Starting July 1, 2025, Indian Railways will implement mandatory Aadhaar authentication for Tatkal tickets booked through IRCTC’s official website and mobile app, aiming to enhance transparency and curb misuse. Additionally, from July 15, 2025, Aadhaar-based OTP authentication will be required for Tatkal bookings at Passenger Reservation System (PRS) counters and through authorized railway ticketing agents.
To prevent bulk bookings, railway agents will be restricted from booking Tatkal tickets for the first 30 minutes of the reservation window. For AC classes, this applies between 10:00 AM and 10:30 AM, while for non-AC classes, the restriction is from 11:00 AM to 11:30 AM.
The Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS) and IRCTC have been directed to integrate these authentication measures and coordinate with Zonal Railways and relevant departments. The Ministry of Railways urges passengers to ensure Aadhaar linkage with their IRCTC profiles to avoid booking issues.
These reforms aim to protect genuine passengers, streamline Tatkal ticketing, and reinforce fair access to reservations.
