Rule Change Alert for Train Ticket Booking: IRCTC Makes Aadhaar Mandatory For Online Ticket Booking Between 8 AM And 10 AM
Rule Change Alert for Train Ticket Booking: IRCTC Makes Aadhaar Mandatory For Online Ticket Booking Between 8 AM And 10 AM
New rule aims to stop misuse and ensure fair access to reservations
The Indian Railways has introduced a major change for passengers booking tickets through the IRCTC website and mobile app. From October 28, 2025, Aadhaar authentication has been made compulsory for booking reserved train tickets online during the high-demand morning window of 8 am to 10 am.
According to the Ministry of Railways, this step has been taken to ensure that reservation benefits reach genuine travellers and to curb misuse by touts, bulk bookers and automated software. Officials said the move supports the government’s effort to increase transparency and fairness in online ticketing.
The 8 am–10 am period is usually the busiest for popular trains, as it marks the opening of the reservation window for many routes. Under the new rule, only IRCTC users who have completed Aadhaar-based verification can book during these two hours. Those who have not linked their Aadhaar can still book tickets at other times of the day, with no restrictions.
This change applies only to online reservations. Passengers booking through Passenger Reservation System (PRS) counters can continue to follow the usual process without Aadhaar requirements. The Railways also confirmed that authorised agents will still face a 10-minute restriction at the start of general ticket sales to prevent bulk bookings.
The update builds on earlier measures. Since July 1 this year, Aadhaar verification has been mandatory for the first 30 minutes of online Tatkal booking. From July 15, an OTP-based Aadhaar authentication system was added for tickets booked through IRCTC, agents and PRS counters. The latest change now extends that verification to morning general bookings made online.
Passengers who depend on IRCTC for early morning reservations are advised to complete Aadhaar authentication to avoid failed transactions or delays. Once verified, users can continue booking normally across all time slots.
For those who still need to link Aadhaar, IRCTC offers a simple verification process:
- Log in to www.irctc.co.in
- Go to ‘My Account’ → ‘Authenticate User’
- Enter your Aadhaar number and check your personal details
- Receive and enter the OTP sent to your Aadhaar-linked mobile number
- Submit the form and complete verification
A confirmation message appears once authentication is successful.
With this rule now active, the Railways hopes to reduce misuse of online booking channels, improve access for genuine passengers, and create a more secure and transparent ticketing system.
