Indian Railways has rolled out a significant passenger-friendly service of online personal luggage booking for its passengers who have reserved tickets. The facility goes live on July 31, 2026.

The Railway Board has instructed every zone to execute the service. With this online luggage service, passengers can reserve online luggage according to the specified limit while booking their tickets. Here are the complete details of the online luggage service by Indian Railways, including eligibility, luggage limit, charges, and basic rules.

Indian Railways Launches Online Personal Luggage Booking

Passengers having reserved tickets will now be able to book their luggage online in advance from July 31, 2026. The latest initiative is a part of the Indian Railways’ larger conversion to a more tech-driven platform providing users with better services.

As per an order issued by the Railway Board on July 20, 2026, all railway zones have been instructed to implement the new service for personal baggage in the reserved compartments falling under maximum weight category.

This is following the earlier guideline created in March 2025 which has been put in action after proper testing and development.

Why Has Indian Railways Introduced This Facility?

The reason behind Indian Railways introducing this facility is to tackle the troubles passengers come across while reserving extra luggage at the railway station.

Earlier, passengers who have excess luggage had to go to the parcel or luggage booking counters before taking the train. However, with the new online system, passengers can reserve online without doing paperwork and thereby making the traveling experience much better.

Who Can Use the Online Luggage Booking Service?

The online luggage booking facility is available to confirmed passengers in reserved classes.

Passengers with waitlisted or unconfirmed tickets cannot book luggage online.

The luggage booked will have to be carried in the reserved coach and must conform to the limits of weight and size specified by Railways.

New Guidelines for Internet Luggage Reservation

The Railway Board decided that the online reservation system should show all significant details throughout the booking phase.

With this system, travelers will be able to see,

• Free luggage allowance by class
• Maximum allowable luggage limit
• Prohibited items list
• Penalty for carrying excess luggage
• Luggage charges applicable

The goal behind this openness is to ensure that the travelers are aware of the regulations beforehand.

Exemption on Luggage in Indian Railways

The luggage allowance for passengers on Indian Railways depends on the type of travel class the passenger has chosen.

The prescribed allowances for each travel class are given below:

Travel Class and Free Allowance

• AC First Class (1A): 70 kg
• First Class: 50 kg
• AC 2 Tier: 50 kg
• AC 3 Tier (3A): 40 kg
• AC 3 Economy (3E): 40 kg
• AC Chair Car (CC): 40 kg
• Sleeper Class: 40 kg
• Second Class: 35 kg

Maximum Luggage Capacity Depending on Travel Category

Travellers are offered the service of bringing luggage beyond the admissible limit; yet, they must follow the maximum limit imposed and pay all the required fees.

Category wise admissible maximum luggage capacity

• AC First Class: 150 kg
• First Class/AC 2 Tier: 100 kg
• Sleeper Class: 80 kg
• Second Class: 70 kg
• AC 3 Tier/AC Chair Car: 40 kg

A special exception is made for AC 3 Tier, AC 3 Economy, and AC Chair Car categories where the maximum admissible limit is equal to the allowed free weight. As a result, excess baggage can hardly be booked in these travel categories.

Payment for Extra Baggage

Although travelers can carry luggage outside the limit for free baggage, excess baggage can be booked at a charge of 1.5 times the appropriate luggage rate, as long as the maximum limit for the class of travel is adhered to.

This allows travelers to carry additional luggage and, at the same time, not incur any fines while boarding the train.

Regulations Regarding Size of the Luggage

The Indian Railways has also set restrictions on the size of the luggage that can be transported inside a reserved compartment.

Trunks, suitcases, and boxes having dimensions not exceeding 100 cm × 60 cm × 25 cm (Length × Width × Height) can be carried inside the coach.

Any luggage that does not comply with at least one of the measurements is not permitted inside the reserved compartments.

Oversized Luggage Must Be Booked Separately

Those who have oversized suitcases, boxes, and bags will have to book them separately in the Brake Van (Luggage Van).

The Indian Railways has reiterated that commercial items or goods meant for trade cannot be taken as personal luggage in passenger compartments.

Such items must be sent using the railway parcel booking system.

Role of CRIS in the New System

The Railway Board has entrusted the task of developing and testing the online application for digital luggage booking to the Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS).

The Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, has been passed by the Lok Sabha. This Bill brings many laws that would serve as the legal protection for the India’s National Song, Vande Mataram. Its main objective is to make deliberate acts of violation or hindrance of the rendition of Vande Mataram a crime. The Rajya Sabha has already passed this Bill, and it has now been sent to the President for approval.

What is the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026?

Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026 is an amendment introduced to the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971 for the purpose of giving protection to Vande Mataram, which is India’s National Song.

The 1971 Act currently protects the National Flag, the Constitution of India, and the National Anthem from intentional disrespect. The amendment seeks to extend similar protection to Vande Mataram with a view to prevent any deliberate insult or obstructions during its performance.

This bill was earlier approved by Rajya Sabha. It was passed by the Lok Sabha by means of voice voting.

What Motive Forced the Rule to Come Into Effect?

The government claims that the purpose of the amendment is to create equal recognition and protection under the law for the National Song.

The promoters of the Bill contend that even though Vande Mataram is of immense historical and national importance, it has not received any legal recognition under statute comparable to the National Anthem.

The amendment intends to remedy this legal shortcoming by considering deliberate disrespect to the National Song a criminal offence.

Important Clauses in the Bill

The new changes introduced by this bill includes the,

• Broadening the legal protection of Vande Mataram through the Act of Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act of 1971.
• Turning the deliberate insult to the National Song into punishable offence.
• Declaring the act of obstructing the singing or rendition of Vande Mataram as criminal act.
• Bringing the legal position of the National Song to the level of that of the National Anthem.
• Becoming applicable after the approval from the President.

Discussions in Parliament

The bill has been widely discussed in Parliament.

During the meeting in Lok Sabha, the discussion was interrupted by Opposition protests several times before the bill was approved through voice vote.

Previously, Rajya Sabha has approved the bill and it moved to Lok Sabha for formal approval.

The Historical Significance of Vande Mataram

Vande Mataram has an important place in the Indian struggle for freedom.

The song written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay in his novel Anandamath has inspired many freedom fighters during the struggle against the British. The song was later recognised as the National Song of India while Jana Gana Mana was declared as the National Anthem.

Though both the songs have a great national importance, one of the songs, the National Anthem, alone was provided statutory protection by law in 1971.

Differences Between National Anthem and National Song

Government of India has established both National Anthem and National Song.

National Anthem (Jana Gana Mana)

• National Anthem of Nation is endorsed under the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971.
• It is played in all state official functions.

National Song (Vande Mataram)

• The song stationed as National Song of India.
• It will be protected legally against insults if the Amendment Act is passed.

Parliament has cleared the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill of 2026 after its approval by Rajya Sabha following passage in Lok Sabha. The purpose of the legislation is to strengthen the fight against examination paper leaks and organized cheating by provisions for severe punishments, time-bound investigation and creation of Special Fast Track Courts for cases of cheating and paper leaks. The move comes at a time when there are fears regarding emblematic cases of repeated irregularities in exams that have affected millions of students.

What is the Anti-Paper Leak Amendment Bill 2026?

The Public Examinations (Prevention of Malpractice) Amendment Bill, 2026 amends the existing law to enhance the measures against paper leakages, and organized examination rackets, along with the technological abuses related to the public examinations.

The aim of the legislation is to regulate the recruitment and entrance examinations in a fair and unbiased manner to secure the interests of the students and preserve the credibility of the examination system of India.

Having received the approval from both the Houses of Parliament, the Bill is now awaiting the Presidential assent to become an Act.

Why Was the Amendment Introduced?

Paper leaks and examination malpractices have caused the disruption of many prominent recruitment and entrance exams in the recent past and created uncertainties for many aspirants.

The Amendment was introduced by the government to,

• Strengthen deterrence against organized cheating.
• Ensure quicker investigation and prosecution.
• Enhance transparency in public examination.
• Protect deserving candidates from unfair means.
• Increase public confidence in the conduct of recruitment and entrance exams.

Key Provision of the Bill

With the introduction of the amended law, the enforcement of violation pertaining to examination malpractice will now be improved.

Harsher Punishment

With regard to punishing perpetrators of malpractice through unfair means, the Bill has increased penalties significantly from,

• Previously: 3-5 years
• Now: Minimum 5 years, can be extended to a maximum of 10 years

Larger fines

As far as the applicable penalties are concerning, the amount of fines has increased significantly from:

• 10 lakh rupees to 50 lakh rupees for offenders in the examination fraud cases.

Stricter Measures for Service Providers

If companies or service providers are found guilty of helping the offenders of irregularities,

• The maximum fine will go up to 5 crores.
• The ban on public service examinations will be increased from 4 to 8 years.

Tougher Measures Against Organized Crime

In the case of the organized violations, the following penalties were introduced,

• Minimum punishment increased from 5 to 7 years.
• Maximum punishment remains 10 years.
• Maximum amount is increased from 1 crore to 10 crores.

Fast Track Investigation and Trial

The key feature of the amendment is the introduction of timelines for judicial procedures.

The Bill envisages,

• Investigations to be carried out within two months.
• Trials to be completed in three months from the date of filing the charge-sheet.
• Sessions Courts to be designated as Special Fast Track Courts.
• Special Public Prosecutors to be appointed for every Fast Track Court.

The aim behind these measures is to deliver faster justice and minimize delays in investigation-related cases.

Special Task Force for Exam Offences

This law allows the Central Government to form a Legal Council that will investigate examination-related crimes.

The Legal Council will be responsible for,

• Coordinating the investigation of such crimes.
• Monitoring the activities of syndicates involved in examination crime.
• Providing necessary assistance to state agencies in complicated cases.
• Improving enforcement against technological cheating.

Stand of Government

While speaking in the Rajya Sabha, Jitendra Singh, MoS, said that examination integrity is an issue that has an impact on every family in the country.

According to Singh, the amendment shows that the government is determined to protect students from injustice and unfair practices in exams. He added that reforms made under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 constitute a landmark achievement in education.

As stated by the government, the total number of universities has risen from 760 to 1,293. In addition, around 400 Eklavya Model Residential Schools are functional at the moment.