Tatkal Ticket Refund: Will You Get a Refund for Cancelling a Tatkal Ticket? Know the New Railway Rules to Clear the Confusion!

Tatkal Ticket Refund: Tatkal tickets are a crucial facility provided by Indian Railways, especially for emergency travel situations. However, plans often change, leading to the need to cancel these tickets. A common question among passengers is how much refund they can get for cancelling a Tatkal ticket. There is considerable confusion surrounding this issue. The refund rules are entirely different depending on whether your ticket is confirmed or on the waiting list. Let’s delve into the detailed rules of Indian Railways on this matter.

Rules for Cancelling a Confirmed Tatkal Ticket

If you have a Confirmed Tatkal Ticket and decide to cancel it, there is one thing you must know clearly. According to the rules of Indian Railways, you will not receive any refund. Regardless of the ticket price, whether it’s for a sleeper class or an AC class, the refund amount for cancelling a confirmed Tatkal ticket is zero. It is essential to keep this strict rule in mind when booking these tickets for urgent travel.

What Happens with a Waitlisted Tatkal Ticket?

The situation is completely different if your Tatkal ticket is on the Waiting List. If your ticket remains waitlisted even after the chart preparation, meaning it does not get confirmed, you will receive a refund. In this scenario, Indian Railways automatically cancels your ticket.

However, you will not get the full amount back. The railway deducts a nominal clerkage charge. Generally, about ₹60-₹65 is deducted per ticket, and the remaining amount is sent back to your account. This refund is typically credited to your bank account—the one used for booking the ticket—within 3 to 4 working days.

When You Won’t Get a Refund Even for a Waitlisted Ticket

There are some specific situations where you might not get a refund even after cancelling a waitlisted ticket. It is crucial to be aware of these exceptions.

• If the Ticket Gets Confirmed: It often happens that a waitlisted ticket gets confirmed before the chart is prepared. If you proceed to cancel the ticket thinking it is still waitlisted, but it has already been confirmed by then, the rule for confirmed Tatkal tickets will apply, and you will not get any refund. Therefore, always check the PNR status thoroughly before cancelling.
• Partially Confirmed Tickets: If a single PNR has tickets for multiple passengers, and some are confirmed while others are waitlisted, the tickets of the waitlisted passengers will not be automatically cancelled, and no refund will be processed automatically. In this case, to get a refund, you must cancel the ticket (either online or at a counter) at least 30 minutes before the train’s departure. Only then will the refund for the waitlisted passengers be processed.
• Auto-Upgradation: If you select the ‘Consider for Auto Upgradation’ option while booking, and your waitlisted ticket gets upgraded to a higher class with a confirmed seat, you will not be eligible for any refund upon cancellation.

Therefore, it is essential to be aware of these rules before booking or cancelling a Tatkal ticket to avoid any unexpected financial loss.