Kotak UPI RuPay Credit Card vs IRCTC SBI Platinum Card

• 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

• Buy tickets through irctc.co.in & IRCTC Mobile App for AC1, AC2, AC3, Executive Chair car and Chair Car and earn up to 10% Value Back as Reward Points
• Get 1 Reward point for every Rs. 125 spent on non-fuel retail purchases, including railway ticket purchases at www.irctc.co.in and IRCTC Mobile App (Android only)
• Save 1% transaction charges on railway ticket bookings on www.irctc.co.in. Log on to irctc.co.in and avail exclusive travel privileges, book airline tickets with IRCTC at unbeatable prices. Avail wide range of tailor made packages ranging from adventure, wildlife, pilgrimage and leisure tours to various places in India. Avail accommodation at over 5,000 hotels, covering 350 cities in India
• 4 complimentary railway lounge access in a year to participating lounges in India (Max 1 per quarter)
• 1% fuel surcharge across all petrol pumps in India, on transactions between Rs. 500 - Rs. 3,000, exclusive of GST and other charge
• Save 1% transaction charges, exclusive of GST and all other charges, when booking railway tickets on irctc.co.in, using IRCTC SBI Platinum Card
• IRCTC SBI Platinum Card provides great offers on travel, golf, dining and other entertainment options from Visa                
• Withdraw cash from over 1 million Visa ATMs worldwide, including over 18,000 Visa ATMs in India and more than 10,000 State Bank ATMs spread across 100 cities in India
• With Flexipay, convert the transactions in easy monthly installments. Simply transact for Rs. 2,500 or more and log on to sbicard.com within 30 days of purchase to convert it into Flexipay
• Transfer the outstanding balance of your other bank’s credit card to IRCTC SBI Platinum Card, and avail a lower rate of interest and pay back in EMIs
• Use IRCTC SBI Platinum Card to book railway tickets online and get them delivered to your doorstep

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

• Enjoy 4 complimentary railway lounge access in a year to participating lounges in India (Max 1 per quarter)
• 1% fuel surcharge across all petrol pumps in India, on transactions of Rs. 500 - Rs. 3,000, exclusive of GST and other charge
• Save 1% transaction charges, exclusive of GST and all other charges, when booking railway tickets on irctc.co.in, using IRCTC SBI Platinum Card

Cons

• Interest rate charges are bit high
• While the IRCTC SBI Platinum Card offer satisfactory rewards, there several other cards which give you better flexibility while booking flights from any airlines and yet gain reward points