Indian Railways has made it compulsory for passengers to connect their Aadhaar numbers with their IRCTC accounts to access Tatkal ticket bookings. The objective behind this move is to strengthen the safety of the reservation system, curb fraudulent use of the Tatkal quota, and ensure smoother, authenticated bookings for genuine passengers. Booking agents are now restricted from reserving tickets during the initial 30 minutes of the Tatkal Advance Reservation Period (ARP), giving regular passengers a better chance at securing tickets with less competition.
If you haven’t linked your Aadhaar yet and are unsure how to complete Aadhaar verification on IRCTC, you can easily do it following these quick steps:
How to Link Aadhaar with Your IRCTC Account: A Step-by-Step Guide
Log In to IRCTC:
Visit the official IRCTC portal at http://www.irctc.co.in and sign in using your registered User ID and password.
Access Your Profile:
Head to the “My Account” menu and click on “My Profile.”
Choose Aadhaar KYC:
Select the “Aadhaar KYC” option from the available list.
Enter Aadhaar Information:
Input your 12-digit Aadhaar number and tick the consent checkbox to allow IRCTC to verify your identity through UIDAI.
OTP Verification:
An OTP will be sent to your mobile number linked with Aadhaar. Enter the code and click on “Verify.”
Complete the Process:
Once your details are successfully authenticated, your KYC information will appear on the screen. Click “Submit” to finalize the Aadhaar linking.
Track Verification Status:
To check if the Aadhaar has been successfully verified, go to the “Authenticate User” section under the “My Account” tab.
Requirements to Link Aadhaar with IRCTC
Before starting the process of connecting your Aadhaar with your IRCTC account, ensure you have the following information and documents on hand:
Your IRCTC login details (username and password)
Your Aadhaar number or physical Aadhaar card
Access to the mobile number linked to your Aadhaar, as an OTP will be sent to it for verification
Benefits of Linking Aadhaar with IRCTC
Connecting your Aadhaar to your IRCTC account offers multiple benefits that enhance your travel experience. Here’s how it makes a difference:
Seamless Ticket Reservations
Once your Aadhaar is linked, your verified details are safely stored, allowing for a quicker and more streamlined booking process.
Higher Monthly Ticket Quota
Users without Aadhaar verification can only book up to 12 train tickets a month. After completing the Aadhaar-IRCTC linking process, this cap is increased to 24 tickets monthly—perfect for frequent travelers and larger families.
