The train ticket booking rule changed from 12 January
IRCTC: If you feel frustrated by long waiting lists every time you book a train ticket, this news will bring relief. Indian Railways has introduced a major change in train ticket booking rules starting today, January 12, 2026. This decision directly benefits ordinary passengers and targets touts and people who use fake IDs to book tickets. Indian Railways has made the reservation system more transparent and secure.
What changed today? Indian Railways and IRCTC now allow only Aadhaar-verified IRCTC users to book general reservation tickets on the first day of the Advance Reservation Period (ARP). On the day the booking window opens, Aadhaar-authenticated users can book tickets throughout the day until midnight.
Earlier, IRCTC limited this facility to a short window between 8 AM and 12 PM. From January 12 onward, IRCTC has extended this booking window to the entire day, giving verified users more flexibility and opportunity.
How does this benefit ordinary passengers? This change significantly increases the chances of passengers getting confirmed tickets. By restricting first-day bookings to Aadhaar-verified accounts, Indian Railways has made it harder for fake accounts, bots, and touts to manipulate the system.
According to railway officials, IRCTC recently closed or suspended around 57.3 million suspicious or long-inactive accounts. This action has reduced unnecessary load on the booking system and ensured fair access for genuine passengers, helping them secure tickets more easily.
