New IRCTC Rule: Aadhaar Verification Now Mandatory for Train Ticket Booking Between 8 AM and 10 AM

🚉 IRCTC Tightens Online Ticket Booking Rules

The Indian Railways has introduced a major update to its online ticket booking process. Starting October 28, 2025, passengers will be required to verify their Aadhaar details to book reserved train tickets between 8 AM and 10 AM on the IRCTC website or app. This move aims to curb fraudulent bookings and stop the misuse of automated software that blocks genuine users from securing tickets during peak hours.

👥 Only Aadhaar-Verified Users Can Book Tickets During Peak Hours

According to an official statement from the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), only users who have linked and verified their Aadhaar details will be allowed to book tickets during the 8 AM to 10 AM window each day.
This two-hour slot is considered the busiest booking period, as tickets for popular trains often sell out within minutes. The step is expected to enhance transparency and fairness in the ticketing process while reducing the influence of bots and agents that exploit the system.

⏰ Ticket Booking Will Be Open for All After 10 AM

IRCTC clarified that Aadhaar authentication will only be mandatory during the 8–10 AM time frame.
After 10 AM and during the rest of the day, users can continue to book tickets using the existing method without Aadhaar verification. However, on the first day of reservation, the morning time slot (8 AM–10 AM) will remain exclusive to Aadhaar-verified users.

🪪 How to Link Aadhaar with Your IRCTC Account

If you haven’t linked your IRCTC account with Aadhaar yet, you can easily complete the process online.

Follow these steps:

Visit www.irctc.co.in and log in to your account.

Go to the ‘My Account’ section and select ‘Authenticate User’.

Enter your Aadhaar Number or Virtual ID.

Verify your name, date of birth, and gender details shown on screen.

Click on ‘Verify details and receive OTP’.

Enter the OTP sent to your Aadhaar-linked mobile number.

Submit the OTP to complete verification.
Once done, you’ll receive a confirmation message stating “Successfully Authenticated.”

🚄 New Rule for General Reservation Bookings

Starting October 1, 2025, IRCTC also introduced Aadhaar verification for general reservation tickets. For the first 15 minutes after booking opens, only Aadhaar-verified users are allowed to purchase tickets. Normal users can book their tickets once the initial 15-minute window ends.

🧾 No Change in Offline Booking Process

The railway authority has confirmed that this new rule applies only to online bookings made through the IRCTC website or mobile app.
There will be no changes for those purchasing tickets via Passenger Reservation System (PRS) counters or through authorized railway agents. Offline passengers can continue using their existing booking methods.

💡 Aadhaar Verification Already in Use for Tatkal Tickets

This isn’t the first time Indian Railways has implemented Aadhaar-based verification. Since July 1, 2025, passengers booking Tatkal tickets online are required to complete Aadhaar authentication.
From July 15, 2025, the same rule was extended to PRS counters and authorized railway agents, where users must verify their identity through an OTP-based process sent to their registered mobile number.

📢 Why This Move Matters

The Aadhaar-linked booking policy marks a significant step toward curbing ticketing scams and ensuring that genuine passengers get fair access to tickets. By verifying user identity, IRCTC aims to block fake accounts, reduce misuse of bots, and promote secure, transparent digital transactions within India’s railway booking ecosystem