New Railway Rules: Indian Railways Revises Fare Structure, Soon to Begin Aadhaar-Based Booking

New Railway Rules: Indian Railways is implementing major changes that will directly affect customers, particularly those who travel by rail frequently, starting July 1, 2025. The modification of travel fares, the first increase in a number of years, is one of the most noteworthy. Although certain segments, such as second-class tickets for trips under 500 km and Monthly Season Tickets (MST), would remain unaltered, non-AC and express trains will experience a rise of 1 paise per kilometre, and AC class tariffs will also be adjusted. Long-distance travellers would have a greater financial burden as the fee will increase by half a paisa per kilometre for trips longer than 500 km.

Indian Railway New Rules

Two other significant adjustments are also being made in order to safeguard and expedite the instant ticket booking system. First, during the first half of the window, namely between 10:00 and 11:30 a.m. for AC classes, booking agents will not be allowed to make direct reservations for tickets. Second, effective July 15, Aadhaar-based OTP authentication will be required, and only users who have been validated by Aadhaar will be able to book tickets online right away through the IRCTC platform. These steps are intended to maintain openness and prohibit abuse of the instant ticketing system.