The changes will mainly affect passengers who book tickets online through Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation. By introducing fixed booking hours and Aadhaar-based verification, the railway authorities aim to protect genuine travelers. These updates are expected to make the system more transparent and reduce the influence of fake accounts. With millions of people depending on rail travel daily, these reforms are considered a major step forward.

Revised Train Ticket Booking Hours

Under the new system, train ticket booking will be allowed only between 8 AM and 11 PM. This rule will apply to major ticket categories, including AC, Sleeper, and General Reserved classes. Previously, passengers could attempt bookings at almost any hour, which created uneven server traffic and technical disruptions. The structured timing is meant to balance user activity throughout the day.

By limiting bookings to fixed hours, the railway system is expected to perform more smoothly. Concentrated booking at late-night hours often led to slow servers and transaction failures. With clear and uniform timing, users can plan their bookings in advance without worrying about midnight rush. This step is intended to make ticket reservations simpler and more predictable.

Mandatory Aadhaar Verification for Early Bookings

A key feature of the new policy is Aadhaar verification during high-demand booking hours. Between 8 AM and 10 AM, passengers will need Aadhaar-linked accounts to book tickets online. This time period is usually when bookings open for popular trains, and earlier it was often misused by touts and automated tools. Aadhaar verification ensures that real passengers are making the reservations.

Passengers can link their Aadhaar details to their IRCTC account by completing a simple verification process. The process involves confirming identity details and linking a mobile number. Once verified, users can continue booking without repeated verification. This additional layer of security aims to protect genuine travelers from unfair competition.

New Rules for Tatkal Ticket Booking

Tatkal tickets are among the most sought-after categories in the railway system. They are usually booked for urgent travel needs and often sell out within minutes. To prevent misuse, Aadhaar-based OTP verification will become compulsory for Tatkal bookings from 21 November 2025. When a passenger tries to book a Tatkal ticket, an OTP will be sent to the Aadhaar-linked mobile number.

The booking will proceed only after entering the correct OTP. This rule will significantly reduce the chances of bulk bookings by fake accounts or bots. Additionally, during the first fifteen minutes of Tatkal opening, only Aadhaar-linked accounts will be allowed to access the system. This change gives genuine passengers a fairer opportunity to secure urgent travel tickets.

Upgrade of the Passenger Reservation System

To support these changes, Indian Railways will upgrade its Passenger Reservation System, commonly known as PRS. The upgrade will take place between 14 November and 21 November. During this period, booking and cancellation services will remain unavailable daily from 11:30 PM to 5:30 AM. This temporary shutdown is necessary to modernize the backend infrastructure.

Once the upgrade is complete, passengers can expect faster performance and fewer technical errors. The improved system will better handle peak-hour traffic and integrate smoothly with Aadhaar verification features. Although online services may be briefly affected during the upgrade, the long-term benefit will be a stronger and more reliable booking platform.

Impact on Offline Ticket Booking

While online bookings will follow the new Aadhaar rules, counter bookings at railway stations will continue to function normally. Passengers who prefer offline reservations can still visit reservation counters once the upgrade is completed. This ensures that people without internet access are not left out of the system.

By keeping offline services operational, the railways maintain accessibility for all sections of society. Not everyone uses digital platforms, especially in rural areas. The balance between online security measures and offline convenience reflects an inclusive approach to ticket booking reforms.

Benefits of the New Booking System

The updated rules bring several benefits for passengers. First, they increase transparency by reducing the misuse of booking platforms. Fake accounts and agents who previously dominated high-demand slots will find it harder to manipulate the system. This gives regular passengers a better chance of getting confirmed tickets.

Another advantage is improved system stability. With fixed booking hours and upgraded infrastructure, users are likely to experience fewer payment failures and faster response times. The structured timing also makes it easier to plan travel, as passengers know exactly when bookings will open and close. Over time, these improvements can enhance overall trust in the railway reservation process.

Fair Access and Better Planning

The new guidelines also introduce a uniform advance booking period of 60 days. This allows passengers to plan long-distance journeys with greater clarity. By maintaining consistent rules across ticket categories, the system becomes easier to understand. Passengers no longer need to track different opening times for different classes.

With Aadhaar verification in place, genuine travelers are expected to benefit the most. Fair access to tickets encourages confidence in the system and reduces dependence on agents. The combination of structured timing, secure authentication, and technical upgrades aims to create a balanced and people-friendly booking environment.

The introduction of new train ticket booking timings from 21 November 2025 marks an important change in India’s railway system. By setting fixed booking hours between 8 AM and 11 PM and introducing Aadhaar-based verification, the authorities aim to address long-standing issues of misuse and unfair competition. The upgraded Passenger Reservation System will further support smoother operations and improved user experience.

These reforms are designed to make ticket booking safer, faster, and more transparent for millions of railway passengers. With stronger security measures and clearer rules, travelers can expect a more reliable reservation process in the coming years.

Disclaimer

This article is for informational purposes only. Passengers are advised to check official notifications from Indian Railways or IRCTC for the most accurate and updated details before making any travel-related decisions.