A Facebook post is being widely shared claiming that even one-year-old children need to get a full ticket to travel on Indian Railway trains. Let’s fact- check the claim made in the post.
![](https://factly.in/wp-content/uploads//2022/08/train-fare-for-kids-viral-post.jpg)
Claim: Indian Railways charge full fare for even one-year-old children.
Fact: Free journey is still allowed for any child below five years if no seat/berth is booked. However, if there is a need for separate berth/seat for the child, a full adult fare shall be charged. Before March 2020, there is no option to book berth/seat for a child below five years. After March 2020, Indian Railways introduced an option to book seat/berth for children below five years. Hence the claim made in the post is MISLEADING.
First, we searched on the web with the relevant key words and found a press release by Ministry of Railways on 17 August 2022.
![](https://factly.in/wp-content/uploads//2022/08/train-fare-for-kids-press-release-2022.jpg)
In this press release, it is clearly mentioned that it is optional for passengers to buy ticket & book berth for children below 5 years and free travel is allowed for children below 5 years, if no berth is booked. A circular related to this change also mentioned in press release. Taking cue from this, we found the circular from Indian Railway Website, which was issued in March 2020.
![](https://factly.in/wp-content/uploads//2022/08/train-fare-for-kids-circular-2020.jpg)
The circular clearly states that children below 5 years of age, whether travelling in reserved or unreserved class, shall be carried free and purchase of ticket is not required. But they won’t be given any separate reserved berth/seat. However, if there is a need for separate berth/seat for the child, a full adult fare shall be charged.
Additionally, we tried to book tickets in the IRCTC website for 2 adults and a one-year-old child from Secunderabad to Tambaram in sleeper class. In the passenger details section, one can see there are two options available; add infant with berth and add infant without berth.
![](https://factly.in/wp-content/uploads//2022/08/train-fare-for-kids-ticket-booking_1.jpg)
Upon selecting the ‘Add infant without berth’, it shows ticket is not to be issued for the infant. Finally, the berths will be reserved for 2 people and fare is calculated for 2 adults.
![](https://factly.in/wp-content/uploads//2022/08/train-fare-for-kids-ticket-booking_2.jpg)
If we select ‘Add infant with berth’, then the berths will be reserved for 3 people and fare will be calculated for 3 adults.
![](https://factly.in/wp-content/uploads//2022/08/train-fare-for-kids-ticket-booking_3.jpg)
According to IRCA coaching tariff & press releases by Ministry of railways in 2015, 2016; children below 5 years can be carried free (without berth). But there is no particular fare policy for children below 5 years before March 2020, especially for those who want a separate birth for such children.
![](https://factly.in/wp-content/uploads//2022/08/train-fare-for-kids-press-release-2016.jpg)
However, the ministry of railways added an option to book seat/berth for children below 5 years through a circular dated 06 March 2020. In a press release, Ministry of Railways clearly stated, “On the demand of the passengers, an option has been given to them to buy a ticket and book a berth for their under 5-year-old child if they want. And if they don’t want a separate berth, then it is free, same like it used to be earlier.”
To sum it up, children below 5 years of age, whether travelling in reserved or unreserved class, shall be carried free and purchase of ticket is not required. But they won’t be given any separate reserved berth/seat. However, if there is a need for separate berth/seat for the child, a full adult fare shall be charged.