In a major move to curb bulk ticket reselling, Indian Railways has made Aadhaar authentication mandatory for online ticket bookings on IRCTC. Starting October 1, 2025, only passengers with Aadhaar-verified IRCTC accounts can book reserved general tickets during the first 15 minutes after the reservation window opens, both on the website and mobile app.
The update, announced via the Press Information Bureau (PIB), aims to prevent mass bookings for resale and ensure tickets go to genuine passengers. While this rule currently applies to Tatkal bookings, the government has extended it to general reservations as well, making the early booking process more transparent and secure.
Officials from the ministry explained that once the 15-minute period has passed, authorized ticket agents will be permitted to make online bookings. “There shall, however, be no change in timing for booking of general reserved tickets through computerized PRS counters of Indian Railways,” the circular added.
Starting today, only passengers with an IRCTC account linked to Aadhaar will be permitted to book general reserved tickets online during the initial 15 minutes after the reservation window opens. Following this timeframe, the standard booking procedure will be available to all registered users.
In the first 15 minutes after the reservation window opens, only Aadhaar-authenticated users will be allowed to book train tickets online. After this window, booking access returns to all registered users as usual. There are no changes to PRS counters, where physical ticket bookings will continue normally. Authorized agents will still face a 10-minute restriction for Tatkal bookings.
As an official explained, if a train is scheduled to depart at 10 am and bookings open at the same time a few months in advance, only Aadhaar-authenticated accounts will be able to book in the first 15 minutes—a rule previously limited to Tatkal bookings only.
From today, passengers need to connect their Aadhaar with their IRCTC account to access the 15-minute early booking period. Here's the process:
Step 1: Sign in to your IRCTC account.
Step 2: Navigate to the 'My Profile' section.
Step 3: Choose 'Aadhaar Authentication.'
Step 4: Input your 12-digit Aadhaar number.
Step 5: Finish the verification using the OTP sent to your registered mobile number.
Passengers should ensure that their IRCTC account details match their Aadhaar information to prevent verification problems.
Previously, a comparable limitation was applied to Tatkal reservations. "We had previously released a circular that enforced a 15-minute restriction for Tatkal bookings. Given the advantages of that directive, we have now chosen to apply this feature to general reservation bookings as well," stated a ministry official.
For regular train travelers, the new Aadhaar rule will have a significant impact during peak booking times by allowing only Aadhaar-verified passengers to book tickets in the initial 15 minutes. This change, effective from today, aims to create a fairer and more secure reservation system. Passengers are advised to link their Aadhaar details in advance to avoid any booking delays and ensure a hassle-free experience.