Indian Railways has recently made some important changes to how online train ticket booking works through the IRCTC website and mobile app — with a major focus on Aadhaar authentication. These changes are designed to make train ticket booking more secure, transparent, and fair for genuine passengers.

📌 Why Aadhaar Linking Is Being Introduced

🔒 1. Prevent Fraud and Abuse

• Aadhaar‑based authentication helps curb fake bookings, bulk reservations by unauthorized agents, and misuse of online systems.
• Only real passengers will be able to access certain booking windows, especially during high‑demand periods such as general reservation opening or Tatkal bookings.

⏱️ 2. Priority Booking Windows

• From October 1, 2025, only Aadhaar‑authenticated irctc users can book reserved general tickets online during the first 15 minutes after the reservation window opens each morning.
• This priority booking period makes sure genuine users have a better chance at securing seats on popular trains.

📈 3. Fairer Tatkal Access

Earlier from July 1, 2025, indian Railways made Aadhaar authentication mandatory to book Tatkal tickets online so that trusted, verified users get access and unauthorized bot or agent bookings are minimized.

🧑‍💻 How to Link Aadhaar With Your irctc Account

To enjoy the benefits of early or Tatkal bookings, you must link your Aadhaar number with your IRCTC account. Here’s how:

✅ Step‑by‑Step Process

Log in to your irctc account on the website (www.irctc.co.in) or the IRCTC mobile app.

Go to your ‘My Profile’ or ‘My Account’ section.

Find the option labeled ‘Aadhaar KYC’ or ‘Authenticate User’.

Enter your 12‑digit Aadhaar number.

You’ll receive an OTP on the mobile number linked with your Aadhaar. Enter it to complete verification.

Once verified, your account will show Aadhaar authenticated status.

🔔 Important Tip: The mobile number used for OTP must be the same one linked with your Aadhaar — otherwise the verification won’t go through.

📅 What Changes After Linking Aadhaar

🕐 Extended or Exclusive Booking Windows

• Aadhaar‑linked users can access ticket booking earlier than others — such as the first 15 minutes for general reservations.
• After the exclusive window closes, unlinked users may still book tickets later in the day, but priority access remains only for Aadhaar‑verified accounts.

📱 Stronger Security

• Linking Aadhaar triggers OTP‑based checks during booking, ensuring the person booking is the genuine passenger.
• This also reduces ticket hoarding and bot‑driven bulk reservations.

🗓️ Former Rules Extended

• Previously the Aadhaar link was mandatory only for Tatkal tickets; now it also affects general ticket reservations during peak booking periods.

🤔 What This Means for Passengers

✅ If your irctc account is authenticated with Aadhaar:

• You get early access to book reserved tickets online
• Online Tatkal and general booking becomes smoother and faster
• You help make the system fairer for everyone

❌ If your account is not linked:

• You can still book tickets, but you may miss out on priority windows.
• You may experience lower availability during high‑demand times.

🧠 Tips for a Smooth Aadhaar Linkage

✔ Double‑check that your name, date of birth and mobile number in the irctc profile match exactly with what’s on your Aadhaar — mismatches may cause verification failures.
✔ Make sure the mobile number linked to IRCTC is also linked to your Aadhaar — this is crucial for receiving the OTP.
✔ If the system shows errors like “Aadhaar already linked”, contact irctc support through their eQuery system or helpdesk for assistance. (Users have reported difficulties, so persistence may be needed.)

⚠️ For foreign travellers: Aadhaar verification isn’t applicable. They can book using their passport details online or at PRS counters with valid ID proof instead.

🛑 Things to Keep in Mind

🔹 Aadhaar authentication for ticket booking only affects online bookings; you can still book at computerised PRS counters at stations without Aadhaar.
🔹 Linking Aadhaar does not automatically share your card number with anyone — it’s used only for railway ticketing verification purposes.
🔹 Always be careful of security — safeguard your Aadhaar and irctc login details.

📌 Summary

📍 Why link Aadhaar? Enhance security, prevent fraud, and get priority booking access.
📍 When did it start? Changes have been phased in since July 2025, with general reservation priority from October 1, 2025.
📍 How to link? Through IRCTC’s “My Profile → Aadhaar KYC” section with OTP verification.

 

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