Indian Railway Catering & Tourism Corporation Limited (IRCTC)

Indian Railway Catering & Tourism Corporation Limited (IRCTC)

Established on September 27, 1999, as a public sector undertaking under the Ministry of Railways, IRCTC Limited was created to professionalize catering, tourism, and online ticketing for Indian Railways. It launched e-ticketing in 2002 and gained Miniratna status in 2008, before listing on stock exchanges in 2019 and gaining Navratna status in 2025. 

Key Historical Milestones

• Formation (1999): Incorporated to manage catering, tourism, and online ticketing services.
• Internet Ticketing (2002): Launched online booking, transforming ticket purchasing in India.
• Rail Neer (2005): Introduced its own brand of packaged drinking water.
• Miniratna Status (2008): Recognized as a Miniratna Public Corporation, providing financial autonomy.
• Luxury Tourism (2011): Began independent operation of the luxury train Maharajas' Express.
• Listing (2019): Listed on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) and BSE, with the government divesting a portion of its stake.
• Growth (2020s): Introduced new services including iMudra, Tejas trains, and integrated smart cards.
• Navratna Status (2025): Accorded Navratna status in March 2025, reflecting its strong financial performance and expansion. [

Core Business EvolutionIRCTC has grown from a primarily ticket-handling wing into a comprehensive service provider, managing on-board catering, hotel bookings, luxury tourist trains, and special pilgrimage trains. Its online reservation portal is one of the busiest in the world, with record bookings often exceeding 15 lakh tickets daily.