Child Ticket Fare and Berth Rules on Indian Trains

Child fare on Indian Railways confuses people because the rule genuinely branches in two directions depending on one choice you make while booking, whether you want the child to have their own berth or not. Here's the age-and-fare logic laid out plainly, with the choice that actually changes the price.

Up to what age does a child travel free

A child under 5 years of age at the time of the journey travels free of charge on a reserved ticket, without being allotted a separate berth, and shares the accompanying adult's berth or seat. You still need to declare the child's age while booking, even though no fare is charged, since this affects the passenger count and berth allocation for the booking.

The 5 to under 12 age bracket: the choice that matters

This is where the fare genuinely splits into two options at the time of booking:

• Without a separate berth: half the adult base fare (the reservation charge and any superfast charge are added in full), and the child shares a berth with the accompanying adult, the same as the under-5 arrangement but at half price instead of free.
• With a separate berth: full adult fare, and the child gets their own reserved berth like any other passenger.

IRCTC's booking form asks you to make this choice explicitly when you add a child passenger in this age range, so it's not something that happens automatically, you decide based on whether you actually need the extra berth or would rather save the fare and have the child share with you.

When do you have to pay full fare for a child

Once a child turns 12, they're booked as a full adult passenger in every sense, full fare and their own berth, with no discount bracket above that age. Between 5 and under 12, full fare only applies if you've specifically chosen the "with berth" option; the "without berth" half-fare option remains available throughout that bracket.

Can I request a separate berth for a young child?

Yes, for a child aged 5 to under 12, choosing the "with berth" option at full fare gets them their own reserved space. For a child under 5, you can also opt for a separate berth voluntarily, but the full adult fare is then charged; if you don't opt for one, the child travels free and shares your berth. Either way, always enter the child's real age.

Does Tatkal change any of this

Partly. The under-5 rule works the same way, but Tatkal carries no fare concessions, and the half-fare, no-berth option for 5 to under 12 year olds may not be offered on a Tatkal booking, in which case the child pays the full Tatkal fare. Check the fare IRCTC shows for the child before you pay. The other practical difference with Tatkal is that seats fill fast regardless of passenger age, so if you specifically want a separate berth for a child in the 5 to under 12 bracket during a Tatkal booking, be ready to select that option and pay the full fare immediately rather than deciding mid-booking, since Tatkal's booking window doesn't leave much room to reconsider.

A quick reference table

Booking tips for families

Declare every child's correct age at booking regardless of which fare option you choose, since this isn't just about cost, it also affects how the system allocates berths across your group. If you're travelling with more than one child in the 5 to under 12 bracket, you can generally choose the with-berth or without-berth option independently for each child, useful if one child needs their own space and a younger sibling is happy to share. Check your train's live running status before a journey with young kids too, so you're not caught off guard by a late-running overnight train and a tired child at an odd hour. Our guide to coach position codes is also worth a quick read before travelling with a family, so you're not searching for the right coach on a crowded platform with kids and luggage in tow. If seat availability looks tight for your dates, the trip planner can help you compare alternative trains on the same route.

Why the rule is structured this way

The logic behind splitting the 5 to under 12 bracket into a berth and no-berth option comes down to how Indian Railways allocates limited berth capacity on a train. A young child sharing a berth with a parent doesn't use up an additional reserved space, so the railway prices that option lower, while a child occupying their own berth is treated the same as any other passenger taking up a seat that could otherwise go to someone else. It's a capacity-based distinction as much as an age-based one, which is why the choice, not just the age, decides the fare within that bracket.

Understanding this also explains why you can't simply ask for a discount on an already-booked adult-fare child ticket after the fact, the berth allocation is fixed at booking time and isn't something that gets revisited later in the journey.