if you spend big on fuel, rent, and wallet loads
These categories are excluded and won't earn rewards.
Avoid if you expect uncapped rewards
Top reward categories are capped each month, so very high spends don't scale linearly.
Rewards and redemption
Earn rates, caps, and how points convert to value.
| Category | Rate | Monthly cap |
|---|---|---|
| IRCTC ticketing website and Rail Connect App | 5 Reward Points / Rs 100 spent | - |
| Other eligible retail spends | 1 Reward Point / Rs 100 spent | - |
| Insurance spends (capped) | 1 Reward Point / Rs 100 spent | 2,000 reward points |
Redemption
Lounge and milestone rules
The spend conditions worth knowing before you rely on a benefit.
Exclusions
Categories that earn no rewards on this card.
- Fuel transactions
- Wallet loading, gift card loading, prepaid card loading, and voucher purchases
- Cash advances
- Payment of outstanding balances
- Payment of card fees and other charges
- Government related transactions
- Education payments
- Rental transactions
- EMI transactions (SmartEMI or Dial an EMI)
- Interest amount on Merchant EMI
Benefits and fine print
Welcome, renewal, and other listed benefits.
Joining benefits
- Gift voucher worth Rs 500 on card activation by completing 1 transaction of any amount within 37 days of card issuance
Additional benefits
- 1% transaction charge waiver on IRCTC ticketing website and Rail Connect App bookings
- Additional 5% cashback on train ticket bookings via HDFC Bank SmartBuy
- 1% fuel surcharge waiver on fuel transactions from Rs 400 to Rs 5,000, capped at Rs 250 per statement cycle
Additional details
- Reward points are earned only on transaction amounts in multiples of Rs 100; residual amount below Rs 100 earns no points.
- Reward points redeemable for train ticket bookings via HDFC SmartBuy at 1 Reward Point = Rs 1, up to 70% of the total ticket fare.
- Minimum 100 reward points required to initiate a SmartBuy redemption.
- Unredeemed reward points expire after 2 years from date of accumulation.
- 1% railway ticket purchase transaction fee applies on all card transactions; fee is reversed for IRCTC website and Rail Connect app bookings.
- Utility spends above Rs 50,000 per month attract a 1% fee (capped at Rs 4,999 per month).
Eligibility
Check this before you apply.
Salaried
- Indian national
- Age 21 to 60 years
- Gross monthly income greater than Rs 25,000
Self-employed
- Indian national
- Age 21 to 65 years
- Annual ITR greater than Rs 6 lakh
Compare before you decide
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