In a significant move aimed at curbing misuse and ensuring fair access to emergency travel bookings, the Indian Railways has announced that Aadhaar authentication will become mandatory for all Tatkal ticket bookings made online via the IRCTC website and mobile app, starting July 1, 2025.
According to an official release by the Ministry of Railways, only Aadhaar-verified users will be allowed to book Tatkal tickets online from the beginning of next month. Furthermore, from July 15 onwards, Aadhaar-based One-Time Password (OTP) authentication will also be required to complete Tatkal bookings made digitally.
The new rules are part of a broader overhaul of the Tatkal ticketing system to increase transparency and ensure genuine passengers are prioritized during the high-demand booking window.
In addition to the changes for online users, the Railways has also introduced system-based OTP verification for Tatkal bookings at Passenger Reservation System (PRS) counters and through authorised travel agents. This measure, also effective from July 15, will require users to confirm bookings via an OTP sent to their registered mobile number at the time of reservation.
To curb the practice of mass bookings by agents, the Railways has imposed a booking time restriction on authorised ticketing agents. Agents will no longer be allowed to book Tatkal tickets during the first 30 minutes of the opening window. This means they cannot book AC Tatkal tickets from 10:00 AM to 10:30 AM and non-AC tickets from 11:00 AM to 11:30 AM on the day Tatkal booking opens.
Officials said these steps are part of Indian Railways’ ongoing efforts to ensure that Tatkal services, meant to assist passengers with last-minute travel needs, are not exploited by unscrupulous elements.
IRCTC and the Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS) have been instructed to implement the necessary technical upgrades and coordinate with zonal railways to ensure a smooth rollout of the new authentication measures.
The Ministry has urged all passengers to ensure that their Aadhaar is linked with their IRCTC account ahead of the July 1 deadline to avoid last-minute hassles during booking.
