Quotas6 min read
Quota codes on your ticket, decoded
The quota decides which pool of seats you're drawing from — and that quietly shapes your confirmation odds. Here's what the common codes mean in practice.
The quotas you'll actually see
- GN (General): the default pool for most passengers, and the largest.
- TQ (Tatkal): last-minute quota that opens one day before departure, at a premium fare. Booking is fast and competitive.
- PT (Premium Tatkal): a dynamic-fare Tatkal variant where price rises with demand.
- LD (Ladies): reserved for women travellers, subject to eligibility rules.
- SS (Senior Citizen) and HP (Handicapped/Divyangjan): priority quotas for eligible passengers.
Why quota affects your odds
Each quota has its own seat allotment and its own waiting list. A waitlist in the general quota moves independently from the Tatkal waitlist on the same train. So when you compare your chances, the quota is part of the picture — not just the train and class.
Tatkal timing: Tatkal booking generally opens at 10:00 for AC classes and 11:00 for non-AC classes, one day ahead of the journey (excluding the boarding day).
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