RAC Bedroll Rights: Every individual RAC passenger in AC coaches is legally entitled to a complete bedroll kit.

Every individual passenger traveling on an RAC (Reservation Against Cancellation) ticket in an eligible AC coach is legally entitled to their own complete bedroll kit.

For years, there was confusion on board, and RAC passengers—who share a single side-lower berth—were often forced to share a single bedroll kit or were denied one entirely. However, because RAC passengers pay the exact same fare as passengers with confirmed tickets, the bedroll charges are already included in their ticket price.

Here is everything you need to know about your rights regarding RAC bedrolls on Indian Railways:

The Official Rule

Following repeated passenger complaints about missing or shared blankets, the Railway Board issued a strict reiteration of the rules on August 4, 2026. The mandate directs all Zonal Railways to ensure that every RAC passenger receives a bedroll kit at par with other bona fide passengers traveling in the coach, without discrimination. You do not have to share your blanket or sheets with the stranger sharing your berth.

What Your Kit Must Include

A complete, individual bedroll kit provided by the railways consists of:

2 Bedsheets (freshly washed) 

1 Blanket 

1 Pillow 

1 Face/Hand Towel

 

Applicable Coaches

This rule applies to overnight AC travel, with one specific exception: 

Travel Class	Bedroll Entitlement for RAC
AC 1st Class (1A)	✅ Fully Applicable
AC 2-Tier (2A)	✅ Fully Applicable
AC 3-Tier (3A)	✅ Fully Applicable
AC 3-Tier Economy (3E)	✅ Applicable (where bedroll service is provided)
AC Chair Car (CC)	❌ Not Covered (Bedrolls are not provided in chair cars)

What to Do If You Are Denied

Some train staff may still operate under the outdated assumption that RAC passengers only get one kit per berth. If you are denied your individual kit:

Ask the TTE: Politely inform the Travelling Ticket Examiner or the coach attendant that the Railway Board mandates individual kits for RAC passengers. 

Lodge a Complaint: If the staff refuses, dial 139 (RailMadad Helpline) or use the RailMadad app/website. Complaints lodged on RailMadad are actively monitored and usually resolved by the next major station.

The ₹25,000 Legal Precedent

This right is actively protected by consumer law. In July 2026, the Delhi Consumer Commission ordered Indian Railways to pay ₹25,000 in compensation to a passenger who was given only one blanket and forced to share a bedroll kit with a stranger while traveling on an RAC ticket.

The Official Railway Board Directive

Prompted by the consumer court ruling and repeated passenger complaints, the Railway Ministry issued a strict, formal directive on August 4, 2026. The order explicitly instructs all Zonal Railways that:

• Every RAC passenger must receive a complete, individual bedroll kit (two sheets, one blanket, one pillow, and a towel) at par with confirmed passengers. 
• Train attendants and housekeeping staff cannot force two RAC passengers sharing a side-lower berth to share a single bedroll kit.

 

Why This is Your Right

When you purchase an AC ticket, the cost of the bedroll is already baked into your base fare. Because Indian Railways does not offer a fare discount to RAC passengers—you pay the exact same amount as someone with a confirmed full berth—they are legally obligated to provide you with the exact same amenities.

The only exception: This rule does not apply to AC Chair Car (CC) classes, as bedrolls are simply not provided in chair cars for any passenger, confirmed or RAC.

 

The "Garib Rath" Exception (₹25 Opt-In)

While bedrolls are free and included in the ticket fare for standard AC coaches, this rule changes if you are traveling on the Garib Rath Express.

• Because Garib Rath is designed as a low-fare AC train, bedrolls are not included in the base ticket price for anyone—whether you have a confirmed ticket or an RAC ticket. 
• If you want a bedroll on a Garib Rath train, you must pay an additional ₹25 per kit. You can opt-in and pay this fee while booking your ticket on IRCTC, or pay the coach attendant in cash on board (subject to availability).

 

What If You Only Travel During the Day?

Even if your RAC journey is strictly during the daytime, the rule still applies. If you are in an eligible AC coach (like 2A or 3A), the attendant is legally required to provide you with the full bedroll kit if you request it. However, many passengers choose not to ask for one during daytime journeys, which sometimes leads attendants to assume they don't need to distribute them to RAC passengers.

The Official Circular for Your Reference

If you ever need to prove your right to a stubborn Ticket Examiner or coach attendant, cite the Railway Board Circular No. 2016/EnHM/26/01, issued on August 4, 2026. This specific document is the latest mandate that explicitly warns Zonal Railways against denying or splitting bedroll kits for RAC passengers sharing a berth.

  

If you are ever challenged during a journey, you just need to keep these three key facts in your back pocket:

1. The Rule: You are legally entitled to your own unshared, complete bedroll kit (linen and blanket). 
2. The Authority: Cite the August 4, 2026 Railway Board mandate (Letter No. 2016/EnHM/26/01). The Railway Ministry issued this specifically because attendants were illegally forcing RAC passengers to share. 
3. The Action: If an attendant refuses, don't argue—just open the RailMadad app or call 139. The railways take these complaints very seriously, especially after consumer courts have started fining them heavily for it.

(And as a quick hygiene note: Indian Railways mandates that the white bedsheets, pillow covers, and towels are washed freshly for every single journey. Blankets, however, are washed at least once a month, which is why the top sheet is provided to act as a barrier between you and the blanket.)

 

Have a safe and comfortable train journey!

 

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