From October 1, 2025, passengers booking general reserved train tickets online must use Aadhaar authentication. The rule applies to the first 15 minutes of booking via IRCTC, ensuring only Aadhaar-linked accounts can reserve during this high-demand period. Afterward, all registered users can book normally. Indian Railways aims to curb touting, ensure fair access, and smooth platform performance. Passengers must link Aadhaar to their IRCTC account before the deadline.