Reliability depends on the source:
Live IRCTC fetch (best — what CheckMyPNR.com does)
- Captcha verification each time
- Data sourced directly from indianrail.gov.in
- Accuracy: 100% at the moment of check
- Slight delay vs IRCTC's own website (seconds)
Cached results (avoid):
- Some sites cache data for hours
- Status may have changed
- Useful only as a quick reference, not authoritative
Official IRCTC website:
- Most authoritative
- Direct from rail database
- Has the same captcha step
Verifying:
- After important checks (e.g., before going to station), re-verify on official IRCTC.
- Status can change minute-by-minute up to chart preparation.
CheckMyPNR.com fetches live captcha + status from indianrail.gov.in for every request — same data source as the official site.