Starting January 5, 2026, Indian Railways is extending the advance ticket booking window for Aadhaar-authenticated IRCTC users. These users will now have an eight-hour window, from 08:00 hrs to 16:00 hrs, on the first day of general reservation. This change aims to ensure tickets reach genuine passengers and prevent misuse by touts. Previously, the window for Aadhaar-verified users was shorter, having been gradually extended from 15 minutes to 12:00 hrs. Unverified users can book tickets after 16:00 hrs. These changes apply only to online bookings via the IRCTC website and app.