Year Ender 2025: The railways made several major changes this year; train passengers should be aware of these things..
Indian Railways Rules 2025: The year 2025 brought significant changes for train travelers. This year, the railways updated several major rules, from ticket booking and waiting lists to Tatkal ticket booking, reservation charts, emergency quotas, and changing confirmed ticket dates. These changes have directly impacted millions of daily train commuters.
Booking tickets is no longer the same as before. There are several rules that, if you are unaware of them, could make it difficult to get a confirmed ticket. Therefore, it's essential to know about these major railway changes before the year ends so that your future journeys can be smooth and stress-free.
1. Aadhaar Verification Mandatory for Online Tatkal Booking
This year, the railways have made online Tatkal ticket booking completely Aadhaar-based. From July 1, 2025, Tatkal tickets will only be booked on the IRCTC app or website after the user's Aadhaar authentication is complete. This change aims to prevent any malpractice in ticket booking and to prioritize genuine passengers.
2. OTP System Also Implemented for Window Tatkal Tickets
The railways are now implementing an OTP-based system for Tatkal tickets purchased at the counter as well. This means that when you buy a ticket at the counter, an OTP will be sent to your mobile number, and the ticket will be issued only after verification. This will increase transparency in the entire system and prevent fraudulent ticket bookings.
3. Strict Action Against Agents
The railways have increased their strictness against unauthorized agents. Now, agents will not be able to book Tatkal tickets for the first 30 minutes after the booking window opens.
AC Class: Agents cannot book from 10:00 AM to 10:30 AM
Non-AC Class: The restriction will be from 11:00 AM to 11:30 AM
This will give ordinary passengers a better chance of getting confirmed tickets in the first slot of the morning.
4. Reservation Chart Now Prepared 8 Hours in Advance
Previously, the reservation chart was prepared up to four hours before departure. Now, it will be prepared exactly 8 hours before the train's departure. This will allow passengers to know in advance whether their ticket is confirmed or not. If your ticket is on the waiting list, you will have ample time to make further plans. The chart for trains departing before 2 PM will be prepared at 9 PM the previous night.
5. Stricter Emergency Quota (EQ) Rules
EQ tickets will be available within a stricter timeframe. If the train is between 12 AM and 2 PM, the EQ application must be submitted by 12 PM the day before. If the train is after 2 PM, the request must be sent by 4 PM the day before. If the train is on a holiday, the EQ request must be sent on the previous working day. This will ensure the timely allocation of EQ seats.
6. New Waiting List Limit
The railways have also changed the waiting ticket limit.
AC Class: Up to 60% of seats on waiting list
Non-AC Class: Up to 30% of seats on waiting list
Women and differently-abled passengers have been exempted from this rule. This change has been made to streamline the system and control crowds.
7. General Ticket Online Booking: Priority for Aadhaar Users
From October 1, 2025, for the first 15 minutes, General Tickets on the IRCTC website and app can only be booked by Aadhaar-authenticated users. This will curb ticket black market and fraudulent bookings.
8. Changing Confirmed Ticket Dates is Now Easier
The railways have provided a major relief from January 2026. Now, there will be no cancellation charges for changing the date of a Confirmed Ticket.
Previously, changing the date required canceling the ticket, which incurred a cancellation fee of up to 25%. Even then, getting a ticket on the new date was not guaranteed. The new rule states that you will directly get a ticket for the new date, provided a seat is available. If the fare is higher, you will only have to pay the difference. This change is a great relief for passengers who have to change their plans unexpectedly. This rule will be implemented from January 1, 2025. The railways aim to make ticket booking more transparent, secure, and convenient with all these changes. The Aadhaar-based system, OTP verification, restrictions on agents, and changes in chart preparation timings are all steps taken to make the entire system smarter for passengers. If you travel by train, it's essential to understand these rules beforehand. These rules, implemented in 2025, can affect your journey. Therefore, knowing about these changes before booking your ticket will be most beneficial for you.
Disclaimer: This content has been sourced and edited from NDTV India. While we have made modifications for clarity and presentation, the original content belongs to its respective authors and website. We do not claim ownership of the content.
