IRCTC Preparation of Reservation Charts New Rules
Second Reservation Charts to be issued 30 minutes before the scheduled train departure time, as was done before the lockdown
Ticket booking facility, both online and on PRS ticket counters, shall be available, before preparation of second chart
Indian Railways has decided to restore earlier system of preparation of second reservation charts w.e.f. 10.10.2025.
As per established pre COVID period instructions, the first reservation chart was prepared at least 4 hours before scheduled departure of train. Thereafter, the available accommodation could be booked across PRS counters as well as through internet on first-come-first-serve basis till preparation of second reservation charts.
Second reservation charts were prepared between 30 minutes to 5 minutes before scheduled/rescheduled time of departure of trains. Cancellation of already booked tickets was also permitted during this period as per provisions of Refund Rules.
Due to pandemic, instructions were issued to shift the time of preparation of second reservation chart to 2 hours before scheduled/ rescheduled time of departure of trains.
As per request of Zonal Railways for ensuring convenience of rail passengers, the matter has been examined and it has been decided that the second reservation chart shall be prepared at least 30 minutes before scheduled/rescheduled time of departure of train.
Accordingly, ticket booking facility, both online and on PRS ticket counters, shall be available, before preparation of second chart.
CRIS has been issued necessary modifications in the software accordingly so as to restore this provision w.e.f. 10.10.2025.
Here are the new IRCTC / Indian Railways rules for reservation chart preparation and related changes implemented in mid‑2025:
Contents
🕒 1. Reservation Chart Timing Revised
- First reservation chart will now be prepared 8 hours before train departure.
- For trains departing before 2 PM, the chart is generated at 9 PM the previous night.
- For others, at “T–8 hrs” from departure.
- This is a shift from the prior system of generating the chart 4 hours before departure — the change provides passengers with earlier waitlist status.
- The second (final) chart is prepared 30 to 5 minutes before departure, as per the standard practice.
🧠 2. Rationale & Impact for Passengers
- Waitlisted passengers now receive status updates earlier, giving more time to make alternate travel plans if needed.
- Consistent chart timing across zones avoids confusion and standardizes booking cut-offs.
📲 3. Modern Reservation System (PRS) Upgrade in Progress
- IR swapped to a high-capacity PRS platform by December 2025, built by CRIS.
- It will allow up to 1.5 lakh ticket bookings per minute, with multilingual UI, fare calendar view, coach/seat preferences, and dedicated features for Divyangjan and patients.
🔒 4. Tatkal (Emergency Booking) Reforms
Starting July 1, 2025:
- Only Aadhaar-linked IRCTC accounts can book Tatkal online or via app.
From July 15, 2025:
- OTP-based Aadhaar authentication becomes mandatory — applies for Tatkal bookings via PRS counters and authorized agents as well. Agents are restricted from booking:
- AC class tickets from 10:00–10:30 AM
- Non-AC class tickets from 11:00–11:30 AM
- This ensures genuine users get priority access.
🚨 5. Emergency Quota (EQ) Booking Deadlines
- EQ requests must reach the Railway Board / EQ cell by the previous working day based on train departure time:
- Trains departing 00:00–14:00 hrs → EQ request by noon (12:00 PM) day before.
- Trains departing 14:01–23:59 hrs → request by 4:00 PM previous day.
- No same-day EQ requests allowed, even for official travel. Applies also to trains on Sundays/holidays: requests must be submitted on the last working day.
💰 6. Fare Changes
- Effective July 1, 2025, fares for long-distance (>500 km) premier and special trains (Rajdhani, Shatabdi, Duronto, Vande Bharat, Tejas, etc.) have been increased:
- Additional ₹0.02 per km (AC classes)
- ₹0.01 per km (non-AC reserved classes)
- Short-distance travel (<500 km) fares remain unchanged.
🏓 7. Other Key Clarifications
- Boarding station changes: You can update the boarding point online up until chart preparation; after that, you risk seat reassignment by TTE.
- Current availability (“curr_avl”) seats can sometimes be booked after charting if vacancies exist, up to the time the second chart finalizes (~30 min before departure)
📋 Quick Summary
| Feature | New Rule (from July 2025) |
|---|---|
| 1st Reservation Chart Timing | 8 hours before departure (9 PM prior if <2 PM train) |
| 2nd Chart Timing | 30–5 min before departure |
| Tatkal Booking Online Only | Aadhaar-linked IRCTC account required from July 1 |
| OTP Verification for Tatkal | Mandatory for all (counters & agents) from July 15 |
| Agent Booking Restriction | First 30 min closed to agents (AC: 10–10:30, non-AC: 11–11:30) |
| Emergency Quota Submission | By noon/4 PM previous working day; no same-day requests |
| Fare Hike for Long Routes | +₹0.02/km (AC), +₹0.01/km (non-AC) for >500 km journeys |
| New PRS System | Live by Dec 2025 with much higher capacity |
✅ Why This Matters:
- Earlier waitlist clarity and booking cut-offs
- Safer Tatkal access for genuine passengers
- More transparent emergency quota allocation
- Fare increments phased sensibly for long-distance travelers
- Upcoming tech upgrade promising smoother booking
Would you like step-by-step instructions on linking Aadhaar in IRCTC, checking chart preparation status, or calculating updated Tatkal fares for a specific train or date?