Indian Railways has announced changes to the train reservation window for passengers using Aadhaar-verified IRCTC accounts, introducing extended booking hours on the first day of the Advance Reservation Period. The revised arrangement will come into effect in phases from December 29, with mandatory Aadhaar verification fully enforced from January 12.
Officials said the decision is aimed at protecting the interests of genuine passengers by reducing automated bookings, tout activity, and system manipulation during peak reservation hours.
Under the revised rules, Aadhaar authentication will be compulsory for booking general reserved tickets on the opening day of the Advance Reservation Period through the IRCTC website or mobile application. This requirement applies specifically to the initial booking window, which traditionally witnesses the highest traffic and competition for confirmed seats.
Indian Railways officials stated that Aadhaar-based authentication helps ensure that real users, rather than bots or agents using multiple accounts, are able to access tickets fairly.
According to the updated guidelines, Aadhaar-authenticated users will now be able to book general reservation tickets on ARP days until 12 PM, starting December 29. This marks a significant expansion from the earlier restricted time slots.
Previously, Aadhaar verification was mandatory only for the first 15 minutes after bookings opened. This was later extended to cover the morning hours between 8 AM and 10 AM on the first day of reservation.
The latest decision further extends this Aadhaar-only booking period by two additional hours, allowing verified users priority access until noon.
Indian Railways has also outlined plans to gradually extend the Aadhaar-authenticated booking window up to 12 midnight in a phased manner. Officials said the step-by-step rollout will allow the system to be monitored for stability, user response, and technical performance before full-scale implementation.
Once fully operational, Aadhaar-verified users are expected to have extended access throughout the day on ARP dates, significantly reducing congestion during peak morning hours.
Over the past few years, Indian Railways has progressively tightened reservation norms to improve transparency and reduce unfair practices. The initial introduction of Aadhaar authentication during the first 15 minutes of booking was aimed at preventing bulk bookings by touts and software bots.
Encouraged by positive feedback and system data, the Railways expanded Aadhaar verification requirements to longer time slots, eventually covering early morning hours. The current move represents the most comprehensive expansion of Aadhaar-based controls so far.
Railway officials believe the revised booking structure will help distribute booking traffic more evenly across the day while ensuring that verified passengers get a fair chance to secure tickets. Passengers without Aadhaar-linked IRCTC accounts are advised to complete verification in advance to avoid inconvenience on ARP days.
The Railways has reiterated that Aadhaar verification is simple, secure, and designed solely to enhance fairness and system integrity.
While the extended booking window for Aadhaar-verified users begins from December 29, mandatory Aadhaar verification requirements will be fully enforced from January 12. The phased expansion towards midnight bookings will be implemented gradually, with further updates expected as the system evolves.
