Before boarding an Indian Railways train, the TTE (Travelling Ticket Examiner) can ask you to present a valid ID proof. Failing to produce valid ID can result in a fine. Here is every accepted ID document and the rules around digital IDs.
Complete List of Valid ID Proofs for Train Travel
| ID Document | Physical Copy | Digital / App |
|---|---|---|
| Aadhaar Card | Yes | Yes (mAadhaar app, DigiLocker) |
| Passport | Yes | DigiLocker copy accepted |
| PAN Card | Yes | DigiLocker e-PAN accepted |
| Voter ID (EPIC) | Yes | Voter Helpline App digital copy |
| Driving Licence | Yes | DigiLocker / mParivahan accepted |
| Government Employee Photo ID | Yes | Generally No |
| Student ID (Govt. institution) | Yes (for students) | No |
| Nationalised Bank Passbook with photo | Yes | No |
| Senior Citizen ID (railway-issued) | Yes | No |
Rules for ID Matching
- The name on the ID must match the name on the ticket exactly (or very closely)
- For group bookings, at least one passenger in the group must carry an ID matching the ticket
- At least one person in a group of up to 6 passengers needs to carry a valid ID
Digital ID: What Is Accepted
Indian Railways accepts digital IDs through official government apps:
- DigiLocker (digilocker.gov.in) — stores Aadhaar, PAN, Driving Licence, and other government documents
- mAadhaar — displays Aadhaar card digitally, accepted by TTEs
- mParivahan — displays Driving Licence digitally
Screenshots of documents or images saved in WhatsApp/Gallery are not valid. The document must be accessed from the official app at the time of checking.
What If You Forget Your ID?
If you cannot produce a valid ID, the TTE can charge you as a ticketless passenger — a fine equivalent to the ticket fare. Carrying ID is mandatory, not optional. Always keep at least one physical ID or have DigiLocker installed and logged in before travel.
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