Train travelers in India may face a new requirement starting October 1st. The Indian Railways has introduced a rule for general reservation ticket booking.
Now, passengers can only book these tickets if their IRCTC account is linked to Aadhaar.
Booking will be verified using an Aadhaar OTP. This step has been introduced to prevent fraudulent bookings and curb ticket black marketing.
According to the Railway Ministry, Aadhaar verification will be required during the first 15 minutes of general reservation openings on the IRCTC website or app.
This will help prevent fake IDs, ticket black marketing by agents, and automated bookings by bots.
Passengers will also benefit from easier ticket availability and shorter waiting lists.
If your IRCTC account is not linked to Aadhaar, you may face problems booking tickets, so it’s important to link your account now.
How to Link Your IRCTC Account with Aadhaar
To book a general reservation ticket, follow these steps to link your IRCTC account with Aadhaar:
Login to the IRCTC website.
Go to My Account and click on Authenticate User.
Enter your Aadhaar number or Virtual ID and click Verify Details.
Enter the OTP received on your registered mobile number and submit.
Once this process is completed, your IRCTC account will be linked to Aadhaar, and you can easily book general reservation tickets.
Changes in Counter Booking
The new rule also applies to railway station PRS counters. Passengers must provide their Aadhaar number when booking tickets at the counter.
Verification will also be done via OTP, so it is crucial that your mobile number is linked to your Aadhaar.
