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Key Points

Indian Railways has introduced Aadhaar authentication for Tatkal ticket bookings on IRCTC starting July 1. OTP verification will also be mandatory for PRS counters and agents from July 15. Agents face booking restrictions in the first 30 minutes to prevent bulk purchases. These changes aim to curb misuse and ensure fair access for genuine travelers.

Key Points: IRCTC Makes Aadhaar Mandatory for Tatkal Tickets from July 1

  • Aadhaar authentication required for online Tatkal bookings from July 1
  • OTP verification mandatory for PRS counters & agents from July 15
  • Agents barred from bulk bookings in first 30 minutes
  • Changes aim to prevent misuse & benefit genuine travelers
2 min read

Only Aadhaar-authenticated user can book Tatkal tickets on IRCTC Website, App from July 1

Indian Railways mandates Aadhaar authentication for Tatkal bookings on IRCTC from July 1 to curb misuse and ensure fair access.

"Aadhaar-based OTP authentication will become mandatory for Tatkal bookings made online starting 15th July 2025. – Indian Railways"

New Delhi, June 11

With an aim to ensure fair and transparent access to Tatkal tickets and to safeguard the interests of genuine passengers, Indian Railways has announced key modifications in the Tatkal ticket booking system.

These changes are aimed at enhancing user authentication and reducing misuse of the scheme.

The new provisions are Aadhaar Authentication for Online Tatkal Bookings: Effective 1st July 2025, Tatkal tickets booked through IRCTC's official website and mobile app will be available only to users authenticated with Aadhaar.

Further, Aadhaar-based OTP authentication will become mandatory for Tatkal bookings made online starting 15th July 2025.

System-Based OTP Authentication at PRS Counters and Agents: Tatkal tickets booked at computerised Passenger Reservation System (PRS) counters and through authorised agents will require OTP authentication sent to the mobile number provided by the user at the time of booking. This provision will also come into effect from July 15, 2025.

Booking Time Restriction for Authorised Agents: To prevent bulk bookings during the critical opening period, authorised ticketing agents of Indian Railways will not be permitted to book opening-day Tatkal tickets during the first 30 minutes of the booking window.

For AC classes, this restriction applies from 10:00 am to 10:30 am, and for non-AC classes, from 11:00 am to 11:30 am.

These changes are being implemented to improve transparency in Tatkal bookings and to ensure that the benefits of the scheme reach genuine end users.

CRIS and IRCTC have been instructed to make necessary system modifications and inform all Zonal Railways and concerned departments accordingly.

The Ministry of Railways urges all passengers to take note of these changes and encourages everyone to ensure Aadhaar linkage with their IRCTC user profiles to avoid inconvenience.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rahul K.
Finally some good steps to stop touts! Every time I try Tatkal tickets, they're all gone in seconds. Hope this Aadhaar authentication helps genuine travelers like us. 🙏
P
Priya M.
What about senior citizens who don't have Aadhaar or smartphones for OTP? Railways should think about alternative methods for authentication. Not everyone is tech-savvy.
A
Amit S.
Good move but implementation is key! IRCTC website crashes often during peak hours. First fix the technical issues, then add more authentication layers. #PracticalProblems
S
Sunita R.
As someone who travels frequently for work, I welcome this change. Last month I saw 50 tickets disappear in 2 minutes - clearly something fishy was happening. Hope this brings some fairness.
V
Vikram J.
Privacy concerns anyone? Now our travel history will also be linked to Aadhaar. The government is making everything dependent on one ID. Not sure if this is good in long term.
N
Neha T.
The 30-minute restriction for agents is brilliant! This will give common people a fair chance. Though I wish they'd increase Tatkal quota too - trains are always packed!

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