Aadhaar Train Ticket: Big Change in Train Ticket Rules from 1st Oct, Know the New Norms
Aadhaar Train Ticket: Indian Railways has introduced a major change to its online train ticket booking rules. Starting October 1, 2025, only Aadhaar-authenticated users will be able to book general reservation tickets through the IRCTC website or app during the first 15 minutes of the booking window. This new rule is aimed at making the ticket booking process more secure and transparent for passengers. Previously, this rule was only applicable to Tatkal bookings, but it will now be extended to general reserved tickets. The main goal of this move is to curb touts and ensure that genuine passengers benefit from the system.
What is the New Rule?
According to the Ministry of Railways, Aadhaar authentication has been made mandatory for booking tickets in the first 15 minutes after general reservations open for any train, effective October 1, 2025. This means that for the initial 15 minutes, only passengers who have their Aadhaar linked to their IRCTC account can book tickets online. After this 15-minute window, everyone, including authorized ticket agents, will be able to make online reservations.
Why This Change?
The primary objective of this change is to bring transparency to the booking process and stop the activities of unscrupulous individuals. It is often seen that ticket agents or touts book a large number of tickets as soon as booking opens, leaving genuine passengers without tickets. These tickets are later sold at exorbitant prices. By making Aadhaar linking mandatory, every booking will be tied to a real person, which is expected to significantly reduce such activities. According to the Railway Ministry, this step will ensure that the benefits of the reservation system reach actual passengers.
Who Will Be Affected?
This new rule will primarily affect passengers who book their train tickets online. Those who have not yet linked their Aadhaar with their IRCTC account should do so quickly, or they will not be able to book tickets in the first 15 minutes. However, there is no change in the rules for those who book tickets from computerized PRS (Passenger Reservation System) counters. They can continue to buy tickets from the counter as before. Therefore, linking Aadhaar has become crucial for passengers accustomed to booking tickets online.
Key Points to Remember
- Effective Date: October 1, 2025
- Main Change: Aadhaar authentication is mandatory for online booking in the first 15 minutes of general reservation opening.
- Objective: To stop ticket touting and benefit genuine passengers.
- Unchanged: Rules for booking at PRS counters remain the same.
This new rule is expected to make train travel smoother and more passenger-friendly. So, if you book train tickets online, don’t waste time and link your Aadhaar with your IRCTC account today.
