Indian Railways has introduced a new rule to make online ticket booking fairer and reduce the influence of agents.
From Monday, December 29, only passengers with Aadhaar-verified IRCTC accounts will be allowed to book train tickets during the early hours on the first day of the Advance Reservation Period.
Aadhaar-Verified Users Get Priority Booking
Under the first phase of this change, only Aadhaar-verified users can book tickets between 8 am and 12 noon on the opening day of reservations.
This rule applies to tickets booked 60 days before the travel date, which is when the Advance Reservation Period begins.
The move is aimed at giving genuine passengers a better chance to book confirmed tickets before agents and bulk bookers enter the system.
Booking Time Will Increase in Phases
Indian Railways has planned to extend this priority window in the coming weeks.
From January 5, Aadhaar-verified users will be able to book tickets until 4 pm on the first day of booking.
In the third phase, starting January 12, these users will get exclusive access to online booking from 8 am to midnight on the opening day.
This phased approach is expected to further reduce misuse and improve ticket availability for regular passengers.
Rule Applies Only to Online Bookings
These changes apply only to online ticket bookings made through the IRCTC website and mobile app.
There is no change in the process of booking tickets at PRS counters, where passengers can continue to book tickets using valid ID proof.
What the Railway Board Said
The Railway Board confirmed that the scope of Aadhaar-authenticated booking is being expanded in a phased manner.
According to the Board, the goal is to allow Aadhaar-verified users priority access up to midnight on the first day of ticket booking.
Tatkal Booking Already Requires Aadhaar
Earlier this year, Indian Railways had already restricted Tatkal ticket bookings to Aadhaar-authenticated users only.
The Tatkal scheme allows last-minute bookings, and the restriction was introduced to stop misuse by agents and ensure benefits reach genuine passengers.
Reservation Chart Timing Also Changed
Indian Railways has also updated the timing for preparing reservation charts.
Earlier, charts were prepared four hours before departure. Now, charts will be prepared 10 hours before the train departs.
For trains leaving between 5:01 am and 2:00 pm, charts will usually be prepared by 8:00 pm the previous day.
For trains departing between 2:01 pm and 11:59 pm, as well as late-night and early-morning trains, charts will be prepared at least 10 hours before departure.
These changes are expected to reduce last-minute confusion and make train travel more convenient for passengers.
