Indian Railways New Tatkal Rules: Aadhaar & OTP Now Mandatory

The Ministry of Railways has implemented major changes in the Tatkal ticket booking system in order to check malpractices and provide fair chances to the deserving passengers. Aadhaar-based authentication of IRCTC account: Booking of Tatkal tickets on the IRCTC website and mobile application will require users to authenticate their account starting 1 July 2025. Further, the system will integrate OTP-based authentication on online and counter booking since July 15, 2025. These updates will help to prevent abuses of agents and automated bots and help to establish transparency and justice in the availability of tickets.

From July 1, Tatkal tickets can be booked online through IRCTC only by Aadhaar-authenticated users, and by July 15, OTP authentication will also be mandatory on internet and counter ticket booking. The modifications are expected to control malpractices and provide Tatkal tickets fairly.

Key Details Regarding the New Tatkal Ticket Booking Rules

1. Aadhaar Authentication for Online Tatkal Bookings

Aadhaar Linkage will be Made Mandatory:

• IRCTC account Booking Tatkal Tickets Online: Passengers have to verify their IRCTC account with their Aadhaar number to be able to book Tatkal tickets online, via the IRCTC website or the IRCTC mobile app, w.e.f. 1 July 2025.

• This initiative will help provide Tatkal tickets to only real passengers and to curb the malpractices being followed by unauthorised agents.

2. OTP Authentication for Both Online and Counter Bookings

OTP Verification can be done through Aadhaar:

• Passengers making Tatkal reservations online will have to authenticate using Aadhaar-based OTP with effect from July 15, 2025.

• Likewise, counter booking at Passenger Reservation System (PRS) counters and under authorized agents shall also be counter-booked with an OTP authentication to be sent on the mobile number given during the time of booking.

3. Restrictions on Authorized Agents

Agents' booking time limits:

• In a bid to ensure that the authorized ticketing agents do not monopolize the first sale window, the authorized ticketing agents will not be allowed to book Tatkal ticket within the first 30 minutes of the booking window.

• In the case of AC classes, the limitation will be between 10:00 AM to 10:30 AM.

• In the case of non-AC classes, the agents shall not be permitted to make booking between 11:00 AM to 11:30 AM on the first day.

• The shift is geared towards equitable access by ordinary passengers in the most competitive booking window.

4. Data on Tatkal Ticket Booking Trends

Daily Booking volume:

• An average of 2,25,000 Tatkal tickets gets reserved online every day via IRCTC.

Booking Patterns:

• AC classes Tatkal reservations: 62.5 percent of the Tatkal reservations are made in the first 10 minutes of booking window, on an average.

In the case of non-AC tickets, approximately 66.4 percent of the booking is done in the first 10 minutes of the window opening.

5. Ministry’s Objective and Expected Impact

Reduction of Automated Bots and Malpractices:

• One of the relevant steps taken to ensure that automated bots are curbed and prevent large-scale booking of Tatkal tickets by unauthorised agents is the introduction of Aadhaar-based authentication.

• The Ministry of Railways has clarified that all these changes are aimed at bringing in transparency and ensuring that the Tatkal system gives results to the actual passengers.

6. System Changes and Implementation

System Modifications:

• Centre of Railway Information System (CRIS) and the IRCTC will have the responsibility to change their systems to reflect these changes and make all the Zonal Railways and other concerned departments aware of the same.

• This is to notify that the system of Aadhaar authentication and OTP verification will be fully operational by July 15, 2025, and thereafter, no Tatkal booking will be permissible without the mandated verification.

7. What Passengers Need to Do

Connect Aadhaar with IRCTC Account:

• It is also important that all Tatkal ticket seekers should associate their Aadhaar numbers with their IRCTC accounts before making any ticket booking so as to prevent any kind of inconvenience in making ticket booking with effect from July 1, 2025.

Conclusion

The move by Indian Railways to introduce Aadhaar authentication to Tatkal ticket booking is a momentous decision towards making sure that the scheme benefits genuine passengers. The Ministry will help address the misuse and bring more transparency in the ticketing booking process by limiting unauthorised agents and implementing OTP-based authentication. Such reforms will likely simplify the Tatkal booking system and make it fairer to the general population as well as fight automated bots used to make unfair bookings. The passengers have been requested to make sure that they are linked with Aadhaar to the IRCTC to prevent any hindrance.