IRCTC (Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation) limits how many tickets each user can book per month to prevent bulk booking and ticket touting. By default, an unverified account can book only 6 tickets per month. Linking and verifying your Aadhaar with IRCTC raises this limit, making it easier for frequent travellers and families who book for multiple members.
This guide walks you through the entire linking process, explains what counts toward your limit, and helps you fix common errors.
Booking Limits Summary
| Verification Level | Monthly Ticket Limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Unverified IRCTC account | 6 tickets | Default for all new accounts |
| Aadhaar-linked and OTP-verified | 12 tickets | Available to all individual users |
| Enhanced verification (defence, agents) | Up to 24 tickets | Requires additional proof submission |
TIP
Each ticket can have up to 6 passengers. So even with the default 6-ticket limit, you can technically book travel for up to 36 passengers per month. The limit is on the number of booking transactions, not the number of people.
Before You Start
Requirements for IRCTC Aadhaar linking
0 of 5 ready · saved on this device only
Step 1: Log in to IRCTC
- Open irctc.co.in on a desktop browser or the IRCTC Rail Connect app.
- Log in with your IRCTC user ID and password.
- Complete the CAPTCHA if prompted.
TIP
The IRCTC website works best on desktop browsers (Chrome or Firefox). If you face issues on mobile, switch to a laptop or desktop. The Aadhaar linking option is sometimes easier to find on the website than in the app.
Step 2: Navigate to Aadhaar Linking
- Click on your profile name or My Account in the top-right corner.
- Select My Profile from the dropdown.
- Scroll down to find the Aadhaar KYC or Link Aadhaar section.
- If you do not see this option directly, look under Settings or Linked Accounts.
Step 3: Enter Your Aadhaar Number and Verify
- Enter your 12-digit Aadhaar number in the provided field.
- Click Send OTP. An OTP will be sent to the mobile number registered with your Aadhaar (not your IRCTC mobile, unless they are the same number).
- Enter the OTP within the validity period (usually 10 minutes).
- Click Verify or Submit.
WARNING
The OTP goes to your Aadhaar-linked mobile number, not your IRCTC-registered mobile. If you have changed your phone number and have not updated it on Aadhaar, you need to update your Aadhaar mobile number first. See our Aadhaar mobile update guide.
Step 4: Confirm Verification
After successful OTP verification:
- Your IRCTC profile will show Aadhaar as Verified or Linked.
- Your monthly booking limit will be automatically increased to 12 tickets per month.
- The change takes effect immediately. You do not need to log out and back in.
What Counts Toward the Monthly Limit
Understanding what counts helps you plan your bookings strategically:
| Action | Counts Toward Limit? |
|---|---|
| Booking a regular ticket (1-6 passengers) | Yes, counts as 1 booking |
| Booking a Tatkal ticket | No (Tatkal has its own separate daily limit of 2) |
| Cancelling a booked ticket | Yes, still counts. Cancelling does not free up your monthly quota |
| Failed transaction (payment timeout) | Generally no, but this can vary |
| Booking via an IRCTC-authorized agent | Counted against the agent's limit, not yours |
| RAC or waitlisted ticket that gets cancelled by the system | Yes, still counts |
The monthly counter resets on the 1st of each calendar month at midnight.
Tatkal Booking Rules (Separate from Monthly Limit)
Many people confuse the monthly ticket limit with Tatkal rules. They are independent:
| Rule | Details |
|---|---|
| Tatkal window opens | 10:00 AM for AC classes, 11:00 AM for sleeper class, one day before departure |
| Maximum Tatkal tickets per user per day | 2 tickets |
| Can I book Tatkal with the 6-ticket limit? | Yes, Tatkal has its own daily cap. Your monthly limit does not affect Tatkal. |
| Premium Tatkal | Dynamic pricing. Same 2-ticket-per-day limit applies. |
Common Problems and Solutions
| Problem | Solution |
|---|---|
| "Aadhaar already linked to another user ID" | Each Aadhaar can link to only one IRCTC account. If you have an old IRCTC account you no longer use, log in to that account and unlink Aadhaar from it first. If you cannot access the old account, contact IRCTC customer support via the "Contact Us" section. |
| OTP not received on mobile | Check if your Aadhaar mobile number is current. If not, update it at a UIDAI enrolment centre first. Also check if your phone has DND (Do Not Disturb) or SMS blocking enabled for short codes. |
| Name mismatch error | The name on your IRCTC profile must closely match your Aadhaar name. Log in to IRCTC, go to My Profile, and update your name to match your Aadhaar exactly (including middle name and initials). |
| IRCTC website not loading | Try during off-peak hours (after 10 PM or early morning). IRCTC servers face extremely heavy load during Tatkal booking hours (10 AM to 12 PM). |
| "Aadhaar verification failed" after entering OTP | Wait a few minutes and try again. UIDAI's authentication servers sometimes have temporary outages, especially during peak morning hours when millions of OTPs are being generated. |
| Linked Aadhaar but limit still shows 6 | Log out of IRCTC completely, clear your browser cache, and log back in. The updated limit should now reflect on your dashboard. |
Common Mistakes
- Trying to link Aadhaar on the mobile app during Tatkal hours: The IRCTC app is extremely slow between 9:45 AM and 12 PM due to Tatkal demand. Do the Aadhaar linking during off-peak hours.
- Assuming cancellations free up your limit: They do not. If you have booked 12 tickets this month and cancelled 3 of them, your remaining limit is still 0, not 3.
- Creating multiple IRCTC accounts to bypass the limit: IRCTC tracks accounts by Aadhaar, mobile number, and email. Creating duplicate accounts can lead to all of them being suspended.
Related Guides
Need more help?
For more information, open the IRCTC Help hub, browse Transport guides, or try our calculators.