If PQWL is not confirmed, what is next? If chart is prepared and still ticket is not confirmed, The if its a e-Ticket then refund process will be initiated by IRCTC. If its a window purchased ticket then you have to take refund from any railway station before actual departure of train.

When a Pooled Quota Waitlist (PQWL) ticket on Indian Railways is not confirmed, the outcome depends on how the ticket was purchased. If you have an e-ticket and its status remains PQWL after the final chart is prepared (usually 4 hours before departure), the ticket is automatically cancelled by the system. In this case, you are not permitted to board the train, and the refund amount, minus a small clerkage fee, is automatically credited back to your bank account within a few days. However, if you have a physical counter ticket, it does not get cancelled automatically. You must visit a PRS counter to file for a refund. It is important to note that PQWL tickets have a lower priority for confirmation compared to General Waitlist (GNWL) tickets because they are pulled from a shared pool of seats for intermediate stations. If your PQWL status doesn't move to "Confirmed" or "RAC" (Reservation Against Cancellation), you effectively lose your right to a seat on that specific journey, making it a higher-risk booking for travelers on popular routes.