Overview
- Effective December 29, only Aadhaar-authenticated IRCTC accounts can book general reservations from 8 am to 12 pm on the first day of the Advance Reservation Period.
- A Railway Board letter dated December 18 sets a phased expansion: exclusive access until 4 pm from January 5 and from 8 am to midnight from January 12.
- The restriction applies only to online bookings through the IRCTC website and app, while PRS counter reservations continue under existing rules.
- This step follows earlier limits that first covered the initial 15 minutes of opening, later the 8–10 am slot, and a June move making Tatkal bookings Aadhaar-only.
- Separately, reservation charts will be prepared preferably by 8 pm the previous day or at least 10 hours before departure to give passengers earlier certainty.