In a significant move to protect the interests of genuine passengers and clamp down on the misuse of Tatkal bookings, Indian Railways has announced sweeping changes to the Tatkal ticket reservation system. These modifications, which include mandatory Aadhaar authentication and booking time restrictions for agents, will be rolled out starting July 1, 2025.
The Ministry of Railways has issued directives to CRIS (Centre for Railway Information Systems) and IRCTC to implement system changes and notify all zonal railways accordingly.
Aadhaar Authentication Mandatory for Online Tatkal Bookings
From July 1, 2025, passengers booking Tatkal tickets via the IRCTC website and mobile app will need to be authenticated with Aadhaar. Beginning July 15, Aadhaar-based OTP (One Time Password) verification will also become compulsory for completing online Tatkal bookings.
To maintain consistency and prevent fraudulent transactions across channels, Indian Railways will also introduce system-generated OTP authentication at all Passenger Reservation System (PRS) counters and through authorised agents starting July 15, 2025. This OTP will be sent to the mobile number submitted during the booking process.
Agent Booking Window Curtailed to Prevent Bulk Reservations
In an effort to curb mass bookings during high-demand periods, authorised ticketing agents will no longer be allowed to book Tatkal tickets during the first 30 minutes of the opening window.
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For AC classes: Agent bookings are barred from 10:00 AM to 10:30 AM. For non-AC classes: Agent bookings are restricted from 11:00 AM to 11:30 AM.
This change is expected to give individual passengers a fairer opportunity to secure Tatkal tickets, especially during peak travel seasons.
Railways Urge Passengers to Link Aadhaar with IRCTC
The Ministry of Railways has appealed to passengers to ensure their Aadhaar details are updated and linked to their IRCTC profiles ahead of the new rules taking effect. Failure to do so may lead to booking difficulties once Aadhaar verification becomes mandatory.
These policy revisions mark a crucial step in Indian Railways’ ongoing efforts to digitise and secure the ticketing process while enhancing transparency and access.
