Changes in Opening-Day Ticket Booking Rules: Aadhaar Required Between 8 AM and 4 PM

If you have ever tried train ticket booking, the day general reservations open, you already know the routine. You sit with your phone or laptop before 8 AM. Log in to your device early. You refresh. And yet, somehow, by the time the page loads, half the seats are gone. For years, passengers have blamed slow servers, bad luck, or festival rush. But many have also quietly suspected something else was at play.

Indian Railways has now made a move that directly addresses that suspicion. In the previous year, more than 3 crore fake Railway Accounts were removed. This year, from January 5, IRCTC has changed how ticket booking works on the opening day of reservations. The rule is simple on paper but significant in impact: if your IRCTC account is not linked with Aadhaar, you will not be allowed to book reserved tickets between 8 AM and 4 PM on the opening day.

This change applies only to the day bookings open. But that day, as any regular traveller knows, is the most important one.

Why the Opening Day Matters So Much for Train Ticket Booking

For most reserved trains in India, ticket booking becomes available 60 days before the date of journey. That first day decides everything. Whether you are going to get Confirmed seats, RAC, waiting list. All of it is usually settled within hours, sometimes minutes on the day bookings open.

For popular trains, especially those running between metro cities or during holidays, the opening window is the only realistic chance to get a confirmed berth. Miss it, and you’re often left monitoring cancellations or looking for alternatives.

That is why the new timing restriction matters. Blocking access between 8 AM and 4 PM is not random. These are the hours when demand is highest and availability changes the fastest. You can check the number of seats available for booking, using the train seat availability feature. 

What Exactly Has Changed Now

Under the new system:

• Aadhaar-linked IRCTC users can book tickets as usual
• Accounts without Aadhaar verification are blocked from booking between 8 AM and 4 PM
• The restriction applies only on the first day of reservation opening
• Booking outside this window is still technically allowed

In practice, however, most key seats are taken during these hours. So for anyone serious about ticket booking on opening day, Aadhaar linking has effectively become mandatory.

If you have booked a ticket but did not get a Confirmed status you must check your booking status to see if it has been upgraded or not. You can easily do so using RailMitra’s PNR Status check service.

This Is Not a Sudden Decision

Indian Railways has been preparing passengers for this shift. The rule is being rolled out in stages.

On December 29, the first phase began. During that phase, unverified users were restricted only between 8 AM and 12 PM. That window has now expanded.

From January 5, the restriction runs until 4 PM. And from January 12, the final phase will begin, extending the restriction from 8 AM till midnight for Aadhaar-unlinked accounts.

Each phase reduces the usable booking time for unverified users. The message is clear: link your Aadhaar, or lose access to prime booking hours.

Why Indian Railways Is Doing This

For years, the reservation system has suffered from misuse. Agents and organised ticketing networks have been known to operate hundreds of accounts. These accounts often grab tickets in bulk within seconds of opening, leaving genuine passengers frustrated.

Aadhaar linking makes this practice far more difficult. One person, one verified identity, one account. That is the principle Indian Railways is trying to enforce.

Officials say the goal is not to trouble passengers but to restore fairness. When fake accounts disappear, real travellers stand a better chance at ticket booking especially on opening day.

What This Means for Ordinary Passengers

For most regular users, this change will not affect day-to-day travel. If you already have Aadhaar linked to your IRCTC account, nothing changes for you.

But if you haven’t linked it yet and rely on opening-day ticket booking, the impact is immediate. Passengers most affected include:

• Families booking holiday travel
• People travelling for weddings or exams
• Workers commuting long distances
• Senior citizens dependent on confirmed berths

For them, waiting until later in the day is often not an option. Passengers can check all the trains between stations at RailMitra for alternative travel options. 

Counter Bookings Are Also Being Tightened

This shift is not limited to online bookings. Indian Railways is also strengthening verification at physical reservation counters.

In many cases, OTP-based Aadhaar verification may be required. That means the mobile number linked with Aadhaar must be active and accessible. The aim is consistency — the same identity standards, whether booking online or at the counter.

Is This Good or Bad for Passengers?

In the short term, some passengers may find this inconvenient, especially those unfamiliar with digital verification. But over time, the benefits may become visible.

With fewer fake accounts competing:

• Opening-day rush could ease slightly
• Waiting lists may not grow as fast
• Genuine passengers may finally get a fair chance
• Booking outcomes may become more predictable

It will not solve every problem overnight, but it addresses a long-standing weakness in the system.

What Passengers Should Do Now

The safest approach is simple:

• Log in to your IRCTC account
• Complete Aadhaar linking if it is pending
• Check that your Aadhaar-linked mobile number is working
• Do this well before your booking date

Waiting until the night before reservations open is risky.

A Quiet but Important Shift

Indian Railways rarely makes changes that directly affect ticket booking behaviour without a reason. This rule signals a broader move toward identity-based access and tighter control over ticket misuse.

For genuine passengers, especially those who plan ahead, this could slowly make booking less stressful. For those who relied on shortcuts or multiple accounts, the window is clearly closing.

As always, RailMitra will continue to track such changes and explain what they mean where it matters most at the booking screen, not just in official notifications