The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has issued new guidelines regarding train ticket booking. The revised rules are aimed at making the booking process smoother, reducing misuse, and ensuring fair ticket availability for passengers.

Here’s everything you need to know about the latest IRCTC ticket booking changes.

What Has Changed in IRCTC Ticket Booking?

1. Booking Time Window

   • Advance ticket booking (ARL – Advance Reservation Limit) remains at 120 days, but timings for Tatkal and Premium Tatkal bookings have been slightly revised.

   • Tatkal booking for AC class opens at 10:00 AM and for sleeper class at 11:00 AM, one day before the journey.

2. Number of Tickets Per User ID

   • A single user can now book a maximum of 12 tickets per month.

   • Earlier, the limit was 6 tickets per month (for general users).

3. Mandatory Aadhaar Authentication

   • To book more than 6 tickets in a month, Aadhaar authentication of the user ID is now mandatory.

4. One-Time Password (OTP) Verification

   • Mobile OTP verification has been made stricter to prevent misuse of multiple accounts.

5. Ticket Cancellation & Refund Rules

   • Passengers must cancel tickets at least 4 hours before departure to receive eligible refunds.

   • For Tatkal tickets, refunds are not applicable (except in cases of train cancellation).

Why These Changes Were Introduced?

The new guidelines are designed to:

• Prevent bulk booking by touts.

• Ensure fair ticket availability for genuine passengers.

• Make the system more transparent and user-friendly.

How to Book Tickets Under New Rules

1. Visit the official IRCTC website – www.irctc.co.in.

2. Login using your registered User ID and password.

3. Search for your train and select the class.

4. Enter passenger details along with Aadhaar (if required).

5. Verify through OTP and proceed with payment.

6. Download the e-ticket for your journey.

Key Takeaways for Passengers

• ✅ Keep Aadhaar-linked IRCTC ID ready if booking more than 6 tickets/month.

• ✅ Plan Tatkal bookings carefully as time slots are strict.

• ✅ Be aware of refund and cancellation policies to avoid losses.

• ✅ Use official IRCTC channels only to ensure safe transactions.