IRCTC

IRCTC 

• Full form: Indian Railway  Catering & Tourism Corporation

 

• Incorporated on 27th September, 1999  (incidentally, World Tourism day falls on 27th September)

 

• Headquarters: New Delhi (Registered & Corporate Office)

 

• CMD - Chairman & Managing Director: Shri Sanjay Kumar Jain, IRTS 1990 (From February 2024 onwards) 

 

• Zonal Offices - 5 ( New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai & Secunderabad)

 

• Regional Offices - 10 ( Lucknow, Chandigarh, Jaipur, Bhopal, Ahmadabad, Guwahati, Bhubaneshwar, Patna, Ernakulam & Bangalore)

 

• Internet Ticketing Office - New Delhi

 

• Tourism Office - New Delhi

 

• Mini Ratna (Category 1) CPSE (Central Public Sector Enterprise)

 

• Extended arm of Indian Railways in the areas of Internet ticketing, catering, tourism & Rail Neer packaged Drinking Water

 

Vision:  

 

1.       Global Reservation System

2.       Professionalization of  Catering & Hospitality services

3.       Development of Budget Hotels

4.       Special Tourism packages.

 

IRCTC is the fourth Railway company to be listed on the bourses after RITES, Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd and IRCON International Ltd.

The initial public offering (IPO) of ₹645 crore concluded in October, 2019.

Subscribed 112 times at a price band of ₹315-320 per share (Face Value is Rs. 10), making it the most successful share sale since January 2018.

IRCTC stock price as on 22.09.2024 is Rs. 890 /- 

139 - IRHES stands for Integrated Railway Helpline & Enquiry System 

 

The government now owns 62.4% stake in the railway tourism company (as on 30.06.2024

 

                                                         Core activities

Internet Ticketing	Catering & Hospitality
Travel & Tourism	Packaged Drinking Water(Rail Neer)

Internet Ticketing:

Started in the year 2002 (first day - 27 tickets) with i-Ticket.  Later, e-Ticket was introduced in the year 2005

2023-24 year data - No of Tickets Sold (in brackets 2022-23)

In One Year	In One day	In One Hour	In One Minute	In One Second
45.30 Crores (43.13 Crores)	12.41 Lakhs (11.82 Lakhs)	51700 (49200)	860 (820)	15 (14)

• IRCTC Mobile App - Approximately 10 Crores Users

 

• Mobile app downloads (Android & iOS)- 12.20 Crores (as on 31.03.2024) 

 

• IRCTC's share in Total Train Reserved Tickets   - 83 % as on 31.03.2024.  Hope the share will climb up to 95 % in the coming years. (54% as on 31.03.2015) 
•  Record break - Highest booking - 28434 tickets in one minute ( 11.02 AM of 12.11.2022)  - Tatkal time - (474 tickets per second) 
• New initiatives in Ticketing sector.

1.       Waitlist confirmation prediction facility

2.       Facility of Book now pay later (after 15 days)

3.       Train Vacant Seat chart module - to view complete information of vacant, booked and partially booked berths in a train reservation chart

Catering & Hospitality

• One of the largest hospitality & catering companies of the country.
• Covering Passenger trains, Railway Stations etc.
• On board catering services - 480 trains (incl: Rajdhani, Shatabdi, Duronto, Gatiman, Vande Bharat & Tejas)
• TSV - Train Side Vending services in Trains which do not have pantry car provision.
• Catering Policy 2017 - Divides Catering business into " Meal Production" and " Meal Distribution".
• Executive Lounges at important stations with facilities of reclining sofa, buffet service, wi-fi, shower like in Airports with nominal charges.
• E- Catering facility - Order online.
• Live streaming of 43 Base Kitchens.  click for New Delhi Base kitchen 

 

Travel & Tourism

• Rail tour packages  - Runs 70 Rail tours
• Special Tourist trains  - Bharat Darshan,  Aastha circuit
• Buddhist circuit train
• Majestic tourist train - to cover important destinations in Rajasthan 

 

·         Maharajas' Express - The best luxury train in the World  (for 2 people - 4 days journey covered Agra & Jaipur costs Rs. 6 Lakhs approx)   click for more information 

  

Public can book Trains, coaches and saloons exclusively for any event/function through online.

• Retiring Rooms - Major Railway Stations
• Budget Hotels - Rail Yatri Niwas at New Delhi and Howrah.  BNR(Bengal Nagpur Railway - old name of South East Railway)  Hotels at Puri & Ranchi.
• Air ticketing through IRCTC website.

Rail Neer Plants

·         Branded packaging water "Rail Neer" for Rail commuters

·         19 operational Rail Neer plants.

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GAAR - General Anti Avoidance Rules जनरल एंटी अवॉइडेंस रूल्स

 

GAAR 

• GAAR stands for General Anti Avoidance Rules

• Object: To prevent taxpayers from adopting aggressive tax planning and avoidance schemes that exploit loopholes in the tax laws to reduce their tax liability.

• Contained in Income Tax Act, 1961 ( Chapter X-A)

• Effective from 01.04.2017

• Threshold Limit:  Transaction of Tax benefit (to all parties) exceeds Rs. 3 Crore in a Financial Year. 

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GAAR

• GAAR का मतलब है जनरल एंटी अवॉइडेंस रूल्स

• उद्देश्य: करदाताओं को आक्रामक कर नियोजन और कर से बचने की योजनाएँ अपनाने से रोकना जो कर कानूनों में खामियों का फायदा उठाकर उनकी कर देयता को कम करते हैं।

• आयकर अधिनियम, 1961 (अध्याय X-A) में निहित

• 01.04.2017 से प्रभावी

• सीमा: कर लाभ का लेन-देन (सभी पक्षों को) एक वित्तीय वर्ष में 3 करोड़ रुपये से अधिक है।

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RTI - Right to Information Act 2005

• Source: click for RTI Act, 2005 

• RTI stands for Right To Information 

• Enacted in 2005 

• Repealed/replaced the Freedom of Information Act, 2002

• Applicable/Extends to all States & UTs including Jammu & Kashmir (from 31.10.2019 onwards)

• CIC stands for Central Information Commission 

• CIC stands for Central Information Commissioner

• IC stands for Information Commissioner

• PIO stands for Public Information Officer

• APIO stands for Assistant Public Information Officer 

• Information: Any material in any form consists of: 

• Records

• Documents

• Memos

• E-mails

• Opinions

• Advices

• Press releases

• Circulars

• Orders

• Logbooks

• Contracts

• Reports

• Papers

• Samples

• Models

• Data held in any form

• Information relating to any private party (which can be accessed by a Public authority under the Law)   

• Right to Information means Right to:

• Inspection of work, documents, records

• Taking notes, extracts or certified copies of documents

• Taking certified samples of material 

• Obtaining information in the form of diskettes, floppies, video cassettes or in any other electronic mode or printout 

• Suo Motu: Public authorities should disseminate/provide (through notice boards,newspapers, public announcements, media, Internet i.e., Websites etc) as much information as possible to the Public at regular intervals through various means of communication incl: Internet to minimize the use of RTI to obtain information. 

• Language of the Application: English or Hindi or the Official language of the area in which the application is being made

• Fees: Rs.10.  It is exempted for the applicant, if belongs to BPL - Below Poverty Line. Also exempted, if the information is not provided within the time limit. 

• Time Limits: 

• Within 30 days - Provides the information on payment of fees or reject the request with valid reasons 

• Excluded for calculating the 30 days: The period intervening between the despatch of the information and payment of fees 

• 48 hours - If information sought for concerns the life or liberty of a person

• 5 days - If the application is transfer to the correct PIO by the PIO who received it 

• 30 days:  Dispose of the application by Appellate authority

• Third party information: 

   RIGHT TO INFORMATION ACT 2005

1. RTI Act came into effect from 12.10.2005.

2. Aim of the Act is to empower all citizens of the country by providing them the right to information.

3. This Act applies to all public authorities except military and other intelligent services as mentioned in Schedule 2 of the RTI Act.

4. As per this act "information" means- any material in any form, including records, documents, memos, e-mails, advices, press releases, circulars, orders, logbooks, contracts, reports, papers, samples, models, data material held in any electronic form and information relating to any private body which can be accessed by a public authority under any other law for the time being in force.

5. "Right to information" includes the right to-

1. inspection of work, documents, records

2. taking notes, extracts or certified copies of documents or records

3. taking certified samples of material 

4. obtaining information in the form of diskettes, floppies, tapes, video cassettes or in any other electronic mode or through printouts where such information is stored in a computer or in any other device.

6. Information which cannot be given:

Information expressly excluded under section 8 of the RTI Act should not be given. 

Example:

Information, disclosure of which would prejudicially affect the: 

Sovereignty and integrity of India, security, strategic, scientific or economic interests of the state, relation with foreign state or lead to incitement of an offence.

Information which has been expressly forbidden to be published by any court of law or tribunal or the disclosure of which may constitute contempt of court.

The information, disclosure of which would cause a breach of privilege of Parliament or the State Legislature.

Information including commercial confidence, trade secrets or intellectual property, the disclosure of which would harm the competitive position of a third party, unless the competent authority is satisfied that larger public interest warrants the disclosure of such information.

Information received in confidence from foreign Government.

Information, the disclosure of which would endanger the life or physical safety of any person or identify the source of information or assistance given in confidence for law enforcement or security purposes.

Information which would impede the process of investigation or apprehension or prosecution of offenders.

Cabinet papers including records of deliberations of the Council of Ministers, Secretaries and other officers.

Provided that the decisions of Council of Ministers, the reasons thereof, and the material on the basis of which the decisions were taken shall be made public after the decision has been taken, and the matter is complete, or over.

Provided further that those matters which come under the exemptions specified in this section shall not be disclosed.

Information which relates to personal information the disclosure of which has no relationship to any public activity or interest, or which would cause unwarranted invasion of the privacy of the individual unless the Central Public Information Officer or the State Public Information Officer or the appellate authority, as the case may be, is satisfied that the larger public interest justifies the disclosure of such information.

7. Public Information Officer   (PIO)

Every Public Authority shall designate as many PIOs and APIOs as may be required for each of its administrative unit/Office.

8. Voluntary disclosure of information:

Every Public Authority should voluntarily disclose the information pertaining to its unit, office, department, or Ministry for the information of public.

9. Third party information:

Where a request is related to a third party the Public Information Officer(PIO) has to give a notice to the third party within 5 days of the receipt of the application asking the third party to make his submission. PIO has to take into account the submission of third party while disclosing the information. PIO can disclose the information if it serves larger public interests.

10. RTI applications:

Every Government department has to designate a PIO with whom RTI applications can be submitted.

Required application fee has to be submitted with the form.

For central government departments the fee is Rs. 10/-. 

There shall be no fee for persons living below poverty line.

Though there is a prescribed format available (You can download the form here), there is no need that application should be in this format. It can be written on a plain paper.

Fee can be by Cash or DD in favour of the department.

Application can be submitted in person or by post.

For copy of records Rs 2/- each page (A4/A3 size).

For inspection of records – No fee for first hour. Thereafter Rs 5/- for each subsequent hour or fraction thereof.

11. Time Limit:

Supply of information in normal course: 30 days

Supply of information concerning to life or liberty of a person:  48 hours

Supply of third part information: 40 days

12. If the PIO fails to give decision on the request within

the specified time, as aforesaid, the request shall be deemed to have been refused.

13. First Appeal

Appeals can be submitted to the appellate authority mentioned in the letter of rejection along with the original application form within 30 days.

No prescribed format and no fee for this.

14. Second Appeal:

Second Appeal can be submitted to the Central Information Commission. 

No prescribed format and no fee for this.

Any information required by any person can be obtained from the PIO on application and payment of prescribed fees which are as follows:

Offences and Penalties:

If the PIO without any reasonable cause refuse to receive the application for information, does not furnish information within the specified time, denies the information with malfide intension, knowingly gives incorrect, incomplete or misleading information, destroys information or obstruct in any manner in furnishing the information -  Rs 250/- for each day till application is received or information is furnished, subject to a maximum of Rs 25,000/- and recommendation of departmental disciplinary action.  

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