The verdict
An exceptional salute to India's armed forces. The 10X points on official CSD canteen purchases combined with vital ₹25 Lakhs defense insurance cover and low spend waiver threshold make it an indispensable daily card for defense families.
Spending ₹15,000/month across CSD canteens, groceries, and dining earns 1,500 points/month (18,000 points/year worth ~₹4,500). Adding the ₹25 Lakhs personal accident cover protection, ₹960 fuel surcharge savings, and fee waiver on ₹1.5L spend delivers over ₹6,960 in net annual value.
Civilians are ineligible to apply; applicant must produce official defense service identity credentials or PPO.
✓What works
- +10X reward points (10 points per ₹100 spent) on Canteen Stores Department (CSD) purchases.
- +10X reward points on dining, supermarket groceries, departmental stores, and movies.
- +₹25 Lakhs complimentary personal accidental insurance cover for defense personnel.
- +1,500 bonus reward points welcome gift upon card activation.
- +100% annual renewal fee waiver upon spending ₹1,50,000 in a card anniversary year.
- +1% fuel surcharge waiver on transactions between ₹500 and ₹3,000.
✕What doesn't
- −Exclusively reserved for defense personnel and veterans (civilians cannot apply).
- −No complimentary airport lounge access included.
- −Reward points redemption subject to standard SBI Card catalogue charges.
What it earns
1 Shaurya SBI Reward Point = ₹0.25 for redemption against SBI reward catalogue or brand vouchers.
| Category | Rate | Monthly Cap | Per ₹1L spent |
|---|---|---|---|
| CSD Canteens, Dining, Movies & Groceries (10X) | 10 Points / ₹100 (2.5% value) | Uncapped | 10,000 Points (~₹2,500 value) |
| All Other Domestic Retail Spends | 2 Points / ₹100 (0.50% value) | Uncapped | 2,000 Points (~₹500 value) |
| Fuel Purchases | 0% | Excluded | 0 Points |
Accelerated earn
10X Points on CSD Canteen, Groceries & Dining
Earn 10X points across defense canteens, grocery stores, dining, and movies.
| Category / Channel | Multiplier Rate | Monthly Cap | Cap / Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| CSD Canteen & Departmental Stores10 points per ₹100 at all Canteen Stores Department outlets and supermarkets. | 10× · 10 Points / ₹100 | Uncapped | — |
| Dining & Cinema10 points per ₹100 on dining at restaurants and movie ticket bookings. | 10× · 10 Points / ₹100 | Uncapped | — |
Redemption options
Redeem points directly on SBI Card Rewards portal for electronics, travel vouchers, and shopping cards.
| Redemption Channel | Value Per Point | Minimum | Ceiling / Limits | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand Shopping VouchersBEST VALUE | ₹0.25 / Reward Point | 1,000 pts | None | Nil |
| SBI Card Reward Catalogue | ₹0.20 to ₹0.25 / Reward Point | 2,000 pts | None | ₹99 + GST |
Reward Scope: Inclusions & Exclusions
✓Eligible Spends (Inclusions)
- +CSD Canteen outlets, military stations, grocery stores, dining, and movies.
- +₹25 Lakhs defense personal accidental cover.
- +1% fuel surcharge waiver across India.
✕Excluded Spends & Fee Traps
- −Fuel purchases (eligible for 1% surcharge waiver only).
- −ATM cash withdrawals and digital wallet loads.
Fee Schedule & Waiver Criteria
| Fee Component | Amount / Rate |
|---|---|
| Joining Fee | ₹1,499 + GST (Includes 1,500 Bonus Reward Points) |
| Annual Renewal Fee | ₹1,499 + GST (Waived on ₹1,50,000 annual spend) |
| Finance Charges (Interest Rate) | 3.75% per month (45.0% per annum) |
| Foreign Currency Markup | 3.50% + GST |
| Fuel Surcharge Waiver | 1% waiver on ₹500 to ₹3,00,0 transactions (Max ₹100/month) |
Eligibility & Approval Criteria
| Criteria | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Defense Service Criteria | Serving or retired personnel of Indian Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Paramilitary |
| Age Requirement | 21 to 70 years |
| Documentation | Official Defense Service ID Card or Pension Payment Order (PPO) |
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Shaurya Select SBI Card offer airport lounge access?
What are the MITC charges, annual fees, and interest rates for Shaurya Select SBI Card?
What is the reward rate and point redemption value on Shaurya Select SBI Card?
Which transactions are excluded from earning rewards on Shaurya Select SBI Card?
Who is Shaurya Select SBI Card best suited for in 2026?
Editorial Deep-Dive Analysis
Comprehensive Overview: Shaurya Select SBI Card
The Shaurya Select SBI Card is a patriotic, affinity lifestyle credit card specially developed by SBI Card on the RuPay and Visa platforms to honor and serve personnel of the Indian Armed Forces (Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Paramilitary, and defense veterans). Featuring an annual membership fee of ₹1,499 + GST, the renewal fee is 100% reversed upon achieving an accessible ₹1,50,000 in qualifying retail spends in the previous card anniversary year.
The card is uniquely tailored to military lifestyles and household spending patterns: its centerpiece is a comprehensive ₹25,00,000 Personal Accidental Insurance (Death) Cover protecting defense families, alongside an upfront welcome gift of 1,500 bonus reward points upon fee payment, 10 reward points per ₹100 spent (2.5% return at 4 points = ₹1) across Canteen Stores Department (CSD) canteens, military mess bills, grocery supermarkets, dining restaurants, and movie theaters, a ₹1,500 milestone gift voucher on reaching ₹1,50,000 in annual spending, and seamless RuPay UPI integration.
Key Privileges and Practical Everyday Benefits
- ₹25 Lakhs Defense Personal Accidental Cover: Receive comprehensive Personal Accidental Insurance (Death) coverage of ₹25,00,000 dedicated to armed forces personnel and veterans.
- 1,500 Welcome Bonus Points: Earn 1,500 bonus reward points (worth ₹375) upon realization of the joining fee within 30 days of card issuance.
- 10X Reward Multipliers on CSD Canteens & Daily Living:
- Earn 10 reward points per ₹100 spent (2.5% valueback at 4 points = ₹1) on Canteen Stores Department (CSD) canteens, military mess purchases, departmental stores, grocery supermarkets, dining, and movie tickets.
- Earn 2 reward points per ₹100 spent (0.5% return) on all other general retail transactions.
- ₹1,500 Annual Milestone Voucher: Receive an e-gift voucher worth ₹1,500 from premium retail brands upon achieving ₹1,50,000 in annual retail spending (effectively recovering 100% of the annual fee).
- RuPay UPI Merchant Payments: Link the RuPay card variant to UPI apps (Google Pay, PhonePe, Paytm, BHIM) to make instant QR code payments at local stores, military stations, and cantonment establishments.
- 1% Fuel Surcharge Waiver & Accessible Fee Waiver: 1% fuel surcharge waiver on transactions between ₹500 and ₹3,000 at all petrol pumps nationwide; ₹1,499 renewal fee waived at ₹1,50,000 spend.
Important Terms and Spend Conditions to Keep in Mind
- Defense Personnel Eligibility Prerequisite: Issuance is strictly restricted to active-duty personnel or defense veterans with verifiable Armed Forces or Paramilitary service credentials.
- Accidental Insurance Card Activity Condition: The ₹25 Lakh accidental death insurance cover requires the credit card to have had at least one purchase transaction within 90 days prior to any incident.
- No Airport Lounge Access: The card carries no complimentary domestic or international airport lounge access.
- Redemption Processing Charges: Redeeming accumulated reward points for statement credits or catalog vouchers incurs standard processing fees of ₹99 + GST.
- Excluded Spend Categories: Fuel transactions, wallet top-ups, rent payments, and government utility payments do not accrue reward points.
Who Benefits Most
- Active Defense Personnel & Veterans: Indian Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Paramilitary officers seeking robust life insurance protection and military affinity privileges.
- CSD Canteen & Cantonment Spenders: Military families purchasing groceries and household goods regularly at CSD outlets and mess facilities.
- Defense Personnel Using RuPay UPI: Armed forces personnel seeking a reliable credit card linked to UPI apps for daily canteen and merchant transactions.
- SBI Card — Shaurya Select SBI Card official schedule of charges and MITC
- Ministry of Defence & SBI Card Armed Forces Program — 10X CSD rewards & ₹25 Lakhs complimentary cover terms
Independent Editorial & Statutory Disclaimers
Institutional Transparency & Nominative Fair Use Statement
CredSutra operates as an independent credit card discovery and consumer intelligence engine. CredSutra is NOT a bank, Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC), Direct Selling Agent (DSA), or Lending Service Provider (LSP).