Date: 2026-03-25Category: Press ReleaseState: Union GovernmentCountry: India
Popularity of Online Ticket Bookings Surge; Increasing Passenger Convenience and Saving Time, Online Ticketing Crosses 48.25 Crore (88%) in FY 2025–26 till February
**Executive Summary**
This report details the surge in online ticket bookings, which accounted for 88% of total reservations in FY 2025–26, and the security measures implemented by IRCTC to ensure fair access. Key actions include mandatory Aadhaar authentication for Tatkal and opening-day reservations effective July 1, 2025, to combat fraudulent activities. The document also highlights the deactivation of over 3 crore malicious accounts and the use of anti-BOT technology to mitigate suspicious traffic.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Ticketing Trends and Infrastructure**
* Online ticket bookings reached 48.25 crore in FY 2025–26 (up to February), representing approximately 88% of all reserved tickets.
* IRCTC levies a nominal convenience fee to cover the costs of maintaining, upgrading, and expanding digital ticketing infrastructure.
* Clerkage fees are applied to the cancellation of waitlisted tickets according to the 2015 Refund Rules.
**Security and Anti-Fraud Measures**
* Anti-BOT technology is utilized to mitigate an average of 64% of malicious or suspicious traffic.
* In 2025, 3.04 crore user accounts were deactivated for using fake IDs, unrealistic mobile numbers, disposable email domains, or gibberish usernames.
* 408 cybercrime complaints were filed involving 4.07 lakh suspicious PNRs.
* 13,023 suspicious email domains were blocked during the 2025–26 period.
* A Content Delivery Network (CDN) has been implemented to offload static content and optimize system performance.
**Aadhaar Authentication and Transparency**
* Since July 1, 2025, Aadhaar authentication is mandatory for booking Tatkal tickets through the IRCTC website or app.
* Aadhaar authentication is also required for booking general tickets on the opening day of the Advance Reservation Period (ARP).
* These measures aim to prevent unauthorized agent-controlled multiple accounts and ensure the fair allocation of time-sensitive tickets.
* IRCTC clarifies that no accounts have been deactivated solely for non-linking of Aadhaar.
**Account Recovery and Monitoring**
* A grievance redressal mechanism allows for the revalidation and reactivation of genuine user accounts; 1,80,474 accounts have been reactivated following such reviews.
* IRCTC performs continuous monitoring by analyzing booking patterns and user registrations through data analysis to curb fraudulent activities.
**Impact Analysis**
**Genuine Passengers**
**Impact**
Benefit from increased ticket availability and a more equitable booking process. The system reduces unfair practices like ticket scalping and automated misuse by malicious actors.
**Action Required**
Must ensure their IRCTC accounts are Aadhaar-authenticated to book Tatkal tickets or general tickets on the opening day of the ARP.
**Malicious Users and Unauthorized Agents**
**Impact**
Face large-scale deactivation of accounts and potential legal consequences through cybercrime complaints filed with the National Cyber Crime Portal.
**Action Required**
The document specifies that these entities are being targeted for elimination from the system through technical and legal barriers.
**Suspended Account Holders**
**Impact**
Genuine users whose accounts were flagged as suspicious may face temporary suspension but have the option for revalidation.
**Action Required**
Must utilize the grievance redressal mechanism on the IRCTC website or app and provide details via registered email and mobile numbers for examination.
Key Entities Referenced
Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC): The primary agency responsible for managing online railway ticketing and implementing security measures like Anti-BOT technology to mitigate malicious traffic.
Aadhaar authentication: A mandatory identity verification process introduced for online bookings to prevent the creation of fake accounts and ensure fair ticket allocation.
Railway Passengers (Cancellation of Tickets and Refund of Fare) Rules, 2015: The specific statutory rules governing the levy of clerkage and the policy for ticket cancellations and refunds.
Tatkal Scheme: An emergency railway reservation program that now requires Aadhaar-authenticated users for online bookings to curb unauthorized agent activity.
Ashwini Vaishnaw: The Union Minister for Railways who provided the official report on ticketing data, security actions, and policy implementations.
Ministry of Railways
Popularity of Online Ticket Bookings Surge;
Increasing Passenger Convenience and Saving
Time, Online Ticketing Crosses 48.25 Crore
(88%) in FY 2025–26 till February
IRCTC’s Anti-BOT Technology, Mitigates 64% of Malicious
Traffic to Ensure Genuine Users Can Access Tickets
3.04 Crore User Accounts Deactivated in 2025 for Fake or
Malicious IDs, Including Unrealistic Mobile Numbers,
Disposable Email Domains, Sequential and Gibberish
Usernames
1,80,474 User Accounts Re-Activated After Revalidation
Since 2025: Ashwini Vaishnaw
IRCTC Takes Strong Action Against Malicious Activity: 408
Cyber Crime Complaints Filed Pertaining to 4.07 lakh
Suspicious PNRs
Posted On: 25 MAR 2026 5:33PM by PIB Delhi
Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has provided the facility to book reserved
tickets online saving passengers from the trouble of going to reservation counters to book the tickets thus
saving travel time and transportation costs.
IRCTC incurs substantial expenditure on providing online ticketing facility and in order to defray the cost
incurred in maintenance, upgradation and expansion of ticketing infrastructure, a very nominal
convenience fee is levied by IRCTC.
The online ticket booking facility provided by IRCTC is one of the most passenger friendly initiatives of
Indian Railways and its acceptance can be gauged from the fact that at present approximately 88% of the
reserved tickets are booked online.
Clerkage is levied on cancellation of all waitlisted tickets including cancelled through IRCTC website as
per the Railway Passengers (Cancellation of Tickets and Refund of Fare) Rules, 2015, notified through
Gazette notification and as amended from time to time. Review and rationalization of policy is a
continuous and ongoing process.To prevent the misuse of the reservation facility & to ensure transparency, the following steps have been
taken by Indian Railways:
i. With effect from 01-07-2025, tickets under Tatkal Scheme can be booked through the website of Indian
Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC)/its app only by Aadhaar authenticated users.
ii. During the opening day of general reservation of ARP, the reserved general tickets can be booked
through the website of IRCTC or its app only by Aadhar authenticated users.
Measures taken in this regard have improved ease of booking by reducing instant booking of tickets. The
system has also been made more equitable by restricting multiple bookings using fake accounts. No user
account has been deactivated due to non-linking of Aadhaar.
The comparative details of number of tickets booked online and through counter during financial year of
2025-26 (upto February, 26) is as under:
Financial Year No. of tickets booked No. of tickets booked through counter (in
online crore)
(in crore)
2025-26 48.25 6.15
(upto February,
26)
IRCTC adopts broad parameters for identifying fake/malicious user ids/User accounts like, unrealistic
mobile numbers, disposable email domains, IP Addresses, Sequential and Gibberish User IDs etc. During
calendar year 2025, 3.04 crore user accounts were deactivated and 2.94 crore user accounts were put under
temporary suspension with option of Revalidation. However, during the period 01.01.2025 to 28.02.2026,
1,80,474 user accounts have been re-activated.
3 करोड़ से ादा फे क अकाउंट IRCTC स े हटाए गए ह। आज जेनुइन पैसजस को कं फम टकट मलने
लगा ह: माननीय रल मंी @AshwiniVaishnaw जी pic.twitter.com/FhaP5rAwGm
— Ministry of Railways (@RailMinIndia) March 25, 2026
Aadhaar authentication provides instantaneous verification of user uniqueness, which is critical
considering the time-sensitive nature of Tatkal ticket booking. The introduction of Aadhaar authentication
has helped in preventing the creation and operation of fake or unauthorized agent-controlled multiple user
accounts by imposing a uniqueness constraint.
This measure acts as an effective safeguard against account multiplication and automated misuse, thereby
ensuring fair allocation of Tatkal tickets. Consequently, Aadhaar authentication has contributed to
improved ticket availability for genuine passengers by reducing unfair booking practices and enhancing
transparency in the online Tatkal booking system.
Further, following steps have also been taken by IRCTC to ensure that tickets are made available to the
genuine users by eliminating the Network of Ticket Scalping:
To optimize system performance, IRCTC has already implemented a Content Delivery Network
(CDN) to offload static content and reduce direct traffic on NGeT website servers.
Further, Anti BOT Technology is in place which helps in mitigating malicious/suspicious attempts
which on an average is mitigated to the extent of 64%.This helps in mitigating malicious traffic and providing static content reducing load on system and
thus enhancing the experience for genuine and verified users.
Substantial quantum of malicious traffic is intercepted frequently.
408 complaints have been lodged on the National Cyber Crime Portal pertaining to 4.07 lakh
suspicious PNRs until 28 February, 2026.
13,023 suspicious email domains have been blocked in the year 2025-26 until 28 February, 2026.
Further, IRCTC carries out continuous monitoring to curb fraudulent activities by analysing booking
patterns and user registrations through comprehensive data analysis. User IDs found suspicious during
such analysis are deactivated as a preventive measure. A grievance redressal mechanism is available on
the IRCTC website and mobile application. Requests received from users through their registered email
ID and mobile number are examined in detail, and genuine user IDs are reactivated based on the outcome
of such analysis. Taking steps to ensure transparency in booking of general as well as Tatkal tickets based
on feedback received on various platforms is a continuous and ongoing process.
This information was provided by the Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting and
Electronics & Information Technology, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, in a reply to a question in Lok Sabha
today.
*****
Dharmendra Tewari/ Dr. Nayan Solanki/ Manik Sharma
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