How to Link Aadhaar with IRCTC

Aadhaar linking with your IRCTC account enables you to book up to 12 train tickets per month and is mandatory for certain services like Tatkal ticket booking. Below are detailed, step-by-step instructions for linking your Aadhaar with your IRCTC user profile.

👉🏻 As of July 2025, Aadhaar OTP authentication is mandatory for Tatkal tickets

Prerequisites

• Active IRCTC account credentials
• Aadhaar number or Virtual ID (VID)
• Mobile number registered with Aadhaar
• Up-to-date personal details on your IRCTC profile matching Aadhaar (Name, Date of Birth, Gender)

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Log in to IRCTC

• Visit IRCTC e-ticketing website
• Enter your IRCTC User ID, password, and the captcha code
• Click on “Sign In”

2. Go to Aadhaar Authentication

• After logging in, navigate to 👉🏻 My Account
• From the drop-down menu, click My Profile (on desktop), or the Account/Profile option (on the app)
• Click on 👉🏻 Authenticate User or 👉🏻 Aadhaar KYC
• If you see outdated personal details (name, date of birth, gender), update them to match your latest Aadhaar information and save changes before proceeding

3. Input Aadhaar Details

• Enter your Aadhaar number or Virtual ID
• Tick the consent checkbox for authentication
• Click Send OTP

4. OTP Verification

• You will receive an OTP on your mobile number registered with Aadhaar
• Enter the OTP into the indicated field and submit
• Review the KYC response retrieved from Aadhaar database
• Click the Update or Submit button to complete authentication

5. Aadhaar Linking Confirmation

• Upon successful verification, you’ll see a confirmation message on your profile dashboard
• Your IRCTC account will now show Aadhaar verified status (usually indicated by a green tick)
• You are now eligible to book up to 12 tickets per month and use Aadhaar-linked services like Tatkal booking

Adding Aadhaar-Verified Passengers to Master List

1. Go to My Master List under Profile
2. Click Add Passenger and enter the passenger’s name, date of birth, gender, and select Aadhaar ID/Virtual ID as the ID type
3. Enter the Aadhaar number and submit
4. New passengers will be added with “Pending” verification status. Click “Check Pending Aadhaar Verification Status” to authenticate and update to “Verified”

Troubleshooting Tips

• Ensure IRCTC profile data exactly matches Aadhaar. Minor mismatches in name or birth date can prevent authentication
• OTP is sent only to the mobile number registered in Aadhaar – update Aadhaar at UIDAI website if needed before beginning. Learn more about updating your Aadhaar details.
• If authentication fails, verify details, update profile, and retry

Additional Information

• Tatkal Booking: As of July 2025, Aadhaar OTP authentication is mandatory for Tatkal tickets
• Mobile App: Aadhaar linking steps are similar on the IRCTC Rail Connect mobile app, accessible under the “Account/Profile” section
• All personal information is securely used for authentication and not for any other purpose

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I link Aadhaar without OTP?

No. Aadhaar authentication requires OTP sent to the Aadhaar-linked mobile number.

How many tickets can I book after Aadhaar linking?

Up to 12 tickets per calendar month.

Is Aadhaar linking mandatory for all users?

Mandatory for Tatkal, senior citizen concessions, and to book more than 6 tickets a month.

For further queries, refer to IRCTC’s official guides and help documentation or contact IRCTC customer support.