Indian Railways · Refund Rules

IRCTC Cancellation Charges & Refund Rules

What you get back when you cancel a train ticket — by how early you cancel, and by travel class.

Confirmed Tickets — By Cancellation Time

How much you lose depends on how long before departure you cancel.

More than 48 hours before departure

Flat charge by class only (see the table below). GST applies on AC classes.

Flat fee

48 to 12 hours before departure

Subject to the minimum flat cancellation charge for the class.

25%

12 to 4 hours before departure

Subject to the minimum flat cancellation charge for the class.

50%

Less than 4 hours before departure

Confirmed tickets cannot be refunded this close to departure.

No refund

Flat Charge By Class

AC First Class (1AC / EC)
₹240 + GST
AC 2 Tier (2AC)
₹200 + GST
AC 3 Tier (3AC / CC / 3E)
₹180 + GST
Sleeper Class (SL)
₹120
Second Class (2S)
₹60

Charges apply per passenger, not per ticket. GST is added on AC classes as per government rules.

RAC, Waitlisted & Tatkal

RAC & Waitlisted

Up to 30 minutes before departure

Refunded after deducting the clerkage charge.

Less than 30 minutes before departure

No refund is granted.

Tatkal

Confirmed Tatkal tickets

No refund, except when the railway cancels the train.

3AC Tatkal waitlist
₹60 per person
2AC Tatkal waitlist
₹65 per person

Claiming Your Refund

  • 1.E-tickets: file a TDR (Ticket Deposit Receipt) from your IRCTC account. E-tickets cannot be cancelled after chart preparation.
  • 2.I-tickets: surrender the ticket with the Station Master and obtain a TDR.
  • 3.Train cancelled by railways: full refund, claimable within 3 days.

Quick Answers

What are the IRCTC cancellation charges by class?

Cancelling more than 48 hours before departure costs a flat fee: ₹240 + GST for AC First Class and Executive Chair Car, ₹200 + GST for 2AC, ₹180 + GST for 3AC, Chair Car and 3E, ₹120 for Sleeper and ₹60 for Second Sitting.

How much is deducted if I cancel within 48 hours?

Between 48 and 12 hours before departure you lose 25% of the fare. Between 12 and 4 hours before departure you lose 50%. Less than 4 hours before departure, no refund is due on a confirmed ticket.

Are Tatkal tickets refundable?

Confirmed Tatkal tickets are not refundable. Waitlisted and RAC Tatkal tickets are refunded after deducting the applicable clerkage charge.

What is the cancellation charge for an RAC or waitlisted ticket?

RAC and waitlisted tickets are refunded after a clerkage deduction of ₹60 per passenger, provided they are cancelled up to 30 minutes before the scheduled departure.