From October 1, the rules for online train reservations in India are set to become stricter. Only users whose IRCTC accounts are linked with Aadhaar will be permitted to book tickets within the first 15
minutes after bookings open at 8:00 am.
In addition, IRCTC-authorised agents will be barred from making bookings during the first 10 minutes. They will be allowed to begin bookings only after 8:10 am.
Why This Change?
The Indian Railways had previously made Aadhaar mandatory for Tatkal bookings to curb fraudulent practices. Now, the Aadhaar link is mandatory even for general bookings during the first 15 minutes of opening. This increases the chances of genuine users getting confirmed tickets.
Reservations for trains can be made up to 60 days in advance, with the booking window opening at 8:00 am. For popular routes, particularly to destinations in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and other high-demand states, tickets are snapped up within minutes of release.
To ensure fair access and minimise misuse, the Aadhaar requirement and the 10-minute restriction for agents have been introduced.
When Is The Best Time To Book?
When bookings open at 8:00 am, thousands of IRCTC users across the country attempt to secure tickets at once. For the average user, slower internet connections and website traffic can delay the process. Meanwhile, although IRCTC agents typically have faster internet, they cannot book tickets until 8:10 am.
However, this presents a brief window of opportunity: If a reservation is made through an authorised IRCTC agent immediately after 8:10 AM, the chances of securing a confirmed ticket are significantly higher than for regular users; provided it’s done quickly.
After 8:15 am, when the system opens to all users, the rush intensifies, and the probability of getting a confirmed ticket drops sharply. Therefore, the best train ticket booking window is between 8:10 am and 8:15 am, through an IRCTC-authorised agent with fast internet, that offers the highest chance of getting a confirmed ticket.
