IRCTC New Rules: Indian Railways Changes Ticket Booking Rules From 2026
IRCTC New Rules: A major update has been announced by Indian Railways regarding ticket booking procedures. The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) is set to introduce new rules aimed at enhancing passenger convenience and transparency. These changes, scheduled to come into effect from early 2026, will significantly impact how passengers book tickets online.
Mandatory Aadhaar Verification for Online Booking
According to the latest announcement, online ticket booking will soon be possible exclusively through Aadhaar-verified IRCTC accounts. Passengers whose accounts are not linked with their Aadhaar cards will face restrictions on booking tickets within specified timings.
The implementation timeline is as follows:
- From January 5, 2026: Ticket booking between 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM will be restricted to Aadhaar-verified accounts only.
- From January 12, 2026: The rule will be fully implemented. From this date, online ticket booking will require an Aadhaar ID from 8:00 AM to 12:00 AM (midnight), effectively covering the entire day.
It is important to note that these changes apply only to online bookings. There are no changes to the ticket booking process at PRS counters at railway stations.
Crackdown on Fake Accounts
Railway sources indicate that this decision has been taken to eliminate the network of fake accounts and curb ticket black marketing. Unscrupulous agents often use fake IRCTC accounts to hoard tickets illegally.
- Approximately 3 crore fake IRCTC accounts have already been closed.
- Another 3 crore accounts have been identified, and the process to shut them down is underway.
- In total, the Railways aims to deactivate around 6 crore fake accounts.
Changes in Reservation Chart and Advance Booking
The new rules also bring changes to the preparation time of reservation charts. To facilitate passengers, the chart preparation schedule has been advanced.
The new chart preparation schedule is detailed below:
| Train Departure Time | First Chart Preparation Time |
|---|---|
| 05:01 AM to 02:00 PM | By 08:00 PM on the previous day |
| 02:01 PM to 11:59 PM & 12:00 AM to 05:00 AM | At least 10 hours before the journey |
Additionally, the Advance Reservation Period (ARP) has been reduced. The booking window, which was previously 120 days, has now been shortened to 60 days. The timeline for Aadhaar verification has also been realigned.
Railway authorities have advised passengers to link their Aadhaar cards with their IRCTC accounts immediately to avoid any inconvenience in online ticket booking starting from January 2026.
