Indian Railways ticket booking: Train reservation time change for Aadhaar-authenticated IRCTC users

Indian Railways reservation time

Earlier, the national transporter had made Aadhaar-based verification mandatory for booking reserved train tickets through the IRCTC website or app during the first 15 minutes of the opening of general reservations. Later, Aadhaar authentication was extended to the morning hours – from 8 AM to 10 AM – on the first day of reserved ticket booking.

Indian Railways reservation online

However, the Railways has now decided to further expand the scope of Aadhaar-authenticated booking for general reservations on the opening day, extending the window up to 12 midnight (00:00 hours) in a phased manner.

In a letter dated December 18, 2025, addressed to all Principal Chief Commercial Managers (PCCMs), the Railway Board said: “In continuation of the earlier instructions issued regarding requirement of Aadhaar authenticated IRCTC account for booking of General reserved tickets on the opening day of Advance Reservation Period (ARP), it has been decided to expand the scope of Aadhaar authenticated booking for general reservation on the opening day of reservation upto 0000 hours of the day in a phased manner.” However, there will be no change in the procedure of booking tickets across the computerised PRS counters.