From October 1, 2025, solely Aadhaar-verified customers might be allowed to ebook normal practice tickets on-line throughout the first quarter-hour of the reserving window to curb fraud and guarantee truthful entry.
The Railway Board is about to implement new guidelines from October 1, 2025, that may require passengers to have Aadhaar-verified IRCTC accounts to ebook normal reservation tickets throughout the first quarter-hour after the reserving window opens for any practice. This rule, at present relevant solely to Tatkal bookings, will now lengthen to normal reservations as nicely, aiming to curb fraudulent bookings and guarantee truthful entry for real travellers.
How the brand new rule will work
For instance, if a passenger desires to ebook a ticket on the Shiv Ganga Specific from New Delhi to Varanasi for November 15, the reserving window will open at 12:20 AM on September 16. Between 12:20 AM and 12:35 AM, solely customers with Aadhaar-verified IRCTC accounts will have the ability to ebook tickets for this practice. These with out Aadhaar authentication won’t be able to make any bookings throughout this vital 15-minute interval when demand is often very excessive.
Impression throughout competition and marriage ceremony seasons
Throughout main festivals like Diwali, Chhath Puja, and Holi, in addition to marriage ceremony seasons, there’s a surge in demand for practice tickets, particularly proper when the reserving window opens 60 days earlier than the journey date. This results in intense competitors amongst travellers making an attempt to safe tickets by way of normal reserving, just like the push seen throughout Tatkal reserving. The brand new Aadhaar-based rule is anticipated to make the reserving course of extra clear and scale back fraudulent bookings throughout these peak occasions.
Aadhaar authentication already necessary for tatkal reserving
This isn’t the primary time Aadhaar authentication has been linked with practice ticket bookings. In July 2025, the Indian Railways made it necessary for passengers to have Aadhaar-verified IRCTC accounts to ebook Tatkal tickets on-line. Customers with out Aadhaar verification have been barred from reserving Tatkal tickets by way of the IRCTC web site and cellular app.
What passengers must do
Passengers are suggested to hyperlink their Aadhaar numbers with their IRCTC accounts nicely earlier than October 1 to keep away from inconvenience. The final reservation reserving window runs every day from 12:20 AM to 11:45 PM, with reserving opening 60 days earlier than the journey date. The brand new rule will apply particularly to the essential first quarter-hour of the reserving window when ticket demand is highest.
With these adjustments, the Railways purpose to make sure a safer and truthful ticketing course of for thousands and thousands of passengers throughout India.