IRCTC First 15 Minutes Slot

Beginning October 1, 2025, Indian Railways will implement a major change in its online ticket booking system. Under this new policy, the first 15 minutes of general reserved ticket booking on the IRCTC website and mobile app will be exclusively open to Aadhaar-verified users. This step aims to reduce ticket fraud, block touts, and ensure genuine passengers get fair access to tickets.

For SSC aspirants, understanding this update is crucial for current affairs, government initiatives, and transport sector reforms.

Key Highlights of the IRCTC First 15 Minutes Rule

1. Exclusive 15-Minute Window for Aadhaar Users

• Only Aadhaar-verified accounts can book tickets during the IRCTC's first 15 minutes.

• This applies to IRCTC online ticket booking via the website or mobile app.

2. No Impact on Physical Counters

• PRS counters at railway stations will operate normally.

• The existing rule barring agents from booking tickets in the first 10 minutes remains unchanged.

3. Purpose of the Change

• To prevent misuse of IRCTC user IDs by touts.

• To stop hoarding during peak demand periods, particularly under the Tatkal scheme.

Why the Change Was Necessary

A senior Ministry of Railways official shared alarming statistics:

• 5,796 illegal ticketing agents were arrested for using fake IRCTC accounts.

• These agents had booked future tickets worth ₹12.2 crore, later seized by authorities.

• Over 2.5 crore suspicious IRCTC accounts were deactivated recently.

• Between January and May 2025, nearly 2.9 lakh suspicious PNRs were generated in the first five minutes of Tatkal bookings.

Such large-scale fraud highlighted the need for the IRCTC's first 15 minutes Aadhaar-verified users only policy.

What SSC Aspirants Should Remember

For exams, students should focus on:

• Policy effective from October 1, 2025.

• Applies only to IRCTC website and app bookings.

• Exclusive 15-minute window for Aadhaar-authenticated users.

• No change in PRS counter timings or agent restrictions.

• Part of broader Digital India and fraud prevention initiatives.

Step-by-Step Process for Aadhaar-Based Booking

To comply with the new rules:

1. Link Aadhaar with your IRCTC account using the official portal.

2. Verify your account via IRCTC Aadhaar authentication.

3. Book tickets online: During the IRCTC's first 15 minutes, only verified accounts can proceed.

4. General users can book tickets after the first 15 minutes.

This ensures smooth and fair online railway booking for all passengers.

Related Rules and Clarifications

• IRCTC Aadhaar ticket booking does not affect PRS counters.

• Agents are still restricted for the first 10 minutes.

• Technical upgrades are being implemented for faster access to IRCTC's first 15 minutes of booking.

• Ongoing monitoring will continue to identify suspicious accounts and prevent misuse.

Important LSI Keywords for SSC Aspirants

Short-tail:

• IRCTC Aadhaar, Aadhaar verification IRCTC, IRCTC ticket rules, Online railway booking

Mid-tail:

• IRCTC Aadhaar authentication, IRCTC Aadhaar ticket booking, IRCTC new booking rules 2025, Aadhaar-based ticket booking IRCTC, IRCTC 15-minute rule

Long-tail:

• How to book IRCTC tickets with Aadhaar authentication, IRCTC first 15 minutes Aadhaar-verified users only, IRCTC Aadhaar rule for online ticket booking October 2025, Will Aadhaar be mandatory for IRCTC online ticket booking? Step-by-step guide to link Aadhaar with IRCTC account and the IRCTC Tatkal booking Aadhaar verification process

Key Takeaways for SSC Aspirants

• IRCTC's first 15-minute rule ensures transparency and fair ticket access.

• Strengthened fraud prevention measures protect genuine passengers.

• Knowing this rule is essential for current affairs, government policy, and Digital India initiatives.

Final Thoughts

Starting October 1, 2025, the first 15 minutes of online ticket booking at IRCTC will be exclusively open to Aadhaar-verified users. This change aims to prevent ticket fraud and stop touts from hoarding tickets using fake IDs. During this window, only users with Aadhaar authentication can book tickets on the IRCTC website and app, while regular bookings and PRS counters remain unaffected. Agents will still be restricted from booking in the first 10 minutes, ensuring fair access for genuine passengers.

This move comes after millions of suspicious accounts were deactivated and illegal bookings worth crores were seized. Users must link their Aadhaar with IRCTC accounts to access this exclusive slot.

Technical upgrades and monitoring are also being implemented to make online railway booking faster and more secure. Overall, the IRCTC first 15 minutes policy reflects the government’s effort to enhance transparency, fairness, and reliability in the ticketing system.