Indian Railways has introduced an OTP-based refund mechanism to simplify the ticket cancellation process for the general public. As stated by the Indian Railway Catering & Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), this updated policy for e-ticket cancellations aims to improve transparency and enhance the user experience. Any reservation that is cancelled or dropped due to remaining on a full waitlist will be eligible for a refund.
The revised process for handling e-ticket cancellations is now more straightforward. Passengers will receive a One-Time Password (OTP) via SMS on their registered mobile number, which is required to finalize the IRCTC e-ticket cancellation and refund request. This specific system applies exclusively to e-tickets booked through authorized IRCTC agents.
New E-Ticket Cancellation Procedure
E-tickets can be cancelled online through the official portal until the train's reservation chart is prepared. Cancellations cannot be processed at physical railway ticket counters. If you wish to cancel an e-ticket, please do so before the chart is finalized. For trains departing before 12:00 PM, charts are typically prepared the previous night.
Simply log in to www.irctc.co.in, navigate to "Booked Tickets," select the specific ticket, and choose the passengers to cancel. Once confirmed online, the refund will be credited back to the original payment method used during booking.
For partial cancellations, ensure you print a new Electronic Reservation Slip for the remaining passengers. For a detailed walkthrough of the cancellation process, please visit http://contents.irctc.co.in/en/bookEticket.html
Cancelling E-Tickets Before Chart Finalization
If a confirmed ticket is cancelled more than 48 hours before the train's departure, standard cancellation fees apply:
- Rs. 240 for AC First/Executive Class
- Rs. 200 for AC 2 Tier/First Class
- Rs. 180 for AC 3 Tier/Chair Car/AC 3 Economy
- Rs. 120 for Sleeper Class
- Rs. 60 for Second Class
These charges are applied per passenger. For cancellations made between 48 hours and 12 hours before departure, 25% of the fare is deducted (subject to the minimum charges above). For cancellations made between 12 hours and 4 hours before departure, 50% of the fare is deducted, subject to the minimum charge.