Indian Railways has announced a major change in online train ticket bookings that will directly impact passengers planning journeys well in advance. From December 29, IRCTC will give booking priority to Aadhaar-verified users on the opening day of the Advance Reservation Period (ARP). The move is aimed at reducing agent interference and ensuring genuine passengers get better access to tickets.
On the first day of the Advance Reservation Period, only Aadhaar-verified users will be allowed to book tickets during a specific time window. Initially, this exclusive access will be available from 8 am to noon. Non-verified users will be able to book tickets only after this window closes.
These changes apply only to online bookings made through the IRCTC website and mobile application. Ticket bookings at Passenger Reservation System (PRS) counters will continue as before, provided valid ID proof is shown.
The Railway authorities are rolling out these changes in phases to ensure a smooth transition. From January 5, Aadhaar-verified users will get priority booking access from 8 am to 4 pm on the opening day. In the third phase, starting January 12, this exclusive window will be extended further, allowing verified users to book tickets from 8 am until midnight.
This phased approach is expected to further limit bulk bookings by agents and give individual travellers more time to secure confirmed seats.
Aadhaar authentication has become a key tool for Indian Railways to curb misuse of the ticketing system. Earlier, Tatkal bookings were also restricted to Aadhaar-verified users to prevent last-minute ticket hoarding by agents. With this latest move, the Railways aims to improve fairness and transparency in general ticket bookings as well.
Alongside booking changes, Indian Railways has updated reservation chart preparation timings. Charts will now be prepared 10 hours before a train’s departure instead of just four hours earlier. This will help passengers know their booking status well in advance, reducing uncertainty and last-minute station visits.
For early-morning trains, charts will be prepared the previous evening, while for other services, charts will be released at least 10 hours before departure.
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The new IRCTC booking rules mark a clear shift towards prioritising genuine passengers through Aadhaar verification. With longer exclusive booking windows and earlier chart preparation, travellers can expect a more transparent and predictable ticketing experience. Passengers planning future journeys may benefit from verifying their IRCTC accounts with Aadhaar to avoid missing out on early booking opportunities.
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Published on: Dec 29, 2025, 2:35 PM IST
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