IRCTC online ticket booking rule change: Aadhaar authentication mandatory from today to book tickets in first 15 minutes of Tatkal

Aadhaar authentication has been made compulsory to book tickets starting from today which 1st October. The government has mandated that from the today, any tickets booked online through the IRCTC website or app should be done during the first 15 minutes after reservations open. Currently, this restriction applies only to Tatkal bookings. The primary goal of this rule is to curb ticket touting and ensure that tickets reach genuine passengers. By restricting early online bookings to Aadhaar-authenticated users, Indian Railways aims to reduce bulk bookings for resale at inflated prices and ensure a smoother, more transparent booking experience.