You can have a Tatkal quota of tickets, which the Indian Railways of late 2026 have allowed the passengers to purchase at the very last minute of train travel for emergency reasons. Anit is done through IRCTC, by which it also manages fast booking under this particular quota in most express trains. Applying for this is as smooth as possible, when, however, the traveler has to navigate many pages while doing it for the first time.
What is Tatkal?
Tatkal allows one to book tickets for the last day before the train departs from the originating station. Some of the classes include 2A, 3A, SL, CC, 2S in mail/express trains like Rajdhani ad Duranto. Premium Tatkal offers dynamic pricing for even faster options in select trains.
Timings of Booking in 2026
The AC classes of Tatkal booking start at a time of 10:00 AM, which is a single day before. The non-AC classes open for sale at 11:00 AM on the same day. An agent, for first half an hour, is prevented from booking any other ticket so that a fair chance is made available to individual users.
Mandatory Aadhaar Authentication
After July 2025, the Tatkal tickets of the Indian Railways would be mandatorily verified through the Aadhaar. The Aadhaar mandatory condition aims to confirm and authenticates the eligibility credentials of the prospective consumer. The step of OTP is an added feature to enhance safety measures while booking the tickets as unauthorized agents cannot book them to the detriment of holding passengers.
Charges Applicable in Tatkal
The percentage of charges needed for Tatkal are as thus: 10 % of basic fares for Second Sitting (2S) and 30% of basic fares for other classes. The minimum charge amount is from Rs. 10 to Rs. 400, while there is a maximum prescriptive cap, and it does not exceed Rs. 500 for the Executive class. For Premium Tatkal, there are no fixed upper limits on amount; rather, the fare differs with the demand.
Passenger Limits and Eligibility
You can make a Tatkal booking in the names of four passengers on one PNR. For Tatkal, there are no senior citizen ladies concessions, child rebates, etc. No names should exceed 16 characters in combination with ladies or lower berth quotas under Tatkal.
Proof of Identity During Journey
No I. D. of proof is required for booking. However, travel only with relevant proofs such as Aadhaar, Voter I. D., and Passport. Identity was checked by a TTE in a journey to avoid misuse. A digital ID from DigiLocker also makes the deal easy.
Cancellation and Refund Rules
Cancellation of Confirmed Tatkal Tickets does not entertain a refund. When the ticket is through the waiting list, then the refund is subject to deducting the clerkage charges as per rules. Partial cancellation is allowed but in a scenario when the train gets late for more than three hours qualify for full refunds.
How to Book Tatkal Tickets
The IRCTC account takes you to the login page by clicking the link called “Book Ticket” or you can click on the icon “Book Ticket” in order to open the process for booking the Tatkal ticket. Choose Quota/Tatkal, fill in your journey details, and make payment. It is advised to have a high-speed internet connection to secure a ticket, as the Tatkal tickets are sold out very quickly.
| Key Tatkal Rules 2026 | Details |
|---|---|
| Booking Start Time | AC: 10 AM; Non-AC: 11 AM (one day before) |
| Aadhaar Requirement | Mandatory verification and OTP |
| Passenger Limit | Max 4 per PNR |
| Charges | 10-30% of base fare; min Rs.10-400 |
| Refund Policy | No refund on confirmed tickets |
| ID Proof | Required during journey only |
Qualities for the Detection of the Future Tickets in Times of the Tatkal Reservation 2026 with Adequate Care, Aadhaar Verification, and Precise Timings. Look Forward, Verify Your Account, and Reserve Early to Make Sure of Success. Visit the IRCTC site for real-time availability.
Also read: Personal Loan Rules 2026: Transparency and Relief for Borrowers