Child Fare Rules — Quick Reference
| Age | Fare | Berth | Ticket required? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 5 years | Free | No separate berth — shares adult berth | Add to PNR (free) |
| 5–11 years | 50% of adult fare | Separate berth allotted | Half-fare ticket required |
| 12 years and above | Full adult fare | Own berth | Full ticket required |
How to Add a Child During IRCTC Booking
- On the passenger details page, click Add Passenger
- Enter the child's name and age in years
- IRCTC automatically applies:
- Age 0–4: Free (no berth, zero fare)
- Age 5–11: Half fare with berth
- Age 12+: Full fare
- For a child under 5, you can optionally choose to book a berth (half fare will apply) — useful on overnight journeys so the child has their own space.
- Complete booking as normal — child is included in the same PNR.
Booking a Separate Berth for Under-5 Child
If you are travelling overnight and want your infant/toddler to have a separate berth (not share yours), you can book a half-fare ticket even for a child under 5. To do this, enter the age as 5 during booking or contact IRCTC customer care. Note that IRCTC's system will apply half fare for age 5 — enter actual age 5 if the child is close to 5 years.
Practically: many parents book the under-5 child as free and manage the berth sharing. On long overnight journeys, paying half fare for a berth is worth the comfort.
Half-Fare vs Full Fare — What Exactly Is Charged
For a half-fare child ticket (age 5–11):
- Fare: 50% of the adult base fare
- Reservation charge: Same as adult (₹15–₹50 depending on class) — not halved
- Tatkal charge: If booking Tatkal, the Tatkal premium is also halved
- Superfast charge, GST: Applied at full rate (not halved)
ID Proof During Journey
- For free infants (under 5): TTE rarely asks for age proof but keep birth certificate accessible.
- For half-fare children (5–11): Carry age proof — birth certificate, school ID with date of birth, or Aadhaar card with age.
- If a child appears older than claimed, the TTE may ask for proof — always carry documentation.
Related: Valid ID proof for train travel | Senior citizen concession rules