Indian Railways has introduced significant changes to its online ticket booking ecosystem through IRCTC to enhance transparency and ensure a smoother experience for genuine passengers. By mandating Aadhaar-based authentication, the national transporter aims to curb fraudulent activities and streamline the high-demand booking process. Passengers are encouraged to link their accounts to avoid booking restrictions and enjoy the benefits of the newly upgraded ticketing portal.
- Unverified accounts are capped at 12 tickets per month.
- Aadhaar-verified accounts can book up to 24 tickets per month.
- Tatkal bookings now require mandatory Aadhaar-based OTP authentication.
- The new IRCTC portal supports 1.5 lakh bookings per minute.
- General tickets via RailOne app now require original photo IDs for travel.
New Booking Limits and Aadhaar Integration
Under the revised regulations effective July 15, 2026, the number of tickets a user can book depends directly on Aadhaar verification. While an unverified account is limited to 12 tickets, linking your Aadhaar card and verifying at least one passenger in the master list allows you to double this limit to 24 tickets per month. It is important to note that each PNR counts as one booking, regardless of whether you are traveling with the maximum allowed passengers (six for general and four for Tatkal).
Aadhaar verification is now the backbone of the booking system. As of July 15, 2026, Aadhaar-based OTP authentication is mandatory for all Tatkal bookings. Furthermore, for those booking during the opening day of the Advance Reservation Period (ARP), Aadhaar authentication has been a requirement since January 12, 2026, for all transactions between 8:00 AM and midnight.
Upgraded Digital Infrastructure
To support the massive surge in traffic, IRCTC launched a modernized website on July 15, 2026. This platform is engineered to handle an impressive 1.5 lakh bookings per minute. The new portal brings user-friendly features like an integrated fare calendar, seat selection options, and multi-language support. Additionally, for passengers using the RailOne app for unreserved tickets, the rules now strictly mandate carrying an original photo identity document. Please note that screenshots or WhatsApp versions of tickets are no longer considered valid for travel.
To link your Aadhaar, simply log in to your IRCTC account, navigate to the “My Account” or “My Profile” section, and select the “Link your Aadhaar” option to complete the OTP verification process.