Aadhaar Mandatory for IRCTC Online Train Ticket Booking from January 12
Indian Railways has announced that linking Aadhaar will be mandatory for booking train tickets online through the IRCTC website from January 12 onwards. This move aims to curb misuse, prevent fraudulent bookings, and ensure fair access to tickets for genuine passengers.
Currently, nearly 85% of train ticket reservations are made through the IRCTC online platform. To regulate high-demand booking hours and stop automated or bulk bookings, the Aadhaar linking requirement has been implemented in phases.
Phased Implementation Details
- Aadhaar linking is already mandatory for ticket booking between 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM.
- From January 5, Aadhaar authentication is required for bookings made between 8:00 AM and 12:00 PM, which will later be extended up to 4:00 PM.
- From January 12, Aadhaar-linked IRCTC accounts will be compulsory for booking train tickets at any time online.
Exemption for Booking Counters
Railway officials have clarified that this Aadhaar requirement does not apply to physical railway ticket booking counters (PRS counters), which comes as a relief to passengers who prefer offline reservations.
Passenger Advisory
Members of the Southern Railway Passenger Advisory Committee welcomed the move, stating that Aadhaar linkage will help genuine travelers secure tickets more easily. However, they also urged railway authorities to quickly resolve technical issues faced during Aadhaar linking on the IRCTC platform.
Passengers are advised to link their Aadhaar with their IRCTC account well in advance to avoid last-minute booking disruptions.
