If you ride the train and purchase tickets online, you will want to pay attention to this announcement. The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has implemented a significant change to the ticket reservation process, which began on October 28, 2025.
According to the new guideline, only Aadhaar-verified users can book train tickets during the hours of 8 am – 10 am. If your IRCTC account is not registered with your Aadhaar information, you will not be able to book tickets during this time slot.
What Is the New Rule of Railways?
On or after October 28, 2025, Indian Railways have reserved the 8 am – 10 am time slot for only Aadhaar-verified users. After 10 am, the process on IRCTC will return to normal where the booking process is open to all users.
According to the Railways, “this is a high demand slot” where people tend to book tickets during this time. Previously, many agents and bots would book many tickets at once, so general consumers were unable to book a ticket and receive a confirmed message of the seat. Now with the use of Aadhaar verification, the Railways can legitimize each user’s identity and ensure that train tickets are only booked in the name of the actual passenger.
Why Was This Decision Taken?
IRCTC said that in recent times, cases of fraud and multiple bookings have increased. Many booking agents used software to book hundreds of tickets within seconds. Because of this, common passengers could not get confirmed seats. Now, the Aadhaar-based verification system will make the process more transparent and give priority to real passengers.
How to Link Aadhaar with IRCTC Account
- If you have not linked your Aadhaar card with your IRCTC account yet, don’t worry. You can do it easily from home in a few minutes.
- Go to www.irctc.co.in and log in to your account.
- Click on ‘My Profile’ → ‘Authenticate Aadhaar’.
- Enter your Aadhaar number or Virtual ID.
- You will receive an OTP on your registered mobile number.
- Enter the OTP and click ‘Submit’.
- After this, your IRCTC account will be Aadhaar verified, and you can book tickets between 8 am and 10 am.
New Rule for Tatkal Ticket Booking
From July 1, 2025, Aadhaar verification is mandatory for Tatkal tickets. From July 15, 2025, an OTP-based verification system was also added. This means while booking, you will get an OTP on your mobile number, which you must enter. This ensures the ticket is booked only for the person whose Aadhaar and account are linked — not by agents.
Change in General Ticket Booking
From October 1, 2025, the first 15 minutes of general ticket booking are reserved only for Aadhaar verified users. During this time, others cannot book tickets. This step helps prevent fraud and automatic bookings at the start.
Offline Bookings Not Affected
This rule applies only to online bookings on the IRCTC website or app. Passengers who book tickets at PRS counters or through authorised agents can book anytime, as before.
Important Tip for Travellers
If somebody book train tickets online often, they must link their IRCTC account with Aadhaar as soon as possible. Everybody can book tickets between 8 am and 10 am, keep their account safe, and protect them from future rule changes.