Kotak UPI RuPay Credit Card vs IRCTC SBI Card Premier

• The Kotak UPI RuPay Credit Card is issued entirely in digital form. No physical card is provided
• Card details are automatically registered under the Credit Card section of Kotak Mobile Banking after issuance
• The card can be connected with supported UPI applications and used for eligible merchant payments after setting a UPI PIN
• It is designed primarily for merchant UPI transactions. Credit cards linked to UPI generally cannot be used for person-to-person transfers, cash withdrawals or other transactions restricted under RuPay and NPCI rules
• Cardholders earn 3 Kotak Reward Points for every Rs. 100 spent on eligible transactions
• Reward points can be earned on both qualifying UPI purchases and regular card transactions completed virtually
• Regular virtual-card spending includes eligible online, e-commerce and international transactions
• Under standard non-cash redemption options, every 1,000 reward points are worth Rs. 100. This means one reward point ordinarily provides a value of Rs. 0.10
• A minimum of 1,000 reward points is required for redemption against regular options such as products, vouchers, recharge, movies or travel
• With effect from June 1, 2025, cash redemption provides a lower value of Rs. 0.07 per reward point
• Cash redemption requires at least 2,000 reward points
• Reward points may be redeemed through Kotak Rewards for mobile recharges, products, brand vouchers, movies, travel and other options available in the rewards catalogue
• Utility payments earn points only on spending of up to Rs. 35,000 in a statement cycle. Utility spending above this limit does not earn reward points
• Reward points are not earned on rent, fuel, railway, wallet-loading, EMI, education or balance-transfer transactions
• Insurance, government payments and online skill-based gaming transactions are also excluded from earning reward points
• Spending in excluded categories does not count towards any applicable milestone benefit
• The card has no joining fee and no annual renewal fee, making it lifetime free without any minimum-spending requirement
• Applicants must be at least 18 years old and must already hold an eligible Kotak Bank credit card

• Get 10% back on AC1, AC2, AC3, Executive Chair car and Chair Car as reward points for ticket purchases on www.irctc.co.in and IRCTC Mobile App 
• Get 5% back on Air ticket purchases on www.air.irctc.co.in
• Get 5% back on E-catering purchases on www.ecatering.irctc.co.in
• Earn 3 Reward Points per 125 spent on Dining and standing instructions on Utility spends
• Avail 1 Reward Point per 125 spent on other non-fuel retail purchases 
• Get 2,500 Reward Points on annual travel spends of Rs. 50,000
• On annual travel spends of Rs. 1,00,000, avail 5,000 Reward Points
• Spend Based Reversal of Annual Fee on spends of Rs. 2 Lakhs
• Complimentary Rail Accident Insurance of Rs. 10 Lakhs
• Complimentary Air Accident insurance of Rs. 50 Lakhs
• Complimentary Fraud Liability cover of Rs. 1 Lakh
• Save 1% transaction charges on railway ticket bookings on www.irctc.co.in
• Save 1.8% transaction charges on airline ticket bookings on www.air.irctc.co.in
• Book airline tickets with IRCTC at unbeatable prices, and explore the wide range of tailor made packages ranging from adventure, wildlife, pilgrimage and leisure tours to various places in India. Avail accommodation at 5,000+ hotels, covering 350 cities in India
• 1% fuel surcharge at all petrol pumps in India, on transactions between  Rs. 500 - Rs. 4,000
• 8 complimentary railway lounge access in a year to participating lounges in India (Max 2 per quarter)
• Visa Privileges include: Savings of 10% on Hertz car rental and up to 35% on Avis Car Rentals, exclusive benefits across 900 luxury hotels globally, and obtain up to 10,000 miles per night on hotel stay plus 25% extra miles on Kaligo.com
• Complimentary credit card fraud liability cover of Rs. 1 lakh
• Complimentary Overseas Accident cover of Rs. 50 lakh
• With Flexipay facility, convert transactions in EMIs by simply transacting Rs. 2,500 or more and log on to sbicard.com within 30 days of purchase to convert it into Flexipay
• While booking railway tickets online using IRCTC SBI Platinum Card, get the tickets delivered at your doorstep
• The IRCTC SBI Card Premier credit card is accepted in over 24 million outlets across the world, including 3,25,000 outlets in India

Pros

• Lifetime free with no joining or renewal fee
• Supports merchant UPI payments through compatible UPI apps
• Earns rewards on eligible UPI and regular card transactions
• Instantly accessible as a virtual card through Kotak Mobile Banking
• Reward points can be redeemed for vouchers, shopping, travel, movies and recharges

Cons

• Available only to existing Kotak credit-card holders
• No physical credit card is issued
• Low effective reward rate of approximately 0.30% on regular redemptions
• No rewards on fuel, rent, EMI, education, wallet loading and several other categories
• No complimentary lounge access or fuel-surcharge waiver

Pros                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

• Complimentary credit card fraud liability cover of Rs. 1 lakh
• Complimentary Overseas Accident cover of Rs. 50 lakh
• 8 complimentary railway lounge access in India                                                                                                         

Cons

• No golf benefits
• No complimentary airport lounge access