As the festive season begins, IRCTC's VIKALP scheme comes as a much-needed relief for train passengers struggling to get confirmed tickets. This initiative provides an alternative train option for passengers who are unable to get confirmed seats with their original booking. Although it doesn't guarantee a confirmed berth, VIKALP ensures no additional charges for the passenger and allows them to select up to seven alternate trains.
IRCTC's VIKALP Scheme: A Boon for Train Passengers During Festive Season
Background
During festive seasons, the demand for train tickets skyrockets, making it extremely difficult for passengers to secure confirmed reservations on their desired trains. To address this issue, the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) launched the VIKALP (acronym for Vikalp Mein Zyaada Option Aur Ticket) scheme in 2017.
VIKALP Scheme
The VIKALP scheme offers passengers an alternative train option in case they are unable to get confirmed seats on their original booking. Under this scheme, passengers can select up to seven alternate trains, and if a confirmed berth becomes available on any of these trains, they will be automatically accommodated without any additional charges.
Eligibility
VIKALP is available for all classes of travel, including AC, sleeper, and chair car. Passengers who have booked their tickets through IRCTC's website or mobile app are eligible for the scheme.
Cancellation and Refund
If a passenger chooses not to travel on the alternate train provided under VIKALP, they can cancel their ticket and get a full refund. However, if they decide to travel on the alternate train, the refund policy of the original booking will apply.
Top 5 FAQs
1. What is the VIKALP scheme?
A: VIKALP is an IRCTC scheme that provides an alternative train option for passengers who are unable to get confirmed seats on their original booking.
2. Is there any additional cost for using VIKALP?
A: No, VIKALP is free of charge for passengers.
3. How do I opt for VIKALP?
A: When booking a train ticket on IRCTC's website or mobile app, check the "VIKALP" option under the "Select Train" section.
4. What happens if a confirmed berth becomes available on an alternate train?
A: If a confirmed berth becomes available on any of the alternate trains you have selected, you will be automatically accommodated and notified via SMS.
5. Can I cancel my original booking and get a refund if I opt for VIKALP?
A: Yes, you can cancel your original booking and get a full refund if you choose not to travel on the alternate train provided under VIKALP.
The smallcap stock, Elcid Investments, has seen an unprecedented increase of 66,92,535% in a single trading session, making it the most expensive stock in India. This monumental rise, driven by a special call auction, has propelled the company to surpass MRF, the previous titleholder. With strong ties to Asian Paints and limited availability of shares, Elcid's high book value was a major factor in its surge. Market analysts are amazed by this development, citing the special call auction as a crucial mechanism in determining the true market value of a stock.
Elcid Investments made history as its stock price skyrocketed 67 lakh percent in a single day, surpassing MRF to become India's most valuable stock. The surge was a result of the BSE auction for price discovery of select investment holding companies, with Elcid Investments' shares valued at Rs 2.25 lakh apiece. This development comes in the wake of SEBI's proposal to enhance price discovery for investment holding companies, which may offer a boost to liquidity and investor interest.
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) has announced the exam dates for the January 2025 CA Foundation and Intermediate exams. This year, the CA Intermediate exams saw women dominating the top ranks, with Mumbai's Parami Umesh Parekh leading the way with an impressive score of 80.67%. The progress of women in the accounting profession is evident, with the number of female ICAI members expected to reach 50% in the next five years. Along with the results, the ICAI has also declared the CA inter UNITS September 2024 result and the merit list, which can be accessed from various websites.
Swiggy, a popular food delivery platform in India, has officially announced the opening of its initial public offering (IPO) on November 6th. With a fixed price band of Rs 371-390 apiece, the company is looking to raise a total of Rs 11,327.42 crore through the IPO. This includes a fresh share sale of Rs 4,499 crore and an offer-for-sale of up to 17,50,87,863 equity shares by its existing selling shareholders. The IPO has already generated interest from prominent investors and will offer investment opportunities for both institutional and retail investors.
Trump's social media company, Truth Social, has climbed in value surpassing ally Elon Musk's company X, just one week after its launch. The parent company, Trump Media & Technology Group, is now valued at over $10 billion, four times higher than its value last month. While Trump has no active role in the company, he still owns the majority share and founded Truth Social after being banned from other social media platforms. The surge in company value has prompted trading to pause multiple times this week. Follow Misty Severi on X for more coverage of this development.
Elcid Investments, an investment company, witnessed a massive surge in its stock value on Tuesday, rising a staggering 6.7 million per cent and overtaking MRF as the highest-priced stock in India. The surge was a result of a special call auction held "with no price bands" for the stock, which had previously traded at a mere ₹3.5 per share. This sudden increase has resulted in the stock's price reaching a staggering ₹2,36,250 per share, despite having a book value of over ₹4 lakh per share. Investors are now keeping a close eye on the company's future developments.
Elcid Investments Ltd., a subsidiary of the ELCIDIN Group (XT), has seen a significant increase in profits over the past 15 days, according to data from Rediff.com. The company's success has earned them a coveted spot in RediffGurus' list of top performers in the market. With a current net worth of Rs. 000.00, it is clear that Elcid Investments Ltd. is a force to be reckoned with in the business world.
The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has announced that pensioners under the Employee’s Pension Scheme (EPS) will receive their pension for the month of October in advance on October 29 due to Diwali festivities. This will ensure timely payment without any delay and helps pensioners to withdraw their funds on October 30. The EPS-95 scheme was launched in 1995 for employees in the private organised sector, where both employers and employees contribute towards the provident fund for a fixed pension after retirement.
Dubai, UAE - At the WebexOne conference, Cisco unveiled its latest AI-powered innovations, including the Webex AI Agent, AI Agent Studio, and Cisco AI Assistant for Webex Contact Center. These AI solutions utilize advanced conversational intelligence and automation to provide efficient and effective customer interactions, ultimately boosting customer satisfaction and confidence. The newly launched Webex AI Agent acts as a self-service concierge, utilizing natural dialogue to quickly handle customer inquiries and eliminate wait times. Additionally, the AI Agent Studio simplifies and scales the contact center by allowing business users and IT administrators to easily train and deploy AI agents. Overall, these AI solutions will help to transform the customer experience and improve brand loyalty.