New Delhi, 17th July 2025: Major changes have been made in the rules for booking Tatkal train tickets. Starting from Tuesday, July 15, 2025, passengers will need to complete Aadhaar authentication to book Tatkal tickets on the IRCTC website or app.
From now on, passengers must link their Aadhaar number to their IRCTC account. During ticket booking, an OTP (One-Time Password) will be sent to the Aadhaar-linked mobile number, and only upon entering that OTP will the booking be completed. This step has been introduced to increase transparency in ticket bookings and to curb the activities of touts and fake agents who misuse illegal software to book tickets in bulk.
Often, Tatkal tickets are sold out within minutes of the booking window opening. Many touts use unauthorized software or illegal methods to grab tickets, leaving genuine passengers struggling. To prevent this, Aadhaar-based OTP verification will now be mandatory for Tatkal bookings.
Key Changes:
First 30 minutes reserved for general passengers:
Agents will not be allowed to book Tatkal tickets during the first 30 minutes of booking for both AC and non-AC classes.
Mandatory Aadhaar OTP for online booking:
The passenger must link their Aadhaar number to the IRCTC account. When booking a Tatkal ticket, an OTP will be sent to their Aadhaar-registered mobile number. Entering this OTP is required to complete the booking.
Same rule at ticket counters:
Aadhaar verification or OTP-based booking will also apply at railway ticket counters. The process will ensure that tickets are booked only by or for the genuine passenger.
The primary objective of the new rules is to ensure fair access to tickets for regular travelers and to eliminate ticket hoarding and black marketing.
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