Cancellation and Refund Rules for IRCTC Trains

Cancellation and Refund Rules for IRCTC Trains

 

Effective April 1, 2026, Indian Railways has updated ticket cancellation charges to a stricter, time-based structure. No refunds are available if a confirmed ticket is cancelled less than 8 hours before departure. Key charges include

50% deduction (8–24 hours), 25% deduction (24–72 hours), and flat fees for cancellations over 72 hours. 

New Train Ticket Cancellation Rules (Effective April 1, 2026)

• More than 72 hours: Flat cancellation fee (Rs. 240 for 1AC/EC, Rs. 200 for 2AC/FC, Rs. 180 for 3AC/CC/3E, Rs. 120 for Sleeper, Rs. 60 for 2S).
• 24 hours to 72 hours: 25% of the total fare + GST.
• 8 hours to 24 hours: 50% of the total fare + GST.
• Less than 8 hours: No refund (0%). 

Key Takeaways

• No-Refund Window: Extended from 4 hours to 8 hours.
• Increased Penalty: Cancellations within 24–72 hours now cost 25%, up from previous lower rates.
• Tatkal Tickets: These rules also apply; generally, no refund is granted on cancelled confirmed Tatkal tickets, or they follow the 50% deduction rule if within specific timeframes.
• RAC/Waitlist Tickets: Cancellation fee of Rs. 30 (plus GST) applies if cancelled up to 3 hours after the actual departure of the train.
• Train Cancellation: If the train is cancelled by the railway, an automatic full refund is processed, and filing a TDR is not required.
• Online Tickets: Must be cancelled via the IRCTC website to receive refunds.