Operations Railway Reservation Rules

Railway Reservation Rules – Indian Railways (Operations GK)

1. Reservation Eligibility & Quotas (Total Berths = 100%)

Quota % of Total Berths Salient Features
General (GN) 58% Open to all; no ID proof concession
Tatkal (TQ) 30% Opens 1 day in advance; extra fare
Premium Tatkal (PT) 1–30% dynamic Opens at 10:00/11:00 hrs; fare = last 30% slab
Ladies (LD) 1 Sleeper coach Only female passengers; no male >12 yrs
Senior Citizen (SS) – M 60 yrs / F 58 yrs; 40% Base Fare concession
Divyaang (HP) – 25–75% concession; 1 escort at 75%
HO (High Official) 1–2 per train For MPs, Judges, Railway officers
DF (Defence) 2 per train Serving defence personnel
FT (Foreign Tourist) 2 per coach 30-day advance; payment in USD/Card
RL (Remote Location) Fixed trains Intermediate popular boarding point quota

2. Reservation Time-Lines (IST)

Class Advance Reservation Period (ARP) Opening Time
Sleeper/2S 60 days 08:00 hrs
AC Classes 60 days 08:00 hrs
Tatkal 1 day (previous day) 10:00 hrs (AC), 11:00 hrs (Non-AC)
Premium Tatkal 1 day Same as Tatkal
IRCTC Foreign Tourist 365 days 08:00 hrs

3. Refund Rules – Time-Table (w.e.f. 12-11-2015)

Ticket Type Cancellation Time Deduction Minimum Flat Cancellation
Confirmed/RAC >48 hrs ₹240 (SLY), ₹200 (2S), ₹120 (Chair), ₹180 (3AC), ₹200 (2AC), ₹240 (1AC) Same as above
12–48 hrs 25% of fare -
<12 hrs & up-to 4 hrs before dep 50% of fare -
<4 hrs / No-show No refund -
Wait-listed (paper) upto 30 min before dep ₹60 per passenger -
e-Ticket WL upto chart prep (normally 4 hrs) ₹60 Auto refund
TDR Filed within 1 hr of dep (online) As per extant rule -

4. Key Operational Numbers

  • Chart Preparation Time: 1st chart – 4 hrs before; 2nd/final – 30 min before departure
  • Maximum Tickets per single e-Transaction: 6
  • Maximum berths allowed in one PNR: 6 (only 2 Tatkal)
  • Minimum distance charged (Passenger train): 50 km
  • Child fare age: 5–12 yrs (full berth at adult fare if berth sought)
  • Infant age: <5 yrs (free, no berth)
  • Duplicate ticket charge: ₹50 (<400 km), ₹100 (>400 km)
  • MST (Monthly Season Ticket) validity: Calendar month; QST – 3 months
  • Concession for journalist on tour: 30% in 2/SL/1AC/2AC
  • Vikalp (free alternate train) opt-in time: booking – upto chart prep

5. Quick-List: Documents accepted as ID in train

  1. Voter ID
  2. Aadhaar (physical/digital)
  3. PAN card
  4. Passport
  5. Driving Licence
  6. Photo ID card issued by Central/State Govt/PSU/Local body
  7. Nationalized bank passbook with photo

(For e-ticket, any one passenger must carry ORIGINAL ID)

Frequently Asked RRB Questions (Operations)

Question:01 Within how many hours before train departure is the first reservation chart prepared?

A) 2 hours

B) 3 hours

C) 4 hours

D) 5 hours

Show Answer

Correct Answer: C

Explanation: Indian Railways prepares the first reservation chart 4 hours before the scheduled departure of the train.

Question:02 What is the Tatkal booking opening time for AC classes in 2026?

A) 08:00 AM (IST) two days prior to departure

B) 09:00 AM (IST) one day prior to departure

C) 10:00 AM (IST) one day prior to departure

D) 11:00 AM (IST) on the day of departure

Show Answer

Correct Answer: C

Explanation: Tatkal tickets for AC classes open at 10:00 AM (IST) one day before the train’s scheduled departure from the originating station.

Question:03 What is the flat cancellation charge for a Sleeper class confirmed ticket when cancelled more than 48 hours before the scheduled departure in 2026?

A) ₹240 per passenger

B) ₹200 per passenger

C) ₹180 per passenger

D) ₹120 per passenger

Show Answer

Correct Answer: A

Explanation: As per Indian Railway’s 2026 refund rules, the flat cancellation charge for a Sleeper class confirmed ticket cancelled >48 hrs before departure is ₹240 per passenger.

Question:04 What is the minimum age for senior citizen concession for females?

A) 55 years

B) 58 years

C) 60 years

D) 62 years

Show Answer

Correct Answer: B

Explanation: Indian Railways grants senior citizen concession to women from the age of 58 years.

Question:05 What is the maximum number of berths that can be booked in a single PNR?

A) 4 berths

B) 6 berths

C) 8 berths

D) 10 berths

Show Answer

Correct Answer: B

Explanation: Indian Railways allows up to 6 berths to be booked together in one PNR for the same journey, ensuring group travel convenience.

Master Table – Reservation Abbreviations

Abbbr Stands for
GN General Quota
TQ Tatkal Quota
PT Premium Tatkal
RL Remote Location
LD Ladies Quota
HP Handicapped (Divyaang) Quota
SS Senior Citizen
HO High Official
DF Defence Quota
FT Foreign Tourist
ARP Advance Reservation Period
CNF Confirmed
RAC Reservation Against Cancellation
WL Wait List
TDR Ticket Deposit Receipt
PNR Passenger Name Record
CSTM Chief Station Ticket Master
MST Monthly Season Ticket

Practice MCQs (15) – Railway Reservation Rules

  1. The advance reservation period for all classes except the foreign tourist quota is
    a) 30 days b) 60 days c) 90 days d) 120 days
    Ans: b

  2. Tatkal charges are recovered on which component of fare?
    a) Only Basic Fare b) Basic + Superfast + Other charges c) Total fare including GST d) Only catering charges
    Ans: b

  3. A confirmed Sleeper ticket cancelled 10 hrs before departure will attract what deduction?
    a) 25% b) 50% c) ₹240 flat d) 30%
    Ans: a

  4. Premium Tatkal quota opens at
    a) 08:00 b) 10:00 c) 11:00 d) 12:00
    Ans: b

  5. Which of the following is NOT accepted as travel ID?
    a) PAN b) Aadhaar c) Ration card d) Passport
    Ans: c

  6. Opting for Vikalp is allowed
    a) Only at booking time b) Upto chart preparation c) After chart preparation d) Not allowed in e-tickets
    Ans: b

  7. Flat cancellation charge for Wait-list e-ticket after charting is
    a) ₹60 b) ₹120 c) ₹240 d) Zero
    Ans: a

  8. Female senior citizen concession starts at age
    a) 55 b) 58 c) 60 d) 62
    Ans: b

  9. Maximum berths under Tatkal in a single PNR are
    a) 2 b) 4 c) 6 d) No limit
    Ans: a

  10. A child of 4 years travelling without berth must pay
    a) Adult fare b) Half fare c) No fare d) ₹60 flat
    Ans: c

  11. TDR for online ticket must be filed within
    a) 30 min after departure b) 1 hr c) 4 hrs d) 24 hrs
    Ans: b

  12. The second/final chart is prepared
    a) 4 hrs b) 2 hrs c) 30 min d) 10 min before dep
    Ans: c

  13. Duplicate ticket charge for journey >400 km is
    a) ₹50 b) ₹100 c) ₹150 d) ₹200
    Ans: b

  14. Which quota has dynamic fare pricing?
    a) GN b) LD c) PT d) DF
    Ans: c

  15. Minimum distance charged for passenger train ticket is
    a) 10 km b) 30 km c) 50 km d) 70 km
    Ans: c

Revision Tip: Remember “60-4-30” – 60 days ARP, 4 hrs 1st chart, 30 min final chart.

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