New Aadhaar Rule for Tatkal Ticket Booking Starts July 1

Beginning July 1, 2025, Indian Railways will require all passengers to authenticate their identity through Aadhaar before booking a Tatkal ticket on the IRCTC website or mobile app. This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

This decision follows a directive issued by the Ministry of Railways on June 10, which aims to reduce fraudulent bookings and give genuine passengers better access to emergency travel tickets.

Officials say the move is designed to increase accountability, improve security, and limit abuse by touts and unauthorized agents who often exploit the high-demand Tatkal quota.

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Starting July 15, passengers must also complete an Aadhaar-linked one-time password (OTP) verification process during each Tatkal ticket booking session. This step adds real-time identity confirmation to prevent impersonation or automated abuse.

Tatkal ticket agents now face tighter booking window controls

Indian Railways has also introduced new restrictions on its network of authorized ticketing agents, especially during the most sensitive booking periods.

Agents will no longer be able to book Tatkal tickets during the first 30 minutes of availability. For AC classes, this restriction lasts from 10:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. For non-AC tickets, the blackout period is from 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

The goal is to provide individual passengers with a fairer opportunity to purchase Tatkal tickets directly, without facing competition from professional agents who often use automated tools or batch-booking systems.

Violating these booking window restrictions may result in penalties. The ministry has warned that agents could face temporary suspension, cancellation of login credentials, or permanent removal from the IRCTC agent registration program.

These enforcement measures are intended to preserve the integrity of the Tatkal system and prioritize access for regular users over commercial agents.

Railways prepare Aadhaar-linked systems across zones

To support the rollout, the Ministry of Railways has tasked IRCTC and the Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS) with implementing backend updates and security integrations across all platforms.

All railway zones have been directed to coordinate these technical changes by the end of June and begin public communications to raise awareness of the new rules among passengers.

Both mobile and desktop versions of IRCTC will display prompts guiding users through Aadhaar verification. Passengers who haven’t completed this step will not be able to proceed with a Tatkal ticket booking.

Importantly, Aadhaar will remain optional for general ticket reservations, but the new authentication flow will be strictly enforced for all Tatkal-related bookings starting next month.

Broader implications for fair access and passenger trust

Officials emphasized that these changes reflect a larger push toward making Indian Railways’ digital services more secure, accessible, and equitable for ordinary travelers.

By enforcing Aadhaar-based controls, the ministry hopes to eliminate manipulation by brokers, improve booking transparency, and restore trust in last-minute railway travel options.

The Tatkal ticket system plays a critical role in emergency travel planning across India, especially for those who must travel on short notice. Ensuring fairness in access remains a top priority for the government.

Going forward, Indian Railways plans to continue reviewing other ticketing schemes to ensure consistency in digital verification and user-centric service delivery.

Source: www.thedailyjagran.com

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