IRCTC Extends Aadhaar Booking Slot

NEW DELHI: The train ticket booking window for Aadhaar-authenticated IRCTC users will be revised again from Monday, January 12.

Under the new system, Aadhaar-verified users will be allowed to book general reserved tickets till midnight on the opening day of the Advance Reservation Period (ARP). In a statement, IRCTC said that with effect from January 12, 2026, only Aadhaar-authenticated users will be permitted to book general reserved tickets on the opening day of the ARP.

Until January 11, Aadhaar-authenticated users could book reserved tickets only between 8 am and 12 noon on the opening day. The Railways is now expanding Aadhaar-based booking access in a phased manner.

Earlier, Aadhaar authentication was mandatory only during the first 15 minutes of the opening of general reservations. This was later extended to 8 am to 10 am, then to 8 am to 12 noon, and subsequently up to 4 pm. The latest revision allows Aadhaar-verified users to book tickets throughout the day until midnight.

The statement clarified that there will be no change in ticket booking procedures at computerised Passenger Reservation System (PRS) counters.

The Ministry of Railways said Aadhaar verification is a crucial step to strengthen the ticketing system and curb misuse. It added that advanced technology is being deployed to identify and prevent fraudulent practices in e-ticketing.