Aadhaar-verified IRCTC users to get 16-hour booking window on opening day of train reservations

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The Railways has extended the ticket booking window for Aadhaar-authenticated IRCTC users on the opening day of the Advance Reservation Period (ARP), giving them significantly more time to book reserved train tickets.

Under the revised plan, passengers with Aadhaar-verified IRCTC accounts will be able to book general reserved tickets for up to 16 hours on the operating day of ARP in a phased rollout.

The extended window will apply to bookings opening on January 12, 2026, following the start of the new system on December 29, 2025.

The Railways had earlier announced that from December 29, 2025, only Aadhaar-authenticated users would be permitted to book reserved tickets between 8 am and 12 noon on the first day of reservation opening. Non-Aadhaar users would be allowed to book only after this window closes.

The Railway Board has now decided to gradually expand this exclusive booking window. For tickets opening on January 12, 2026, Aadhaar-authenticated users will have access from 8 am until midnight.

An East Coast Railway circular said, “In continuation of the earlier instructions issued regarding the requirement of Aadhar-authenticated IRCTC account for the booking of General reserved tickets on the operating day of Advance Reservation Period (ARP), it has been decided to expand the scope of Aadhar-authenticated booking for general reservation on thè opening day of reservation up to 0000 hours of the day in a phased manner.”

As per the phased schedule, from December 29, 2025, only Aadhaar-authenticated IRCTC users will be allowed to book online reserved tickets between 8 am and 12 noon on the opening day, with other users permitted to book after noon.

From January 5, 2026, the exclusive window will be extended further. Aadhaar-verified users will be able to book tickets from 8 am to 4 pm, while non-Aadhaar users can begin booking after 4 pm.

From January 12, 2026, the Railways will reserve an even longer portion of the opening day, from 8 am to 12 am—for Aadhaar-authenticated users booking general reserved tickets.

Officials clarified that there will be no change in the existing procedure for booking reserved tickets through computerised Passenger Reservation System (PRS) counters.

Passengers who have not yet completed Aadhaar authentication have been advised to do so at the earliest. Aadhaar can be linked by logging into the IRCTC website or mobile app and updating details under the ‘My Profile’ section.