Indian Railways Updates Digital Ticket Rules: Screenshots, PDFs And WhatsApp Copies Invalid

Last Updated:July 09, 2026, 10:44 IST

Indian Railways has warned that ticket screenshots and PDFs are invalid. Only the original Rail One app ticket can be verified

Indian Railways has reiterated its guidelines for passengers travelling with digital unreserved tickets, clarifying that only the original ticket displayed in the Rail One app will be accepted during ticket verification. Screenshots, photographs, PDF copies or tickets forwarded via WhatsApp will not be considered valid, as part of measures to curb the misuse of digital tickets.

The railway administration has also stressed that digital tickets must be available on the same mobile phone and registered mobile number used to generate the ticket.

Original Ticket on Registered Device Mandatory

Under the revised guidelines, passengers travelling with digital unreserved tickets must present the original ticket within the Rail One app when requested by ticket-checking staff.

Railways clarified that:

• Screenshots of tickets will not be accepted.
• Photographs of tickets are invalid.
• PDF copies cannot be used for travel.
• Tickets forwarded through WhatsApp or any other messaging platform will not be considered valid.

Officials said the ticket must remain accessible through the Rail One app on the mobile phone on which it was originally booked.

Passenger Fined On Korba-Visakhapatnam Link Express

The clarification follows a recent incident aboard Train No 18517 Korba-Visakhapatnam Link Express, where a woman passenger travelling from Korba to Raipur was fined after presenting a WhatsApp screenshot of her ticket during inspection.

According to the railway administration, the passenger informed the ticket examiner that her brother had booked the ticket using the Rail One app and forwarded its screenshot to her via WhatsApp.

During verification, the travelling ticket examiner (TTE), Kumari Ankita (name changed), found that the ticket had been generated at 4:45 pm, whereas the train had already departed Korba station at 4:10 pm. It was also found that the ticket was not available on the passenger’s registered mobile number.

The screenshot was declared invalid, and the passenger was fined in accordance with railway rules.

Ticket Must Be Purchased Before Departure

Railways has clarified that digital unreserved tickets must be booked before the train departs from the boarding station.

Any ticket generated after the train has left the station will be treated as invalid, even if it is displayed on the Rail One app.

Railway Issues Advisory For Passengers

Passengers have been advised to keep the mobile phone used to book the ticket with them throughout the journey to facilitate verification.

The railway administration has also recommended that passengers:

• Carry the phone on which the Rail One app is registered.
• Ensure the mobile phone is adequately charged during travel.
• Verify the station name, journey date and other ticket details before commencing the journey.
• Avoid relying on screenshots or forwarded copies of tickets for travel.

Officials warned that incorrect ticket details or the inability to display the original digital ticket during inspection could lead to inconvenience or penalties.

Reservation Tickets Not Covered

Railways clarified that these instructions apply specifically to digital unreserved tickets booked through the Rail One app.

The rules do not apply to reserved tickets, as identity verification through government-issued ID documents is already carried out during reservation ticket checks.

Official Clarification

Awadhesh Kumar Trivedi, Senior Divisional Commercial Manager (DCM), Raipur Division, said that an unreserved digital ticket generated through the Rail One app is valid only when it is available on the same mobile phone and registered number used for booking.

He further clarified that copies of tickets shared via WhatsApp, screenshots or PDF files would not be accepted during ticket verification. Passengers must present the original ticket within the app, and digital bookings made after a train has departed from the station will not be considered valid.

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