People are trying to get on the train. Image used for representation. File | Photo credit: The Hindu
In a major development, the government has announced a revised ticket cancellation system. Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw, speaking at Kartavya Bhavan in New Delhi on Tuesday (March 24, 2026), said the changes introduced under the ‘Reform Express’ initiative are aimed at curbing misuse of the ticketing system and improving access for genuine passengers.
Aadhaar Verification for Tatkal Bookings
Mr. Vaishnaw said black marketing of tickets and misuse of the Tatkal system was a long-standing problem. To address this issue, railways have deployed technology to detect bots and fraudulent software. Other technological interventions have also been introduced to restrict the ability of agents and touts to book tickets immediately after opening the Tatkal booking window, along with Aadhaar-based OTP verification.
Detailed data analysis led to the identification and removal of nearly three million fake accounts from the IRCTC system. This has led to a significant improvement in ticket availability, he said.
Preliminary preparation of reservation tables
The ticket cancellation time windows of 48, 12 and 4 hours before departure have been adjusted to 72, 24 and 8 hours. This change is in line with the advance preparation of reservation maps, which will now be carried out 9 to 18 hours before departure instead of the previous four hours. The revised system will not mean any additional costs for passengers.
Advance preparation of reservation diagrams is expected to improve passenger convenience by reducing uncertainty, enable better planning for waitlisted passengers, and support passengers from remote locations. Early mapping also enables alternative travel arrangements, optimizes the use of available beds and increases transparency. The aim of the changes is to discourage speculative bookings at the last minute and ensure the availability of tickets to genuine passengers.
No refunds for last minute cancellations
Under the new system, passengers who cancel their ticket more than 72 hours before departure will receive a maximum refund, with only a flat cancellation fee per passenger charged. For cancellations between 72 hours and 24 hours before departure, 25% of the fare will be deducted, subject to a minimum charge.
Late cancellations incur an increased penalty. If the ticket is canceled between 24 hours and 8 hours before departure, 50% of the fare will be deducted, subject to a minimum charge. No refunds will be allowed for cancellations less than eight hours prior to departure.
Cancellation made easy
The minister also announced that counter tickets will soon be allowed to be canceled at any railway station across the country, removing the earlier restriction that required cancellation only at the originating station.
He said the requirement to submit ticket deposit slips for e-tickets has been removed and refunds will now be processed automatically on cancellation. In another passenger-friendly measure, passengers will be allowed to upgrade their travel class up to 30 minutes before departure, whereas earlier such changes were only allowed before the booking chart was prepared. Mr. Vaishnaw said the reforms are expected to further improve transparency, reduce abuse and improve the overall passenger experience of rail ticketing.
The boarding station can be changed
In another reform, the Union minister said that passengers will be able to digitally change their boarding station up to 30 minutes before the train departs from the originating station. He noted that earlier passengers could only adjust their boarding slot before preparing the booking chart.
Under the revised provision, passengers who cannot board the train from the original station can choose the nearest convenient station and board the train without losing their confirmed seat.
Published – 25 March 2026 17:59 IST
