Indian Railways will be changing the rules for online reservation train ticket booking from October 1st to ensure tickets reach as many eligible passengers as possible. This rule has already been implemented for Tatkal ticket booking.
If you’re planning to travel home for Diwali and Chhath, a major change is in store for you. Starting October 1st, a new train ticket booking rule will be implemented. Previously, this rule only applied to Tatkal tickets, but now it will also apply to general reservation tickets.
In fact, Indian Railways has made a major decision to prevent fraud in train ticket bookings, and as a result, rules will be changed starting October 1, 2025. Under the new rule, only those who have undergone Aadhaar verification will be able to book tickets online within the first 15 minutes after reservations open. Currently, this rule applies only to Tatkal ticket bookings.
This rule for ticket reservations will apply to the IRCTC website and app, while the time and process for those purchasing tickets from computerized PRS counters will remain the same. Starting October 1st, Aadhaar-verified accounts will be given priority. For the first 15 minutes, bookings will not be allowed for anyone other than those with verified Aadhaar accounts.
Why did the Railways implement this rule?
The primary purpose of this rule is to curb ticket touting and ensure that tickets are distributed only to verified users. By initially limiting online bookings to Aadhaar-authenticated users, Indian Railways aims to bring transparency to ticket allocation and reduce bulk booking, ensuring that railway services reach the right passengers.
What did the railway order say?
The Railway Board issued an order on this matter on Monday. The order stated that the decision regarding reservation ticket booking was taken to ensure that the benefits of the reservation system reach the common user and that it is not misused by ticket brokers. Beginning October 1, during the first 15 minutes of the opening of general reservations, only Aadhaar-authenticated users will be able to book reserved general tickets through the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) website or its app.
This new rule comes after the Railways made Aadhaar card mandatory for Tatkal tickets from July . Providing Aadhaar card will be mandatory for booking Tatkal tickets starting July 1, 2025. This rule applies to both the IRCTC website and the app.
