Big Change in Train Ticket Booking Rules from October 1! Get 15 Minutes Extra
Train Ticket Booking: Here is some big news for the millions of passengers who travel by Indian Railways. To bring transparency to the ticket booking system and curb the influence of touts, Indian Railways is set to introduce a new rule. This new regulation for online ticket booking will come into effect from October 1, 2025. It is expected that this change will make it easier for genuine passengers to get confirmed tickets. Let’s find out the details of this new rule.
What is the New Rule?
According to the new rule by Indian Railways, from October 1, 2025, during the first 15 minutes of the opening of general quota ticket booking via the IRCTC website or mobile app, only passengers who have their Aadhaar linked with their IRCTC account will be able to book tickets. This means the first 15 minutes of the booking window will be exclusively reserved for Aadhaar-verified users. After this period, all users will be able to book tickets as usual.
Why This Change?
The main objective of Indian Railways behind introducing this new rule is to make the ticket booking process more secure and transparent. It is often seen that within minutes of booking opening, agents or touts book a large number of tickets at once using advanced software. This leaves ordinary passengers unable to get tickets, especially during festive seasons or emergencies. With the new rule, every booking will be linked to a real person, which is expected to significantly reduce the illegal activities of touts. According to the Railway Ministry, this step will ensure that the benefits of the reservation system reach the actual passengers.
Impact on Passengers
This new rule will have some positive effects and some things for passengers to keep in mind.
- Benefit: General passengers will now have a secure window at the beginning of the booking period to book their tickets, which will increase their chances of getting a confirmed ticket.
- Action Required: Passengers who book tickets online must link their Aadhaar with their IRCTC account. Those who haven’t done so yet should complete this process quickly, or they will not be able to book tickets in the first 15 minutes.
How to Link Aadhaar?
The process of linking Aadhaar with your IRCTC account is very simple:
- First, log in to your IRCTC account.
- Go to the ‘My Profile’ section.
- Select the ‘Aadhaar Authentication’ option.
- Enter your 12-digit Aadhaar number.
- You will receive an OTP on the mobile number linked with your Aadhaar. Complete the verification process using that OTP.
By following these simple steps, you can get your account ready for the new rule.
Other Important Information
- Offline Booking: There is no change in the rules for those who buy tickets from computerized Passenger Reservation System (PRS) counters.
- Tatkal Booking: The rule making Aadhaar linking mandatory for Tatkal ticket bookings has already been implemented.
This new step by Indian Railways is undoubtedly a commendable initiative. It will bring more transparency to the ticket booking system and benefit the common passenger. So, if you book train tickets online, don’t delay and link your Aadhaar with your IRCTC account today.
