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Indian Railways reservation, IRCTC ticket: The ticket booking window for Aadhaar-linked IRCTC users will change from Monday, December 29 on the Advance Reservation Period (ARP) opening day. The move aims to ensure that the benefits of the reservation system reach genuine passengers and prevent misuse by touts or other unscrupulous elements.
IRCTC train booking, Indian Railways booking
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 time, 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 12:00 hrs from December 29. The national transporter also planned to further extend the ticket booking window for Aadhaar-authenticated 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.”
Time when only Aadhaar authenticated users to book online reserved tickets on opening day
Source: Ministry of Railways
Express InfoGenIE
However, there will be no change in the procedure of booking tickets across the computerised PRS counters.
Indian Railways chart preparation time before departure
According to the latest guidelines issued by Indian Railways on chart preparation timing, passengers should note that for trains departing between 05:01 hrs and 14:00 hrs, the first reservation chart will be prepared preferably by 20:00 hrs on the previous day.
Meanwhile, for trains with departure times between 14:01 hrs and 23:59 hrs, as well as those departing between 00:00 hrs and 05:00 hrs, the first reservation chart will be prepared preferably at least 10 hours in advance.
First Chart Preparation
By 20:00 hours of the previous day
First Chart Preparation
At least 10 hours in advance of departure
Source: Ministry of Railways
Express InfoGenIE
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