Indian Railways Big Update: From October 1 Aadhaar Verification Becomes Compulsory for Online Train Ticket Booking – Full Guide You Can’t Miss 🚆
IRCTC New Rules 2025: Aadhaar Mandatory for General Reservation Tickets Between 8:00–8:15 AM | What Every Passenger Must Know!
Starting October 1, Indian Railways is rolling out significant changes in its online train ticket booking system that will directly impact millions of passengers across the country. After the July 1 update that modified the Tatkal ticket booking process, the Ministry of Railways has now announced fresh rules for general reservation tickets. To curb the misuse of the system and ensure fair access to genuine passengers, the Railways has made e-Aadhaar authentication mandatory during the first 15 minutes of online booking every day. This rule applies to both the IRCTC website and the IRCTC mobile app, reinforcing the government’s digital verification push.
From 8:00 am to 8:15 am, only Aadhaar-verified users will be able to book train tickets online. The move aims to block unauthorized ticket brokers who exploit the system to corner tickets meant for ordinary travelers. While booking from railway counters remains unaffected, this digital update ensures that the benefits of online reservations reach genuine passengers first. Let’s break down everything you need to know about this major update, how it affects your ticket booking experience, and why Aadhaar verification is becoming central to India’s railway reservation system. 🚉
Aadhaar Verification in Train Ticket Booking 🆔
From October 1, 2025, Aadhaar authentication becomes mandatory during the first 15 minutes of opening general reservation tickets online. This means if you try to book between 8:00 am and 8:15 am, you must have your Aadhaar linked and verified on the IRCTC platform.
The primary reason is to stop ticket touts and brokers from monopolizing bookings. Earlier, Tatkal tickets were targeted for misuse, and changes were introduced in July. Now, the focus has shifted to ensuring general reservation tickets are equally protected.
Why Aadhaar Verification is Necessary ✅
The Aadhaar-based booking update is designed to protect passengers’ interests and strengthen the fairness of the online ticketing system. Aadhaar’s unique biometric and digital ID system makes it harder for fraudulent accounts or bulk fake bookings to succeed.
By introducing this step, the Railway Ministry is ensuring:
- Priority access for genuine travelers
- Elimination of large-scale misuse by middlemen
- Better transparency in the digital reservation ecosystem
IRCTC Booking Rules: What Stays the Same 🔒
Despite these updates, some existing booking rules remain unchanged. The 10-minute restriction on authorized railway agents will continue. This means agents cannot book general reserved tickets during the first 10 minutes after booking opens.
Additionally, for those booking via railway reservation counters, the process remains exactly the same—no Aadhaar verification will be required at physical counters. This balance ensures that offline passengers are not affected while enhancing the security of the online booking system.
How to Link Aadhaar with IRCTC Account 🖥️📱
To use this new rule without hassle, passengers must ensure their Aadhaar is properly linked with their IRCTC profile. Here’s the simple process:
- Log in to your IRCTC account.
- Go to “My Profile” and select “Aadhaar KYC”.
- Enter your 12-digit Aadhaar number.
- Verify using the OTP sent to your registered mobile number.
- Once authenticated, your Aadhaar is successfully linked.
This step ensures smooth booking during the restricted Aadhaar window.
Impact on Passengers and Brokers 🎫
For genuine passengers, this rule is good news. It provides them with a fair chance to book tickets without competing against bots or bulk-booking agents. For brokers, however, this is a major setback since they often misuse loopholes to block seats in advance.
The introduction of Aadhaar verification is part of the Railways’ Digital India initiative, bringing transparency, speed, and security to one of the largest ticketing systems in the world.
Key Takeaways from the New Rule 📌
- From October 1, Aadhaar authentication is mandatory between 8:00 am and 8:15 am for booking online general reservation tickets.
- The rule applies to IRCTC website and mobile app users.
- No Aadhaar needed for counter bookings.
- Existing 10-minute restriction on agents still continues.
- The change targets ticket brokers and benefits genuine passengers.
Conclusion 🎯
The Indian Railways’ move to enforce Aadhaar verification for online ticket bookings is a bold step toward ensuring transparency and curbing fraud in the system. By giving priority access to genuine users, this initiative strikes at the heart of ticket hoarding and misuse by agents. For passengers, the key is to link Aadhaar with their IRCTC account before October 1 to enjoy hassle-free booking. 🚆
The Indian Railways is not just making bookings safer but also reinforcing trust in the digital ecosystem. With millions relying on IRCTC daily, these changes are set to reshape the future of online railway reservations in India.
FAQs ❓
Q1. From when will Aadhaar verification be mandatory for online ticket booking?
From October 1, 2025, Aadhaar verification will be required during the first 15 minutes of general ticket bookings online.
Q2. Will I need Aadhaar verification if I book tickets at a railway counter?
No, Aadhaar authentication is only required for online bookings via IRCTC. Counter bookings remain unchanged.
Q3. Do Tatkal ticket bookings also require Aadhaar verification?
Tatkal booking rules already changed in July 2025. Aadhaar authentication may apply based on specific booking windows, but this new rule specifically affects general reservations.
Q4. How do I link my Aadhaar with my IRCTC account?
You can log in to IRCTC, go to My Profile > Aadhaar KYC, and complete verification via OTP.
Q5. Why is this change being introduced?
The change aims to prevent ticket brokers and misuse of the system, ensuring genuine passengers get priority access.
