IRCTC New Rules If you travel by train and book tickets online, then this news is very important for you. IRCTC has made a major change in the ticket booking rules. From October 28, 2025, the time from 8 am to 10 am is reserved only for Aadhaar-authenticated users.
This means that if you have not linked your IRCTC account with Aadhaar, you will not be able to book tickets during this period.
Railways says this step will prevent fake bookings, ticket fraud by bots and agents. This is the time when new train tickets are available and the demand is highest. Now, only genuine passengers will be allowed to book during this time. If you have not yet linked your Aadhaar, do so immediately, otherwise you may miss the chance to get a confirmed ticket.
What is the new rule?
From October 28, 2025, the Railways has made Aadhaar verification mandatory during the 8 am to 10 am slot. During this two-hour period, only those passengers whose IRCTC account is verified with Aadhaar will be able to book tickets. Other users will be able to book tickets normally after 10 am.
According to the Railways, this time is a “high-demand slot” when most people book confirmed tickets. Earlier, agents or bots used to book multiple tickets at the same time during this time, due to which ordinary passengers could not get tickets. Now, Aadhaar authentication will make the system more secure.
How to link Aadhaar with your IRCTC account?
If you haven’t linked your IRCTC account with Aadhaar yet, this can be done from home in a few minutes.
Step 1: First, visit www.irctc.co.in.
Step 2: Log in and go to “Profile”.
Step 3: Click on “Verify Aadhaar”.
Step 4: Enter your Aadhaar number or Virtual ID.
Step 5: You will receive an OTP on your registered mobile number; enter it.
Step 6: Click on “Submit” – and that’s it! Your Aadhaar-verified account is ready. Once the verification is complete, your account will show “Aadhaar Verified”, and you will be able to book tickets anytime.
Why were bookings stopped between 8 am and 10 am?
IRCTC said that the demand for tickets is highest between 8 am and 10 am. This is the time when reservations for popular trains open. During this time, bots and fake accounts book multiple tickets at the same time, which prevents genuine passengers from getting confirmed seats. Now, Aadhaar verification will verify the identity of each user, ensuring that the system knows that the ticket is being booked in the name of a genuine person. This will significantly curb fake bookings, ticket black marketing and fraudulent activities by agents.
New rules also apply to Tatkal tickets
Earlier, the Railways had made Aadhaar authentication mandatory for Tatkal ticket bookings from July 1, 2025. Now, only Aadhaar-authenticated users can book Tatkal tickets through the IRCTC app or website. From July 15, 2025, a new “OTP authentication” system has been added to Tatkal ticket bookings. This means that while booking a ticket, the user will receive an OTP on their mobile phone, which must be entered. This will ensure that the person booking the ticket is the person with the account and Aadhaar, and not an agent.