Digital Drive by IRCTC

Context: IRCTC deactivated 2.5 crore suspicious user IDs to curb automated bot bookings and improve genuine user access.

About Digital Drive by IRCTC:

• Features:

• Deactivation of Suspicious IDs: 2.5 crore fake/suspicious accounts blocked. Anti-Bot Systems & CDN Integration: Prevents automated bookings by touts. Mobile & Email Revalidation: 20 lakh IDs sent for verification. Aadhaar-Based Authentication: Non-Aadhaar users face a 3-day wait for Tatkal bookings. Aadhaar-verified users get instant access. Cybercrime Complaints: 131 complaints filed against fraudulent users.

• Deactivation of Suspicious IDs: 2.5 crore fake/suspicious accounts blocked.

• Anti-Bot Systems & CDN Integration: Prevents automated bookings by touts.

• Mobile & Email Revalidation: 20 lakh IDs sent for verification.

• Aadhaar-Based Authentication: Non-Aadhaar users face a 3-day wait for Tatkal bookings. Aadhaar-verified users get instant access.

• Non-Aadhaar users face a 3-day wait for Tatkal bookings.

• Aadhaar-verified users get instant access.

• Cybercrime Complaints: 131 complaints filed against fraudulent users.

• Tackle Black Marketing: Bots/scalpers block tickets, harming genuine passengers. Improve Website Efficiency: Reduces server load during peak booking (e.g., Tatkal). Enhance Security: Prevents cyber fraud and unauthorized bookings.

• Tackle Black Marketing: Bots/scalpers block tickets, harming genuine passengers.

• Improve Website Efficiency: Reduces server load during peak booking (e.g., Tatkal).

• Enhance Security: Prevents cyber fraud and unauthorized bookings.

• Significance:

• Fair Access: Ensures real users get tickets, not touts. Tech Modernization: Uses AI, CDN, and Aadhaar for secure transactions. Record Efficiency: Enabled IRCTC’s record single-day (16.17 lakh tickets) and single-minute (31,814 tickets) bookings.

• Fair Access: Ensures real users get tickets, not touts.

• Tech Modernization: Uses AI, CDN, and Aadhaar for secure transactions.

• Record Efficiency: Enabled IRCTC’s record single-day (16.17 lakh tickets) and single-minute (31,814 tickets) bookings.

Relevance in UPSC Syllabus

• Governance:

• E-Governance: IRCTC’s digital drive showcases how technology improves transparency and efficiency in public service delivery. Digitization of Public Services: The use of Aadhaar-based authentication highlights the push for secure, user-friendly digital governance.

• E-Governance: IRCTC’s digital drive showcases how technology improves transparency and efficiency in public service delivery.

• Digitization of Public Services: The use of Aadhaar-based authentication highlights the push for secure, user-friendly digital governance.

• Internal Security:

• Cybercrime Prevention: The crackdown on bot traffic and fraudulent bookings reflects measures to combat cyber threats in critical infrastructure. Aadhaar-Based Authentication: Strengthens identity verification, reducing fraud and ensuring secure digital transactions.

• Cybercrime Prevention: The crackdown on bot traffic and fraudulent bookings reflects measures to combat cyber threats in critical infrastructure.

• Aadhaar-Based Authentication: Strengthens identity verification, reducing fraud and ensuring secure digital transactions.

• Economy:

• Digital Infrastructure: IRCTC’s integration with CDN and anti-bot systems demonstrates advancements in digital public infrastructure.