Two status codes that cause confusion on Indian Railways tickets are CAN and MOD. Here is exactly what each one means and what it means for your travel plans.
CAN — Cancelled
CAN is short for Cancelled. It appears on your PNR when:
- You or another passenger on the booking cancelled the ticket online via IRCTC
- Indian Railways cancelled the train and automatically cancelled all bookings on it
- An unconfirmed WL ticket was automatically cancelled after chart preparation
A CAN ticket cannot be used for travel. If you see CAN and did not initiate the cancellation, check your registered email for a cancellation notice from IRCTC.
MOD — Modified
MOD appears when a booking has been updated after the original reservation was made. Common modification scenarios include:
- Change of boarding station (allowed up to 24 hours before departure)
- Passenger details updated in the few minutes after booking (rare, only for specific corrections)
- Train or coach re-composition by Indian Railways affecting your berth allocation
A MOD ticket is still valid for travel. The modification simply updates the journey details. Always download the latest e-ticket version from IRCTC after a modification is applied.
CAN vs MOD: Quick Reference
| Status | Can You Travel? | Refund? |
|---|---|---|
| CAN | No | Yes (if applicable) |
| MOD | Yes | Not applicable — ticket still valid |
What to Do If You See CAN Unexpectedly
- Check your email for a cancellation notice with the reason
- Log into IRCTC and check My Transactions for refund status
- If it was an erroneous cancellation, contact IRCTC helpdesk immediately at 14646 or care@irctc.co.in
Check your current PNR status anytime at pnralert.in/pnr-status.