Aadhaar Users Get Priority in IRCTC Booking from Oct 1

Beginning October 1, 2025, Indian Railways will implement a major change in its online ticket booking system. The first 15 minutes of general reserved ticket booking on the IRCTC website and mobile app will be exclusively open to Aadhaar-authenticated user IDs.

This step aims to curb ticket fraud and block the activities of touts who exploit the online system by using fake user IDs to hoard tickets, especially during high-demand windows.

Key Change: What Will Happen from October 1

• Only Aadhaar-verified user accounts will be allowed to book tickets during the first 15 minutes of the online reservation opening.
• The change does not affect bookings at PRS counters, which will follow the current schedule.
• The existing restriction that prohibits agents from booking tickets during the first 10 minutes of reservation will remain unchanged.
• The directive was issued by the Ministry of Railways to all 17 railway zones and the Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS) for implementation.

Why This Change Was Necessary

A senior Railway official explained that the move was prompted by alarming data about the scale of misuse,

• 5,796 illegal ticketing agents were arrested for booking tickets using fake IRCTC user IDs.
• These agents had procured future journey tickets worth ₹12.2 crore, which were later seized.
• Over 2.5 crore suspicious IRCTC accounts were deactivated in recent months.
• Between January and May 2025, nearly 2.9 lakh suspicious PNRs were generated within the first five minutes of Tatkal bookings.
• Such widespread fraud meant that genuine passengers were often unable to secure tickets, particularly during peak travel seasons or under the Tatkal scheme.

No Impact on Physical Counters or General Agents

The changes are limited to online bookings through the IRCTC platform. Key clarifications include,

• No changes will be made to the Passenger Reservation System (PRS) counters at railway stations.
• The existing rule barring agents from ticket bookings for the first 10 minutes after reservation opens will remain in force.
• General users not verified with Aadhaar will be able to book tickets after the initial 15-minute window.

Policy Goals and Ongoing Monitoring

• The Ministry of Railways stressed that this move is part of a broader effort to ensure transparency and integrity in the ticketing system. Other ongoing initiatives include,
• Regular data analytics to identify suspicious booking patterns
• Continued enforcement actions against touts
• Technical upgrades to ensure fair access and system speed for legitimate users

Key Takeaways

• Policy effective from: October 1, 2025
• Applies to: IRCTC website and app bookings only
• Exclusive 15-minute slot: For Aadhaar-authenticated users
• No change: In PRS counter timings or agent restrictions