Dedicated RuPay Select Defense Card with ₹10 Lakhs Free Insurance & UPI
Indian Armed Forces personnel, paramilitary forces, defense veterans, and military families seeking a zero-fee credit card with high insurance protection and UPI payments.
Free
One-time upfrontFree
Lifetime Free — no renewal fee2 Reward Points per ₹100 spent (0.50% value) + 3% Cashback on CSD Canteen Spends
On eligible spends4 Domestic + 1 International visits/year
Complimentary visitsLast verified 12 Oct 2026
Objective editorial assessment, ideal spender profile, and primary trade-offs
The PNB Parakram Credit Card is a dedicated financial tribute created by Punjab National Bank in collaboration with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) exclusively for personnel of the Indian Armed Forces, paramilitary organizations, and defense veterans. Offered with unconditionally zero joining fees and zero annual charges for life, it honors military service with robust financial protection. Operating over the RuPay Select network rail, the card links seamlessly to UPI apps (Google Pay, PhonePe, Paytm, and BHIM) for convenient QR code payments at grocery shops, canteens, and local merchants. Cardholders earn 2 Reward Points per ₹100 spent on all retail transactions and eligible merchant UPI payments. Reward points can be redeemed for statement credit, merchandise, or gift vouchers via the PNB Rewardz portal. Understanding defense personnel requirements, the card includes complimentary comprehensive personal accidental death insurance cover of up to ₹10 Lakhs and permanent total disability coverage. Cardholders also receive 2 complimentary domestic airport lounge visits per calendar quarter through the RuPay Select lounge program, alongside a 1% fuel surcharge waiver on transactions up to ₹3,000 nationwide. With a reduced revolving interest finance charge of just 2.75% per month, PNB Parakram is an honorable, lifetime-free card for India's brave servicemen and servicewomen.
Enjoy 3% direct cashback on spending at CSD canteens across India. Requires a minimum spend of ₹3,000 per billing cycle, with cashback capped at ₹1,500 per cycle (up to ₹18,000 annual savings).
Relax in comfort with 1 complimentary domestic airport lounge visit per calendar quarter across major Indian airports, plus 1 complimentary international airport lounge visit per year.
Link your credit card to BHIM, Google Pay, PhonePe, or Paytm to scan and pay at millions of merchant QR codes directly from your credit limit.
No annual fee maintenance or spending threshold required. The card is offered completely free of charge to eligible Indian Army personnel.
Receive 2,500 bonus points on ₹2.5 Lakh annual spend, 5,000 bonus points on ₹5.0 Lakh spend, and 7,500 bonus points on ₹7.5 Lakh spend.
Get a 1% fuel surcharge waiver on transactions between ₹500 and ₹4,000, capped at a generous ₹350 per billing cycle.
As part of PNB's green initiative and commitment to environmental sustainability, the card is manufactured from eco-friendly biodegradable materials.
Base earning rates, partner merchant acceleration, redemption options, and exclusions
| Spend Category | Earn Rate | Reward Cap | Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| CSD Canteen Purchases | 3% cashback on CSD canteen transactions (capped at ₹1,500 per billing cycle) | 1,500 INR (₹) / statement cycle | Standard terms apply |
| Other Retail Spends | 2 Reward Points per ₹100 spent on all other purchases (0.50% return; 1 RP = ₹0.25) | No Cap | Standard terms apply |
Calculate estimated net cashback and points across your actual spending pattern.
Estimate your rewards using the card's current reward rates, monthly caps and applicable fee-waiver rules.
Customize monthly spend in each category. Category amounts sum directly to your monthly spend.
| Category / Reward Bucket | Monthly Spend | Rate | Effective Rate | Cap Period | Eligible Reward | Cap Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CSD Canteen Purchases | ₹12,000 | 3% cashback on CSD canteen transactions (capped at ₹1,500 per billing cycle) | — | ₹1,500/statement_cycle | Calculating... | Under cap |
| Other Retail Spends | ₹18,000 | 2 Reward Points per ₹100 spent on all other purchases (0.50% return; 1 RP = ₹0.25) | — | None | Calculating... | Under cap |
| Total Monthly Cashback | ₹30,000 | - | — | - | ₹0 / mo | Zero cap loss |
₹3.6 lakh
12 billing cycles₹0
0% blended return₹0
Standard renewal+₹0 / yr
Rewards - FeeBonus vouchers and annual fee waiver milestones unlocked as your total spend increases
Receive 2,500 bonus PNB Reward Points (worth ₹625) upon spending ₹2,50,000 in an anniversary year.
Receive 5,000 bonus PNB Reward Points (worth ₹1,250) upon spending ₹5,00,000 in an anniversary year.
Receive 7,500 bonus PNB Reward Points (worth ₹1,875) upon spending ₹7,50,000 in an anniversary year.
*Milestone spend calculation is tracked across eligible retail purchases within each specified billing or calendar period. Excludes cash advances, wallet loads, and EMI conversions.
Domestic and international lounge privileges, spend hurdles, and participating terminals
Verify this card against live departure gates and specific terminal lounges across India.
This card includes complimentary admission across verified Indian airport terminals. Check individual terminal lounges and spend criteria before you travel.
Complete breakdown of joining, renewal, forex, financing APR, and transaction charges
• Joining Fee: ₹0 (Lifetime Free); Annual Renewal Fee: ₹0 (Lifetime Free unconditionally for defense personnel). • Eligibility: Exclusively for active and retired personnel of the Indian Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Paramilitary forces. • Insurance Protection: Complimentary personal accidental death and permanent total disability insurance coverage up to ₹10 Lakhs. • UPI QR Scanning: RuPay credit card integration on BHIM, Google Pay, PhonePe, and Paytm for merchant checkouts. • Rewards Structure: 2 Reward Points per ₹100 spent on all retail transactions and merchant UPI scans. • Domestic Lounge Access: 2 complimentary domestic airport lounge visits per calendar quarter via RuPay Select. • Fuel Surcharge: 1% fuel surcharge waiver on transactions up to ₹3,000 across all petrol stations in India. • Lower Finance Charges: Concessional interest finance charge rate of 2.75% per month.
Evaluate whether this card's perks and waiver threshold justify its Free renewal fee.
Income criteria, minimum age, CIBIL score benchmark, and verification checklist
Common questions regarding PNB Parakram Credit Card application, fees, reward redemption, and eligibility
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Direct online application on the official Punjab National Bank portal with paperless verification.
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