IRCTC has three booking times that matter: 8:00 AM IST for the 60-day advance window, 10:00 AM IST for AC Tatkal, and 11:00 AM IST for non-AC Tatkal. Which one applies depends on how far ahead you are booking.
Most people only learn one of these and miss the others. This guide puts every time in one place, with the date logic behind each, so you know exactly when to be on the app. All rules are as of 2026.
What time does advance train ticket booking open?
Advance booking opens at 8:00 AM IST, 60 days before your journey date. This is the advance reservation period (ARP), and it applies to the general quota on most trains.
So if you want to travel on 28 December, booking opens at 8:00 AM IST on the day that is 60 days earlier. Before that moment, the date is "outside the booking window" and IRCTC will not let you book it. If you see that error, read our guide on what "train outside booking window" means.
To skip the counting, use the when can I book tool. Enter your travel date and it shows the day your booking opens.
What time does Tatkal booking open?
AC Tatkal opens at 10:00 AM IST and non-AC Tatkal at 11:00 AM IST, one day before the journey. The day is counted from the date your train leaves its starting station.
| Class group | Classes | Opens (IST) |
|---|---|---|
| AC Tatkal | 2A, 3A, CC, 3E | 10:00 AM |
| Non-AC Tatkal | SL, 2S | 11:00 AM |
Tatkal is not available in First AC (1A) or Executive Class (EC). Those classes never show a Tatkal quota, so do not wait for one.
Want the full class-by-class picture? See Tatkal timing for different classes. To see how long is left before the next window, the Tatkal countdown shows it live.
Do individual users get a head-start on Tatkal?
Yes. Authorised agents are barred from booking Tatkal for the first 30 minutes of each window. That is 10:00 to 10:30 AM IST for AC and 11:00 to 11:30 AM IST for non-AC.
This head-start is meant for individual users with an Aadhaar-verified IRCTC account. It is why the first minutes of the window matter so much, and why being ready beforehand beats being fast afterwards.
Online Tatkal booking also needs an Aadhaar-authenticated IRCTC account, with Aadhaar OTP mandatory (effective July 2025). Set that up well before the day, not at 9:58 AM.
Which booking time should you use for your journey?
Use the 8:00 AM window if your travel is more than a few days away, and the Tatkal window only if you missed it. The two are separate routes to the same train, and the advance window is almost always the better one.
A simple way to decide:
- Travel date is 60 days or fewer away: advance booking is already open, so book now.
- Travel date is further out: note the day it opens and be ready at 8:00 AM IST.
- Travel is tomorrow and you have no ticket: Tatkal at 10:00 AM (AC) or 11:00 AM (non-AC).
The advance window is cheaper, because Tatkal adds a charge on top of the base fare. You can check that cost in the Tatkal charge calculator.
When do you need to book by for a confirmed seat?
There is no fixed cut-off for a confirmed seat. Seats are sold as long as they last, and popular trains can fill within minutes of the 8:00 AM window opening.
What you can rely on is the order of events. Seats go first in the advance window, then Tatkal takes a separate quota the day before, and the chart decides what happens to waiting-list tickets. We do not publish confirmation odds because they depend on the train, route and date.
If you are on a waiting list, the chart is the next time that matters. Read how waiting list confirmation really works for what moves a ticket up.
When is the reservation chart prepared?
The first chart is prepared about 8 hours before departure. For trains leaving between 5:00 AM and 2:00 PM, it is prepared by about 9:00 PM the previous night.
A second, final chart follows about 30 minutes before departure. The older "4 hours before" figure is outdated. This is a phased rollout as of 2026, so check the status on your own ticket if timing is tight.
Our chart preparation time guide explains what this means for waitlisted and RAC passengers. The chart preparation time tool works out the exact time for your train.
What does a worked example look like?
For a journey on 28 December 2026, advance booking opens at 8:00 AM IST on 29 October 2026. Tatkal for the same journey opens on 27 December 2026, at 10:00 AM IST for AC or 11:00 AM IST for non-AC.
That gap of almost two months is the point. If you only think about the train when plans firm up, the 8:00 AM window has usually passed. Anyone who booked on day 60 is already sitting on a confirmed seat, and you are left with the waiting list or Tatkal.
For a multi-leg trip, repeat the count for each leg. The return journey has its own opening day, often a few days after the outbound one, and it is easy to forget.
What mistakes cause people to miss a booking time?
The most common mistake is counting from today instead of from the journey date. The window is 60 days before travel, so the opening day moves forward by one every day you wait.
Other mistakes show up again and again:
- Assuming the Tatkal day is counted from your boarding station. It is counted from the train's starting station.
- Treating 10:00 AM as the time for every class. Non-AC Tatkal opens at 11:00 AM IST.
- Logging in at the last second and hitting the Aadhaar OTP step for the first time.
- Waiting for a Tatkal quota in 1A or EC, which does not exist.
None of these need speed to fix. They need the right date and time written down early.
How do you avoid missing a booking time?
Put the exact date and time in a reminder the day before, not on the day. Most missed bookings come from miscounting the 60 days or forgetting the opening time, not from slow internet.
A few habits help:
- Count the 60 days with the booking window calculator and note the result.
- Save your passenger list in your IRCTC profile in advance.
- Log in a few minutes early, with payment ready.
If you would rather not track dates yourself, Train Genie sends a free email reminder before your 60-day and Tatkal windows. Details are on the booking reminder page.
Frequently asked questions
What time does IRCTC open booking for 60 days ahead?
Booking for a date 60 days away opens at 8:00 AM IST. Be logged in a few minutes before, because popular trains fill fast.
What is the Tatkal booking time for sleeper?
Sleeper (SL) Tatkal opens at 11:00 AM IST, one day before the journey. Non-AC classes, including 2S, share this time.
What is the AC Tatkal booking time?
AC Tatkal opens at 10:00 AM IST, one day before the journey. The AC Tatkal classes are 2A, 3A, CC and 3E.
Can agents book Tatkal at the same time as me?
Not for the first 30 minutes. Authorised agents are barred from 10:00 to 10:30 AM IST for AC and 11:00 to 11:30 AM IST for non-AC, as of 2026.
Can I book Tatkal in First AC?
No. Tatkal is not available in First AC (1A) or Executive Class (EC).
Why does IRCTC say my date is outside the booking window?
Your journey date is more than 60 days away. Booking opens at 8:00 AM IST on the day exactly 60 days before travel.
Next step
Booking times are easy to miss and impossible to get back. Get a free email reminder for your 60-day and Tatkal windows on the Train Genie booking reminder page.