✅ What is the purpose of Tatkal Tickets?

With a view to provide reservation to those passengers who have to undertake journey at short notice and to save such passengers from the clutches of unscrupulous elements/touts, Tatkal Reservation Scheme was initially introduced in December, 1997.

✅ What is the time for Tatkal booking?

Tatkal booking opens at 10 AM for AC Classes and 11 AM for NON-AC Classes on One days in advance actual date of journey excluding date of journey w.e.f. of 15.06.2015

✅ Is Tatkal ticket is confirmed?

NO, Tatkal tickets are not confirmed always. But waitlisted Tatkal e-tickets gets canceled automatically after the chart preparation for the particular train.

✅ How many passenger can be booked in single Tatkal ticket?

In case of single Tatkal ticket maximum passengers allowed for booking is Four. A person is allowed to book only 2 tickets (either Sleeper or AC) from 8 am to 12 noon on a One IP address.

✅ How many passenger can be booked in single Tatkal ticket?

In case of single Tatkal ticket maximum passengers allowed for booking is Four. A person is allowed to book only 2 tickets (either Sleeper or AC) from 8 am to 12 noon on a One IP address.

✅ Is Tatkal ticket refundable?

No refund is granted on the confirmed ticket booked under Tatkal booking scheme. For RAC (Reservation Against Cancellation) or waitlisted tickets booked under Tatkal quota, refund is made if the ticket is cancelled up to 30 minutes before the scheduled departure.

Tatkal Railway Ticket Booking in Indian Railway

Thomas

December 30, 2025

Features of Tatkal Scheme in Indian Railway

To facilitate reservations for passengers who need to travel on short notice and to protect them from unscrupulous agents and touts, the Tatkal Reservation Scheme was initially introduced in December 1997. Details of Tatkal Ticket Booking are here.

Western Railway

Western Railway announced that WR will be implementing an important modification in the Tatkal booking system in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Railway Board. Tatkal tickets will now be issued only after authentication of a system-generated one Time Password (OTP). This OTP will be sent to the mobile number furnished by the passenger at the time of booking and the ticket will be issued only after successful validation of the OTP. OTP-based Tatkal authentication system has already been implemented in 21 WR originating trains. Now, the OTP-based Tatkal authentication system has been extended to four more trains mentioned below with effect from 24th December 2025.

Train No. 14702 Bandra Terminus – Shri Ganganagar Express.
Train No. 19037 Bandra Terminus – Barauni Express.
Train No. 19483 Ahmedabad – Saharsa Express.
Train No. 22956 Bhuj – Bandra Terminus Express.

The new system will be applicable for Tatkal bookings made through computerized PRS counters, authorized agents, IRCTC website and IRCTC mobile app. The objective of this change is to ensure transparent Tatkal bookings and to facilitate genuine passengers in getting better access to Tatkal tickets.

Southern Railway

One Time Password Authentication enabled in Five more Trains of Southern Railway

Southern Railway announced that One Time PasswordAuthentication has been enabled for Tatkal Booking in 5 more trains of Southern Railway with effect, from 23.12.2025 as follows:-

Train No. 12656, Dr. MGR Chennai Central–Ahmedabad Navajivan Superfast Express, will be effective from 23.12.2025.
Train No. 12842, Dr. MGR Chennai Central–Howrah Coromandel Superfast Express, will also be effective from 23.12.2025.
Train No. 13352, Alappuzha–Dhanbad Express, will be effective from 23.12.2025.
Train No. 22158, Chennai Egmore–Mumbai CSMT Superfast Express, will be effective from 23.12.2025.
Train No. 22160, Dr. MGR Chennai Central–Mumbai CSMT Superfast Express, will be effective from 23.12.2025.

Central Railway

OTP-Based Authentication for Tatkal Ticket Booking in Selected Trains

Central Railway announced that Indian Railways will implement a new OTP-based authentication system for Tatkal ticket bookings in following trains on Central Railway with effect from 06.12.2025. The new system will be applicable for Tatkal tickets booked through computerized PRS counters, authorized agents, and the IRCTC website/app. Under this procedure, passengers will receive a one-Time Password (OTP) on the mobile number provided at the time of booking. The Tatkal ticket will be issued only upon successful OTP validation. This measure aims to further strengthen transparency, prevent misuse, and ensure that genuine passengers benefit from Tatkal quota bookings.

This Facility will be implemented for following trains with the effect from 06.12.2025

Train No.12219 LTT – Secunderabad Duronto Express
Train No.12221 Pune – Howrah Duronto Express
Train No.12223 LTT – Ernakulam Jn Duronto Express
Train No.12261 CSMT – Howrah Duronto Express
Train No.12263 Pune – Hazrat Nizamuddin Jn Duronto Express
Train No.12289 CSMT – Nagpur Duronto Express
Train No.12290 Nagpur – CSMT Duronto Express
Train No.12293 LTT – Prayagraj Duronto Express
Train No.12298 Pune – Ahmedabad Jn Duronto Express
Train No.20101 Nagpur – Secunderabad Vande Bharat Express
Train No.20670 Pune – Hubballi Jn Vande Bharat Express
Train No.20673 Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj Terminus Kolhapur – Pune Vande Bharat Express
Train No.20674 Pune – Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj Terminus Vande Bharat Express
Train No.22221 CSMT Mumbai – Hazrat Nizamuddin Jn Rajdhani Express (w.e.f. 05.12.2025)

Note :- This has already been implemented for 12025 Pune – Hyderabad Shatabdi Express w.e.f. 01.12.2025

Changes in Tatkal Booking From 01.07.2025

Online Tatkal Bookings will now require Aadhaar Authentication
OTP Authentication at PRS counters and Agents from 15.07.2025.
Booking Time Restriction will be rusticated for Authorised Agents.

Indian Railways has announced that changes in Tatkal booking scheme and will come into effect from 1st July 2025. The detailed guidelines are attached.

New Tatkal Bookings

For Aadhaar Users : Starting from July 1, 2025, Tatkal bookings on the IRCTC website or mobile app will be allowed only for users who are authenticated using Aadhaar. OTP-based Aadhaar verification will be implemented from July 15, 2025.
For Non-Aadhaar Users – PRS Counter and Agent Booking :
- From July 15, 2025, Tatkal bookings made at PRS counters or through authorized agents (YTSK) will require OTP verification sent to the mobile number of the person booking the ticket.
- Travel Agents: Authorized agents will not be allowed to book Tatkal tickets during the first 30 minutes of the Tatkal booking opening.
  - For AC classes: Booking restriction will be from 10:00 AM to 10:30 AM.
  - For Non-AC classes: Booking restriction will be from 11:00 AM to 11:30 AM.

Features of Tatkal Ticket Booking

The salient features of this scheme as on date are as under:-

Tatkal booking for✅ AC classes opens at ✅ 10.00 hours on the previous day of journey excluding date of journey from the train originating station. ✅ For non-AC classes, Tatkal booking starts at ✅ 11.00 hours on the previous day of journey excluding date of journey from the train originating station. (For example, if train is to depart from the originating station on the second of the month, the Tatkal quota for that particular train shall open at 10.00/11.00 hours on the first of the month.)
The reservation under this scheme is available only upto the time of preparation of charts. At the time of preparation of charts, the vacant Tatkal accommodation is released to the RAC / waitlisted passengers and no Tatkal charges are realised from such passengers.
The facility of ✅ change of name is not permitted on the bookings made under Tatkal scheme.
No ✅ duplicate Tatkal tickets are issued. Duplicate Tatkal tickets are issued only in exceptional cases on payment of full fare including Tatkal charges.
The reservation under this scheme can be sought by full fare paying passengers only and no passenger holding ✅ concessional ticket is allowed to avail reservation under this scheme.
In case of tickets booked under Tatkal scheme, during the journey, one of the passengers booked on that ticket is required to produce any one of the prescribed proof of identity (in original), failing which all the passengers booked on that ticket are considered as travelling without ticket and charged accordingly.
Tatkal tickets are issued subject to the applicable distance restrictions.

Tatkal Charges

Tatkal charges have been fixed as a percentage of fare at the rate of 10% of basic fare for second class and 30% of basic fare for all other classes subject to minimum and maximum as given in the table below:-

Class of Travel	Minimum Tatkal Charges (in Rs.)	Maximum Tatkal Charges (in Rs.)	Minimum Distance for Charges (in Km)
Reserved Second Sitting (25)	10	15	100
Sleeper	100	200	500
AC Chair Car	125	225	250
AC – 3 Tier	300	400	500
AC-2 Tier	400	500	500
Executive	400	500	250