How a single state entity manages the logistics of 66 million travelers

Countries & Cities · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: With a daily average of over 700,000 tickets booked, the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation is a massive engine of Indian infrastructure. Beyond simple ticketing, it manages everything from luxury palace trains to the complex web of passenger data and onboard catering.

Established on 27 September 1999, the IRCTC began as a fully government-owned undertaking. Over the decades, its ownership structure has shifted through several rounds of disinvestment. Following its 2019 listing on the National Stock Exchange and Bombay Stock Exchange, the Government of India's stake was reduced to 87%. Subsequent divestments in December 2020 and December 2022 brought the government's holding down to 62.4%. By March 2025, the corporation was granted 'navaratna' status.

The scale of its operations is reflected in its digital footprint. As of December 2023, the platform boasted 66 million registered users, processing a daily average of 7.31 lakh tickets. The system manages a complex hierarchy of reservations, including various waiting lists like the General Waiting List (GNWL) and the Pooled Quota Waiting List (PQWL), as well as the 'Reservation against cancellation' (RAC) category, which allows passengers to share berths in sleeper classes.

However, this massive data aggregation has not been without controversy. In 2018, a security researcher found that a travel insurance scheme had exposed the information of approximately 2 lakh passengers for two years. Furthermore, the use of passenger email data during the 2020–2021 farmers' protests to promote government schemes sparked significant debate regarding data privacy. While the corporation has faced reports of potential leaks involving millions of users, it has consistently maintained that its core data remains secure.

Today, the IRCTC's remit extends far beyond the tracks. It operates luxury services like the Maharajas' Express, manages the 'Rail Neer' bottled water brand, and provides integrated travel services including flight and hotel bookings. It even manages the logistics of food delivery via e-catering and provides accommodations, such as tents during the 2025 Prayag Kumbh Mela.

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