Only registered passengers will be able to book tickets on IRCTC. Even IRCTC users who have linked their IRCTC account to Aadhaar will not be able to book confirmed tickets in the first 15 minutes.

Starting October 1, 2025, Indian Railways has made a major change to online ticket booking. Aadhaar verification will now be mandatory for booking general reservation tickets, just like for Tatkal tickets. According to the Railways, this step has been taken to prevent ticket black marketing, agent fraud, and fraudulent bookings. So, let us tell you which tasks you must not complete on your IRCTC account, which will prevent you from booking tickets 15 minutes in advance.

Who will not get the extra 15 minutes for ticket booking?

After the ticket booking window opens on IRCTC, only registered passengers will be allowed to book tickets from 8:00 AM to 8:15 AM. This rule applies to both AC and non-AC classes. During this period, agents and passengers with fake IDs will not be able to book tickets. Furthermore, IRCTC users who have linked their IRCTC account to Aadhaar will also not be able to book confirmed tickets in the first 15 minutes.

Changes Made in Counter Booking

Indian Railways has also made significant changes to counter-booking. Aadhaar verification and OTP verification will now be mandatory for passengers booking tickets at railway station PRS counters. If you are booking a ticket for someone else, they will also need to provide the passenger's Aadhaar number and OTP.

How to Link Aadhaar with IRCTC Account?

1. To link Aadhaar with IRCTC account, first log in to the IRCTC website.

2. Next, go to the "My Profile" section and select the "Link Your Aadhaar" or "Aadhaar KYC" option.

3. Now, you will need to enter your 12-digit Aadhaar number and name.

4. After entering your Aadhaar number and name, enter the OTP received on your mobile number and click Submit.

5. After submitting this OTP, your account will be verified with Aadhaar.

Direct benefits for passengers

If your IRCTC account is linked to Aadhaar, you will be able to book tickets within the first 15 minutes. This will also prevent fake IDs and fraudulent agents. This change will reduce waitlisted tickets and make it easier for ordinary passengers to obtain reserved tickets. Furthermore, IRCTC currently has 141.5 million registered users, but only 18.5 million have verified their accounts with Aadhaar.

Read more
England Crush New Zealand in 2nd T20I as Phil Salt and Harry Brook Steal the Show
Newspoint
BREAKING Jannik Sinner snubs representing Italy as Carlos Alcaraz denied rematch
Newspoint
Raj Kapoor's legendary Diwali: When Bollywood lit up RK Studio, with special gifts and cherished relationships
Newspoint
Rakul Preet Singh has funny OOPS moment during Diwali dinner; gets nearly hit by Jackky Bhagnani's nephew
Newspoint
Who is Dua Lipa's fiancé Callum Turner as he reveals why they're a perfect match
Newspoint
Team India's first-ever player from Jammu & Kashmir, Parvez Rasool, announces retirement
Newspoint
"Tum no 1 commentator ho aur no 1 insaan ho" - Navjot Singh Sidhu shares special message for Irfan Pathan
Newspoint
The Government’s Recommended Monthly Grocery Budget Has People Feeling Gaslit
Tezzbuzz
Four Indian Greco-Roman Wrestlers crash out in opening round at the U23 World Championships
Tezzbuzz
Who Is Daniel Naroditsky? Remembering ‘Danya’, The Grandmaster Who Taught World To Love Chess
Tezzbuzz