From 1 October 2025, passengers booking general reserved tickets online will need to authenticate their Aadhaar in the first 15 minutes of the reservation window. The Ministry of Railways announced the change in a statement issued by the Press Information Bureau (PIB), saying the step has been taken to prevent misuse of the digital ticketing system and to give genuine passengers priority access.
Online bookings under tighter checks
Under the new rule, Aadhaar verification will be mandatory only for those using the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) website or mobile app to book general reserved tickets during the initial 15 minutes of opening. After this period, bookings can continue as usual without Aadhaar authentication.
Officials said the measure has been introduced after complaints that bulk bookings by touts and unauthorised agents often left genuine passengers struggling to secure confirmed seats. Aadhaar-based authentication, the ministry noted, is expected to reduce such practices by ensuring only verified users access the system during the crucial opening window.
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Counter bookings to remain unchanged
The ministry clarified there will be no change in the existing timings for booking at computerised Passenger Reservation System (PRS) counters across railway stations. Passengers opting for offline ticket purchases will continue to follow the same process, without any requirement of Aadhaar authentication.
Agents barred for 10 minutes
As per existing rules, authorised ticketing agents are barred from booking tickets for the first 10 minutes after general reservations open. The ministry confirmed that this restriction will remain in force, alongside the new Aadhaar-linked digital requirement. This ensures that ordinary passengers, whether booking online or at counters, get the first opportunity to reserve seats.
Why Aadhaar was brought in
Railway officials said the Aadhaar mandate during the initial minutes is part of a broader effort to strengthen transparency and fairness in ticketing. The ministry highlighted that Aadhaar authentication has already been used successfully in other services and is seen as a safeguard against fraudulent activity.
Indian Railways, which runs one of the largest ticketing operations in the world, handles around 10 lakh reserved passengers daily. Officials said the introduction of Aadhaar in online bookings is targeted specifically at the high-demand opening window, where confirmed tickets for popular trains often get exhausted within minutes. While the rule tightens digital booking checks, passengers booking later in the day or through counters will face no additional requirements.
