Indian Railways has made Aadhaar OTP verification mandatory for Tatkal ticket booking. This measure aims to ensure genuine passengers can easily access tickets.
Tatkal Ticket New Rule 2025: Millions of Indian Railways passengers will benefit from a significant change aimed at curbing fraud and the manipulation by touts in Tatkal ticket booking. The Ministry of Railways has announced that e-Aadhaar authentication will be mandatory for Tatkal ticket booking by the end of June 2025. This means that OTP verification via Aadhaar will be required during ticket booking, effectively preventing bookings by touts and automated bots.
What is a Tatkal Ticket and Why Were There Complaints?
The Tatkal scheme was introduced for passengers needing to travel urgently in emergency situations. Tickets are booked one day prior to travel, and a limited number of seats are available. However, in recent years, tickets have been sold out within seconds of the booking window opening. This is largely due to touts and fraudulent agents using automated software and fake IDs to book tickets.
According to railway officials, fraudulent activities often occur under the guise of authorized agents, preventing genuine passengers from securing tickets. Consequently, the railways received numerous complaints from passengers unable to obtain Tatkal tickets, while agents were charging exorbitant fees.
How Will the New Rule Work?
Under the new railway rule, passengers will need to undergo e-Aadhaar-based verification during Tatkal ticket booking. This means the passenger's IRCTC account must be linked to their Aadhaar, and identity will be verified via OTP verification. This process will apply to both the IRCTC website and mobile app, as well as counter bookings.
Key Point: Tickets will only be booked if the user's Aadhaar authentication is successful.
First 10 Minutes Exclusively for Aadhaar-Linked Users
Another significant change is that for the first 10 minutes after the Tatkal booking window opens, only Aadhaar-linked individual users can book tickets. Authorized IRCTC agents will not be permitted to book tickets during this 10-minute period. This ensures that ordinary passengers have a fair chance to book tickets without the intervention of agents.
Example: If AC class Tatkal booking opens at 10:00 AM, only Aadhaar-authenticated users can book tickets from 10:00 AM to 10:10 AM.
What Will Change for Passengers?
Advantages
- Online booking will be easier and safer.
- Increased transparency in ticket booking.
- Prevention of ticket booking by auto-bots and software.
- Prioritization of passengers in need.
- Disruption of fraudulent agent networks.
Challenges
- Passengers without Aadhaar linkage will miss out on early booking opportunities.
- Individuals with limited technical knowledge may face difficulties with the OTP process.
What Passengers Need to Do
If you frequently book Tatkal tickets, ensure that:
- Your IRCTC account is linked to your Aadhaar card.
- You have OTP enabled on your registered mobile number.
- If you haven't linked your Aadhaar yet, you can do so by going to the 'My Profile' section on the IRCTC website.
Railway's Goal – Transparency and Fairness
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated, "Indian Railways strives to ensure that the right passenger gets the right ticket at the right time. We want a booking system free from fraud, where only those in need receive tickets."
He also added that this technology-based solution will make Indian Railways more modern and passenger-friendly.
