Indian Railways has taken a new step to increase the convenience and transparency of passengers. From now on, it will be mandatory for users of IRCTC (Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation) to link their account with Aadhaar card. This new rule is coming into force from 1 July 2025, which aims to prevent fake ticket booking and black marketing. With this step, efforts are being made to make the Tatkal ticket booking process more safe and easy. In this article, we will tell you how you can link your IRCTC account to Aadhaar, what are the advantages of this process, and how this change will improve your rail travel experience.
Why is it necessary to link to Aadhaar?
Indian Railways has taken several steps to reduce the fraud and illegal activities in ticket booking in recent years. This new rule of Aadhaar linking is also a step in the same direction. The Aadhaar card is a unique identity card, which verify the user’s identity. With this, IRCTC can ensure that tickets are being booked only for real passengers. Especially in Tatkal ticket booking, where competition is very high due to lack of time and availability, this rule will help prevent black marketing. In addition, this process will make ticket booking more transparent for passengers. The process of linking the IRCTC account to Aadhaar is extremely easy and quick to link your IRCTC account to Aadhaar. By following the process below, you can complete it in a few minutes:
- Login on the official website or app of IRCTC: First, login with your user ID and password on the IRCTC website (www.irctc.co.in) (www.irctc.co.in) or mobile app.
- Go to the profile section: After login, go to your profile section, where you will get the option of “Aadhaar Linking” or “Link Your Aadhaar”.
- Enter Aadhaar number: Carefully enter your 12 -digit Aadhaar number. Make sure the number is correct, because your account will not be verified due to incorrect information.
- OTP Verification: After entering Aadhaar number, an OTP (One Time Password) will be sent to the mobile number linked to your Aadhaar. Verify your identity by entering it.
- Submit: After OTP verification, your IRCTC account will be linked to Aadhaar. You will see a confirmation message on the screen.
To complete this process, you must have an active Aadhaar card and a mobile number attached to it. If your mobile number is not linked to Aadhaar, then first go to the nearest Aadhaar center and get it updated. The biggest advantage is that this process makes ticket booking more safe. The possibility of ticket booking will be reduced through fake accounts, so that real passengers will be able to get Tatkal tickets easily. In addition, your profile credibility will increase after Aadhaar verification, which will also speed up the process of ticket cancellation or refund. This rule is also beneficial for those who visit the rail regularly, as this will make their booking process even more easy.
To follow this new rule, it is important to take care of some things. First of all, make sure that your Aadhaar card and the mobile number attached to it are active. If you have not yet created your IRCTC account, register quickly and complete the process of Aadhaar linking. Also, always use the official website or app of IRCTC, so that your personal information is safe. Avoid fake websites or apps, which can try to steal your information.
