Indian Railways has revised its ticket cancellation rules to prevent touts from exploiting the system for black marketing. The new rules offer passengers more flexibility, including the option to change boarding stations at the last minute. These changes will be implemented gradually between April 1 and April 15, 2026.
Passengers canceling tickets more than 72 hours before departure will receive a full refund, with only a flat cancellation charge per passenger. For cancellations between 72 and 24 hours before departure, 25% of the fare will be deducted. The penalty increases for later cancellations, with 50% of the fare deducted for cancellations between 24 and 8 hours before departure. No refund will be allowed for cancellations made less than 8 hours before departure.
Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw mentioned that touts used to book extra tickets and cancel unsold ones before departure, gaining refunds. Tightening refund norms aims to prevent this practice. Passengers can now change their boarding station up to 30 minutes before the train’s scheduled departure, benefiting those in cities with multiple stations.
This change will particularly help passengers in big cities with multiple stations, allowing them to select a convenient boarding point. Currently, boarding point changes are permitted only before chart preparation.
