New Delhi, Sept 15 (UNI) In a move aimed at curbing misuse and ensuring equitable access to reserved tickets, the Railway Ministry today said starting next month, Aadhaar-based authentication will be mandatory for booking general reserved tickets through the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) website and mobile app during the first 15 minutes of the booking window.
In an official statement issued here, the Ministry clarified that this restriction will apply only to online bookings during the opening minutes of general reservation, and is intended to prevent the cornering of tickets by unauthorised agents or automated systems. This system will begin on October 1, 2025.
“There shall, however, be no change in the timings of booking of general reserved tickets through computerised Passenger Reservation System (PRS) counters of Indian Railways at present,” the Ministry said.
Further, the existing 10-minute restriction — prohibiting authorised ticketing agents of Indian Railways from booking opening day reserved tickets — will remain in force without any modification.
The Ministry maintained that the new measure forms part of its broader efforts to enhance transparency and improve passenger convenience by streamlining the digital ticketing process.
