If you often get stuck on the waiting list while booking train tickets, this news will come as a relief. Indian Railways has implemented a major change in train ticket booking rules starting today, January 12, 2026. This new rule is aimed at benefiting genuine passengers while curbing the activities of agents, bots, and those using fake IDs to corner tickets. With this change, the reservation system has become more transparent and secure.
What Has Changed From Today?
According to Indian Railways and IRCTC, only Aadhaar-verified IRCTC users will now be allowed to book general reserved tickets on the first day of the Advance Reservation Period (ARP). This means that from the moment the booking window opens until midnight on the same day, only Aadhaar-authenticated users can book tickets.
Earlier, up to January 11, this facility was available only for a limited time. Aadhaar-verified users could previously book tickets only between 8:00 AM and 12:00 PM. From January 12 onwards, this window has been extended to the entire day.
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How the Rule Changed Over Time
Indian Railways introduced this system in phases. Initially, Aadhaar verification was mandatory only for the first 15 minutes after booking opened. Later, the time was extended from 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM. On December 29, 2025, it was further extended till 12:00 PM, and on January 5, 2026, the window was increased till 4:00 PM. Now, from January 12, Aadhaar-verified users can book tickets throughout the day.
How Will Passengers Benefit?
With this change, common passengers are more likely to get confirmed tickets. The reason is that fake accounts, bots, and ticket touts will find it much harder to book tickets in bulk. According to the Railways, around 57.3 million IRCTC accounts that were suspicious or inactive for a long time have recently been blocked or suspended. This has reduced unnecessary load on the booking system and improved ticket availability for genuine travelers.
No Change at PRS Counters
It is important to note that there is no change in the ticket booking process at computerized PRS counters. This new rule applies only to online and mobile app bookings.
What Is the Railway’s Objective?
The Ministry of Railways stated that Aadhaar verification and the use of advanced technology are intended to eliminate middlemen, prevent black marketing of tickets, and ensure that the benefits of the reservation system reach genuine passengers.