Tatkal is a service provided by the Indian Railways for passengers who need to make urgent or last-minute train travel plans. Tatkal tickets can be booked one day in advance of the actual date of journey, and the booking opens at 10 am for AC classes and 11 am for non-AC classes. Tatkal tickets are subject to availability and are issued on a first-come, first-served basis.

Tatkal tickets are generally more expensive than regular tickets, and the fare is calculated based on the dynamic pricing system. The dynamic pricing system means that the fare of Tatkal tickets increases as the available seats decrease.

Passengers need to provide their name, age, gender, and ID proof details while booking a Tatkal ticket. The Tatkal ticket booking is available online on the IRCTC website or through authorized agents. Tatkal tickets cannot be canceled, and the only way to get a refund is if the train is canceled or there is a delay of more than three hours.

Credit Financial Times

To book a Tatkal ticket online, you can follow these steps:

1. Login to the IRCTC website or mobile app using your credentials.
2. Select the ‘Tatkal’ option under the ‘Plan my travel’ section.
3. Enter the source and destination station, date of travel, class of travel, and the number of passengers.
4. Click on the ‘Check availability & fare’ button.
5. Select the train and click on the ‘Book’ button.
6. Fill in the passenger details such as name, age, gender, and ID proof details.
7. Select the payment option and make the payment.
8. After the payment is successful, you will receive a confirmation message with the details of the ticket.

Some important points to keep in mind while booking Tatkal tickets online:

1. Tatkal booking opens at 10 am for AC classes and 11 am for non-AC classes, one day in advance of the actual date of journey.
2. Tatkal tickets are issued on a first-come, first-served basis, and the availability is limited.
3. Keep your IRCTC login credentials and payment details ready before booking the Tatkal ticket.
4. Verify all the details before making the payment, as Tatkal tickets cannot be canceled or modified.