Do you often struggle to get train tickets at the last moment? Indian Railways has made some important changes to make emergency ticket booking easier.
The rules for booking Emergency Quota (EQ) tickets have been updated to ensure that genuine, needy passengers can get seats in urgent situations.
What Is Emergency Quota (EQ)?
Emergency Quota is a special reservation category mainly meant for:
Government officials
Members of Parliament (MPs)
People with high-level official requests
However, if seats remain after these requests, priority is given to passengers with:
Medical emergencies
Job interviews
Important family reasons
Seats under EQ are given based on urgency and genuine need.
New Rules for EQ Ticket Applications
As per new guidelines from the Ministry of Railways, EQ tickets must now be requested at least one day before the journey. You can no longer apply for EQ tickets on the day your train is departing.
Here’s the new timeline for EQ applications:
For trains departing between 12:00 AM and 2:00 PM:
Submit your EQ request by 12 noon the day before.For trains departing between 2:01 PM and 11:59 PM:
Submit your EQ request by 4 PM the day before.For trains on Sundays or government holidays:
The application must be made on the previous working day.
These changes mean that last-minute EQ ticket chances have reduced, so planning ahead is now more important.
Important Railway Changes Announced Earlier in July
Indian Railways also introduced several major changes in July 2025 to make ticket booking smoother and reduce fraud:
1. Reservation Charts Will Be Prepared Earlier
Now, train reservation charts will be prepared 8 hours before the train departs.
If your train departs before 2 PM, the chart will be made by 9 PM the previous night.
This helps waiting list passengers find out sooner if they got a confirmed seat.
2. Restrictions on Ticket Agents
From July 1, 2025, registered agents are not allowed to book tickets during certain times. This change:
Gives more booking access to general passengers
Reduces the risk of agents blocking tickets unfairly
3. OTP Required for Tatkal Ticket Booking
From July 15, 2025, OTP (One-Time Password) verification is now mandatory for booking Tatkal tickets through agents or computerized counters. This will help prevent fraud and misuse.
4. Aadhaar Verification Now Compulsory on IRCTC
From July 1, 2025, Aadhaar verification is required to book Tatkal tickets through the IRCTC website or app. Without Aadhaar authentication, ticket booking is not possible.
These changes are aimed at making the Indian Railways ticketing system more transparent, secure, and fair — especially for those booking during emergencies.
