Indian Railways Implements New Rule for Online Ticket Booking from October 1, 2025
Indian Railways has announced a major change for passengers who book train tickets online. Starting October 1, 2025, a new rule will come into effect, directly impacting how general reserved tickets are booked.
With millions of passengers traveling daily, Railways regularly updates its rules for safety and convenience. This latest change focuses on Aadhaar verification for online ticket booking.
📌 What is the new rule?
From October 1, 2025, only Aadhaar-verified users will be able to book train tickets during the first 15 minutes of the booking window.
Advance booking for general tickets opens 60 days before the journey date, starting at 12:20 AM.
Under the new rule, only Aadhaar-verified IRCTC users can access booking from 12:20 AM to 12:35 AM.
The rule will apply on both the IRCTC website and the official IRCTC app.
This means passengers who have not linked Aadhaar to their IRCTC account will miss out on the initial booking window.
🔹 Similar rule already for Tatkal tickets
In July 2025, Indian Railways made Aadhaar verification mandatory for Tatkal bookings. Only Aadhaar-verified users can book Tatkal tickets within the first 30 minutes of opening.
Now, the same verification system is being extended to general ticket bookings.
📝 How to link Aadhaar with your IRCTC account?
Linking Aadhaar to your IRCTC account is simple:
Log in to the IRCTC website or app.
Go to the “My Account” section.
Click on “Authenticate User”.
Enter your Aadhaar Number or Virtual ID.
Submit the OTP received on your Aadhaar-linked mobile number.
Once verified, your IRCTC account will be successfully Aadhaar-linked.
🚄 Why is this rule important?
This step will help reduce fraud, prevent bulk ticket booking through bots, and ensure genuine passengers get tickets easily.
If you travel frequently by train, it is strongly advised to link your Aadhaar with IRCTC before October 1, 2025, to avoid last-minute issues.
✅ Bottom Line: From October 1, Aadhaar verification becomes a key requirement for online train ticket booking in India. Passengers should update their IRCTC accounts in advance to enjoy a smooth booking experience.
