Indian Railways New Rule - Aadhar Verification Mandatory

From October 1, 2025, Indian Railways has introduced a new rule making Aadhaar verification mandatory for booking reserved general tickets during the first **15 minutes of the general reservation window** on the IRCTC portal. This change is aimed at curbing misuse of the system by touts and ensuring fair access to genuine passengers.

Until now, tickets in the initial minutes of opening often got blocked or booked in bulk by agents, making it difficult for ordinary travelers to secure reservations. With Aadhaar authentication linked to IRCTC accounts, only verified users will be able to book tickets immediately after the window opens. After the first 15 minutes, the booking process will continue as usual for all users.

This move enhances **transparency, passenger convenience, and security, while also discouraging fraudulent activities. Railways has clarified that Aadhaar linkage is only compulsory for this limited time slot, not for all bookings.