IRCTC Booking Rule Change: More Time to Book Tickets for Aadhaar-Linked Accounts

Indian Railways is changing online ticket booking rules for Aadhaar-authenticated IRCTC users from January 5, 2026, on the day the Advance Reservation Period opens. The move follows an earlier tweak on December 29, 2025, and is aimed at ensuring that reserved tickets reach genuine passengers instead of touts or other misuse.

From January 5, 2026, passengers who have completed Aadhaar authentication on their IRCTC accounts will be able to book tickets between 08:00 hrs and 16:00 hrs on the first day of general reservation. This is a major extension of the dedicated window, which currently runs only from 08:00 hrs to 12:00 hrs.

Indian Railways IRCTC ticket booking window changes and Aadhaar rules

Before these fresh timings, Indian Railways had gradually widened Aadhaar-linked access during the opening hours of booking. Initially, Aadhaar verification was compulsory only in the first 15 minutes after general reservations opened on the IRCTC website or app. That condition was then stretched to a two-hour block between 08:00 hrs and 10:00 hrs.

The December 29 revision pushed this Aadhaar-only slot further, allowing authenticated users to book until 12:00 hrs on the first day of the reservation window. With the latest decision effective January 5, 2026, this same group will get an eight-hour window. The Railways states that this supports fair use of the reservation system.

Indian Railways IRCTC ticket booking and offline counter process

Indian Railways has clarified that these changes apply only to IRCTC online platforms, including both the website and app. The process for buying reserved tickets at computerised Passenger Reservation System counters remains unchanged, so passengers who prefer offline booking can continue using existing timings and methods without any new Aadhaar-linked conditions.

Alongside ticket booking rules, Indian Railways has also refreshed its guidelines on when reservation charts are prepared. The timing of the first chart now depends on the scheduled departure of each train, with separate slots for early morning, daytime, evening and late-night departures, to streamline seat allocation and waitlist updates.

Indian Railways IRCTC ticket booking timings and chart preparation table

Passengers can refer to the following table to understand the new chart preparation schedule linked to train departure timings:

These chart preparation rules are important for passengers tracking waitlisted or RAC status, as seat confirmations often depend on the first chart. Knowing whether a train falls into the previous-night or ten-hours-ahead category helps travellers plan boarding, connecting journeys, and last-minute changes with more clarity.

The report on these Indian Railways and IRCTC ticket booking changes is authored by Anish Mondal, a journalist with more than nine years of experience covering railways and roadways. Anish is part of the Indianexpress.com editorial team and focuses on high-impact sectors, including transport connectivity and key infrastructure corridors.

Anish began a professional career at public broadcaster Rajya Sabha Television, now known as Sansad TV, gaining deep exposure to legislative work and national policy. In 2018, Anish moved to FinancialExpress.com, spending nearly six years tracking markets and corporate developments, before contributing to ETNowNews.com and finally joining The Indian Express in 2025.

Anish holds a Master of Journalism and Mass Communication from Apeejay Stya University, along with a Post Graduate Diploma in Journalism and Production from Apeejay Institute of Mass Communication, and a Bachelor of Arts (English Honours) from the University of Calcutta. Current areas of coverage include the expansion of Indian Railways and National Highway networks across India.