How do I link Aadhaar with my IRCTC account?

Log in to IRCTC, go to My Account → Authenticate User, enter your Aadhaar number or Virtual ID, receive an OTP on your Aadhaar-registered mobile, enter it along with consent, and submit. A confirmation appears once it succeeds.

Where does the Aadhaar linking OTP actually go?

To the mobile number registered with UIDAI for your Aadhaar — which may be different from the mobile number saved on your IRCTC profile. This mismatch is the most common reason the OTP seems to 'not arrive'.

Is Aadhaar linking mandatory for all IRCTC bookings?

No — it's specifically mandatory for booking Tatkal tickets online since July 2025. General quota bookings don't require it, though linking Aadhaar also raises your monthly ticket limit from 12 to 24.

Booking Rules

How to Link Aadhaar with Your IRCTC Account

Updated 13 October 2026 · 5 min read

Since mid-2025, Indian Railways made Aadhaar authentication mandatory for booking Tatkal tickets online — so if you haven't linked yours yet, you'll hit a wall the next time you try to book Tatkal under pressure. Here's the exact process, done once and out of the way.

Why This Became Necessary

From 1 July 2025, Tatkal ticket booking on the IRCTC website and app requires Aadhaar authentication. From 15 July 2025, OTP-based mobile verification became mandatory for Tatkal bookings more broadly — including through agents and PRS counters — as part of Railways' effort to reduce bot-driven and agent-abused Tatkal bookings.

Step-by-Step: Linking Aadhaar on IRCTC

Log in to the IRCTC website (irctc.co.in) with your User ID, password, and captcha.
Go to the My Account menu and select Authenticate User.
Enter your 12-digit Aadhaar number or Aadhaar Virtual ID (VID), then click Verify details and receive OTP.
Watch for the OTP — it goes to the mobile number registered with your Aadhaar, which may differ from your IRCTC profile's saved number.
Enter the OTP, accept the consent declaration, and submit.
A confirmation message appears once authentication succeeds.

The Detail Almost Everyone Misses

The OTP for this step is sent to whichever mobile number UIDAI has on file for your Aadhaar — not your IRCTC account's registered number. If the two numbers are different (common if you updated your phone number with IRCTC but never updated it with Aadhaar, or vice versa), you'll be stuck waiting for an OTP on the wrong phone. See our OTP troubleshooting guide if this happens.

Do This Well Before You Need Tatkal

Complete this authentication during a calm moment, not minutes before a Tatkal window opens. Verification can occasionally take a few tries if your mobile number records don't match cleanly, and that's not a problem you want to be solving with the clock running.

Does This Affect Your Monthly Booking Limit Too?

Yes, separately — having Aadhaar linked (with at least one Aadhaar-verified passenger beyond your first 12 bookings) is also what unlocks the higher 24-ticket monthly limit instead of 12. See our monthly ticket limit guide for that separate benefit.

Quick FAQ

Is Aadhaar linking required for General quota bookings too? No — the mandatory Aadhaar authentication rule specifically targets Tatkal bookings. General quota bookings don't require it, though linking it still unlocks the higher monthly ticket limit.

What if I don't have an Aadhaar card? You can still book tickets through PRS counters or authorised agents with OTP-based mobile verification, but online Tatkal booking specifically requires Aadhaar authentication.

Aadhaar linked and ready? Check your next journey's exact booking-opening date with our free 60-day calculator.

Useful tools: IRCTC booking date calculator · Tatkal booking time · advance reservation period (ARP)