What is Tatkal Ticket Booking Scheme?
Tatkal is an Indian Railways scheme to provide ticket for journey at very short
notice. Tatkal Scheme was introduced in all form of reserved class in almost all
Mail/Express trains in India. Tatkal Ticket can be booked either on Railway
Counter or online through IRCTC website.
What are the features of Tatkal Ticket Booking Scheme?
Tatkal Booking starts one day in advance excluding the day of journey e.g. for a
journey on 3rd, bookings would open at 10 am on 2nd. However, the day of journey
is defined as the day of chart preparation. So if the train starts e.g. on 3rd,
and reaches the desired boarding station on 4th, the Tatkal booking will start
on 2nd and not 3rd. No duplicate Tatkal tickets shall be issued. Duplicate
Tatkal tickets shall be issued only in exceptional cases on payment of full fare
including Tatkal charges.
What is the timing for Tatkal Ticket Booking?
Tatkal booking starts at 10 AM on One days in advance actual date of journey
excluding date of journey e.g. for train leaving on 10th, Tatkal Booking will
Commence at 10 AM on 9th.
What is the charges for Tatkal Tickets?
The 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 following table.
Tatkal Charges applicable for journey starting from 24.12.2015 onwards
| Class of Travel | Minimum Tatkal Charges (Rs.) | Maximum Tatkal Charges (Rs.) | Minimum Distance for Charge (KM) |
| Reserved 2nd Sitting (2S) | 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 |
What are the
accepted Identity Proof documents to book Tatkal Tickets?
Tatkal tickets shall be issued only on production of one of the ten
prescribed proofs of identity shown below:
1.Voter Photo identity card issued by Election Commission of India.
2.Passport
3.PAN Card issued by Income Tax Department.
4.Driving Licence issued by RTO.
5.Photo identity card having serial number issued by Central/State
Government.
6.Student Identity Card with photograph issued by recognized
School/College for their students.
7.Nationalized Bank Passbok with photograph.
8.Credit cards issued by banks with laminated photograph.
9.Unique Identification Card "Aadhaar".
10.Photo identity cards having serial number issued by Public Sector
Undertaking of State/Central Government, District Administration,
Municipal bodies and Penchant Administration.
a. For this purpose, a self attested photo copy of the proof of
identity of anyone passenger shall be attached to the requisition
slip.
b. The details of the identity proof shall be captured by the system
and indicated on the reserved tickets as well on the reservation
chart.
c. It will not be mandatory for the passenger(s) to go to the
counter to book the Tatkal ticket, however, the proof will have to
be sent in the aforementioned manner.
d. During the journey, the passenger, whose identity card number has
been indicated on the ticket, will have to produce original proof of
identity indicated on the ticket, failing which all the passengers
booked on the ticket shall be treated as traveling without ticket
and charged accordingly. Indication will come on the ticket
regarding carrying the same original proof of identity during the
journey, as indicated on the ticket.
e. If the passenger whose identity card number is indicated on the
ticket is not traveling, all other passengers booked on that ticket,
if found traveling in train, will be treated as traveling without
ticket and charged accordingly.
Is it possible to get refund against book Tatkal Ticket?
No refund will be granted on cancellation of confirmed Tatkal
tickets/duplicate tatkal ticket except in case of specific
circumstances. However, full refund of fare and tatkal charges will
be granted on the tickets booked under Tatkal scheme in the
following circumstances :-
If the train is delayed by more than 3 hours at the journey
originating point of the passenger & not the boarding point if the
passenger's journey originating point and boarding point are
different.
If the train is to run on a diverted route and passenger is not
willing to travel.
If the train is to run on diverted route and boarding station or the
destination or both the stations are not on the diverted route.
In case of non attachment of coach in which Tatkal accommodation has
been earmarked and the passenger has not been provided accommodation
in the same class.
If the party has been accommodated in lower class and does not want
to travel. In case the party travels in lower class, the passenger
will be given refund of difference of fare and also the difference
of Tatkal charges, if any.
From where the Tatkal Ticket can be booked?
Tatkal Rail Ticket can be booked either from Railway Reservation
Counter or from the website of Indian Railways.