IRCTC Update: From Oct 1, Early Train Ticket Booking Only for Aadhaar-Linked Accounts

The Indian Railways has stated that from October 1 onwards, only Aadhaar-authenticated users will be able to book reserved general tickets during the first 15 minutes of the opening of general reservation.

What is IRCTC?

The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) is the authorized online portal for booking Indian train tickets. It manages millions of transactions every day and provides passengers an online platform to reserve their tickets, check train availability and make travel plans.

The division of Indian Railways is IRCTC which plays a major role in providing the travelers a happy and hassle-free reservation experience across the country.

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How the New Rule Works?

As of October 1, 2025, a passenger to book general reserved tickets online in the first 15 minutes of reservation opening should link their Aadhaar with the IRCTC account. This early booking window only be available for users who have been validated by Aadhaar on the IRCTC website or mobile app.

Key points of this rule:

• 15 Minutes: Booking online is allowed only by Aadhaar-verified users.
• Post 15 Minutes: Regular booking opens up for all.
• PRS Counters: Physical ticket booking goes on unchanged.
• Authorized ticket agents cannot book for the first 10 minutes for tatkal booking.

Why Is Aadhaar Authentication Needed in this Case?

This is aimed at curbing fraudulent bookings and the eminent looming market actors, most of them being ticket from hoarding tickets at the point of opening. With Aadhaar authentication it is hoped that the Indian Railways will put real passengers on a level field with respect to booking tickets during peak demand times. This model was tried earlier in Tatkal bookings and is now being extended to general reservations.

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How to Link Your Aadhaar with Your IRCTC Account?

For travelers who want to benefit from the new rule they will have to authenticate their IRCTC account using an Aadhaar number. Here are the steps:

• Log in to your IRCTC account.
• Go to the My Profile.
• Select Aadhaar KYC or Aadhaar Authentication.
• Then enter your 12-digit Aadhaar number.
• Then verify using an OTP sent on your registered mobile.
• User should ensure that the details in your IRCTC profile match from in Aadhaar that you do not face any authentication error.

What Does This Mean to Travelers?

This update will ensure earlier access to reserved seats for regular passengers and thwart competition from ticketing agents and bots during peak hours with it promotes openness and fairness in railway reservations giving genuine users priority.

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Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. Rules may change based on Indian Railways policy updates and official government notifications.