• Source:JND
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IRCTC Ticket Booking: Indian Railways is set to roll out a new online feature allowing travellers to change the travel date of confirmed train tickets without the need to cancel and rebook.

The initiative, scheduled to launch in January 2026, will enable passengers to modify their travel plans directly through the IRCTC website or app.

“Coming January, train passengers will be able to change the travel date of their confirmed tickets online without paying any fee,” said Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.

IRCTC Ticket Booking: Passengers Can Change Confirmed Tickets Without Cancellation

Currently, travellers have no option to alter the date of a confirmed ticket except by cancelling it and purchasing a new one often resulting in loss of money due to cancellation charges.

Under existing IRCTC rules, confirmed ticket dates can’t be edited online. The upcoming digital service will eliminate the need to cancel and rebook, thereby avoiding financial loss and procedural hassles.

Cancellation fees now range from 25 per cent of the fare (for cancellations 48-12 hours before departure) to no refund at all once the reservation chart is generated.

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“The existing procedure is unfair and not in the interest of passengers,” Vaishnaw told NDTV, adding that the new service would make the process simpler and more cost-effective.

IRCTC Ticket Booking: How Will It Work?

As per Railway Ministry officials, passengers will be able to log in to the IRCTC portal or app and reschedule the travel date of their confirmed ticket. The system will be integrated in real-time with the central reservation system.

If the fare on the new date is higher, passengers will need to pay the difference. The ticket will be rescheduled only if seats are available on the chosen date.

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Officials said the 48-hour advance rule, currently applicable at offline counters for date changes, is expected to be retained in the digital system as well. Authorities hope this move will reduce footfall at reservation counters and promote faster, paperless bookings.