IRCTC Makes Major Change: Train tickets cannot be booked without this document; Deets inside

This change is part of the Railways efforts to make ticket booking more secure, transparent, and convenient for genuine passengers. Passengers are advised to verify their Aadhaar as soon as possible to avoid any inconvenience during ticket booking.

New Delhi: Indian Railways has implemented a new rule in the ticket booking process on its IRCTC website and mobile app. Aadhaar will now be mandatory for booking train tickets between 8 am and 10 am. The Railways' aim with this move is to prevent fraud and ensure tickets reach the right passengers during rush hour.

Why Is 8 Am To 10 Am Special?

This morning time slot is for popular trains with the highest demand for seats. People often manipulate the ticket booking process by creating multiple accounts or using automated software. To prevent this, the Railways has reserved this time only for Aadhaar-verified users. Those who have not linked their Aadhaar can book tickets at any time other than 8 am and 10 am. This rule has come into effect from 28 October.

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Previous Aadhaar Rule

The Railways had previously made Aadhaar mandatory for Tatkal ticket booking. Aadhaar was required for Tatkal ticket booking from July 1st. Subsequently, OTP-based Aadhaar verification was implemented for ticket bookings online, at agents, or at PRS counters from July 15th, 2025. This rule has now been extended to the morning time slot as well.

How To Verify Aadhaar

Those who haven't yet verified Aadhaar can do so easily:

• Visit the IRCTC website http://www.irctc.co.in and log in
• Go to My Profile and select the User Verification option
• Enter your Aadhaar number or Virtual ID and verify the details
• Click Verify Details
• An OTP will be sent to your Aadhaar-linked mobile number; enter it
• After verification is complete, you can book tickets anytime between 8am and 10am

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This new rule applies only to online ticket bookings. There are no changes to the ticket booking process at PRS counters. Passengers booking tickets in the morning will need to complete Aadhaar verification first to avoid failed transactions.

This change is part of the Railways efforts to make ticket booking more secure, transparent, and convenient for genuine passengers. Passengers are advised to verify their Aadhaar as soon as possible to avoid any inconvenience during ticket booking.