Overview

• Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said passengers will be able to change the travel date of confirmed online tickets without an extra charge, and instructions have been issued to implement the feature.
• A railway ministry official indicated the service is likely to start in January 2026 for IRCTC bookings, not during the current festive travel period.
• Date changes will not guarantee a confirmed berth on the new day, and passengers must pay any higher fare on the modified itinerary.
• The modification is expected to be limited to the same origin and destination, with finer rules such as class changes to be clarified before launch.
• Officials say the option could cut cancellations and refunds—now common under rules that deduct up to 25% or more before departure—building on recent reforms like Aadhaar-authenticated early booking and a shorter advance reservation window.