In a significant move aimed at curbing ticket touting and ensuring genuine passengers get access, Indian Railways has announced a major extension in the booking window for Aadhaar-verified users on the IRCTC platform. The new rule, which comes into effect from Monday, January 5, 2026, will allow authenticated users a much longer period to secure their reserved tickets on the first day of the Advance Reservation Period (ARP).
Extended Booking Window for Verified Passengers
According to an official statement from the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), starting January 5, 2026, the ticket booking window for users who have completed Aadhaar-based verification will be extended from 08:00 hours to 16:00 hours (8 AM to 4 PM) on the opening day of reserved ticket booking. This marks a substantial increase from the existing window, which, as of January 4, 2026, allowed booking only between 8 AM and 12 PM on the first day.
This policy revision follows an earlier update made on December 29, 2025, when the national transporter first expanded the Aadhaar-authenticated booking window up to 12:00 hours. The Railways' consistent approach is designed to leverage digital identity to filter out automated scripts and touts, thereby reserving the initial booking surge for legitimate travelers.
Evolution of Aadhaar-Based Booking Mandate
The journey towards this extended window began last year when Indian Railways first introduced mandatory Aadhaar-based verification for booking reserved tickets via the IRCTC website or mobile application. Initially, this mandate was applicable only for the first 15 minutes after the opening of the general reservation window.
Seeing the positive impact on curbing malpractice, the Railways progressively expanded the requirement. It was first extended to cover the morning hours from 8 AM to 10 AM on the first day of booking. The latest December 29th notification further pushed this to 12 PM, setting the stage for the imminent extension to 4 PM starting January 5.
It is important to note that this change applies specifically to online bookings through IRCTC's digital channels. There will be no alteration in the ticket booking procedure at computerised Passenger Reservation System (PRS) counters across railway stations.
Revised Chart Preparation Timings
Alongside the booking window news, passengers should also be aware of the latest guidelines on chart preparation times issued by Indian Railways. These timings are crucial for waitlisted ticket holders hoping for confirmation.
For trains scheduled to depart between 05:01 hours and 14:00 hours, the first reservation chart will be prepared preferably by 20:00 hours (8 PM) on the previous day.
For trains with departure times falling between 14:01 hours and 23:59 hours, as well as those departing in the early hours between 00:00 hours and 05:00 hours, the first reservation chart will be prepared at least 10 hours in advance of the scheduled departure.
This series of reforms underscores Indian Railways' commitment to leveraging technology like Aadhaar to create a more equitable and transparent ticket reservation ecosystem. By progressively rewarding verified users with a longer, exclusive booking window, the system aims to directly benefit the common passenger while systematically dismantling the operations of unauthorized ticket agents.
