Q. What are different quotas in railway reservation?

A: There are different types of quotas that determine the railways reservation availability including General, Ladies, Tatkal, Senior Citizen and so on. When Indian Railways booking starts in the Advance Reservation Period, which is 4 months before the journey day, only about half of the seats are under train ticket availability for the general public. The remainder of the railway reservation seat availability is divided into various quotas and only travellers of select categories are permitted to make Indian Railways booking under these quotas. The 12 different quotas are:



1. Premium Tatkal Quota - It is a new quota introduced by the Indian Railways Reservation. It reserves a few seats with a dynamic fare pricing while making online train ticket booking. Premium Tatkal booking timings are the same as the Tatkal booking timings. Dynamic fare pricing means that increased fare is charged only for passengers with confirmed online train ticket booking, and it is twice the usual tatkal ticket charges.No refund is given on premium tatkal tickets.

2. Tatkal Quota - While making online train ticket booking, emergency tickets refer to Tatkal tickets. These tickets are necessary when you make an online train ticket booking at a short notice. At times, you have only a day or two before the journey. In such situations, emergency online train ticket booking of tatkal tickets comes handy. No refund is given on tatkal tickets.

3. Ladies Quota - Train ticket availability for Ladies Quota was introduced in the year 2011 to facilitate Indian railways booking for women passengers. This quota provides concession to women who are either travelling alone or with a child below 12 years of age. There are only 6 berths available under ladies quota in the entire train in sleeper class (SL) and second sitting (2S).

4. Senior Citizen Quota - Railway reservation seat availability grants male senior citizens that are at least 60 years of age and female senior citizens that are at least 58 years of age fare concessions in all classes of Mail/Express/Rajdhani/Shatabdi/Jan-Shatabdi/Duronto trains.

5. Defence Quota - This quota is available for Indian Armed Forces (including the Army, Navy and Air Force) under the Railways reservation seat availability. The paramilitary servicemen quota is also included under this broad category of Indian Railways booking. 2 seats are reserved under this quota in most trains across the nation. Indian Railways booking can be made under the Defense Quota for official purposes like relocation or movement of forces from one part of the country to another. It can also be used by individual defence personnel while coming back home or rejoining duty after their leave.

6. Lower Berth Quota - Under the Indian Railways booking, lower berth quota(SS quota) can be allotted only to female passengers of age 45 and above that are travelling alone or senior citizen passengers travelling alone.

7. Physically Handicapped Quota - Railway booking can be made under this quota that includes reservation of two sleeper class berths in all trains running on non-suburban sections by handicapped persons taking their journey on handicapped concession tickets. The person accompanying the handicapped person as an escort is also allotted the berth out of this quota under the Railway reservation seat availability.

8. Headquarters/High Official Quota - This is a type of emergency quota under the Indian Railways reservation. This quota provides a limited number of berths to the high ranking officials of railways and other ministers. This quota is used to provide train ticket availability in emergency situations or for an urgent surprise inspection the official might need to conduct.

9. Parliament House Quota - Parliament House Quota is similar to HQ Quota under the Indian Railways reservation. This quota is meant for ministers and high bureaucrats as well as members of parliament and their staff to meet urgent travel requirements.

10. Foreign Tourist Quota - It is a quota under the Indian Railways reservation meant for foreign tourists who visit India. Small number of seats are kept reserved while Railway booking under this quota for those who hold valid tourist visas when they visit India. It is also available to Indian Passport holders with NRI status. Foreign Tourist Quota passengers are allowed to make online train ticket booking in Executive Class/First Class AC and Two-Tier AC coaches in all trains, including Shatabdi, Rajdhani, Duronto and Gatiman Express trains, for which the fares are uniformly charged at 1.5 times the base fare by the Railways. In addition to this, IRCTC charges an enhanced service charge of ₹ 200 per ticket + GST under this quota.

11. Duty Pass Quota - Duty Pass Quota is also one of the quotas under the Railway reservation seat availability meant for railway staff on duty. Railway staff that need to travel in trains for duty are issued a duty pass through which they can board the trains. A limited number of berths are earmarked in Rajdhani, Shatabdi and Duronto Express Trains in all classes and in air-conditioned class of Jan Shatabdi Express Trains as Duty Pass Quota against which serving/retired railway employees can book seat against Duty/Privilege/Post Retirement Complimentary passes under the Indian Railways reservation.

12. Yuva Quota - This is a quota for unemployed people in the age group of 18 to 45 years. Under the Indian Railways reservation, it is applicable only for Yuva Trains. To avail this facility under the Railway reservation seat availability, a passenger must have an age/income proof certificate.