Overview

• Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the no-fee date-change option will be introduced for confirmed tickets booked through IRCTC.
• Railway officials said implementation is targeted for January 2026, with instructions issued and final operating rules being drafted.
• Confirmation on the new date will depend on seat availability, and any increase in fare must be paid by the passenger.
• Early guidance indicates the change will apply to the same origin and destination, with questions such as class changes to be clarified.
• The move replaces the cancel-and-rebook process that now triggers deductions of at least 25% between 48 and 12 hours before departure and often yields no refunds after chart preparation.