Indian Railways is one of the most important and affordable modes of transportation in the country. It ensures a comfortable journey and caters to millions of passengers every day. As a result, train tickets are usually booked months in advance. This is why, for passengers who wish to travel at the last minute, the Railways set up the Tatkal reservation scheme in the year 1997.
Approximately 7–10% of seats in a train are reserved under this scheme for those who need to travel on a short notice. The bookings are made a day before the train’s origination. Here’s all you need to know about Tatkal ticket booking.
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Timings to Book a Tatkal Ticket
Tatkal ticket booking opens a day before the date of journey, which is the day when the train leaves from its source station. The booking for AC classes starts at 10 AM and for non-AC classes at 11 AM.
How Many Tatkal Tickets Can Be Booked at Once?
You can book a maximum of four tickets per PNR with the Tatkal Quota.
What Are the Additional Charges Levied on Tatkal Tickets?
Tatkal tickets have additional charges of 10% of the basic fare for second class (2S) and 30% of the basic fare for all other classes, subject to a minimum and a maximum fee.
| Class of travel | Minimum Tatkal (in ₹) | Maximum Tatkal (in ₹) |
| Reserved Second Sitting (2S) | ₹10 | ₹15 |
| Sleeper | ₹100 | ₹200 |
| AC Chair Car | ₹125 | ₹225 |
| AC 3-Tier | ₹300 | ₹400 |
| AC 2-Tier | ₹400 | ₹500 |
| Executive | ₹400 | ₹500 |
Can Tatkal Tickets Be Cancelled?
You can cancel your Waitlisted or RAC Tatkal tickets up to 30 minutes before the train’s departure. For cancellation of Waitlisted tickets, charges will be deducted as per the IRCTC rules. No refund will be granted on cancellation of Confirmed Tatkal tickets.
If Waitlisted Tatkal tickets do not get converted to Confirmed or RAC status before the final chart preparation, they automatically get cancelled, and the passenger receives a refund. In case your train is running late by three hours or is cancelled by the Railways, you can claim a refund by filing a Ticket Deposit Receipt (TDR).
How Can You Book Tatkal Tickets?
You can book Tatkal tickets either online via the ixigo app or offline at the railway station counters. It should be noted that the Tatkal window opens for only one hour.
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