Aadhaar Mandatory for Early IRCTC Ticket Bookings as Railways Tighten Rules to Curb Touts

Under the revised system, only passengers whose IRCTC accounts are authenticated with Aadhaar can book tickets during the initial hours of the opening day. Reserved ticket booking opens 60 days before the date of journey, with the window starting daily at 8 am. Users without Aadhaar linkage will be allowed to book only after the restricted period ends.

Railway officials said the move is part of a phased rollout aimed at preventing misuse of the online booking system by touts, fake accounts, and automated software. The first phase began on December 29, when non-Aadhaar-linked users were blocked from booking between 8 am and 12 noon. The second phase, implemented from January 5, extends the restriction until 4 pm. From January 12, such users will be barred from booking tickets for the entire day, from 8 am to midnight.

“The objective is to ensure fair access to tickets for genuine passengers, especially on the opening day when demand is highest,” a railway official said. Authorities believe Aadhaar authentication will make it harder for agents and touts to corner large numbers of tickets using multiple or fake accounts.

The rule applies only to general quota reservations and does not affect Tatkal or other special quotas. Aadhaar verification is also being made mandatory at railway reservation counters, where passengers will need to authenticate bookings through an OTP sent to the Aadhaar-linked mobile number. If a ticket is being booked on behalf of another person, their Aadhaar details and OTP will also be required.

Indian Railways has not announced any alternative mechanism for passengers who do not possess Aadhaar. Such users will be able to book tickets only after the restricted period on the opening day, officials said.

Passengers facing technical issues have been advised to contact the IRCTC helpline (139) for booking-related problems, while Aadhaar-related concerns can be addressed through the UIDAI helpline (1947) or at railway station counters.

The new booking rule follows an earlier policy change implemented on November 1, 2024, when Indian Railways reduced the advance reservation period from 120 days to 60 days. Officials said the combined measures are intended to streamline reservations, improve transparency, and increase the chances of confirmed tickets for ordinary passengers.