If you don't complete these tasks in your IRCTC account, you won't get the extra 15 minutes. Know this before booking a ticket.

Only registered passengers will be able to book tickets on IRCTC. Even IRCTC users who have linked their IRCTC account to Aadhaar will not be able to book confirmed tickets in the first 15 minutes.

Starting October 1, 2025, Indian Railways has made a major change to online ticket booking. Aadhaar verification will now be mandatory for booking general reservation tickets, just like for Tatkal tickets. According to the Railways, this step has been taken to prevent ticket black marketing, agent fraud, and fraudulent bookings. So, let us tell you which tasks you must not complete on your IRCTC account, which will prevent you from booking tickets 15 minutes in advance.

Who will not get the extra 15 minutes for ticket booking?

After the ticket booking window opens on IRCTC, only registered passengers will be allowed to book tickets from 8:00 AM to 8:15 AM. This rule applies to both AC and non-AC classes. During this period, agents and passengers with fake IDs will not be able to book tickets. Furthermore, IRCTC users who have linked their IRCTC account to Aadhaar will also not be able to book confirmed tickets in the first 15 minutes.

Changes Made in Counter Booking

Indian Railways has also made significant changes to counter-booking. Aadhaar verification and OTP verification will now be mandatory for passengers booking tickets at railway station PRS counters. If you are booking a ticket for someone else, they will also need to provide the passenger's Aadhaar number and OTP.

How to Link Aadhaar with IRCTC Account?

1. To link Aadhaar with IRCTC account, first log in to the IRCTC website.

2. Next, go to the "My Profile" section and select the "Link Your Aadhaar" or "Aadhaar KYC" option.

3. Now, you will need to enter your 12-digit Aadhaar number and name.

4. After entering your Aadhaar number and name, enter the OTP received on your mobile number and click Submit.

5. After submitting this OTP, your account will be verified with Aadhaar.

Direct benefits for passengers

If your IRCTC account is linked to Aadhaar, you will be able to book tickets within the first 15 minutes. This will also prevent fake IDs and fraudulent agents. This change will reduce waitlisted tickets and make it easier for ordinary passengers to obtain reserved tickets. Furthermore, IRCTC currently has 141.5 million registered users, but only 18.5 million have verified their accounts with Aadhaar.