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IRCTC ticket booking process: The Indian Railways recently made several changes to its tatkal ticket booking rules under which it made tatkal ticket booking a lot easier for common people of India. However talking about advance reservation the Indian Railways recently made significant change to its ticketing policy. As per the advance ticket booking rules the IRCTC has reduced the advance reservation period (ARP) for train tickets from 120 days to now 60 days. However do you know about the rule which allows commuters to book train tickets 120 days prior. As per the rules of IRCTC mentioned on the website Foreign Tourists (including NRIs) holding valid passport can avail Foreign Tourist Quota facility to book railway tickets upto 365 days in advance online using IRCTC eTicketing website www.irctc.co.in within the current Advance Reservation Period (ARP). Readers should note that within current Advance Reservation Period (ARP) berths are allocated at the time of booking and the users will be notified about berth allocation through International SMS facility. Available classes of travel for Foreign Citizens Available classes of travel under Foreign Tourist Quota are Executive Class (EC) 1st AC (1A) 2nd AC (2A) 3rd AC(3A) AC Chair Car (CC) Sleeper(SL) and Second Sitting(2S). Update on Tatkal ticket booking process In a significant update in the Tatkal ticket booking process the Indian Railways Catering Service announced new rules for the commuters who face difficulties in booking Tatkal tickets. With effect from 01.07.2025 tickets under tatkal scheme can be booked through the website of Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC)/its app only by Aadhaar authenticated users. Subsequently Aadhaar-based OTP authentication shall also be made compulsory for the tatkal booking from 15.07.2025” reads the circular issued by the Railway Ministry on June 10. “Tatkal tickets shall be available for booking through computerised PRS (passenger reservation system) counters of Indian Railways/authorised agents only after authentication of a system generated OTP which shall be sent through the system on the mobile number furnished by the user at the time of booking. This shall also be implemented by 15.07.2025” said the circular further.