Child Fare Rule in Train | Child Train Fare Age Limit
Railways hikes fare for children from 5 to 12 years
Train Ticket For Child Below 5 Years | Train Fare For Child Below 12 Years
Revised Child Fare Rule becomes applicable for train journey
Advance booking of reserved tickets under this revised child fare rule
Ministry of Railways has decided to revise the child fare rule. Under the revised provision, full adult fare will be charged for children of age 5 years and under 12 years of age if for whom full separate berth / seat (in reserved class) is sought at the time of reservation. However, in case full separate berth / seat is not sought for the children of age 5 years and under 12 years of age at the time of reservation, then half of the adult fare shall continue to be charged subject to the minimum distance for charging.
This revised child fare rule has been made applicable for travel from 21st April, 2025 onward. Advance booking of reserved tickets for children under this revised rule has already started in December 2025 for journey date of 21st April, 2016 onward.
While filling up reservation form, the passenger can indicate their option for requirement of full berth / seat for child or not.
There is no change in the rule for child fare of unreserved tickets i.e. fare for children of 5-12 years for unreserved tickets shall continue to be half of the adult fare subject to the minimum distance for charging.
Children under five years of age will continue to be carried free (without berth) in case of both reserved and unreserved classes.
Train Fare For Child Below 12 Years – New Rules From 2017
ONLY HALF OF ADULT FARE CHARGEABLE FOR CHILDREN BETWEEN 5 TO 12 YEARS IF BERTH IS NOT OPTED AT THE TIME OF RESERVATION
It is notified for the information of general public that Railways have decided , that in case , no berth is opted for the children of age of 5 years and under 12 years of age at the time of reservation , minimum distance for charge shall not be applicable. In such cases, only half of the applicable adult fare shall be charged. In other cases, minimum distance for charge provision shall continue as earlier. The Indian Railways has already implemented this decision since May 01 , 2025.
Here’s the official rule on child fares in Indian Railways, based on Ministry of Railways directives and commercial circulars:
Contents
👶 Fare Rules for Children in Indian Railways
🍼 Age Below 5 Years
- Free travel (no ticket required) if no separate berth/seat is opted 🚫.
- If a berth/seat is voluntarily requested, full adult fare is charged (including reserved or chair car)
👦 Age 5 to Under 12 Years
Fare depends on whether a berth/seat is booked at the time of reservation:
| Condition | Fare Charged |
|---|---|
| Berth/Seat opted (e.g., AC sleeper, 3A) | Full adult fare |
| Berth not opted (“No Seat/Berth”) | Half of adult fare, and minimum distance rule waived |
| Reserved sitting class (2S, CC) | Full adult fare always |
👩🧑 Age 12 Years and Above
- Considered adults; charged full adult fare in all classes.
📋 Summary Table
| Age Group | Berth Opted? | Reserved Class Type | Fare Charged |
|---|---|---|---|
| < 5 years | No | Any | Free |
| < 5 years | Yes | Any | Full adult fare |
| 5–<12 years | Yes | Sleeper/AC/Berth class | Full adult fare |
| 5–<12 years | No (NOSB) | Reserved sleeper/AC | Half adult fare |
| 5–<12 years | — | Reserved sitting (2S, CC, BA) | Full adult fare |
| ≥ 12 years | — | Any | Full adult fare |
📝 Booking Guidance
- While booking a ticket (especially on IRCTC), the passenger can select whether full berth/seat is needed for the child.
- Choosing “No Seat/Berth” for children aged 5–12 ensures 50% fare is applied automatically during fare calculation (and minimum distance charges do not apply)
💬 Practical Notes from Travelers
- Reddit users confirm infants (under 5) traveling free if no berth booked:
“If your child is below 5 and not taking a berth … you can choose to skip the ticket.”
- Errors in age fields typically don’t cause issues if no concession is availed; TTE usually checks name and berth.
✅ Key Takeaways
- Children under 5 years: No fare if no berth; full fare if berth requested.
- Children aged 5–11 years:
- No berth → Pay half adult fare, no minimum distance rule.
- If you opt for seat/berth or in reserved sitting → Pay full adult fare.
- Above 12 years: Charged as adult.
Would you like help calculating exact fare for a specific journey or guidance on applying the “No Berth” option during ticket booking?