Indian Railways Introduces Aadhaar and OTP for Tatkal Bookings from July 1, 2025 - 4 Key Points

 

Indian Railways Introduces Aadhaar and OTP for Tatkal Bookings from July 1, 2025

New Delhi, June 12, 2025: Starting July 1, 2025, booking a Tatkal train ticket through the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) will require Aadhaar authentication, with an additional layer of Aadhaar-based OTP verification kicking in from July 15. These changes aim to make the Tatkal booking system more transparent, secure, and accessible for genuine passengers, addressing long-standing issues like ticket scalping and bot-driven bookings.

Tatkal Bookings- What’s Changing?- 4 Points

1) Mandatory Aadhaar Authentication: From July 1, 2025, only users with Aadhaar-verified IRCTC accounts can book Tatkal tickets online via the IRCTC website or mobile app. Passengers must link their Aadhaar number to their IRCTC profile and complete the verification process to proceed.

2) OTP Verification: Starting July 15, 2025, every Tatkal booking—whether online, at Passenger Reservation System (PRS) counters, or through authorized agents—will require an OTP sent to the Aadhaar-linked mobile number. This ensures the person booking is the legitimate Aadhaar holder.

3) Agent Restrictions: To give individual passengers a fair shot, authorized railway ticketing agents will be barred from booking 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 on the opening day of Tatkal bookings.

4) Anti-Bot Measures: Indian Railways has upgraded its digital infrastructure with AI-powered systems and a Content Delivery Network (CDN) to block bots and fake accounts. Over 2.5 crore suspicious IRCTC user IDs have already been deactivated to curb automated bookings.

Why These Changes? The Tatkal scheme, designed for last-minute travelers, has often been plagued by misuse, with bots and agents snapping up tickets within seconds, leaving genuine passengers with waitlisted or no tickets. A survey revealed that over 70% of passengers struggled to secure confirmed Tatkal tickets, with 86% of AC tickets and 66.4% of non-AC tickets booked in the first hour. The new rules aim to prioritize regular passengers, reduce black marketing, and ensure a smoother booking experience.

How to book Tatkal Ticket

• Link Aadhaar to IRCTC: Log in to your IRCTC account and link your Aadhaar number well before July 1, 2025, to avoid last-minute hassles.
• Keep Details Ready: Save passenger details (name, age, gender, ID proof) and use fast payment methods like UPI or net banking to speed up the booking process.
• Log in Early: Be online 5-10 minutes before the Tatkal window opens (10:00 AM for AC classes, 11:00 AM for non-AC classes) and ensure a stable internet connection.
• Check PNR Status: After booking, track your ticket’s confirmation status via IRCTC or platforms like YatriRestro for real-time updates.

What It Means for Passengers

These reforms are a game-changer for last-minute travelers. By prioritizing Aadhaar-verified users and restricting agents, Indian Railways is ensuring fairer access to Tatkal tickets. The OTP verification adds an extra layer of security, while anti-bot measures and system upgrades promise a faster, more reliable booking experience. However, passengers without Aadhaar-linked accounts can still book at PRS counters or through agents after the initial 30-minute window, provided they complete OTP verification from July 15.

The Ministry of Railways has directed the Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS) and IRCTC to implement these changes across all zones and raise awareness through public announcements. So, update your IRCTC profile, stay prepared, and book your Tatkal tickets with ease starting July 2025