From Oct 1, Aadhaar must for booking general reserved rail tickets online for first 15 mins

By Arun Kumar Das

New Delhi, Sep 15 (BVI): With effect from October 1, 2025, reserved general tickets, during the first 15 minutes of the opening of general reservation, can be booked through the website of Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC)/its app only by Aadhaar-authenticated users.

This decision has been taken to ensure that the benefits of the reservation system reach the common end-user and are not misused by unscrupulous elements, the Railways said tonight.

There shall, however, be no change in the timings of booking of general reserved tickets through computerized PRS counters of Indian Railways at present, it said.

There shall also be no change in the timings of the restriction of 10 minutes of the opening of general reservation during which authorised ticketing agents of Indian Railways shall not be allowed to book opening day reserved tickets. (BVI)