For millions of Indians who swear by train travel, booking a ticket on time often feels like winning a race. Those frantic first few minutes after the reservation window opens can decide whether you get a confirmed seat or end up on the waiting list. Now, Indian Railways is tightening the rules to make sure genuine passengers get a fair shot. From October 1, 2025, anyone logging on to book a general reserved ticket through the IRCTC website or mobile app in the first 15 minutes will need to authenticate their Aadhaar.
Until now, Aadhaar verification was mandatory only for Tatkal bookings, where tickets often vanish in seconds. With this new step, the Railway Ministry hopes to bring the same fairness to general reservations. Officials say the aim is simple: stop misuse by agents and bots, and ensure that tickets go to real travellers, not into the hands of unscrupulous middlemen. On popular routes, seats are snapped up within the first 10 minutes. By restricting early access to Aadhaar-authenticated users, the Railways believes it can prevent mass blocking of tickets and level the playing field.
This isn’t the first time Indian Railways has experimented with such restrictions. A circular issued earlier barred authorised agents from booking Tatkal tickets for the first 30 minutes. The policy paid off, and now a similar approach is being extended to general ticket bookings.
For passengers who prefer the old-fashioned way of buying tickets at PRS (Passenger Reservation System) counters, nothing changes. The Ministry has clarified that the booking timings at railway stations remain exactly the same. Similarly, the existing rule for authorised agents who cannot book opening-day reserved tickets during the first 10 minutes—will continue. So while Aadhaar users will get the first bite of the cherry online, agents still have to wait before they can start booking.
This staggered system ensures that individual passengers, and not professional agents, get priority access to the first batch of tickets. The Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS) and IRCTC are already at work to update platforms and make the transition smooth. Zonal Railways, meanwhile, have been directed to spread awareness and issue clear guidelines so that passengers know exactly what to expect come October.
For everyday travellers, the message is clear—if you plan to book online as soon as the reservation window opens, make sure your Aadhaar is linked and ready. Without it, you will need to wait until the 15-minute mark before you can access the booking system. With tickets opening 60 days before departure, this rule could make a crucial difference, especially on high-demand trains during holiday seasons or festival rush.
Officials insist that the change will bring greater transparency, cut down fraudulent practices, and restore faith in advance bookings. Much like the Tatkal reforms earlier this year, the move is being projected as part of a broader push to make railway ticketing more secure and passenger-friendly.
So, the next time you’re counting down to a booking window on IRCTC, remember that your Aadhaar comes first. For the Railways, it’s another step towards ensuring that when you click ‘Book Now’, it’s really you, not a faceless software script to get that coveted seat.
1. What changes from October 1, 2025, in IRCTC bookings?
Aadhaar authentication will be mandatory for booking general reserved tickets online in the first 15 minutes.
2. Does this rule apply at railway station counters?
No, bookings at PRS counters remain unchanged and do not require Aadhaar verification.
3. Are agents allowed to book tickets during this period?
No, agents remain barred from booking reserved tickets for the first 10 minutes of opening day.
4. Why is Aadhaar being made compulsory for online bookings?
To stop misuse by agents and bots, reduce fraudulent bookings, and give genuine passengers fair access.
5. Has Aadhaar authentication been used in ticketing before?
Yes, since July 2025, Aadhaar has been mandatory for Tatkal ticket bookings on IRCTC.