Aadhaar Verification Now Mandatory for First-Day Morning Train Bookings

IRCTC (Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation) has made yet another change in the ticket booking process. Starting from October 28, 2025, passengers looking to book train tickets on the first day of opening, need Aadhaar Verification between 8 AM to 10 PM.

This new change will be applicable for both the website and Application. The offline ticket booking through PRS counters will continue as usual.

Why the New Rule Was Introduced

Although Indian Railways has opened the online method of ticket booking, the process is not yet accessible to the masses. Tickets get exhausted within seconds and the people are left without any booking. This is not a one time event and happens on most of the trains. The new Aadhaar-based verification has been brought in precisely to fix that problem.

By linking every booking to a verified Aadhaar ID, the system will make it harder for touts and automated bots to block multiple tickets in one go. It’s a way to ensure that tickets go to genuine passengers and not those trying to make a quick profit.

How It Works

The new rule applies to passengers booking reserved tickets online between 8 AM and 10 AM on the first day of the reservation opening. Before completing a booking during this time, passengers must do Aadhaar Verification through their registered IRCTC account.

However, there is no change for passengers who prefer booking tickets at PRS counters across railway stations. The counters will continue to work normally without any Aadhaar-based restriction.

Extra Safeguards Against Bulk Booking

The Railways has also decided to continue its existing restrictions on ticketing agents. As before, authorised agents cannot book opening-day reserved tickets for the first 10 minutes after the booking window opens. This short pause gives individual passengers a better chance to get their tickets first.

IRCTC had also announced a similar Aadhar Verification requirement related to Tatkal ticket booking. Under this rule anyone booking a tatkal must verify themselves first. Railway agents were barred from booking the tatkal ticket for the first 30 minutes. Passengers praised this move as it enhanced transparency and prevented mass booking by non-genuine entities. 

What the Railway Ministry Had To Say

In a statement IRCTC announced, “With effect from 28th October 2025, only Aadhaar authenticated users are allowed to book tickets between 8 AM to 10 AM on the first day of opening of reserved ticket booking”. This rule will help the genuine ticket bookers who weren’t able to book tickets, especially on high rush events like festivals, national events or even the weekends.

The Ministry of Railways also said that there have been no changes in the rule that restricts the official railway agents for the first 10 minutes of ticket booking. This rule was aimed at barring agents from hijacking the ticket booking process which left genuine ticket bookers empty handed.

How to Verify Aadhaar on IRCTC

Passengers who haven’t yet linked their Aadhaar can do it quickly through the IRCTC portal. Here’s how to perform the Aadhar Verification:

1. Go towww.irctc.co.in and log in to your account. 
2. Click on ‘My Account’ → ‘Authenticate User’. 
3. Enter your Aadhaar number and confirm your personal details (name, date of birth, gender, etc.). 
4. Select ‘Verify Details and Receive OTP’ to get a one-time password on your Aadhaar-linked mobile number. 
5. Enter the OTP, give consent, and submit. After verification you will be notified that your Aadhar Verification is complete.

Once you do this authentication, you won’t need to do it again. It is a one time process. 

Essential Railway Tools for Passengers

A train journey isn’t just about transportation, rather it is about the experience of travelling. While ticket booking is uncertain, there are other aspects of the journey that require meticulous planning. Here are some RailMitra tools that will help you:

• Check PNR Status: After making a booking with IRCTC use RailMitra’s PNR Status to check your booking status, i.e., Confirmed (CNF), Waiting List (WL), Reservation Against Cancellation (RAC), etc.

• Look for train seat availability: Before making any reservation, you should first check train seat availability and see the number of seats avaialble. You should do your booking accordingly.

• Live train running status: Trains often get delayed due to weather, maintainence, traffic or other reasons. Without appropriate information about this passengers might have to wait for a long time.  Use live train status to track your train in real time and stay ahead of the delays.

• Order food in train: If you are on the train and are craving for quality food in train, you don’t have to compromise with the same old boring Pantry car food. Opt for RailMitra train food delivery and get restaurant quality food delivered right on your train seat.

What the Change Means for Passengers

For travellers, this rule brings both convenience and fairness. Morning booking slots, which used to be heavily crowded by bulk buyers, will now be easier to access for ordinary passengers. By using Aadhaar as a verification tool, Indian Railways is not just curbing malpractice but also making the booking experience safer and smoother.

As digital ticketing becomes the norm, such identity-linked systems are a natural step forward. For lakhs of passengers who rely on IRCTC daily, this update promises a cleaner and more transparent way to plan journeys — without losing the chance to book a seat in those crucial first minutes.