Starting October 1, 2025, Indian Railways will roll out a major reform in its online ticket booking system on the IRCTC website and mobile app. For the first 15 minutes after booking opens for general reserved tickets, only users with Aadhaar-authenticated accounts will be allowed to book tickets.
Why This Change
This move is designed to curb ticket fraud and stop touts from using fake accounts to hoard tickets during high-demand booking windows like Tatkal.
Recent enforcement data revealed:
- 5,796 illegal agents arrested for using fake user IDs
- Tickets worth ₹12.2 crore seized
- 5 crore suspicious accounts deactivated
- 9 lakh fake PNRs created within the first 5 minutes of Tatkal bookings
What It Means for Passengers
- Online bookings only: Applies to the IRCTC website and app
- Aadhaar-verification needed: Only verified users can book in the first 15 minutes
- No change at counters: PRS counters will function as usual
- Agent restrictions stay: Agents are still barred from booking during the first 10 minutes
Bigger Goal
The Ministry of Railways says this step is part of its wider effort to improve transparency and ensure fair access for genuine passengers. Other steps include enhanced data analytics, tech upgrades, and strict action against touts.
Key takeaway: From October 1, only Aadhaar-verified users can book tickets during the crucial first 15 minutes of online reservations—making the system faster, safer, and fairer.
