IRCTC Alert: Dec 23 Travel Bookings Open Oct 24!
Indian Railways opens December 23 travel bookings on October 24. Learn about the 60-day ARP and mandatory Aadhaar authentication rules.
Indian Railways and the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) have announced that ticket bookings for travel on December 23, 2026, will officially open on October 24, 2026, starting at 8:00 AM IST. Passengers planning their year-end journeys should prepare accordingly to secure their preferred seats.
Understanding the 60-Day Advance Reservation Rule
The booking window follows the current Advance Reservation Period (ARP) policy. This policy allows passengers to book their train tickets up to 60 days in advance, excluding the actual date of the journey. This 60-day limit was implemented on November 1, 2024, replacing the previous 120-day reservation window.
Mandatory Aadhaar Authentication for Early Access
To ensure fair access for individual travelers during the initial rush, strict guidelines are in place regarding account verification. According to rules implemented on October 1, 2025, only users with Aadhaar-authenticated IRCTC accounts are permitted to book general reserved tickets online during the first 15 minutes of the booking window (between 8:00 AM and 8:15 AM on the opening day).
If your IRCTC account is not verified through Aadhaar, you will be unable to use the online ticketing service during this specific 15-minute window.
Restrictions for Authorized Agents
In a move to prevent automated or bulk bookings by agents during the peak opening minutes, authorized ticketing agents are prohibited from booking opening-day reserved tickets during the first 10 minutes of the general reservation period. This ensures that general passengers have a better chance at securing tickets during the initial launch.
Current Reservation Status
As of October 23, 2026, the national railway network is currently facilitating reservations for travel dates up to December 22, 2026. Travelers are encouraged to finalize their travel budgets and itineraries in advance to ensure a smooth booking process when the window for December 23 service opens.