Pooled Quota Waitlist (PQWL) tickets in the Indian Railways follow specific cancellation and refund protocols in 2026. If you cancel a waitlisted e-ticket before the final chart preparation (usually 4 hours before departure), a flat clerkage charge of ₹60 + GST is deducted per passenger, and the remaining fare is refunded. A grounded reality of PQWL is that these tickets have a lower probability of confirmation compared to General Waitlist (GNWL), as they are meant for intermediate stations. If your PQWL ticket remains fully waitlisted after the chart is prepared, it will be automatically cancelled, and a full refund (minus clerkage) will be credited to your account. However, if your ticket is partially confirmed (some passengers confirmed, some waitlisted) and you choose not to travel, you must file a Ticket Deposit Receipt (TDR) online within 72 hours of the train's departure to claim a refund. It is a supportive rule that ensures you don't lose your entire fare if the system fails to provide a seat, but manual action is often required for partially confirmed sets.