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Child Train Ticket Rule
Revised Child Fare Rule becomes applicable for train journey from 21st April, 2025 onwards.
Advance booking of reserved tickets under this revised child fare rule has already started in December 2025 for journey date 21st April, 2025 onwards.
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 onwards. Advance booking of reserved tickets for children under this revised rule has already started in December 2025 for journey date of 21st April, 2025 onwards.
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.
Source: PIB
Here is a complete summary of the Child Train Ticket Rules as per Indian Railways:
🚼 Child Train Ticket Rules (Effective as of 2025–25)
👶 Children Below 5 Years
- Ticket Not Required
- No Fare Charged
- No Seat or Berth allotted
- If you want a seat/berth, you must book a full-fare ticket.
✅ Example: A 4-year-old child travels free if no berth is selected. If you want a berth (say in Sleeper/AC), pay full fare.
🧒 Children Aged 5 to Under 12 Years
You have two options during booking:
| Option | Berth/Seat Allotted? | Fare Charged |
|---|---|---|
| Yes (opt for berth) | ✅ Yes | 💸 Full Adult Fare |
| No (select “No Berth”) | ❌ No | 🔖 50% of Adult Fare |
⚠️ “No Berth” (also shown as NOSB – No Seat or Berth) means child travels sharing the berth with an adult.
🪑 Note: For Chair Car (CC), 2S (Second Seating) classes, full fare is charged regardless of age, since seating is fixed.
👦 Children Aged 12 Years & Above
- Treated as adults
- Full fare ticket is mandatory
- Berth/seat will be provided
🧾 How to Book Child Ticket on IRCTC
During the IRCTC ticket booking:
- Enter child details (name, age, gender).
- For children aged 5–11, you’ll see an option:
- “✅ Book full fare with berth”
- Or “❌ Book half fare without berth (No Seat/Berth – NOSB)”
- Choose as per your need.
IRCTC will automatically calculate the correct fare based on selection.
🧑⚖️ Rules Reference
These rules are based on official Indian Railways Commercial Circular No. 12 of 2025 and subsequent updates
🧠 Quick FAQs
Q: Can I book a berth for a 3-year-old?
A: Yes, but you’ll pay full fare.
Q: What happens if I don’t select berth for my 7-year-old?
A: They’ll share your berth and pay half fare.
Q: Is ID proof needed for the child?
A: Not mandatory, but helpful to carry for TTE clarification if age is questioned.
Would you like help booking a ticket with a child passenger or calculating the fare for a specific train/journey?