Indian Railways is set to implement a new feature allowing passengers to modify the date of travel for confirmed online tickets without paying any additional fees. The announcement comes as part of the ministry’s broader push to make the IRCTC platform more passenger-centric and reduce the burden of cancellations.
A railway ministry official as quoted in media said, “The new system is likely to be implemented from January 2026 and will be applicable only for tickets booked online. The date modification will be allowed for the same origin and destination, but there is no guarantee of confirmed seats on the new date.”
Currently, passengers wishing to change travel dates must cancel their existing ticket and book a new one, incurring cancellation charges that can be as high as 50 percent of the fare, depending on the timing of cancellation. Moreover, travelers have to re-enter all passenger and travel details, a cumbersome process that the new system aims to eliminate.
Under the upcoming system, travelers will be able to request a simple date change without re-entering personal or travel details. However, the allocation of confirmed seats on the new date will depend entirely on availability.
“If you modify a confirmed ticket, there is no guarantee that you will get a confirmed ticket for the new date. Any difference in fare due to class or seasonal charges will be applied accordingly,” the official added.
Details regarding class changes or other modifications will be announced by the ministry in the coming weeks. Currently, offline ticket bookings already allow limited name and date modifications under specific conditions, but online bookings lack such flexibility, something this reform seeks to correct.
With over 80 percent of train tickets now booked online through IRCTC, officials say the feature will significantly reduce cancellations and refund requests while improving the overall travel experience. The initiative also aligns with broader digital measures introduced by the ministry, including Aadhaar-based authentication for first 15 minutes of general reservation to prevent misuse and ensure genuine passengers benefit.
The railway ministry has emphasised that such digital reforms are part of a continuing effort to make ticketing passenger-friendly, reduce exploitation by middlemen, and streamline online booking processes.
The ministry has introduced several changes over the past year to improve online ticketing efficiency:
1. Reduced Advance Reservation Period: From November 2024, the booking window for Indian travellers was reduced from 120 days to 60 days, helping gauge genuine demand.
2. Aadhaar Authentication: Since October 1, passengers booking reserved general tickets during the first 15 minutes must use Aadhaar authentication on IRCTC’s website or app, ensuring equitable access.
3. Focus on Passenger Convenience: By making online processes simpler and reducing cancellation-related losses, Indian Railways aims to encourage more travellers to use digital platforms efficiently.
With these changes, passengers will no longer need to cancel and rebook, saving time and money, while the railways can better track genuine demand for seats and improve train occupancy management.
Starting January 2026, Indian Railways’ new ticket modification policy will allow passengers to reschedule their travel dates online without additional fees, marking a significant step toward passenger convenience and digital efficiency.
Coupled with ongoing reforms like Aadhaar-based booking and reduced reservation periods, the initiative reflects a broader strategy to modernise railway operations and enhance the travel experience for millions of Indians.
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