From October 1, booking train tickets online will become stricter.
For the first 15 minutes after booking starts at 8 AM, only passengers with Aadhaar-linked accounts will be able to book tickets.
In addition, IRCTC’s authorized agents will not be allowed to book tickets for the first 10 minutes.
They can start booking only after 8:10 AM.
This means passengers with Aadhaar-linked accounts will get priority, and agents will get access slightly later.
Why Has IRCTC Changed the Rules?
Earlier, Indian Railways had made Aadhaar mandatory for Tatkal bookings to stop fraudulent ticket bookings.
Now, Aadhaar linkage is required for the first 15 minutes of general booking as well.
Currently, train reservations open 60 days in advance at 8 AM.
As soon as the booking window opens, lakhs of passengers, especially those traveling to states like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, rush to book tickets.
This causes the server to slow down, and confirmed tickets get booked within minutes.
By restricting early access, IRCTC aims to give genuine passengers with Aadhaar-linked accounts a fairer chance at getting tickets.
Best Time to Book for a Confirmed Ticket
8:00–8:10 AM → Only Aadhaar-linked accounts can book tickets.
8:10–8:15 AM → Authorized IRCTC agents can book tickets, and since they usually have faster internet speeds, chances of getting a confirmed ticket are highest in this 5-minute window.
After 8:15 AM → All other users (without Aadhaar linkage) join the booking, making it harder to get a confirmed ticket.
So, if you want the best chance of confirmation, booking through an authorized agent between 8:10 and 8:15 AM is the most effective option.
