Indian Railways has made a major change to online general ticket booking on IRCTC, effective October 1, 2025. To book tickets, it is now mandatory to link your IRCTC account with your Aadhaar number. The Railways’ goal is to ensure that tickets are available only to genuine passengers and to maintain complete transparency in the booking process.
According to this unprecedented rule, passengers who have not linked their IRCTC account with their Aadhaar will not be able to book tickets within the first 15 minutes of the opening of online general ticket booking. Starting October 1, the Railways will give special priority to passengers whose Aadhaar is verified. This means that passengers with Aadhaar will be able to book tickets 15 minutes before the booking opens. This is a significant benefit, which directly translates into faster booking times for passengers with Aadhaar.
How to Link Aadhaar with IRCTC Account
If you want to link your IRCTC account with your Aadhaar, follow these simple steps.
First, visit the official IRCTC website or mobile app. Log in by entering your username and password.
After logging in, open the ‘My Account’ section in the top right. Here, you’ll see the “Link Your Aadhaar” or “Aadhaar KYC” option. Select it.
Now, enter your 12-digit Aadhaar number in the box provided and click the “Send OTP” button.
You will receive an OTP on your Aadhaar-linked mobile number. Enter it on the website and click “Verify.”
After successful verification, a message will appear on your screen stating that your Aadhaar has been successfully linked to your IRCTC account.
Why is transparency in ticket booking important
The Railways has taken this bold step to increase transparency in ticket booking. Its primary objective is to significantly reduce the problem of ticket black marketing or ticket hoarding. Tickets will now be available only to genuine travelers. This will increase the chances of obtaining confirmed tickets for common travelers and curb the black market.
Where will this rule not apply?
This rule will currently apply only to IRCTC’s online general ticket booking. Aadhaar linking is already mandatory for Tatkal ticket booking. There are no changes to the ticket booking system at railway counters. Passengers who have already booked tickets at the counter will be able to do so as before. Aadhaar linking has now become essential to avail online services.