Aadhaar-Verified IRCTC Users Get 16-Hour Booking Window on Opening Day

• Railways extends ticket booking window for Aadhaar-verified IRCTC users on the opening day of Advance Reservation Period (ARP).
• Aadhaar-authenticated users will get an exclusive 16-hour window (8 am to midnight) for general reserved tickets.
• The extended window will be implemented in a phased manner, starting December 29, 2025.
• From January 12, 2026, Aadhaar users can book from 8 am to 12 am; non-Aadhaar users can book only after this.
• No changes to booking at Passenger Reservation System (PRS) counters; users advised to link Aadhaar to IRCTC.

Why It Matters: Aadhaar-verified IRCTC users now enjoy a significantly longer exclusive booking window for train tickets.