Indian Railways has made a significant change to its Advance Reservation Period (ARP) rules, which will directly impact your wallet and travel plans. Effective January 5, 2026, IRCTC has made Aadhaar Cards the key to “prime time” access for online ticket booking. Now, between 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM, only those with Aadhaar-linked accounts will be able to book tickets. For passengers without Aadhaar, obtaining a confirmed ticket will be a daunting challenge. Let’s learn more about this new Railway maze and how to overcome it.
IRCTC’s New Order
Indian Railways has taken this revolutionary step to crack down on touts and those operating illegal ticketing software. According to the new rules, when train bookings open 60 days in advance, the first eight hours (8:00 AM to 4:00 PM) will be reserved only for passengers whose Aadhaar verification has been completed.
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The biggest disadvantage will be those who delay linking their Aadhaar. The booking window for such passengers will open at 4 p.m., but by then, most confirmed seats will have been booked. Especially during busy times like Diwali, Chhath, and summer vacations, getting a confirmed ticket without Aadhaar linking will be nearly impossible.
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This system is being implemented in three phases
Railways, instead of imposing this change suddenly, have divided it into three phases to give the public ample opportunity to prepare. The first phase began on December 29, 2025, when Aadhaar users were given time from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
The second phase, effective today, January 5, 2026, will allow Aadhaar users to book from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The third phase is expected to begin on January 12, 2026, with Aadhaar-linked users getting exclusive access until midnight. This means that in the future, booking tickets throughout the day will become a Herculean task for users without Aadhaar.
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Process to Link IRCTC Account with Aadhaar
If you don’t want your journey to be ruined by touts, link your Aadhaar today by following these simple steps. First, log in to the official IRCTC website or Rail Connect app by entering your user ID and password. Then, go to the ‘My Account’ tab and click on the ‘Link Your Aadhaar’ option.
Enter your name (as per Aadhaar) and your 12-digit Aadhaar number. An OTP will be sent to your Aadhaar-linked mobile number. Enter it and submit it. Your account will be verified in just 2 minutes, and you will be eligible to book tickets as early as 8 am.
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What has changed for those purchasing tickets at the station counter
The good news is that for passengers who still queue up at the railway station’s PRS counter to buy tickets, there have been no changes to the rules. The old system will remain in place. This strict enforcement is solely aimed at preventing “smart” online ticket booking agents who, using fake IDs, can book entire seats in minutes. Previously, Aadhaar users only had a 15-minute grace period, which has now been extended to a full 8 hours.
This change will benefit ordinary passengers
This ironclad decision by the Railways will directly benefit honest travellers who plan their travels weeks in advance. With Aadhaar linking, only limited and genuine tickets will be booked using a single user ID, effectively curbing black marketing. The chances of genuine passengers getting a confirmed seat will increase by 60% compared to before, as every ticket will now be linked to an authentic identity, thereby strengthening the railway’s security system.