Tatkal booking opens one day before your journey date, at 10:00 AM IST for AC classes and 11:00 AM IST for non-AC classes. The exact minute depends only on your class, not on the train, the route or the station. This guide lists every Tatkal class, its opening time, its charge cap and what to do when your class has no Tatkal quota at all.
All details are as of 2026. IRCTC and Indian Railways revise rules from time to time, so treat the official IRCTC site as the final word.
What is the Tatkal timing for each class?
AC classes (2A, 3A, CC and 3E) open for Tatkal at 10:00 AM IST. Non-AC classes (SL and 2S) open at 11:00 AM IST. Both open one day before the journey date.
| Class | Full name | Tatkal opens (IST) |
|---|---|---|
| 2A | AC 2 Tier | 10:00 AM |
| 3A | AC 3 Tier | 10:00 AM |
| CC | AC Chair Car | 10:00 AM |
| 3E | AC 3 Economy | 10:00 AM |
| SL | Sleeper | 11:00 AM |
| 2S | Second Sitting | 11:00 AM |
If you plan to travel on the 15th, Tatkal for that date opens on the 14th. The AC window and the non-AC window run on the same day, one hour apart.
Want the live clock instead of a table? The Tatkal countdown shows how long is left before each window opens.
Which classes have no Tatkal quota?
First AC (1A) and Executive Class (EC) have no Tatkal quota. If your class is not in the table above, there is no Tatkal window to wait for.
The AC Tatkal classes are exactly 2A, 3A, CC and 3E. Do not plan around Tatkal for 1A or EC. For those classes, the only route is general booking inside the 60-day advance window, or checking for released seats closer to the journey date.
What happens in the first 30 minutes of the Tatkal window?
Authorised agents are barred from Tatkal for the first 30 minutes of each window, which gives individual users a head-start. This applies to Aadhaar-verified individual users under the rule in effect since 2025.
- AC classes: individuals only from 10:00 to 10:30 AM IST.
- Non-AC classes: individuals only from 11:00 to 11:30 AM IST.
Online Tatkal booking also needs an Aadhaar-authenticated IRCTC account, and Aadhaar OTP is mandatory (effective July 2025). If your account is not authenticated yet, do it well before the window. You cannot fix it at 9:59 AM.
Should I pick AC or non-AC if I am flexible?
If you can travel in either, the AC window comes first, so you get a look at availability an hour before the non-AC rush begins. That is a scheduling fact, not a promise of a seat.
Many travellers target SL at 11:00 AM and 3A at 10:00 AM on the same morning. That works if your account and passenger list are ready. Logging in twice is not required. One logged-in session can search both classes.
Do not expect Tatkal to confirm. Seats are limited and demand is high. Always keep a fallback, such as a different train or class.
How much extra does Tatkal cost per class?
Tatkal charge is 10% of the basic fare for 2S and 30% for all other classes, within fixed minimum and maximum caps. The charge is per passenger and is added on top of the fare.
| Class | Tatkal charge | Minimum | Maximum |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2S | 10% of basic fare | ₹10 | ₹15 |
| SL | 30% of basic fare | ₹100 | ₹200 |
| CC | 30% of basic fare | ₹125 | ₹225 |
| 3A | 30% of basic fare | ₹300 | ₹400 |
| 2A | 30% of basic fare | ₹400 | ₹500 |
These are the official IRCTC figures. To see the exact amount for your fare, use the Tatkal charge calculator. For the full breakdown, read our guide to Tatkal charges.
Does the Tatkal timing change by train or station?
No. The 10:00 AM and 11:00 AM opening times are the same for every train. What changes is the date, which is tied to the journey date of your train.
Check the date carefully when your journey starts at a station other than the train's origin, or when a train runs past midnight. Searching on IRCTC with the Tatkal quota selected will show you whether the quota is open for your date. If it says the date is outside the booking window, the Tatkal date has not arrived yet.
If you are unsure whether a date is open yet, see what happens when a train is outside the booking window.
What does a Tatkal morning look like, minute by minute?
For a Friday journey, you book on Thursday. The AC window opens at 10:00 AM IST and the non-AC window at 11:00 AM IST that morning.
- 9:45 AM: log in, check your saved passengers and payment method.
- 10:00 AM: AC Tatkal opens. Search your train with the Tatkal quota and book 2A, 3A, CC or 3E.
- 10:30 AM: agents can now book AC Tatkal too, so competition rises.
- 11:00 AM: SL and 2S Tatkal open. Individuals get the first 30 minutes again.
- 11:30 AM: agents join the non-AC window.
Tatkal seats on popular routes can go quickly, so plan to finish inside the first few minutes of your window rather than the first half hour.
How is Tatkal different from the 60-day advance booking?
General booking opens 60 days ahead at 8:00 AM IST (the advance reservation period, or ARP). Tatkal opens only one day ahead. They are two separate windows for the same train.
The 60-day window is where most confirmed seats are won, especially on busy routes. Tatkal is a late-stage fallback. Our advance reservation period guide explains how the 60 days are counted.
Train Genie can email you ahead of both the T-60 and the Tatkal dates, so you are logged in before the window opens. You can set a free booking reminder once for a journey and not rely on memory.
What should I do before the window opens?
Be logged in, with passengers saved, before the clock hits the opening time. The last minute is for booking, not setup.
- Confirm your IRCTC account is Aadhaar-authenticated and your Aadhaar OTP phone number works.
- Save passengers in the Master List so you can add them in one tap.
- Keep UPI or your bank login ready.
- Log in a few minutes early: before 10:00 AM for AC, before 11:00 AM for SL or 2S.
- Search with the Tatkal quota selected, then pick your train and class.
For more tactics, see how to book Tatkal fast and the Tatkal booking rules.
Can I cancel a Tatkal ticket if my plans change?
A confirmed Tatkal ticket cancelled by the passenger generally gets no refund. A full refund applies only in railway-side cases such as train cancellation. Check the rules before you pay.
Rules differ for waitlisted tickets, so use the refund calculator or read the Tatkal refund rules first.
FAQ
What time does Tatkal open for AC classes?
Tatkal for AC classes (2A, 3A, CC and 3E) opens at 10:00 AM IST, one day before the journey date. From 10:00 to 10:30 AM IST, authorised agents are barred, so individual users have the first 30 minutes.
What time does Tatkal open for Sleeper class?
Tatkal for Sleeper (SL) opens at 11:00 AM IST, one day before the journey date. Second Sitting (2S) opens at the same time. Agents are barred from 11:00 to 11:30 AM IST.
Is Tatkal available in First AC or Executive Class?
No. First AC (1A) and Executive Class (EC) have no Tatkal quota. The AC Tatkal classes are 2A, 3A, CC and 3E.
Do I need Aadhaar to book Tatkal online?
Yes. Online Tatkal booking requires an Aadhaar-authenticated IRCTC account, and Aadhaar OTP is mandatory (effective July 2025). Complete this before the window, not during it.
Which class has the highest Tatkal charge?
2A has the highest cap at ₹500 per passenger, with a minimum of ₹400. The charge is 30% of the basic fare within that range.
Never miss the window
Your class decides the minute, but the reminder decides whether you are ready. Get a free email reminder from Train Genie for your T-60 date and your Tatkal window.
Related guides
- Sleeper Tatkal Booking Time: 11:00 AM IST Opening, Rules and Charges
- Tatkal Booking Reminder: Never Miss the 10 AM and 11 AM Window — Set a Tatkal booking reminder for 2026 — what to set, when to set it, and how to be logged in on time.