Train Ticket Booking Update: Indian Railways has made an important change to the online ticket booking system, which will come into effect from October 1, 2025.
As per the new rule, starting from this date, when general ticket bookings for any train open, only those passengers whose Aadhaar is verified will be allowed to book tickets in the first 15 minutes.
This rule will apply to both the IRCTC website and the mobile app. According to Indian Railways, this step is aimed at helping genuine passengers and preventing fake bookings or misuse by unauthorized people.
Passengers Will Benefit
The Railway Ministry has confirmed that there will be no changes to the rules for booking general reservation tickets at the PRS (Passenger Reservation System) counters. Those rules will remain the same.
Also, the current restriction on authorized railway agents, who are not allowed to book tickets during the first 10 minutes after booking opens, will still apply.
Railways believes that this new Aadhaar-based system will make the booking process more transparent and help reduce broker interference.
As a result, common passengers will have a better chance of securing a confirmed seat.
Similar Rules Were Applied from July 1
Earlier, Indian Railways had made Aadhaar verification compulsory for Tatkal ticket bookings as well. This rule was implemented from July 1, 2025.
Under it, passengers can now book Tatkal tickets only through the IRCTC website or mobile app, and Aadhaar verification is mandatory.
A few months after this change, the same rule is now being extended to general ticket bookings too. Indian Railways has also placed special restrictions on Tatkal bookings for authorized agents.
As per the rules, agents are not allowed to book Tatkal tickets during the first 30 minutes after booking opens.
