Train Ticket Booking Timings to Change from November 21 : Know the New Timings and Rules

Train Ticket Booking Timing Change : The main objective of these changes is to make ticket booking more transparent, secure, and convenient. In particular, online ticket booking will now rely heavily on Aadhaar-based verification to prevent fake bookings and reduce the involvement of touts. These new rules are especially important for passengers who book tickets online

According to the new timing schedule, ticket booking will now be allowed from 8 AM to 11 PM. Different booking categories will have different time slots so that the system remains smooth and passengers can get tickets fairly. Earlier, issues such as fake accounts and tickets selling out within seconds were common. Indian Railways has now implemented measures to ensure a transparent and passenger-friendly booking system.

New Train Ticket Booking Timings and Rules

Railways has reorganized the ticket booking schedule. In particular, between 8 AM and 10 AM, only Aadhaar-verified users will be allowed to book tickets. This is the peak-demand period, and this rule aims to ensure that genuine passengers get priority. After 10 AM, any user can book tickets, whether Aadhaar is linked or not

Under the new rules, from 21 November 2025, Aadhaar-based OTP verification has been made mandatory for Tatkal ticket booking. For the first 15 minutes after booking opens, only Aadhaar-linked users can book tickets. This restricts touts and fake accounts. Note that PRS counter bookings at railway stations will not be affected by these rules.

Key Points of Train Ticket Booking Rules 2025

Rule	Description
Booking Timings	8 AM to 11 PM
Aadhaar Verification	Mandatory for booking between 8–10 AM
Tatkal OTP Verification	Mandatory from 21 November 2025
First 15 Minutes Booking	Only Aadhaar-linked users allowed
PRS Counter Rules	No change in PRS counter bookings
Advance Booking Period	Tickets can now be booked 60 days in advance
General Ticket Booking	General and reserved ticket timings made the same
System Upgrade	From 14–21 Nov, system down 11:30 PM to 5:30 AM for upgrades

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Why These New Rules for Ticket Booking?

Railways has introduced these rules to make the booking system more transparent. Fake accounts and touts often grabbed a large share of tickets, causing inconvenience to genuine passengers. By controlling booking timings and enforcing Aadhaar verification, Railways wants to ensure that tickets are issued to the right passenger and fraudulent activities are minimized. The new timings will also help manage high-demand trains better.

Benefits of the New Ticket Booking Timings

• Greater transparency and security in ticket booking
• Reduction in fake and agent-based bookings due to Aadhaar verification
• Convenience for all categories of passengers due to separate time slots
• Priority for verified users during high-demand morning hours
• Faster and more reliable booking after system upgrade

• Safe ticket booking through both online and offline modes

New Train Ticket Booking Schedule (Example)

Ticket Category	Booking Start Time	Booking End Time
AC Class Tickets	8 AM	11 PM
Sleeper Class Tickets	8 AM	11 PM
Tatkal Tickets	10 AM	5 PM
General Reserved Tickets	8 AM	11 PM

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New Aadhaar OTP Verification Rule

From 21 November 2025, Indian Railways has made Aadhaar-based OTP verification mandatory for Tatkal ticket booking. This means an OTP will be sent to the user’s registered mobile number, and only after verification can the ticket be booked. This step is crucial to stop touts from bulk booking Tatkal tickets and ensure genuine passengers get fair access.

System Upgrade Until 21 November

Indian Railways is upgrading its Passenger Reservation System (PRS) from 14 November to 21 November, during which the system will remain unavailable from 11:30 PM to 5:30 AM daily. Ticket booking, cancellation, and inquiry services will not work during these hours. After the upgrade, the booking system will become faster, more reliable, and technologically advanced