How to Link Aadhaar with Your IRCTC Account? A Step-by-Step Guide

If you book train tickets online in India, you will always use your IRCTC account. But many travelers still skip an important step of linking their Aadhaar to their IRCTC profile. While some may consider this another form, it is said to be designed to make your account more secure and help avoid last-minute issues when booking or traveling. If you’ve ever encountered booking restrictions, verification prompts, or errors popping up, then Aadhaar Link may be helpful.

In this feature, we will show you exactly how to link your Aadhaar with your IRCTC account in a simple and stress-free manner. You don’t need to be tech-savvy to follow. Just keep your Aadhaar number and registered mobile phone handy and we will walk you through the process step by step so that you can complete it within minutes.

Why link Aadhaar with your IRCTC account?

Linking your Aadhaar helps reduce abuse of the ticketing system by agents and touts, making it easier for genuine passengers to get confirmed seats. When your account is authenticated, IRCTC can better verify that you are a real person rather than a bulk booking account. In some cases, like Tatkal and Premium Tatkal bookings, it is available only to Aadhaar verified users. This gives frequent travelers a fairer chance to book tickets before they sell out.

What you need before you start

• Make sure you have an active IRCTC account and have your user ID and password ready.
• Keep your Aadhaar card and 12-digit Aadhaar number or virtual ID handy.
• Make sure your mobile number is linked to Aadhaar so that you can receive OTP for verification.

How to link Aadhaar with your IRCTC account?

1. First, you need to visit the official IRCTC website and log in using your registered username and password in order to access your account.
2. After logging in, click my account tab to open your profile and account related options.
3. From the available options, select Verify user identity or Link your Aadhaar Start the Aadhaar linking process.
4. On the next page, enter your Aadhaar number or Virtual Identity (VID) Double check that your name, date of birth and gender match your Aadhaar record and make corrections if necessary.
5. After confirming the details, click Verify Details and receive OTP to request one-time password through your Aadhaar registered mobile number.
6. Enter the OTP you received on your phone in the given field and click submit or Verify continue.
7. Finally, agree to the consent statement and submit the form to complete the process, after which your account will appear as authenticated with a green tick.

How to check if your IRCTC account is authenticated

1. After linking Aadhaar to IRCTC account, you can easily check whether the process was successful or not.
2. Log in and view the top of the IRCTC website. If your account is authenticated, you’ll see a green checkmark next to your username and a “Verify User” option in the header.
3. You can also go to my account and click Verify user identity. This page will display your Aadhaar link status and confirm whether your account is verified.

Make sure the mobile number connected to Aadhaar is fine as this is where the OTP is sent. Also, please check if the name, date of birth and gender in your IRCTC profile match your Aadhaar record, otherwise the verification may be rejected. After linking Aadhaar, you can also book tickets during limited booking windows, such as the morning Tatkal slot, which is reserved for genuine users.

FAQ

1. Why should I link my Aadhaar with my IRCTC account?

Linking Aadhaar helps verify that you are a genuine user, reduces agent abuse, and gives you access to restricted booking windows, such as the early Tatkal period.

2. What details are required to link Aadhaar with IRCTC?

You need IRCTC user ID and password, Aadhaar number or virtual ID, and mobile number linked to Aadhaar to receive OTP.

3. What if my IRCTC details do not match my Aadhaar?

Verification may fail if your name, date of birth or gender do not match your Aadhaar record, so you should update these details before trying again.

4. How do I know if my IRCTC account is Aadhaar verified?

Once logged in, if your account is verified, you will see a green check next to your username or under the “Verified Users” section in My Account.

5. Can I book Tatkal tickets without linking Aadhaar?

From July 2025, only Aadhaar authenticated users can book Tatkal and Premium Tatkal tickets.