**Executive Summary**
This notification, issued by the Ministry of Railways on January 16, 2026, amends the Railway Passengers (Cancellation of Ticket and Refund of Fare) Rules, 2015. The amendments primarily address ticket cancellation and refund policies specifically for the Vande Bharat Sleeper Express and Amrit Bharat II Express trains. These rules are effective January 16, 2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Short Title and Commencement:**
* The rules are called the Railway Passengers (Cancellation of Ticket and Refund of Fare) Amendment Rules, 2026.
* They came into force on January 16, 2026.
* **Vande Bharat Sleeper Express Cancellation Charges:**
* If a confirmed ticket is presented for cancellation more than 72 hours before departure: 25% cancellation charge.
* If a confirmed ticket is presented for cancellation between 72 and 8 hours before departure: 50% cancellation charge.
* If a confirmed ticket is presented for cancellation less than 8 hours before departure: No refund.
* No refund will be admissible if the ticket is not cancelled or TDR not filed online up to 8 hours before the scheduled departure of the train.
* The cancellation charges mentioned above are applicable in the case of Vande Bharat Sleeper Express tickets, regardless of what is said elsewhere in the rules.
* **Amendment to Rule 11 (Regarding Time Limits for Ticket Cancellation):**
* The term "forty-eight hours" is replaced with "seventy-two hours in case of Vande Bharat Sleeper Express and Amrit Bharat II Express or forty-eight hours in case of other trains, as the case may be".
* **New Rule 24: Application of Other Provisions for Vande Bharat Sleeper Express:**
* Rules 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22 and 23 shall be applicable as per the status of the ticket whether confirmed ticket or wait-listed ticket, as the case may be.
* **New Rule 25: Provisions for Amrit Bharat II Express:**
* The reserved ticket of Amrit Bharat II Express shall be governed by the rules as are applicable to the reserved ticket of Vande Bharat Sleeper Express.
* The unreserved ticket of Amrit Bharat II Express shall be governed by the provisions of rule 5 of these rules.
**Impact Analysis**
**Passengers travelling on Vande Bharat Sleeper Express and Amrit Bharat II Express**
* **Impact:** Revised cancellation policies with extended timeframes and specific refund rules.
* **Action Required:** Be aware of the new cancellation charge structure for Vande Bharat Sleeper Express and Amrit Bharat II Express tickets, particularly the 72-hour and 8-hour thresholds for refunds. Ensure cancellation or TDR filing is done within the specified time to be eligible for refunds.
**Railway Administration/Ticket Vendors**
* **Impact:** Need to implement the revised cancellation rules for Vande Bharat Sleeper Express and Amrit Bharat II Express tickets in their systems and communication channels.
* **Action Required:** Update ticketing systems to reflect the new cancellation charges and refund policies, train staff to handle passenger queries, and communicate the changes to the public.
Key Entities Referenced
Railway Passengers (Cancellation of Ticket and Refund of Fare) Rules, 2015: The principal rules being amended regarding ticket cancellation and refund policies.
Railways Act, 1989: The act under which the amendment rules are framed.
Vande Bharat Sleeper Express: A type of train whose ticket cancellation rules are specifically addressed in the amendment.
Amrit Bharat II Express: A type of train whose ticket cancellation rules are addressed in the amendment, largely adopting Vande Bharat rules.
Ministry of Railways (Railway Board): The ministry responsible for issuing the notification.
रजिस्ट्री स.ं डी.एल.- 33004/99 REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
सी.जी.-डी.एल.-अ.-17012026-269409
xxxGIDHxxx
CG-DLxx-ExG-I1D7E0x1x2x0 26-269409
असाधारण
EXTRAORDINARY
भाग II—खण् ड 3—उप-खण्ड (i)
PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (i)
प्राजधकार स ेप्रकाजित
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
स.ं 41] नई दिल्ली, िुक्रवार, िनवरी 16, 2026/पौष 26, 1947
No. 41] NEW DELHI, FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2026/PAUSHA 26, 1947
रेल मत्रं ालय
(रेलव ेबोडड)
अजधसचू ना
नई दिल्ली, 16 िनवरी, 2026
सा.का.जन. 41(अ).— केंद्रीय सरकार, रेल अजधजनयम, 1989 (1989 का 24) की धारा 60 की उपधारा (2) के
खंड (ख) के साथ पठित उपधारा (1) द्वारा प्रित्त िजियों का प्रयोग करत े हुए और रेल यात्री (ठिकि रद्दीकरण और दकराए
का प्रजतिाय) जनयम, 2015 का और संिोधन करने के जलए जनम्नजलजखत जनयम बनाती ह,ै अथाडत्:---
1. (1) इन जनयमों का संजिप्त नाम रेल यात्री (ठिकि रद्दीकरण और दकराए का प्रजतिाय) संिोधन जनयम, 2026 ह ै।
(2) य ेतारीख 16 िनवरी, 2026 से प्रभावी होंगे ।
2. रेल यात्री (ठिकि रद्दीकरण और दकराए का प्रजतिाय) जनयम, 2015 (जिसे इसम ें इसके पश्चात ् उि जनयम कहा गया ह)ै
के जनयम 6 के उप-जनयम (3) के पश्चात ्जनम्नजलजखत उप-जनयम अंतःस्ट्थाजपत दकए िाएंग,े अथाडत्:—
“(4) वंिे भारत स्ट्लीपर एक्सप्रसे के मामल े में, यदि दकसी यात्री द्वारा या उसके प्रजतजनजध द्वारा पुजिकृत ठिकि
रद्दीकरण हते ु प्रस्ट्तुत दकया िाता है, तो दकराए में से रद्दीकरण प्रभार की किौती करने के पश्चात् दकराया प्रजतिाय
जनम्नानुसार की िाएगी:—
349 GI/2026 (1)2 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(i)]
(क) यदि ठिकि रेलगाडी के जनयत प्रस्ट्थान समय से बहत्तर घंिे से अजधक समय पूवड रद्दीकरण हते ु
प्रस्ट्तुत दकया िाता ह,ै तो रद्दीकरण प्रभार दकराए का पच्चीस प्रजतित होगा।
(ख) यदि ठिकि रेलगाडी के जनयत प्रस्ट्थान समय से बहत्तर घंिे से लेकर आि घंिे तक की अवजध के
भीतर रद्दीकरण हते ुप्रस्ट्तुत दकया िाता ह,ै तो रद्दीकरण प्रभार दकराए का पचास प्रजतित होगा।
(ग) यदि ठिकि रेलगाडी के जनयत प्रस्ट्थान समय स े आि घंिे स े कम समय म ें रद्दीकरण हते ु प्रस्ट्ततु
दकया िाता ह,ै तो कोई दकराया प्रजतिाय िेय नहीं होगी।”
“(5) इन जनयमों म ें अंतर्वडि दकसी बात के होत े हुए भी, िहााँ कहीं भी रद्दीकरण प्रभार का उल्लेख दकया गया ह,ै
वहााँ वंिे भारत स्ट्लीपर एक्सप्रसे के ठिकिों के मामल े में उप-जनयम (4) म ेंउजल्लजखत रद्दीकरण प्रभार लागू होंगे।”
3. उि जनयमों के जनयम 8 में, उप) जनयम-7) के पश्चात् जनम्नजलजखत परंतुक अंतःस्ट्थाजपत दकया िाएगा, अथाडत—्
“परंत ु यह दक वंिे भारत स्ट्लीपर एक्सप्रेस के मामले में, यदि रेलगाडी के जनयत प्रस्ट्थान समय से आि घंिे पूवड तक
ठिकि का रद्दीकरण नहीं दकया गया हो अथवा िीडीआर ऑनलाइन िाजखल नहीं की गई हो, तो ऐसे ठिकिों पर
दकसी भी प्रकार की दकराया प्रजतिाय स्ट्वीकायड नहीं होगी।”
4. उि जनयमों के जनयम 11 म,ें—
(क) उप-जनयम (1) के खडं (i) म,ें “अडतालीस घंिे” िब्िों के स्ट्थान पर “यथाजस्ट्थजत, वंि े भारत स्ट्लीपर एक्सप्रेस
और अमृत भारत II एक्सप्रेस के मामल े म ें बहत्तर घंिे अथवा अन्य रेलगाजडयों के मामले म,ें अडतालीस घंिे”
िब्ि रखे िाएंग े ।
(ख) उप-जनयम (2) के खडं (i) म,ें “अडतालीस घंिे” िब्िों के स्ट्थान पर “यथाजस्ट्थजत, वंि े भारत स्ट्लीपर एक्सप्रेस
और अमृत भारत II एक्सप्रेस के मामल े म ें बहत्तर घंिे अथवा अन्य रेलगाजडयों के मामले म,ें अडतालीस घंिे”
िब्ि रखे िाएंग।े
5. उि जनयमों के जनयम 23 के पश्चात ्जनम्नजलजखत जनयम अतं ःस्ट्थाजपत दकए िाएंगे, अथाडत—्
“24. विं े भारत स्ट्लीपर एक्सप्रसे के जलए अन्य उपबधं ों का लाग ु होना.—
इन जनयमों म ेंअन्यथा उपबंजधत के जसवाय, जनयम 1, जनयम 2, जनयम 3, जनयम 4, जनयम 6, जनयम 7, जनयम 8,
जनयम 10, जनयम 11, जनयम 12, जनयम 13, जनयम 14, जनयम 15, जनयम 16, जनयम 17, जनयम 18, जनयम
19, जनयम 21, जनयम 22 तथा जनयम 23 के उपबंध, ठिकि की प्राजस्ट्थजत अथाडत ् यथाजस्ट्थजत, पुजिकृत ठिकि या
प्रतीिा-सूची ठिकि, के अनुसार लागू होंगे।
25. अमतृ भारत II एक्सप्रसे के जलए उपबधं .— अमृत भारत II एक्सप्रेस का आरजित ठिकि, वंि े भारत स्ट्लीपर
एक्सप्रेस के आरजित ठिकि पर लाग ूजनयमों द्वारा िाजसत होगा:
परंत ुयह दक अमृत भारत II एक्सप्रेस का अनारजित ठिकि, इन जनयमों के जनयम 5 के उपबंधों द्वारा िाजसत होगा।”
[फा. स. िीसी-II/2003/2025/प्रजतिाय जनयम ( भाग)3)]
जिवेन्द्र िुक्ला, कायडकारी जनििे क ( यात्री जवपणन)
ठिप्पण: — मुख्य जनयम भारत के रािपत्र, असाधारण, भाग II, खंड 3, उपखडं (i) म ेंअजधसूचना संख्या सा.का.जन. 836(अ),
तारीख 4 नवम्बर, 2015 द्वारा प्रकाजित दकए गए थ।े[भाग II—खण् ड 3(i)] भारत का रािपत्र : असाधारण 3
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
(Railway Board)
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 16th January, 2026
G.S.R. 41(E).— In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) read with clause (b) of sub-section (2)
of section 60 of the Railways Act, 1989 (24 of 1989), the Central Government hereby makes the following rules, further
to amend the Railway Passengers (Cancellation of Ticket and Refund of Fare) Rules, 2015, namely:–
1. (1) These rules may be called the Railway Passengers (Cancellation of Ticket and Refund of Fare) Amendment
Rules, 2026.
(2) They shall come into force with effect from 16th day of January, 2026.
2. In the Railway Passengers (Cancellation of Ticket and Refund of Fare) Rules, 2015 (hereinafter referred to as the said
rules), in rule 6, after sub-rule (3), the following sub-rules shall be inserted, namely: –
“(4) In the case of Vande Bharat Sleeper Express, if a confirmed ticket is presented by the passenger or his
representative for cancellation, the refund of fare shall be made after deducting cancellation charges from the fare
as follows:–
(a) if the ticket is presented for cancellation more than seventy-two hours in advance of the scheduled
departure of the train, the cancellation charge shall be twenty five per cent. of the fare.
(b) if the ticket is presented for cancellation between seventy-two hours and upto eight hours before the
scheduled departure of the train, the cancellation charge shall be fifty per cent. of the fare.
(c) if the ticket is presented for cancellation in less than eight hours of the scheduled departure of the
train, no refund shall be granted.
(5) Notwithstanding anything contained in these rules, wherever cancellation charges have been mentioned, the
cancellation charges mentioned in sub-rule (4) shall be applicable in the case of Vande Bharat Sleeper Express
tickets.”.
3. In the said rules, in rule 8, after sub-rule (7), the following proviso shall be inserted, namely: –
“Provided that in case of Vande Bharat Sleeper Express, no refund of fare shall be admissible on the
tickets in case the ticket is not cancelled or TDR not filed online upto eight hours before the scheduled
departure of the train.”.
4. In the said rules, in rule 11, -
(a) in sub-rule (1), in clause (i), for the words “forty-eight hours”, the words “seventy-two hours in case of
Vande Bharat Sleeper Express and Amrit Bharat II Express or forty-eight hours in case of other trains,
as the case may be” shall be substituted.
(b) in sub-rule (2), in clause (i), for the words “forty-eight hours”, the words “seventy-two hours in case of
Vande Bharat Sleeper Express and Amrit Bharat II Express or forty-eight hours in case of other trains,
as the case may be” shall be substituted.
5. In the said rules, after rule 23, the following rules shall be inserted, namely:–
“24. Application of other provisions for Vande Bharat Sleeper Express. – Except as otherwise provided in these
rules, the provisions of rules 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22 and rule 23 shall be
applicable as per status of the ticket whether confirmed ticket or wait-listed ticket, as the case may be.
25. Provisions for Amrit Bharat II Express. - The reserved ticket of Amrit Bharat II Express shall be governed
by the rules as are applicable to the reserved ticket of Vande Bharat Sleeper Express:
Provided that the unreserved ticket of Amrit Bharat II Express shall be governed by the provisions of
rule 5 of these rules.”.
[F. No. TC-II/2003/2025/Refund rule (Part 3)]
SHIVENDRA SHUKLA, Executive Director (Passenger Marketing)
Note: - The principal rules were published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3, Sub-section (i),
vide notification number G.S.R. 836(E) dated the 4th November, 2015.
Uploaded by Dte. of Printing at Government of India Press, Ring Road, Mayapuri, New Delhi-110064
and Published by the Controller of Publications, Delhi-110054.