myIRCTC.co.in
Your Ultimate Guide to Indian Railways & IRCTC Services

Last updated: 16 October 2026. This is an independent guide and is not affiliated with IRCTC or Indian Railways. Railway rules change often, so confirm important details on official channels.

What IRCTC is and what it offers

The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) is the official digital arm of Indian Railways for ticketing, catering and tourism. With one account on the IRCTC website or Rail Connect app you can:

• Book and cancel reserved e-tickets in every class and quota
• Check PNR status and seat availability
• Order meals to your seat (e-catering) and book retiring rooms
• Browse rail tour and pilgrimage packages
• Save passenger details in a master list, view booking history and download tickets

IRCTC at a glance: the website launched in 2002 and handles roughly 14.5 lakh train ticket bookings a day, according to a Railway Ministry statement in July 2026. On 15 July 2026 the Ministry also launched a beta version of a redesigned IRCTC website at irctc.co.in/eticket with fewer captchas and pop-ups and faster checkout.

How to create an IRCTC account

Registration is free for individual users, and it takes a few minutes if your mobile number and email are at hand.

1. Open irctc.co.in or the IRCTC Rail Connect app and tap Login, then Register.
2. Choose a User ID. It cannot be changed later, so pick one you will remember.
3. Create a strong password and fill in your name, date of birth, mobile number, email and address. Use real details, because OTPs and account recovery depend on them.
4. Complete the captcha and submit.
5. Verify your mobile number and email with the OTPs you receive.
6. Log in with your new User ID and password.

Is Aadhaar required? Not to register or log in. But online Tatkal booking needs an Aadhaar-authenticated account, and first-day booking of general reserved tickets has been restricted to Aadhaar-authenticated users since January 2026, so link it early: log in, open My Account, choose Link Your Aadhaar and verify with the OTP sent to your Aadhaar-registered mobile number.

Common mistakes: entering a wrong mobile number (OTPs never arrive), creating a second account instead of recovering the first, and using a weak or reused password. For login steps, password reset and errors, see our IRCTC login and account guide.

How to book a train ticket on IRCTC

1. Log in to your IRCTC account on the website or app.
2. Enter the journey: From and To stations, journey date, class and quota, then search for trains.
3. Compare trains and check seat availability for your class before you pick one.
4. Click Book Now for the train and class you want.
5. Add passenger details: name, age, gender and berth preference such as Lower Berth. Enter names exactly as on the ID you will carry, and check the mobile number shown.
6. Review the options on the page, such as auto-upgrade and "book only if confirmed berths are allotted", and choose what suits you.
7. Pay using UPI, card, net banking or another available method.
8. Receive your e-ticket by SMS and email. It also stays in your booked ticket history.

Keep your PNR, and carry a valid original photo ID on the journey. Most users finish a booking in 5 to 10 minutes once they have saved passengers in the master list. If you want to know exactly when booking opens for your date, use our booking date checker.

Booking rules to know in 2026

• Advance reservation period: 60 days before the journey date, excluding the journey date, for most trains. This replaced the old 120-day window on 1 November 2024. Booking opens at 8:00 AM IST.
• Aadhaar: needed for Tatkal. Reports from January 2026 say general reserved tickets on the first day of booking can be booked online only by Aadhaar-authenticated users.
• Monthly limit: up to 12 tickets per user ID per month, or 24 if Aadhaar is linked, as per the latest reports.
• Passengers per ticket: an e-ticket usually allows up to 6 passengers (4 for Tatkal). Check the limit shown on the booking page.
• ID proof: carry a valid original photo ID for every adult passenger.

Our ARP guide explains the 60-day rule, exceptions and dates for popular journeys.

Booking quotas explained

Quotas can differ by train, so always read the availability shown for your class.

Tatkal booking: time, charges and rules

Tatkal is meant for last-minute plans. It opens one day before the journey date, counted from the train's originating station.

• AC classes (1A, 2A, 3A, CC, EC, 3E): opens at 10:00 AM
• Non-AC classes (SL, 2S): opens at 11:00 AM

Tatkal charges

Tatkal charges are 10% of the base fare for Second class and 30% for other classes, within a minimum and maximum per passenger:

Tatkal rules in 2026

• Online Tatkal needs an Aadhaar-authenticated IRCTC account, plus Aadhaar-based OTP at booking.
• From 1 August 2026, Tatkal booking at reservation counters moved to a token system: you collect a token in a set window before booking opens (8:30 to 9:00 AM for AC, 9:30 to 10:00 AM for non-AC) and need a valid photo ID. Online booking is unchanged.
• A confirmed Tatkal ticket is not refunded if you cancel it. You get a refund if the train is cancelled or a waitlisted Tatkal ticket is not confirmed by chart preparation.
• Concession fares do not apply to Tatkal.

Tatkal tips: log in before the window opens, keep passengers saved in the master list, keep a backup payment method ready, and avoid opening multiple tabs or devices.

PNR status and chart preparation

Your PNR is a 10-digit number shown on your ticket. Check it on the IRCTC website or app, on the official Indian Railways enquiry site, by SMS to 139 or 5676747, or by calling 139. For the meaning of CNF, RAC, WL, GNWL and other codes, see our PNR status guide.

Charts are prepared earlier now. For trains departing between 5:00 AM and 2:00 PM, the first chart is prepared by 8:00 PM the previous day, and for later trains at least 10 hours before departure. A second chart is prepared close to departure. An online ticket that is still waitlisted after the final chart is cancelled automatically and refunded.

Cancellation charges and refund rules (2026)

The cancellation time windows for confirmed tickets changed from April 2026. Older guides still show 90%, 75% and 50% refund slabs with 48, 12 and 4-hour cut-offs, and those no longer apply. The current slabs are:

Flat cancellation charge per passenger (more than 72 hours before departure)

Special cases

• Waitlisted or RAC tickets: if they are not confirmed by chart preparation, an online ticket is cancelled automatically with a refund. If you cancel one yourself, a small clerkage charge may apply.
• Train cancelled by Indian Railways: the fare is refunded in full.
• Train running more than 3 hours late: you can claim a full refund if nobody on the ticket travels, by filing a TDR (ticket deposit receipt) before the train departs from your boarding station.
• Counter tickets: from the 2026 reforms, a counter ticket can be cancelled at any railway counter, not only at the originating or terminating station.

How to cancel an e-ticket

1. Log in and open My Transactions then Booked Ticket History.
2. Select the ticket and click Cancel Ticket.
3. Confirm the passengers to cancel and check the refund amount shown.
4. Keep the cancellation confirmation. The refund goes to your original payment method, usually within about 5 to 7 working days.

See our cancellation and refund guide for more.

Changing a ticket after booking

• Boarding station: you can change it up to 30 minutes before departure under the 2026 reforms. Previously it was possible only before the chart was prepared.
• Passenger name or journey date: these cannot be edited on a booked e-ticket at the time of writing. If you need to change them, cancel and rebook, and the cancellation slab applies to the original ticket.
• Class or berth: you may be able to opt for auto-upgrade while booking, but changes after booking are not guaranteed.

Rules are being revised through 2026, so check the latest IRCTC notice if you need a change close to departure.

Payment options and fees

You can pay with UPI, debit or credit cards, net banking and other payment methods shown at checkout, and with the IRCTC eWallet if you have registered for it. UPI is the simplest for first-time users because it needs no prior balance.

• Convenience fee: IRCTC charges a fee per online e-ticket. The Railway Minister stated in August 2025 that it is about ₹10 for non-AC and ₹20 for AC tickets. Check the fare breakup before you pay.
• Gateway charges: these can differ by payment method, so compare the total on the payment page.
• IRCTC eWallet: a prepaid balance that you register for and top up in advance. Its fees, limits and usage conditions have changed over time, so read the current terms on the IRCTC website before you rely on it for Tatkal.

Payment tips: keep a backup payment method ready, do not refresh or press back during payment, and note that if money is deducted but no ticket is generated, it normally returns automatically within a few working days.

Account security

• Use a strong, unique password that you do not use on other sites.
• Never share your password or OTP. IRCTC will not ask for them on a call, SMS or WhatsApp.
• Use only the official website and the Rail Connect app from the official app stores.
• Log out on shared or public devices.
• Keep your mobile number and email up to date so OTPs and recovery keep working.
• Review your booking and transaction history, and report anything you do not recognise.

Children, senior citizens and lower berth rules

Children

• Under 5: free if no separate berth is taken.
• 5 to 11: a reduced child fare if no berth is taken, or the full adult fare if you opt for a berth.
• 12 and above: adult fare and a separate berth.

Always enter the child's correct age when booking, because it decides the fare.

Senior citizens

• The general senior-citizen fare concession (40% for men, 50% for women before 2020) was suspended in 2020 and, according to recent reports, has not been restored. Check the IRCTC booking page before you rely on any concession.
• Lower berths are still allotted on priority, subject to availability, to older passengers and women over 45, and certain other categories. Enter the correct date of birth in the passenger details and select the Lower Berth preference.
• Some concessions for patients and persons with disabilities continue, and a certificate is needed.

Customer support and common errors

Keep your PNR, journey date, stations and payment reference ready before you contact support.

1. Booking failed but money was deducted

Do not book again immediately. Check your booked ticket history for the ticket, and wait for the automatic refund, which usually arrives within a few working days. If it does not, raise a complaint with the transaction ID and keep a screenshot or bank statement.

2. You cannot log in

Use Forgot Password, verify the OTP and set a new password. If OTPs do not arrive, check that your registered mobile number is active. Too many wrong attempts can lock the account for a while, so stop and reset instead of retrying.

3. Refund not received

Check that the cancellation shows in your account, compare the amount with the slab for your cancellation time, and allow the usual refund period. If it is still missing, write to support with the PNR and transaction ID.

4. Errors during Tatkal

Log in early, keep the master list ready, use one device, and keep a backup payment method. Peak traffic can slow the website, so the Rail Connect app is a useful alternative.

Beware of fake sites: never enter your OTP, card PIN or password on unofficial websites or apps that promise faster booking.

Train classes compared

Facilities vary by train. Bedding is provided in AC classes on most trains, and meals are included in the fare on some trains such as Rajdhani and Shatabdi. Check the train's details when booking. General (unreserved) coaches have no reserved berths.

Other ways to book and apps to know

• IRCTC website and Rail Connect app: the main way to book reserved e-tickets.
• Reservation counters (PRS): book with a reservation form and cash or other accepted payment. Counter bookings are unaffected by online-only rules such as the Aadhaar restriction on first-day online booking.
• Authorised agents: they charge a service fee. Never share your IRCTC password or OTP with an agent, and use only agents authorised by IRCTC.
• RailOne app: the UTS app was discontinued on 1 March 2026 and its unreserved-ticket services moved to RailOne, which also offers live train tracking, grievance redressal, e-catering and porter booking. Reserved tickets are still booked through IRCTC.

Keep exploring

• PNR status guide
• IRCTC booking date checker and ARP guide
• Cancellation and refund guide
• IRCTC sign-up walkthrough and Tatkal booking tips from My IRCTC

Final thoughts

An IRCTC account is the key to booking, changing and cancelling Indian Railways tickets, and most problems come down to timing and preparation. Verify your mobile and email, link Aadhaar, save your passengers, learn the booking and cancellation windows, and keep your payment method ready. Bookmark this guide and share it with fellow travellers.