New Delhi, Sept. 15 -- 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 o...