New Delhi: In a major move to combat ticketing fraud and curb the misuse of its online platform, Indian Railways will now require Aadhaar authentication for booking train tickets during peak hours on the opening day of the Advance Reservation Period (ARP).
The new regulations, which will be rolled out in a phased manner starting December 29, 2025, are designed to eliminate fake accounts and ensure genuine passengers have better access to tickets. According to a Railway Board communication, the changes will initially apply to specific time windows before covering the entire first day of ARP bookings.
Phased Rollout of New Booking Rules
The transition to a fully Aadhaar-verified system for ARP opening day bookings will happen in three stages. The railway ministry has outlined a clear timeline for passengers booking tickets online via the IRCTC website or mobile app.
From December 29, 2025, only IRCTC accounts linked with Aadhaar will be permitted to book reserved tickets between 8:00 am and 12:00 noon on the first day of the ARP.
This exclusive window will be extended from January 5, 2026, allowing Aadhaar-verified users to book tickets from 8:00 am until 4:00 pm.
Finally, from January 12, 2026, online ticket booking for the entire opening day of the ARP, from 8:00 am to midnight, will be restricted exclusively to Aadhaar-authenticated IRCTC accounts. Non-verified accounts will be barred from booking tickets during this period.
Railway authorities have clarified that these changes will not affect ticket bookings made at physical Passenger Reservation System (PRS) counters, where the existing process remains unchanged.
Crackdown on Fake IRCTC Accounts
The decision to enforce Aadhaar verification follows the discovery of a massive network of fraudulent IRCTC accounts used for illegal bulk booking of tickets. These accounts often use automated software to secure tickets within seconds of the booking window opening, leaving genuine passengers at a disadvantage.
According to official data, the Railways have already deactivated approximately three crore fake IRCTC user accounts. An additional three crore accounts have been identified and are currently in the process of being disabled.
Officials believe that linking bookings to Aadhaar will establish a verifiable identity for each user, making it significantly harder to create fake profiles for illicit ticketing. The measure is expected to improve ticket availability and strengthen public trust in the online reservation system.
