New train ticket booking rules came into effect on January 12th, bringing good news for IRCTC Aadhaar users..

A new rule for train ticket booking came into effect on Monday, January 12. The new rule is beneficial for passengers. The train ticket booking window timing for Aadhaar-verified IRCTC (Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation) users will be changed again from January 12. With this change, Aadhaar-verified users will be able to book train tickets until midnight on the day the Advance Reservation Period (ARP) opens.

How to book tickets at PRS counters
IRCTC has stated that from January 12, 2026, only Aadhaar-verified users will be allowed to book general reserved tickets on the first day of the Advance Reservation Period. However, there will be no change in the method of booking tickets at computerized PRS counters.
The Ministry of Railways said in a statement on January 6 that Aadhaar verification of users is a necessary step taken to further strengthen the system. The latest technology is also being used to identify and prevent users who attempt to misuse the e-ticketing system.

What is the current rule?
Until now, the rule was that Aadhaar-verified users could book reserved tickets only between 8:00 AM and 12:00 PM on the day the booking window opens. The Ministry of Railways is expanding the scope of Aadhaar-verified booking for general reservations on the day the booking opens in several phases.

When was the time extended?
Initially, the national transporter made Aadhaar-based verification mandatory for booking reserved train tickets through the IRCTC website or app during the first 15 minutes of the general reservation opening. Then, Aadhaar authentication was extended from 8 AM to 10 AM on the first day of reserved ticket booking.

On December 29, 2025, Aadhaar-verified IRCTC users were given the facility to book tickets between 08:00 AM and 12:00 PM on the first day of the reservation window. On January 5th, the ticket booking window for Aadhaar-authenticated users was extended from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM on the first day of reserved ticket booking.

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