Does RAC guarantee a seat in Indian Railways? What Reservation Against Cancellation means

Reservation Against Cancellation (RAC) is a railway ticketing option that permits passengers to board a train when all confirmed seats are booked. However, RAC does not guarantee a confirmed seat allocation.

Passengers holding RAC tickets receive a berth or seat only if a confirmed passenger cancels their booking before the train departs. If no cancellations occur, RAC passengers must occupy available space such as the floor or vestibule areas during their journey.

Understanding RAC provisions helps travellers make informed decisions when booking train tickets and managing expectations about seating arrangements during their travel.