New Delhi: Indian Railways has announced revised ticket cancellation rules along with greater flexibility for passengers to change their boarding points.
The new norms will be rolled out in phases between April 1 and April 15, 2026.
Reforms in Ticket Cancellation Rules
Under the updated cancellation policy, passengers cancelling confirmed tickets more than 72 hours before departure will receive the highest refund, with only a flat cancellation charge per passenger. For cancellations made between 72 hours and 24 hours, a deduction of 25% of the fare will apply, subject to a minimum charge.
The penalties increase as the departure time approaches. Tickets cancelled between 24 hours and 8 hours before departure will attract a 50% deduction of the fare. No refund will be provided for cancellations made less than eight hours (earlier four hours) before the scheduled departure.
Changes in Boarding Point Rules
The Indian Railways has also relaxed boarding point norms. Passengers can now change their boarding station up to 30 minutes before the train’s departure. Earlier, such changes were allowed only before the preparation of the reservation chart. The new provision is expected to benefit passengers in major cities with multiple railway stations, giving them more flexibility to choose a convenient boarding point.
Over Three Crore IRCTC Accounts Blocked
Ashwini Vaishnaw stated that the Railways has also taken steps to curb misuse of the ticketing system. Over 3 crore fake IRCTC accounts have been removed, and bot-based bulk bookings by middlemen have been controlled. These measures are expected to improve ticket availability for genuine passengers while making the system more transparent and efficient.
During #QuestionHour in the Lok Sabha, Union Minister @AshwiniVaishnaw said #IndianRailways has removed 3 crore+ fake IRCTC accounts & curbed bot-based bulk bookings by middlemen, making confirmed tickets more accessible for genuine passengers.#ParliamentPulse #BudgetSession… pic.twitter.com/quqgWO63iR
— Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (@MIB_India) March 25, 2026
The reforms aim to streamline processes and enhance the overall travel experience.
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