Indian Railways Takes Action Against Fraud: 2.4 Crore IRCTC Accounts Terminated

Overview of Account Terminations
To combat fraudulent activities, Indian Railways has deactivated approximately 2.4 crore IRCTC accounts over the past six months. This action was prompted by the identification of discrepancies through advanced AI technology, particularly targeting accounts utilized for booking Tatkal and Premium Tatkal tickets via automated bots.
Reasons Behind the Account Closures
With the rise of online tools that facilitate automatic ticket bookings, the railways began monitoring users employing these bots for malicious purposes. This led to genuine passengers facing difficulties in securing their tickets. To address this issue, an AI-driven monitoring system was established to scrutinize irregular accounts, especially those lacking Aadhaar verification.
User Recommendations
Currently, out of 13 crore IRCTC users, only 1.2 crore accounts have completed Aadhaar verification. To avoid account deactivation, users are urged to verify their IRCTC accounts with Aadhaar promptly. Accounts that remain unverified may face blocking, so it is crucial to complete this verification process.
Aadhaar verification is now a requirement for booking Tatkal tickets. Indian Railways has linked Aadhaar verification to the IRCTC system, allowing users with verified accounts to enjoy a 10-minute exclusive booking window, thus minimizing competition from automated bots and unauthorized agents.
Steps to Link Your IRCTC Account with Aadhaar
To link your Aadhaar to your IRCTC account, follow these steps:
1. Visit the IRCTC website.
2. Log in using your username and password.
3. Navigate to the 'My Account' section.
4. Select the 'Link Your Aadhaar' option.
5. Enter your Aadhaar number and name.
6. Input the OTP sent to your registered mobile number.