Starting October 1, the rules for online train booking will change. Only people with Aadhaar-linked accounts can book tickets in the first 15 minutes after booking starts at 8 am. IRCTC agents cannot book in the first 10 minutes. They will be allowed to book only after that. This rule is made to give common people a better chance to get tickets.

Indian Railways had already made Aadhaar important for Tatkal bookings to stop fake and fraud bookings. Now Aadhaar is also needed for the first 10 minutes of normal bookings. With this rule, people who have Aadhaar-linked accounts will have a higher chance of getting confirmed tickets.

New Rules from October 1

From October 1, online train booking will follow new rules. Only Aadhaar-linked accounts can book tickets in the first 15 minutes after booking starts at 8 am. IRCTC agents cannot book in the first 10 minutes. They will be allowed only after that. These rules are made to give normal passengers a better chance to get tickets.

How to Get a Confirmed Ticket

If your Aadhaar is linked, you can book early and have a higher chance of getting a confirmed seat. Indian Railways has already used Aadhaar for Tatkal tickets to stop fake bookings. Now it is also needed for the first 10 minutes of general bookings. To improve your chances, link Aadhaar to your IRCTC account, log in before 8 am, and book quickly when booking opens.

When is the chance higher?

As soon as booking opens at 8 am, many IRCTC users start booking. This makes the server slow. Most users have normal internet speed, so it takes more time. In the meantime, many confirmed tickets get booked. IRCTC agents usually have faster internet, but they cannot book in the first 10 minutes.

Best time to book

If a person books with an IRCTC agent just after 8:10 am, the chance of getting a confirmed ticket is higher than normal users. The peak time lasts only 5 minutes. After 8:15 am, all users without Aadhaar linkage can also book, which increases the rush. So, booking through an agent between 8:10 am and 8:15 am gives the best chance of getting a confirmed ticket.