Indian Railways and IRCTC have implemented significant system upgrades and policy changes throughout 2025, with a major shift from traditional 4-hour to 8-hour advance chart preparation now confirmed for most trains. The railway booking system is undergoing its largest modernization in decades, with new capacity, features, and authentication requirements.
Chart preparation undergoes major timing overhaul
Indian Railways has transitioned from 4-hour to 8-hour advance chart preparation for trains departing after 2 PM, representing the most significant scheduling change in recent years. The traditional 4-hour system, still referenced in many sources, is being phased out as part of a standardization effort that began in 2015 and accelerated in 2024-2025.
Current chart preparation schedule:
- 8 hours before departure for trains leaving after 2 PM
- 9 PM on the previous night for trains departing between 5 AM and 2 PM
- Final charts remain at 30 minutes before departure (unchanged)
For early morning trains (6 AM – 9 AM), charts are prepared the previous night at 10-11 PM, while midnight trains have their final charts prepared at 8 PM of the prior evening. This standardization aims to provide better predictability for passengers, especially those on waitlists, though the railway system appears to be in active transition with some zones still implementing the changes.
Massive booking system upgrade confirmed for December 2025
The new Passenger Reservation System (PRS) remains on schedule for December 2025 launch, as confirmed in Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw’s June 2025 progress review. CRIS (Centre for Railway Information Systems) is delivering this ₹146 crore modernization project that will increase booking capacity from the current 32,000 tickets per minute to 150,000 tickets per minute – representing a 5x capacity increase.
The new system will handle 40 lakh enquiries per minute (up from 4 lakh currently) and feature multilingual interfaces, seat selection functionality, fare calendars, and specialized facilities for Divyangjan passengers, students, and patients. This upgrade addresses the current system’s limitations, which occasionally peaks at 28,434 tickets per minute during high-demand periods.
Aadhaar authentication becomes mandatory for Tatkal bookings
Effective July 1, 2025, Aadhaar verification became mandatory for all Tatkal bookings, implemented in two phases as announced by the Railway Ministry. Phase 1 (July 1) required Aadhaar-authenticated users for online bookings through IRCTC website and mobile app. Phase 2 (July 15) extended OTP-based Aadhaar authentication to all Tatkal bookings including PRS counters and authorized agents.
This change restricts agents from booking during the first 30 minutes of Tatkal opening (10:00-10:30 AM for AC classes, 11:00-11:30 AM for non-AC), giving priority booking windows to Aadhaar-verified individual users. The authentication system sends OTPs to Aadhaar-linked mobile numbers for verification.
Refund policies and cancellation charges remain largely unchanged
Current cancellation charges for 2025:
- More than 48 hours: Flat rates (₹240 + GST for Executive Class, ₹180 + GST for AC Chair Car)
- 48-12 hours: 25% of fare plus minimum charges and GST
- 12-4 hours: 50% of fare plus minimum charges and GST
- Less than 4 hours: No online cancellation; TDR filing required
Waitlisted tickets can be cancelled for ₹20 + GST per passenger up to 4 hours before departure, with automatic full refunds for unconfirmed tickets after first charting. The Advance Reservation Period was reduced from 120 to 60 days effective November 1, 2024, due to high cancellation rates (21%) and no-show rates (5%) for bookings made 61-120 days in advance.
TDR filing procedures remain accessible through IRCTC accounts under “My Transactions,” with processing times of 60-90 days through concerned Zonal Railways.
Premium train technologies expand with HHT systems
Hand-Held Terminal (HHT) systems are expanding beyond Rajdhani and Shatabdi trains to premium services including Jan Shatabdi, Sampark Kranti, Hamsafar, Vande Bharat, and Garib Rath trains. With 10,000 terminals supplied across railway zones, the system enables real-time chart downloading, vacant berth allotment to RAC/waitlisted passengers, and transparent ticket checking through GPRS integration.
Currently, 550 HHTs operate on existing premium services, with 36 additional trains under Southern Railway receiving the technology. This expansion supports the railway’s goal of providing real-time seat allocation and improved passenger experience on premium services.
New digital features transform passenger experience
RailOne SuperApp launched July 1, 2025, consolidating multiple railway apps into a single platform. Developed by CRIS and unveiled by Railway Minister Vaishnaw, the app integrates reserved and unreserved ticket booking, live train tracking, e-catering, complaint filing via Rail Madad, and platform ticket booking. The app offers 3% discounts on unreserved tickets via R-Wallet and supports single sign-on with existing IRCTC credentials.
PNR linking facility for connecting journeys operates fully, allowing passengers to link separate PNR numbers for connected travel with refund protection if delays cause missed connections. The system supports both IRCTC e-tickets and PRS counter tickets, with automatic passenger detail population and surrender options within 3 hours of first train arrival.
AI-enhanced Tatkal booking launched February 15, 2025, featuring fraud detection, improved captcha systems, and enhanced security for suspicious activity. The system supports 20,000+ bookings per minute during Tatkal hours with reduced website crashes.
Payment infrastructure receives regulatory approval
IRCTC Payments Ltd. received RBI in-principle approval August 4, 2025 to operate as a payment aggregator, expanding services to merchant settlements, gateway integration, and loyalty programs. This builds on the platform’s current performance of ₹61,700+ crore in transactions for 2023-24 with 19% revenue growth to ₹114.54 crore.
The payment infrastructure supports same-day refunds for failed transactions, Amazon Pay Wallet integration, and enhanced UPI connectivity aligned with Digital India initiatives.
Conclusion
The 2025 railway modernization represents India’s largest booking system upgrade in decades, with confirmed 8-hour chart preparation implementation, 5x booking capacity increases, mandatory Aadhaar authentication for Tatkal bookings, and comprehensive digital service consolidation through the RailOne app. While the December 2025 PRS launch will complete the technical transformation, passengers already benefit from AI-enhanced booking, expanded HHT systems on premium trains, and integrated payment solutions that position Indian Railways’ digital infrastructure among the world’s most advanced reservation systems.
These changes collectively address long-standing capacity constraints, improve booking predictability, and establish robust authentication frameworks while maintaining competitive pricing and comprehensive refund policies that have made IRCTC the world’s second-largest e-commerce platform by transaction volume.
Everything you need to know about India’s modernized railway booking system
Chart Preparation: 4-Hour to 8-Hour Transition
−Major Change New 8-Hour Chart Preparation
Indian Railways has transitioned from the traditional 4-hour to 8-hour advance chart preparation for trains departing after 2 PM, representing the most significant scheduling change in recent years.
8 hours before departure
New standardized timing for afternoon and evening trains
9 PM previous night
Early morning trains prepared the night before
10-11 PM previous night
Special preparation timing for dawn departures
30 minutes before departure
Unchanged from previous system
Massive Booking System Upgrade – December 2025
−Launching Dec 2025 New PRS System
The ₹146 crore modernization project will increase booking capacity from 32,000 to 150,000 tickets per minute – a 5x capacity increase.
| Feature | Current System | New System (Dec 2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Booking Capacity | 32,000 tickets/minute | 150,000 tickets/minute |
| Enquiries | 4 lakh/minute | 40 lakh/minute |
| Languages | Hindi, English | Multilingual interface |
| Seat Selection | Limited | Full seat selection |
| Fare Calendar | Not available | Integrated fare calendar |
Enhanced Services
Merchant settlements, gateway integration, and loyalty programs expansion
Same-Day Refunds
Quick processing for failed transactions with improved user experience
Digital Integration
Amazon Pay Wallet integration and enhanced UPI connectivity
