In a significant move to streamline ticket reservations and combat fraudulent bookings, Indian Railways has announced a major revision to its online booking schedule for verified users. Starting January 12, 2026, passengers who have completed Aadhaar authentication on the IRCTC platform will be allowed to book general reserved tickets until midnight on the day the Advance Reservation Period (ARP) opens. This marks a substantial extension from the previous time limits.
Phased Implementation of Aadhaar-Based Booking
The Ministry of Railways has been progressively expanding the scope of Aadhaar-verified bookings in a phased manner. Until January 11, the facility for Aadhaar-authenticated users was limited to the morning window between 8:00 AM and 12:00 noon on the opening day. This follows a series of earlier expansions.
Initially, Aadhaar verification was mandatory only for the first 15 minutes of the general reservation opening. It was later extended to the 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM slot. On December 29, 2025, the window was stretched to 12:00 noon. A subsequent change on January 5 allowed booking from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The latest extension to midnight represents the most liberal window yet for verified users.
Objective: Curbing Misuse and Helping Genuine Passengers
According to official statements, the core objective behind mandating Aadhaar authentication for opening-day bookings is to ensure that the benefits of the reservation system reach actual travelers. The railways aim to prevent the widespread misuse of the e-ticketing system by touts and unscrupulous elements who use automated software (bots) to hoard tickets.
The Ministry of Railways stated that Aadhaar verification is a crucial step to make the system more robust. It is being complemented by cutting-edge technology to identify and block malicious users attempting to game the system. In a related crackdown, Indian Railways has already deactivated or temporarily suspended a staggering 5.73 crore suspicious and inactive IRCTC user accounts to enhance ticketing integrity.
No Change for PRS Counters and Other Users
It is important to note that this new rule applies specifically to online bookings made through the IRCTC website and mobile application. There will be no change in the procedure for booking tickets at computerized Passenger Reservation System (PRS) counters at railway stations. The time restriction and Aadhaar mandate are currently only for the first day of the advance booking period for general reservations.
This policy underscores Indian Railways' continued push towards a more secure, transparent, and passenger-friendly digital ticketing ecosystem, leveraging India's foundational digital identity system.
