Major Change in Railway Tickets: No Advance Booking Without Aadhaar Link From January 12? Know New Rules
IRCTC Booking Rules: Indian Railways is set to implement a groundbreaking and strict change in its ticket booking process. This news is particularly crucial for those who plan their journeys well in advance, booking tickets 60 days prior, especially during holiday seasons or festivals. According to the new IRCTC guidelines, passengers will no longer enjoy the same booking privileges unless their accounts are linked with their Aadhaar cards. This new rule will come into effect from January 12.
What Changes From January 12?
According to the new railway notification, there is a radical shift in the rules for booking tickets on the opening day of the Advance Reservation Period (60 days in advance).
- Blocked Booking Access: From January 12 onwards, users whose IRCTC accounts are not linked with their Aadhaar cards will be unable to book any tickets from 8:00 AM to 12:00 Midnight on the booking opening day.
- Next Day Opportunity: Essentially, they will be blocked for the entire 16 hours of the booking window. Their opportunity to book tickets will only begin after 12:00 AM, which is technically the next calendar day.
In simple terms, without an Aadhaar link, you effectively lose the chance to participate in the “opening day” race for confirmed tickets.
Evolution of the Rule: Increasing Strictness
The Railways did not implement this decision overnight. The tightening of rules began gradually from October last year, with the primary aim of curbing black marketing and prioritizing genuine passengers.
- October 1, 2025: Initially, the rule stated that non-linked users could book tickets only after 8:15 AM instead of 8:00 AM.
- October 12: This restriction was extended to 30 minutes (booking allowed after 8:30 AM).
- October 28: The restriction was further increased to 2 hours. This meant non-linked users could not book AC or Sleeper class tickets before 10:00 AM.
Now, this window has been extended to the entire day, serving as a major alert for all passengers.
Impact on Passengers and What to Do
The impact of this new rule is far-reaching. Tickets for popular destinations like Puri, Darjeeling, or trains heading to Uttar Pradesh and Bihar during festivals usually sell out within 5 to 10 minutes of the booking opening time. Where getting a confirmed ticket even after logging in at 8:00 AM is a matter of luck, trying to book a day later will reduce the chances of getting a confirmed seat to almost zero.
Passengers are strongly advised to complete their Aadhaar KYC on their IRCTC profile immediately to avoid last-minute hassles. This is a simple online process that can be done via the app or website.
Relief for Counter Tickets
However, there is relief for those who are not comfortable with online technology. This strict rule applies only to the online or e-ticketing system. If you visit the railway station reservation counter physically to book tickets, this rule does not affect you. You can continue to book tickets from the counter at 8:00 AM as per the previous rules.
