IRCTC Rule Change 2026: Aadhaar-Verified Users Get First-Day Priority for Tickets, Timing Tweaked

IRCTC gives Aadhaar-verified users priority on day-1 ticket bookings. Check the revised booking timings and new rules for passengers

The Indian Railways will restrict online train ticket bookings on the first day of the Advance Reservation Period to aadhaar-verified users between 8 am and noon, starting Monday, December 29.

It has come into effect as part of the first phase of rollout of changes in booking tickets on Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), the government-owned entity that manages catering, online ticketing, and tourism services for Indian Railways.

The exclusive ticket booking window is aimed at prioritising genuine passengers over agents with timings set to extend further next month.

From January 5, the ticket-booking window for aadhaar-verified users will extend to 4 pm under second phase of the rollout. By January 12, when the third phase comes into effect, these users will have access to exclusive ticket booking from 8 am to midnight.

However, the changes apply only to online ticket booking via the IRCTC website and mobile app. Procedure of manually booking tickets across Passenger Reservation System (PRS) counters with valid ID remains unchanged.

In June, the Indian Railways made its Tatkal scheme, which allows travellers to book tickets last minute, available for booking only to aadhaar-authenticated users.

The railway ministry said at the time that the move was to curb the misuse and to ensure the scheme benefits genuine passengers over agents.

More recently, the Indian Railways has revised chart preparation timing to finalise reservation charts 10 hours before scheduled departure time, according to Navbharat Times. This is a notable improvement from the previous system of releasing reservation charts just four hours before departure. It is also a big relief to passengers who are usually required to travel to the station and wait till the last minute to confirm their seat.

In a major move aimed at streamlining the online railway ticket booking process and curbing misuse, IRCTC has announced priority access for Aadhaar-verified users on the first day of ticket bookings. The update is expected to significantly impact millions of passengers who rely on Indian Railways for long-distance travel, especially during peak seasons, festivals, and holiday periods.

The change is part of Indian Railways’ broader effort to make ticket bookings more transparent, fair, and efficient while reducing the role of automated bots and fraudulent accounts.

Under the revised system, only Aadhaar-verified IRCTC users will be given priority during the initial booking window on the first day when reservation charts open. Non-verified users will still be able to book tickets, but only after the priority window closes.

This means that passengers who have linked and verified their Aadhaar number with their IRCTC account will enjoy early access to tickets, increasing their chances of securing confirmed seats on high-demand routes.

IRCTC officials said the move is designed to reward genuine users and ensure fair access during the most competitive booking period.

With the introduction of Aadhaar-based priority, booking timings on Day 1 have been slightly adjusted. While the exact schedule may vary by train category, the general framework now includes:

Early booking window reserved for Aadhaar-verified users
Subsequent window open to all users, including non-verified accounts
Tatkal and premium Tatkal timings remain unchanged

Passengers are advised to check the official IRCTC website or app for precise timings before planning their journey.

Indian Railways handles millions of ticket bookings daily, and the first day of reservations often sees intense competition. Over the years, authorities have struggled with:

Bot-driven bulk bookings
Fake or duplicate user accounts
Ticket hoarding by agents

By prioritising Aadhaar-verified users, IRCTC aims to authenticate genuine passengers, reduce unfair practices, and improve booking success rates for real travellers.

“Aadhaar verification helps us identify legitimate users and maintain fairness during peak booking hours,” an IRCTC official said.

For passengers who have not yet completed Aadhaar verification, the process is simple and online:

Log in to your IRCTC account
Go to the “My Profile” section
Select “Link Aadhaar”
Enter Aadhaar details and OTP received on registered mobile
Submit and complete verification

Once verified, the status reflects immediately, allowing users to access priority booking benefits.

The new rule is expected to benefit:

Frequent long-distance travellers
Senior citizens booking popular routes
Families travelling during festival seasons
Office commuters planning trips well in advance

For passengers who regularly face waitlisted tickets, Aadhaar verification could significantly improve booking outcomes.

IRCTC has clarified that Aadhaar details are securely stored and used only for verification purposes. The platform follows government-mandated data protection protocols and does not share user information with third parties without consent.

However, passengers are advised to use only official IRCTC platforms and avoid third-party agents to protect personal data.

Experts believe the move could reduce booking chaos on Day 1, making the system more predictable and fair. By filtering out unverified and suspicious accounts, the platform is likely to experience reduced load and fewer technical issues during peak hours.

However, travellers are still encouraged to plan early, log in before booking windows open, and ensure payment methods are ready.

To avoid missing out on priority access, passengers should:

Complete Aadhaar verification immediately
Update IRCTC profiles and contact details
Monitor official IRCTC announcements for timing updates
Avoid last-minute bookings during peak seasons

IRCTC Rule Change 2026: Aadhaar-Verified Users Get First-Day Priority for Tickets, Timing Tweaked