IRCTC ID Proof List | Indian Railways Accepted ID Proof

IRCTC ID Proof List | Indian Railways Accepted ID Proof

Proof of identity of Passengers journey by Train

ACCEPTANCE OF IDENTITY CARDS ISSUED TO THE PASSENGERS AS PROOF OF IDENTITY OF PASSENGERS FOR UNDERTAKING JOURNEY BY TRAIN

For the benefits of the travelling public, the following proofs of identity are considered as valid for undertaking journey in any reserved class of Indian Railways:

  1. Voter Photo identity card issued by Election Commission of India.
  2. Passport.
  3. PAN Card issued by Income Tax Department.
  4. Driving license issued by RTO.
  5. Photo identity card having serial number issued by Central/ State Government.
  6. Student Identity Card with photograph issued by recognized School/ College for their students.
  7. Nationalised Bank Passport with photograph.
  8. Credit Cards issued by Banks with laminated photograph.
  9. Unique Identification Card-Aadhaar, m-Adhaar & e-Aadhaar.
  10. Photo identity cards having serial number issued by Public Sector Undertaking of State/ Central Government, District Administrations, Municipal bodies and Panchayat Administrations.
  11. In case reserved tickets booked through computerised Passenger Reservation System (PRS) counters, for undertaking journey in Sleeper (SL) & Second Reserved Sitting (2S) classes, attested photocopy of Ration card with photographs and Nationalised Bank Passbook with photograph are also accepted.
  12. Photo identity cards with serial number issued to Advocates by the Bar Councils of India may also be accepted as proof of identity of passengers for undertaking journey by train.

Here’s a comprehensive and up-to-date breakdown of the accepted ID proofs for train travel—particularly for IRCTC and Indian Railways reserved-class journeys:

Officially Accepted Photo ID Proofs

For reserved-class e-tickets and I-tickets (including Tatkal), at least one passenger per ticket must carry one of the following original photo ID proofs. Otherwise, the group may be treated as traveling without valid tickets.

  1. Voter ID (Election Commission)
  2. Passport
  3. PAN Card (Income Tax Dept.)
  4. Driving Licence (RTO)
  5. Government-issued photo ID with serial number (Central/State)
  6. Student photo ID (recognized school/college)
  7. Nationalized Bank Passbook with photograph
  8. Credit Card (bank-issued, laminated photo)
  9. Aadhaar Card (printed, e-Aadhaar, or m-Aadhaar via app)
  10. Photo IDs with serial number issued by PSUs, District/Municipal/Panchayat bodies
  11. (Only for PRS-counter reserved SL & 2S classes) – Attested photocopy of Ration Card with photo or Nationalized Bank Passbook with photo
  12. Advocate identity cards issued by Bar Councils of India

Additional Guidelines & Important Notes

  • You do not need to provide ID details during booking, but you must carry it during the journey.
  • Digital copies, photocopies, or screenshots are not accepted, unless explicitly allowed (e.g., m-Aadhaar app or print-out of e-Aadhaar).
  • Failure to present a valid original ID may lead to:
    • Being treated as ticketless
    • A fine (e.g., ₹440 for AC, ₹220 for sleeper)
    • Ticket cancellation and possible deboarding
  • During checks, many TTEs only ask for your name or seat number, but it’s always safer to carry your ID.

Quick Reference Table

Requirement Details
One original ID proof Required for any reserved-class journey (e-ticket/I-ticket)
Valid ID types Passport, Voter ID, PAN, Driving Licence, Aadhaar (incl. e-/m-Aadhaar), Student ID, Bank Passbook, Credit Card, Govt./PSU ID, Ration Card (with restrictions), Bar Council ID
Copies/digital versions Generally not acceptable, except for m-Aadhaar or printed e-Aadhaar
Consequences of no ID Fine, ticket cancellation, or deboarding
Frequent practice TTE often checks only name or seat, but ID is mandatory

Pro Tips for Travel

  • Always carry the original ID proof listed above—even if checks seem minimal.
  • Opt for Aadhaar/m-Aadhaar or Passport if you’d like a generally accepted and straightforward ID.
  • If traveling in a group, at least one person must carry a valid ID—although each passenger ideally should be prepared.

Let me know if you want further clarification on concession IDs (e.g., senior citizen, student, disability), or any specific scenario!

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