All cards / ICICI Bank
ICICI Bank Parakram Select Credit Card
A free-for-life credit card exclusively for Indian Defence and Paramilitary personnel, punching well above its zero-fee price point with international and domestic lounge access, a monthly golf benefit, and a strong insurance package — plus accelerated 10 points per ₹100 (about 2.5%) on groceries.
Annual fee
₹0
Joining fee
₹0
Reward type
points
Base reward rate
0.5%
Card network
Visa
Card tier
Entry
Who this card fits
Best suited to salaried applicants who clear the standard eligibility bar whose spend is concentrated in groceries, travel. It's a lifetime-free card with no fee to track.
Rewards & benefits
- Rewards rate: 0.5% base rate
- Domestic lounge access: 2 complimentary domestic lounge visits per quarter
- International lounge access: 2 complimentary international lounge visits a year
- Golf: 1 complimentary golf round a month on ₹50,000+ spend in the prior month
- Insurance benefits: ₹2 lakh personal accident cover and ₹20 lakh air accident cover
Benefits by category
- 🛒 Groceries
2.5% reward rate
- ✈️ Travel
2 complimentary international lounge visits a year; 2 complimentary domestic lounge visits per quarter
- 🛡️ Insurance
Personal accident insurance cover of ₹2 lakh and air accident insurance cover of ₹20 lakh
- ⛽ Fuel
1% fuel surcharge waiver on fuel purchases at all outlets
- 🌍 Forex / international spend
3.5% forex markup on international transactions
Eligibility
- Employment: salaried
Fees & charges
- Rewards redemption fee: Free for redemption as statement credit or ICICI's own reward catalogue vouchers; ₹99 + GST per redemption request for select third-party gift/merchandise catalogue items
- Foreign currency markup: 3.5%
- Fuel surcharge waiver: 1% fuel surcharge waiver on fuel purchases at all outlets
- Cash advance charges: 2.5% of the transaction amount or ₹500, whichever is higher, plus applicable GST
Benefits
- 2 complimentary international lounge visits a year; 2 complimentary domestic lounge visits per quarter
- 1 complimentary golf round a month on ₹50,000+ spend in the prior month
- Personal accident insurance cover of ₹2 lakh and air accident insurance cover of ₹20 lakh
- 1% fuel surcharge waiver on fuel purchases at all outlets
Pros
- + No joining or annual fee, ever
- + International and quarterly domestic lounge access, rare for a free card
- + Monthly complimentary golf round on ₹50,000+ prior-month spend
- + ₹2 lakh personal accident cover plus ₹20 lakh air accident insurance included
- + Accelerated 10 points per ₹100 (about 2.5% value) on groceries, department stores and CSD
Cons
- − Restricted to serving Defence and Paramilitary personnel only
- − Grocery bonus points are subject to monthly earning caps
- − Base reward rate is just 2 points per ₹100 (about 0.5%) outside the bonus categories
Best for