The Tatkal Scheme is a ticketing program established by Indian Railways.
The Indian Railways introduced it in all forms of reserved classes on almost all trains in India.
Tatkal tickets can be booked over the counter in a railway station and on the internet at IRCTC.
Premium Tatkal was introduced on October 1, 2014 covering half of the tickets on certain trains.
All types of ticketing agents including IRCTC agents will now be debarred from booking non-Tatkal tickets for 30 minutes from the opening of bookings, that is from 8 am to 8.30 AM for general classes, from 10 AM onwards for Tatkal AC classes, and from 11 AM onwards for Tatkal non-AC classes.