IRCTC Changes Ticket Booking Rules to Curb Misuse: Aadhaar Non- Linked Users to Face Time Restrictions for Online BookingÂ
IRCTC Changes Ticket Booking Rules to Curb Misuse: Aadhaar Non- Linked Users to Face Time Restrictions for Online Booking
Only Aadhaar-verified users allowed priority booking as Railways expand exclusive booking window
Indian Railways has introduced a significant change in online ticket booking rules through IRCTC, directly impacting users whose accounts are not linked with Aadhaar. The revised rules came into effect from January 5, 2026, and aim to curb misuse while giving priority access to verified users.
Under the new system, only Aadhaar-authenticated IRCTC users can book reserved tickets between 8 am and 4 pm on the first day of ticket opening. Users without Aadhaar verification can access the booking facility only after 4 pm, making it harder for them to secure confirmed tickets during peak demand hours.
Reserved ticket booking under Indian Railways opens 60 days before the date of travel, known as the Advance Reservation Period (ARP). The new rule applies specifically to this opening day of booking for Mail and Express trains.
The Railway Board has also announced a phased expansion of this exclusive booking window. From January 12, 2026, Aadhaar-authenticated users will get exclusive access from 8 am to 12 midnight on the opening day — a 16-hour window. During this period, non-Aadhaar users will not be allowed to book tickets online at all.
Railway officials clarified that this decision is being implemented gradually to ensure a smooth transition. Earlier, Aadhaar-verified users were given priority for only 15 minutes during the opening of bookings. This was later expanded to 4 hours, and now extended further to strengthen identity-based access.
Importantly, there is no change in offline ticket booking. Passengers can continue to book reserved tickets at PRS counters as per existing rules, regardless of Aadhaar linking.
The Railways has reiterated that these changes are intended to improve transparency, prevent misuse by bots or multiple accounts, and ensure genuine passengers get fair access to tickets.
Passengers who have not yet linked Aadhaar with their IRCTC accounts are advised to do so immediately. Aadhaar linking can be completed by logging into the IRCTC website or mobile app, going to My Profile, selecting Aadhaar KYC, entering the Aadhaar number, and verifying it through an OTP.
With the extended exclusive window for verified users, those without Aadhaar linkage may increasingly struggle to get confirmed tickets, especially on high-demand routes and dates.
