Tatkal booking time
Tatkal opens exactly one day before the date of journey. The clock is what catches people out: AC and non-AC do not open together, and the journey date is not counted in the one-day gap.
AC classes
10:00 AM
IST, one day before travel
2A, 3A, 3E, CC, EC, EA
Agents blocked until 10:30 AM IST.
Non-AC classes
11:00 AM
IST, one day before travel
SL, FC, 2S
Agents blocked until 11:30 AM IST.
Tatkal timing for your journey date
Enter your travel date to get both Tatkal windows with a countdown.
The day the train departs from your boarding station.
Almost all mail and express trains, all classes, Indian nationals.
What changed in 2025
Two rule changes reshaped Tatkal. From 1 July 2025, Tatkal booking on the IRCTC website and app is limited to Aadhaar-authenticated users. From 15 July 2025, an Aadhaar-linked OTP became mandatory for Tatkal tickets booked at reservation counters and through authorised agents as well.
Alongside that, authorised agents are barred from booking opening-day Tatkal during the first thirty minutes of each window. In practice this means a normal user with a verified account, a saved master list and a fast payment method has a real advantage between 10:00 and 10:30 for AC, and 11:00 and 11:30 for non-AC.
Practical sequence for the opening minute
- Log in by five minutes before the hour. Do not wait for the window to open.
- Have the passenger list saved in your IRCTC master list already.
- Keep one UPI app open and unlocked in the background.
- Pick the boarding and destination stations before the clock turns, not after.
- If Tatkal fails, check whether the general window is still open with the 60-day calculator, and what a cancellation would cost you with the refund calculator.
Sources
Tatkal questions
What time does Tatkal booking open?
10:00 AM IST for AC classes (2A, 3A, 3E, CC, EC, EA) and 11:00 AM IST for non-AC classes (SL, FC, 2S), one day before the date of journey.
Is the journey date counted for Tatkal?
No. Tatkal opens on the calendar day before the journey. For a train departing on 15 October, Tatkal opens on 14 October.
Do I need Aadhaar for Tatkal?
For online booking, yes. Since 1 July 2025 only Aadhaar-authenticated users can book Tatkal on the IRCTC website and app. From 15 July 2025 an Aadhaar-linked OTP is also required for Tatkal booked at PRS counters and through authorised agents.
Can agents book Tatkal at 10:00 AM sharp?
No. Authorised agents cannot book opening-day Tatkal from 10:00 to 10:30 AM for AC classes or from 11:00 to 11:30 AM for non-AC classes. That first half hour is reserved for individual users.
What is Premium Tatkal?
A dynamically priced Tatkal variant sold online only. The fare rises with demand. Its opening time follows the same schedule as regular Tatkal.
Can I cancel a Tatkal ticket for a refund?
Confirmed Tatkal tickets carry no refund on cancellation. Waitlisted Tatkal tickets that never clear are refunded after clerkage, like any other waitlisted ticket.