An RTI reply often shared on social media is being misinterpreted. The document does not state that Indian Railways earned Rs 2,109.74 crore solely from ticket cancellation charges.
New Delhi: A Right to Information (RTI) reply from the Ministry of Railways is being widely circulated on social media with claims that Indian Railways earned more than Rs 2,100 crore from passenger ticket cancellations in 2022-23. However, a close reading of the official document shows that this claim is misleading.
The RTI, filed by Kunal Gopal Shukla in September 2023, sought information on the amount earned by Railways from passenger ticket cancellations between 2019 and 2023.
What the RTI actually says
In its response, the Ministry of Railways clearly stated that the information sought is not captured separately by its Accounts Directorate.
Instead, the ministry provided figures under a broader accounting head called “Miscellaneous Coaching Receipt”, explaining that it also includes cancellation and clerkage charges for cancelled and non-issued tickets
| Financial Year | Miscellaneous Coaching Receipt (Rs crore) |
|---|---|
| 2019–20 | 1,724.44 |
| 2020–21 | 710.54 |
| 2021–22 | 1,569.08 |
| 2022–23 * | 2,109.74 |
* Provisional. The Ministry of Railways said these figures represent Miscellaneous Coaching Receipt, which includes cancellation and clerkage charges along with other passenger-related receipts. The RTI states that separate data on ticket cancellation earnings is not maintained.
Why the viral claim is misleading
The RTI does not provide a breakup of how much of the total amount came from ticket cancellation charges alone.
Instead, the ministry explicitly says the figures relate to Miscellaneous Coaching Receipt, a category that includes cancellation charges along with clerkage charges and other miscellaneous passenger-related receipts.
As a result, it is incorrect to conclude that the entire Rs 2,109.74 crore was earned only from cancelled railway tickets.
Claim: Indian Railways earned Rs 2,109.74 crore solely from ticket cancellation charges in 2022-23.
Fact: Misleading. The RTI does not make this claim. It states that the amount represents Miscellaneous Coaching Receipt, which includes cancellation charges but is not limited to them. The Ministry also says that separate data on ticket cancellation earnings is not maintained.
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