Many people in India prefer traveling by train for long distances due to its comfort and flexibility. The IRCTC website is the go-to platform for booking railway tickets. While most people book their tickets using their own IDs, some still rely on third parties or friends for booking.
Recently, a shocking rumor went viral on social media, claiming that booking train tickets for others using personal IRCTC accounts could lead to jail time or hefty fines. The rumor stated that according to Section 143, only authorized agents are allowed to book tickets for third parties, and violating this could result in up to three years in jail or a fine of up to ₹10,000. It was also suggested that personal accounts can only book tickets for blood relatives or those with the same last name.
However, Indian Railways has debunked these rumors, calling them false and misleading. They clarified that there are no such restrictions on booking tickets using personal IRCTC IDs. Personal accounts can book up to 12 tickets per month, and if linked with Aadhaar, up to 24 tickets. Indian Railways emphasized that using personal IDs for commercial purposes is illegal, and spreading false information to mislead passengers and harm railway revenue will result in legal action.
