Instructions For Booking Of Tickets-Guidelines for Train Services beginning on 01-06-2025
Guidelines for Train Services beginning on 1st June, 2025-Instructions For Booking Of Tickets
- Tickets can be booked online through IRCTC website, CSCs & ticketing agents
- Reservation counters opened from 22/05/2025 in a phased manner as per local needs & conditions
- The Advance Reservation Period to be maximum of 30 days
- RAC & Waitlist to be generated as per extant rules
- Waiting list ticket holders not permitted to board the train
- No unreserved tickets to be issued & no tickets to be issued onboard
- No tatkal & premium tatkal booking to be permitted
- First chart to be prepared at least 4 hours before scheduled departure
Here’s your updated guide to the ticket booking rules for Indian Railways from 1 June 2025 — including special and regular trains, Tatkal, quotas, and fare limits.
Contents
🎟️ Advance Reservation Period (ARP)
- Bookings open only up to 60 days in advance (excluding the journey date), effective 1 Nov 2025.
- Foreign Tourist Quota (FTQ) remains at 365 days.
- Daytime express trains (e.g. Taj Express) retain their legacy ARP.
🧾 Reservation Chart Preparation & Waitlist Rules
- Reservation charts are prepared 8 hours before departure (soon full rollout across zones) to provide early PNR updates.
- No boarding in AC/Sleeper reserved coaches with a waiting list (WL) ticket—even if boarding station is marked. Only confirmed or RAC tickets are permitted.
- Waiting list cap is now 25% of berth capacity per class (excluding quotas for disabled, women, etc.). Tatkal/Pooled queues included.
🕙 Tatkal Booking Rules
- Tatkal quota opens one day before departure:
- AC classes: 10 AM
- 2S/SL: 11 AM (by source station calendar)
- From 1 July 2025:
- Aadhaar authentication (via OTP) is mandatory for online, offline, and agent bookings.
- Agents barred from booking for the first 30 minutes of the Tatkal window (10–10:30 AM AC, 11–11:30 AM non-AC).
- One Aadhaar-linked user per train allowed during the first 30 minutes (helps curb misuse).
- Tatkal tickets are non-refundable unless the train is cancelled or delayed by more than 3 hours.
👥 Quotas & Concessions
- Emergency Quota (EQ) requests must be submitted at least a day in advance — same-day EQ requests are no longer accepted.
- Concessions (senior citizens, students, PWD): Only one concession per ticket.
- No concessions on Tatkal or premium specials (Rajdhani, Vande Bharat, Yatri, etc.).
📊 Quick Summary Table
| Rule/Quota | Effective From | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Advance Reservation Period | 1 Nov 2024 | 60 days (excluding FTQ) |
| Waiting List Cap | Jul 2025 | Max 25% of berth capacity |
| Chart Preparation | May–Jul 2025 | 8 hours before departure |
| Boarding with WL Ticket | From May 1, 2025 | Not allowed in reserved coaches |
| Tatkal Booking | From Jul 1 / 15 | Aadhaar OTP mandatory; Agent restrictions |
| Emergency Quota | From Jul 2025 | Apply one day in advance |
| Concessions | From Jun 1, 2025 | Standard concessions apply; none on Tatkal/premium trains |
🧭 Traveler Tips
- ⚠️ Plan bookings within the 60‑day window only.
- 📅 Monitor PNR status continuously, especially since charts prepare earlier.
- ✅ Only confirmed or RAC bookings are allowed in reserved coaches.
- 🆔 Tatkal bookings from July require linked Aadhaar & OTP.
- 🎫 EQ forms should be submitted at least 24 hrs before departure.
- 📃 Ensure correct concession selection and valid ID during booking.
Would you like help with:
- Real-time PNR checking and waitlist eligibility?
- Step-by-step guide or form for Tatkal or EQ booking?
- Fare or booking rules for specific public categories (senior, student, PWD)?
Happy to help you with any such scenario!