Indian Railways has announced a significant change in its online ticket booking system, set to take effect from October 1, 2025. Under the new rule, only passengers who have completed Aadhaar verification will be allowed to book tickets online during the first 15 minutes after reservation opens. This applies to both the IRCTC website and the IRCTC mobile app. While this system is already in place for Tatkal bookings, it will now be extended to general reservations as well. The primary objective behind this move is to prioritise genuine passengers during the initial booking window, which is often exploited by agents using illegal software tools to block seats.
Currently, it is common to see a surge in automated bookings by unauthorised agents as soon as ticketing opens, leaving regular passengers with limited options. With Aadhaar verification becoming mandatory in the initial phase, only verified users will be able to access bookings immediately.
There will be no change in the ticket booking timings at physical reservation counters across railway stations. Additionally, authorised agents will still be restricted from booking tickets during the first 10 minutes after online reservations open. Under the new system, the first 15 minutes of online booking will be reserved exclusively for Aadhaar-verified users. Following this, general passengers will be allowed to book tickets, while agents will remain restricted for another 10 minutes, ensuring priority access for genuine travellers.
The Railway Board has instructed the Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS) and IRCTC to implement the necessary technical updates. A widespread awareness campaign will also be launched to inform the public about the upcoming changes. Officials believe this move will enhance transparency, reduce fraudulent bookings, and ensure that seats go directly to genuine users rather than middlemen. By linking Aadhaar to ticketing, the system aims to reduce fake accounts and increase security in e-ticketing.
At present, passengers can book reservation tickets up to 60 days in advance, but illegal operators often use software to capture large numbers of tickets within seconds. This has long been a source of frustration for ordinary travellers. The new rule is seen as a key measure to counter this problem, much like the Tatkal booking reforms.
The Railway Ministry has circulated the directive to all departments, and zonal offices have been instructed to prioritise Aadhaar-authenticated users. Once implemented, Aadhaar details of each passenger will be verified within the booking system itself.
While reservation counters will continue to operate as usual, the online ticketing process will see a shift towards a more secure and fair system. Officials believe this will restore faith in advance bookings and significantly reduce the influence of illegal agents.
In summary, the new regulation is expected to benefit the average passenger, bring transparency to the booking process, and help ensure timely access to train tickets for those who genuinely need them.
