Key Highlights
- Emergency Quota: Applications must now be submitted one day before travel, not on the day of the journey.
- Reservation Charts: Will now be prepared eight hours before departure for select trains, up from four hours previously.
- Tatkal Booking: Aadhaar authentication, including OTP, is now mandatory to curb black marketing.
- Waiting List Travel: Passengers with waiting list tickets are no longer permitted to travel in Sleeper or AC coaches.
New Delhi: Indian Railways has implemented significant changes to its ticket booking regulations, which come into effect from today, Thursday, July 24, 2025. The new rules primarily affect the Emergency Quota (EQ), Tatkal booking, and travel on waiting list tickets, aiming to streamline processes and combat black marketing.
New Rules for Emergency Quota Applications
The most critical change impacts the Emergency Quota, a special provision for government officials, passengers with medical emergencies, and others in urgent need of travel. Under the new directive, passengers must apply for this quota a day in advance of their journey. Applications submitted on the day of travel will now be rejected.
The Railway Board stated this change is designed to make the final chart preparation smoother and reduce the illegal resale of tickets.
New Application Deadlines for Emergency Quota:
| Train Departure Time | Application Deadline |
|---|---|
| 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM | By 12:00 PM the previous day |
| 2:01 PM to 11:59 PM | By 4:00 PM the previous day |
Three Other Major Changes in Rail Travel
Beyond the Emergency Quota, Indian Railways has rolled out three other significant updates for passengers.
1. Reservation Charts Prepared 8 Hours in Advance
Effective July 1, 2025, the reservation chart for some trains will be prepared eight hours before the scheduled departure. This is a significant shift from the previous four-hour window. The move is intended to give passengers more time to know their final ticket status and reduce last-minute uncertainty. This system is currently being implemented in a phased manner on select trains.
2. Aadhaar Authentication for Tatkal Bookings
To counter the black market for tickets, Railways has made Aadhaar authentication mandatory for all Tatkal bookings made via the IRCTC website or app since July 1, 2025. Furthermore, as of July 15, 2025, an OTP sent to the Aadhaar-linked mobile number is also required to complete the booking. Additionally, authorized agents are barred from booking any AC or non-AC Tatkal tickets for the first 30 minutes after the booking window opens.
3. No Travel in Reserved Coaches on Waiting Tickets
As of May 1, 2025, passengers holding a waiting list ticket are no longer permitted to board and travel in Sleeper (SL) or Air-Conditioned (AC) coaches. Such passengers are only allowed to travel in the general coach. Any passenger found violating this rule by traveling in a reserved coach with a waiting ticket will be subject to a fine.
