Indian Railways has introduced several important changes to travel rules starting from April 1, 2026. These updates focus on making the ticket refund process more disciplined while providing better options for changing boarding points. The primary goal of these measures announced by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw is to stop the unauthorized sale of tickets and ensure genuine passengers get seats easily.
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New Cancellation Charges and Refund Policy
The railway ministry has modified the time limits for ticket cancellations to discourage last minute changes. Passengers must now cancel their tickets much earlier to receive a significant refund. These rules apply to both counter tickets and online e-tickets booked via the IRCTC website.
| Time Before Departure | Refund Amount or Deduction |
|---|---|
| Less than 8 hours | No Refund available |
| 8 to 24 hours | 50 percent Fare Deduction |
| 24 to 72 hours | 25 percent Fare Deduction |
| More than 72 hours | Maximum Refund after minimum charges |
| Train late by 3 hours or more | Full Refund provided |
| Waitlisted tickets after chart | Automatic Full Refund to account |
Changes in Boarding Station and RAC Rules
Passengers now have more flexibility if they need to change their starting station for a journey. This facility is now available closer to the departure time than before. Additionally, specific rules for RAC and waitlisted passengers have been updated for modern train services like Vande Bharat and Amrit Bharat Express.
- Boarding station can be changed up to 30 minutes before the scheduled departure of the train
- RAC and Waitlisted passengers are not allowed to board Vande Bharat Sleeper services
- RAC facility has been completely removed from Amrit Bharat Express trains
- Aadhaar verification is mandatory for booking tickets during the early minutes of the booking window
- No manual TDR filing is required for e-tickets as refunds will be processed automatically
- Tatkal tickets are also covered under these strict cancellation guidelines