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  1. Home
  2. Credit Cards
  3. Punjab National Bank
  4. PNB Rakshak RuPay Select Credit Card
PNB Rakshak RuPay Select Credit Card Credit Card
Punjab National Bank logo
Punjab National BankRuPay Network
Verified
Direct Bank Application via Official Issuer Portal
Lifetime FreeAirport Lounge
4.6/5 Editorial Score

PNB Rakshak RuPay Select Credit Card

Exclusive Armed Forces Credit Card with Lifetime Free Perks & RuPay Select Benefits

Best Suited For

Serving and retired Indian Armed Forces and Paramilitary personnel looking for zero maintenance fees, high accident insurance, and RuPay UPI functionality.

Lifetime FreeAirport Lounge
Joining Fee

Free

One-time upfront
Annual Fee

Free

Lifetime Free — no renewal fee
Base Rewards

Standard Points

On eligible spends
Airport Lounge

8 Domestic + 2 International visits/year

Complimentary visits
Apply NowCompare CardOfficial Terms
See where this card gets lounge access

Last verified 3 Oct 2026

Why Consider This Card?

Objective editorial assessment, ideal spender profile, and primary trade-offs

Editorial Verdict

4.6/5 Editorial Score

The PNB Rakshak RuPay Select Credit Card is a specialized institutional payment card dedicated to the brave personnel of the Indian Armed Forces, Paramilitary forces, and state police services. Offered by Punjab National Bank as a 100% Lifetime Free credit card, it reflects institutional gratitude by eliminating all joining and annual fees. The card is packed with high-value RuPay Select privileges: cardholders receive complimentary domestic airport lounge visits, annual comprehensive health checkups, complimentary spa sessions, and curated golf access. Crucially for defense families, it provides extensive complimentary personal air accident insurance cover up to ₹50 Lakhs, alongside disability insurance protection. Built on the RuPay network, it enables seamless linking to UPI applications like BHIM, PhonePe, and Google Pay for instant QR code payments anywhere in India, making it an indispensable everyday defense card.

Ideal For:Serving and retired Indian Armed Forces and Paramilitary personnel looking for zero maintenance fees, high accident insurance, and RuPay UPI functionality.
Lifetime FreeAirport Lounge

Card Strengths

  • Lifetime Free Defense Card: Zero joining fee and zero annual renewal fee with Lifetime Free benefits for Indian defense and paramilitary forces.
  • ₹50 Lakhs Life Insurance: Complimentary personal accident and air accident life insurance cover of up to ₹50 Lakhs.
  • RuPay Select Wellness Perks: Access complimentary domestic airport lounges, annual health checkup packages, and spa sessions via RuPay Select.
  • RuPay UPI Integration: Link your defense credit card to any UPI app for effortless merchant scan-and-pay transactions.
  • Concessional Interest Rates: Benefit from reduced revolving interest rate starting from 2.95% per month.

Things to Keep in Mind

  • Restricted to Defense Forces: Available strictly to serving or retired Armed Forces, Paramilitary, and Police personnel; civilians cannot apply.
  • Defense Credentials Required: Mandatory submission and verification of service ID and defense salary account details.
  • Standard Forex Markup: Carries standard 3.50% foreign exchange markup on cross-border transactions.
  • Modest Reward Conversion: Standard retail reward rate delivers approximately 0.25% value back.

Rewards & Cashback Structure

Base earning rates, partner merchant acceleration, redemption options, and exclusions

Reward Program Name
PNB Rewardz
Reward Currency
PNB Reward Points
Point Value (INR)
₹0.2500 per point
Redemption Channels
Refer to bank rewards portal
Reward Point Expiry
Refer to bank rewards program terms
Category Accelerated Earn RatesPublished Terms
Spend CategoryEarn RateReward CapConditions
Utility & Restaurant Spends2X Reward Points (4 Reward Points per ₹100 spent; 1.00% return; 1 RP = ₹0.25)No CapStandard terms apply
Other Spends2 Reward Points per ₹100 spentNo CapStandard terms apply
Explore top credit cards and rewards across top verified merchant brands.Browse Merchant Hubs

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Estimate Your Annual Rewards

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Verified Rates & Caps
Quick Select:
Total Monthly Spend:₹30,000 / month
₹5,000 / mo₹1 lakh / mo₹2 lakh / mo

Category Spend Allocation

Customize monthly spend in each category. Category amounts sum directly to your monthly spend.

Assumed spend distribution
Utility & Restaurant Spends1.00%
No published cap
₹
Other Spends0.50%
No published cap
₹
Excluded / Non-Reward Spends0%
Fuel, rent, wallet, govt, cash
₹
Category / Reward BucketMonthly SpendRateEffective RateCap PeriodEligible RewardCap Status
Utility & Restaurant Spends₹12,0002X Reward Points (4 Reward Points per ₹100 spent; 1.00% return; 1 RP = ₹0.25)—NoneCalculating... Under cap
Other Spends₹18,0002 Reward Points per ₹100 spent—NoneCalculating... Under cap
Total Monthly Cashback₹30,000-—-₹0 / moZero cap loss
Annual Spends

₹3.6 lakh

12 billing cycles
Annual Capped Rewards

₹0

0% blended return
Effective Fee

₹0

Standard renewal
Net Annual Value

+₹0 / yr

Rewards - Fee
*Calculation based on verified card reward rates, applicable monthly caps, and fee-waiver thresholds (fee waived).
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Airport Lounge Access

Domestic and international lounge privileges, spend hurdles, and participating terminals

Domestic Lounge Access

Airports within India
Included
Complimentary Visits
8 complimentary visits per year
Spend Requirement
No spend requirement
2 complimentary domestic airport lounge visits per calendar quarter (8 per year)

International Lounge Access

Global airports outside India
Included
Complimentary Visits
2 complimentary visits per year
Spend Requirement
No spend requirement
Access Type
International Lounge Program
2 complimentary international airport lounge visits per calendar year

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Where can I use this card for airport lounge access?

This card includes complimentary admission across verified Indian airport terminals. Check individual terminal lounges and spend criteria before you travel.

See where this card gets lounge access
Airport Lounge Checker
Domestic Allowance8 Domestic + 2 International visits/year
Airport Coverage40+ Major Indian Airports
Lounge DirectoryView All Lounge Coverage
Representative Major Airport Lounges:
Delhi (DEL)Mumbai (BOM)Bengaluru (BLR)Hyderabad (HYD)Chennai (MAA)Kolkata (CCU)All 40+ Airports →

Fees & Charges

Complete breakdown of joining, renewal, forex, financing APR, and transaction charges

1. Card Membership Fees

Joining Fee (1st Year)
Free
Annual / Renewal Fee (2nd Year Onwards)
Free
Annual Spend Fee Waiver
Lifetime Free — no renewal fee
Fee Terms Notes
Defence & paramilitary salary package credit card; ₹0 joining & annual fee; 8 domestic + 2 intl lounges

2. International Spends

Foreign Currency Markup (Forex)
3.50% + GST
Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC)
Standard 1% mark-up on cross-currency INR transactions where applicable

3. Borrowing & Financing

Monthly Interest Rate (Finance Charges)
Refer to official schedule of charges
Annualized Interest Rate (APR)
Refer to official schedule of charges
Cash Advance / ATM Withdrawal Fee
Refer to official schedule of charges
Interest-Free Period
Up to 50 Days

4. Other Charges & Taxes

Late Payment Charges
Refer to official schedule of charges
Regulatory Tax Notice: Goods and Services Tax (GST) of 18% is applicable on all card fees, interest charges, and milestone fees as mandated by the Government of India.

Verified Terms & Exclusions Summary

• Eligibility: Exclusively for serving and retired personnel of the Indian Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Paramilitary (CRPF, BSF, ITBP, CISF, SSB), and Police forces. • Joining & Annual Fee: ₹0 (Lifetime Free with no hidden maintenance fees or recurring charges). • Insurance Protection: Complimentary personal accidental insurance cover of up to ₹50 Lakhs for defense personnel. • RuPay Select Privileges: Complimentary domestic airport lounge access, annual health checkup, spa access, and golf lessons via the RuPay Select portal. • UPI Payments: Seamlessly link to UPI applications (BHIM, Google Pay, PhonePe) for fast merchant QR code payments. • Reward Points: Earn 2 reward points per ₹100 on retail purchases with accelerated rewards on utility and grocery spends. • Fuel Surcharge: 1% fuel surcharge waiver for transactions between ₹500 and ₹4,000 (maximum waiver ₹250 per statement). • Preferential Interest: Concessional finance charges starting from 2.95% per month on revolving balances.

Is the Annual Fee Worth It?

Evaluate whether this card's perks and waiver threshold justify its Free renewal fee.

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Eligibility & Application Requirements

Income criteria, minimum age, CIBIL score benchmark, and verification checklist

Eligibility criteria not specified

Verified eligibility criteria are not currently available for this card. Check the issuer's latest terms before applying.

Mandatory Verification Documents

1. Identity ProofPAN Card (Mandatory), Aadhaar Card, Passport, or Voter ID.
2. Address ProofAadhaar (DigiLocker), Utility Bill (Electricity/Piped Gas), or Rental Agreement.
3. Income ProofLatest 3 months salary slips, Form 16, or latest 2 years ITR computation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions regarding PNB Rakshak RuPay Select Credit Card application, fees, reward redemption, and eligibility

Who is eligible for the PNB Rakshak RuPay Select Credit Card?
The card is issued exclusively to serving and retired personnel of the Indian Army, Indian Navy, Indian Air Force, Coast Guard, Central Paramilitary Forces (BSF, CRPF, CISF, ITBP, SSB), and State Police departments.
Is there any annual fee for PNB Rakshak RuPay Select?
No, the PNB Rakshak RuPay Select Credit Card is 100% Lifetime Free (LTF) with zero joining fee and zero annual maintenance fee.
How do I claim RuPay Select wellness and lounge benefits?
Cardholders can register their PNB Rakshak card on the RuPay Select portal (rupay.co.in) to book complimentary domestic airport lounge visits, health checkups, and spa vouchers.
Can PNB Rakshak card be linked to Google Pay and PhonePe?
Yes, because it operates on the RuPay payment network, it can be linked directly to Google Pay, PhonePe, Paytm, or BHIM for daily UPI merchant payments.
What is the joining and annual renewal fee for PNB Rakshak RuPay Select Credit Card?
The joining fee for PNB Rakshak RuPay Select Credit Card is Free (one-time), and the annual renewal fee is Free from the second year onwards. GST of 18% is applicable on all fee charges.
Can the annual fee on PNB Rakshak RuPay Select Credit Card be waived?
PNB Rakshak RuPay Select Credit Card is a Lifetime Free credit card with no annual renewal fee, so no spend-based waiver is required.
What are the primary rewards and cashback earn rates on PNB Rakshak RuPay Select Credit Card?
PNB Rakshak RuPay Select Credit Card offers reward points on eligible transactions. Cardholders also enjoy accelerated reward rates on partner merchants and selected digital spend categories.
Does PNB Rakshak RuPay Select Credit Card offer complimentary airport lounge access?
Yes, PNB Rakshak RuPay Select Credit Card provides 8 Domestic + 2 International visits/year.

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DIRECT BANK APPLICATION

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Direct online application on the official Punjab National Bank portal with paperless verification.

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