Train ticket booking: IRCTC responds after complex math CAPTCHA image goes viral

IRCTC, the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation, has clarified a viral image showing a complex mathematical CAPTCHA for train ticket booking status checks. The circulating image, which purportedly displayed a complicated calculation (9876 × 543 - 2468 ÷ 4 = ?), is not the CAPTCHA currently used on IRCTC's website. IRCTC revealed that the authentic CAPTCHA system they employ is a simple arithmetic-based CAPTCHA, involving basic addition or subtraction using two-digit numbers.

The complex mathematical expression shown in the viral image is alleged to be fabricated or AI-generated, not an authentic screenshot of the IRCTC website. The actual CAPTCHA functionality can be verified directly by accessing the official IRCTC website. IRCTC introduced this CAPTCHA system to thwart automated ticket booking through scripting tools, aiming to protect genuine passengers from unscrupulous elements exploiting software to secure train tickets.

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