Railways Tighten Ticket Cancellation Rules, No Refund Within 8 Hours of Departure

Indian Railways has revised its ticket cancellation policy to curb misuse, introducing stricter refund timelines, enhanced digital verification, and greater flexibility for passengers with upgrades and boarding changes.

New Delhi | March 25, 2026 In a significant move aimed at curbing misuse of the ticketing system, Indian Railways has announced revised ticket cancellation rules that will be implemented in phases between April 1 and April 15, 2026. Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated that passengers cancelling tickets less than eight hours before a train’s departure will no longer be eligible for any refund. The revised framework extends refund eligibility timelines. Passengers cancelling tickets more than 72 hours before departure will receive a full refund, compared to the earlier 48-hour window. Cancellations made between 24 and 72 hours will incur a 25% deduction, while those between 8 and 24 hours will see a 50% fare cut.

The changes are part of broader efforts to tackle ticket hoarding, black marketing, and misuse of the Tatkal booking system. Authorities have deployed advanced technology to detect bots and fraudulent software, while Aadhaar-based OTP verification has been introduced to strengthen authentication. In a passenger-friendly move, the Railways will soon allow cancellation of counter tickets at any station nationwide, removing the earlier restriction tied to the originating station. Additionally, the requirement to file a Ticket Deposit Receipt (TDR) for e-tickets has been eliminated, enabling automatic refunds upon cancellation. Passengers will also benefit from greater flexibility, with the option to upgrade travel class up to 30 minutes before departure. Furthermore, boarding stations can now be changed digitally within the same timeframe, improving convenience for travelers.

Follow us On Our Social media Handles :
Instagram
Youtube
Facebook
Twitter

Also Read- Pune