Thu Sep 25 04:40:00 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a news article based on the provided text:

**Indian Railways Tightens Booking Rules: Aadhaar Authentication Mandatory for Initial Online General Ticket Purchases**

**New Delhi, [Date – e.g., October 26, 2023 – Assumed based on the future date mentioned]** – Indian Railways is implementing a new rule aimed at curbing ticket touting and increasing the likelihood of confirmed tickets for genuine passengers. Effective October 1, 2025, the national rail carrier will require Aadhaar authentication for the first 15 minutes of online general (reserved) ticket bookings made through the IRCTC website and mobile app.

Under the new policy, only users whose IRCTC accounts are linked to their Aadhaar number will be able to book general tickets during this initial booking window. The railway authority hopes to achieve this initiative by reducing fraudulent bookings and prioritizing genuine travelers.

“The goal is to ensure fairness and transparency in the booking process,” said a railway spokesperson. “By requiring Aadhaar authentication, we aim to discourage misuse of the system and ensure that confirmed tickets are more readily available to those who actually intend to travel.”

The new regulation only applies to online bookings. Ticket purchases made at Physical Reservation System (PRS) counters will remain unaffected by this rule. This move follows the existing policy of mandatory Aadhaar authentication for online Tatkal ticket bookings.

Passengers who have not yet linked their Aadhaar to their IRCTC accounts are urged to do so before October 1, 2025, to avoid disruptions in their booking process.

**How to Link Your Aadhaar to Your IRCTC Account:**

1. Visit the official IRCTC website and log in.
2. Navigate to “My Account” and select “Link Your Aadhaar” or “Aadhaar KYC.”
3. Enter your 12-digit Aadhaar number.
4. Click “Send OTP.”
5. Enter the OTP received on your Aadhaar-registered mobile number and click “Verify.”
6. Upon successful verification, your Aadhaar will be linked to your IRCTC account.

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