IRCTC rules, answered
The questions people actually search for, with the rule and the reasoning behind it.
Booking
How many days in advance can I book a train ticket in India?
60 days, excluding the date of journey. Indian Railways cut the Advance Reservation Period from 120 days to 60 days with effect from 1 November 2024. The 365-day window for foreign tourists booking under the Foreign Tourist quota was left unchanged.
At what time does IRCTC booking open?
General advance reservation opens at 08:00 AM IST on the day the 60-day window falls. Tatkal opens the previous day at 10:00 AM IST for AC classes and 11:00 AM IST for non-AC classes.
Is the journey date counted in the 60 days?
No. The count excludes the date of journey. For a journey on 30 December, the 60-day window opens on 31 October, not 1 November.
Which trains do not follow the 60-day rule?
A few day-time intercity express trains, such as the Taj Express and Gomti Express, keep a shorter advance reservation period. Some special and seasonal services are notified with 30, 15 or 10-day windows. Always check the specific train before assuming 60 days.
When does Tatkal booking open?
One day before the date of journey, excluding the journey date. AC classes open at 10:00 AM IST and non-AC classes at 11:00 AM IST. For a journey on 15 October, AC Tatkal opens at 10:00 AM on 14 October.
Do I need Aadhaar to book Tatkal tickets?
Yes for online booking. Since 1 July 2025 only Aadhaar-authenticated users can book Tatkal tickets on the IRCTC website and app, and from 15 July 2025 an Aadhaar-linked OTP is required for Tatkal tickets booked at PRS counters and through authorised agents.
Can travel agents book Tatkal the moment it opens?
No. Authorised agents are barred from booking opening-day Tatkal for the first 30 minutes: 10:00 to 10:30 AM for AC classes and 11:00 to 11:30 AM for non-AC classes.
What happens if I miss the 08:00 AM opening?
Nothing is lost automatically, but popular routes can move to waitlist within minutes. Set a reminder for a few minutes before the window opens, keep your passenger list saved in your IRCTC master list, and have payment ready.
Cancellation and refunds
What are the latest train ticket cancellation rules?
Since April 2026 the cancellation windows are wider than they used to be. Cancel more than 72 hours before departure and you pay only the flat charge for your class. Between 72 and 24 hours it is 25% of the fare, between 24 and 8 hours it is 50%, and inside 8 hours there is no refund at all. The old boundaries were 48, 12 and 4 hours.
How much is deducted if I cancel a confirmed train ticket?
More than 72 hours before departure, a flat charge per passenger: ₹240 for AC First or Executive, ₹200 for AC 2-Tier or First Class, ₹180 for AC 3-Tier, 3E or Chair Car, ₹120 for Sleeper and ₹60 for Second Sitting. Between 72 and 24 hours it is 25% of the fare, and between 24 and 8 hours it is 50%, each subject to that same minimum.
What happens if I cancel less than 8 hours before departure?
No refund is granted on a confirmed ticket inside 8 hours of scheduled departure. That cut-off used to be 4 hours and was doubled in April 2026, so a same-day change of plan is now considerably more expensive. The only route left is a TDR, and only on the specific grounds Railways recognises, such as the train being cancelled or running more than three hours late.
Did the flat cancellation charges change in 2026?
No. Only the time windows moved. The class-wise minimums stayed at ₹240, ₹200, ₹180, ₹120 and ₹60 per passenger, and so did clerkage on RAC and waitlisted tickets.
How much do I get back on an RAC or waitlisted ticket?
The fare less clerkage of ₹60 per passenger, plus GST on AC classes, provided you cancel more than 30 minutes before scheduled departure. Inside 30 minutes there is no refund. The 2026 revision did not touch this rule.
Can I cancel a counter ticket at any station now?
Yes. Alongside the new windows, Railways allowed counter tickets to be cancelled at any reservation counter in the country, instead of only at the station where the ticket was bought.
Do I get a refund on a Tatkal ticket?
Not on a confirmed Tatkal or Premium Tatkal ticket. That fare is forfeited whenever you cancel. A waitlisted Tatkal ticket that never confirms is refunded like any other waitlisted ticket, after clerkage.
Is GST charged on cancellation?
Yes, at 5% on the cancellation charge, for AC classes and First Class only. Sleeper and Second Sitting carry no GST on cancellation.
Is the IRCTC convenience fee refunded?
No. The convenience fee of ₹20 for non-AC and ₹40 for AC classes per e-ticket, plus GST, is not returned when you cancel.
What if my waitlisted ticket never clears?
An e-ticket on which every passenger is still waitlisted after chart preparation is cancelled automatically and the refund is credited to the source account. You do not need to do anything.
When should I file a TDR instead of cancelling?
When the loss is the railway's doing rather than a change of plan: the train is cancelled, it is running more than three hours late and you choose not to travel, the AC failed, the coach was not attached, or you were not given the class you paid for. A TDR is filed online and processed by the railway, so it takes longer than an ordinary cancellation.
Want the long version? The ARP guide and the cancellation guide go through each rule properly.