FROM 1 OCT 2025
Indian Railways has announced a major update to its online ticket booking system. Starting October 1, 2025, passengers booking general reserved tickets via the IRCTC website or mobile app will need to complete Aadhaar authentication during the first 15 minutes of the booking window.
This step is designed to make online reservations fairer, prevent misuse of the system, and give genuine passengers priority access.
Railways New Rule: Understand what will change
- Effective Date: October 1, 2025
- First 15 Minutes Reserved: Only Aadhaar-authenticated passengers can book tickets online.
- Agents Blocked: Authorised agents will continue to be restricted during the first 10 minutes after bookings open.
- Physical Counters Unchanged: No change to ticket booking timings at station counters.
Booking Process Under the New System
- Passengers must complete Aadhaar verification on their IRCTC account to access bookings in the initial 15-minute window.
- After 15 minutes, online bookings will open to all passengers.
- Agents will remain blocked for an additional 10 minutes after the initial window.
Railway Board and IRCTC’s Role
The Railway Board has instructed CRIS and IRCTC to complete all necessary technical updates. A large-scale public awareness campaign will also be launched to educate passengers about the new system.
Railway Passengers Should Do
- Link Aadhaar with IRCTC Account: Do this well before October 1 to avoid last-minute issues.
Read: How to link IRCTC with Aadhar
- Check Your Booking Time: Make sure your Aadhaar-authenticated account is ready before the booking window opens.
- Plan Ahead for Festivals & High-Demand Periods: Tickets during these periods sell out quickly.
Current Booking Timelines In Railways
The public reservation system opens 60 days before the date of journey, daily from 12:20 AM to 11:45 PM.
For example, if the booking window for the Shiv Ganga Express (New Delhi–Varanasi) opens at 12:20 AM on September 16, only Aadhaar-authenticated accounts will be able to book tickets until 12:35 AM.
Key Takeaway
From October 1, 2025, Aadhaar-verified passengers will get the first access to online bookings for train tickets. This is a significant shift in how IRCTC handles ticket reservations, designed to make the process more secure and transparent.
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