Caption – Ministry of Railways announces new Tatkal Booking Rules. (Image credit – @RailMinIndia on X)
Booking Tatkal train tickets online will get a major update starting July 1, 2025. As part of a push to stop fraud and ensure fair access for genuine travellers, the Ministry of Railways has made Aadhaar verification mandatory for Tatkal bookings on the IRCTC website.
To make Tatkal bookings more secure and user-focused, from July 1, only Aadhaar-authenticated users can book Tatkal tickets via the IRCTC website or app. pic.twitter.com/4Sr24VAW3I
— Ministry of Railways (@RailMinIndia) June 16, 2025
Only users who have linked their Aadhaar number to their IRCTC account will be allowed to book Tatkal tickets online. This move aims to prevent misuse by unauthorised agents and bots and promote secure, verified bookings for last-minute passengers.
“With effect from 01.07.2025, tickets under tatkal scheme can be booked through the website of Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC)/its app only by Aadhaar authenticated users. Subsequently, Aadhaar-based OTP authentication shall also be made compulsory for the tatkal booking from 15.07.2025,” says the circular issued by the Railway Ministry on June 10.
Here’s everything you need to know.
Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw shared the details of new rules for the Tatkal ticket booking on its official X (formerly Twitter) handle @AshwiniVaishnaw. Posting the set of rules, the minister wrote, “Tatkal ticketing made more accessible for genuine users.”
Tatkal ticketing made more accessible for genuine users. pic.twitter.com/KGEAEgugtz
— Ashwini Vaishnaw (@AshwiniVaishnaw) June 11, 2025
From July 1, you won’t be able to book Tatkal tickets unless your IRCTC account is Aadhaar-verified. That means your Aadhaar number must be linked and authenticated through an OTP.
Starting July 15, even if your account is already verified, you’ll need to complete an OTP-based Aadhaar check every time you make a Tatkal booking. This ensures the person booking is the actual account holder, helping stop misuse.
To give regular users a fair shot, IRCTC agents won’t be allowed to book Tatkal tickets during the first 30 minutes of the booking window –
IRCTC and CRIS will update their systems to make sure these blocks are enforced automatically.
According to railway officials, the new rules will help:
To be eligible for Tatkal booking after July 1, follow these simple steps –
What You Need –
Steps to Link Aadhaar:
You’ll see a success message once it’s done
To save time during booking, IRCTC lets you pre-save Aadhaar-verified passengers. Here’s the step-by-step process –
Tip – Keep your Master List updated to avoid delays during high-traffic Tatkal hours.
Answer. Starting July 1, only users who have linked their Aadhaar number to their IRCTC account will be allowed to book Tatkal tickets online.
Answer. Yes. From July 15, users must complete an OTP-based Aadhaar check each time they make a Tatkal booking to confirm identity and prevent misuse.
Answer. No. IRCTC agents will be blocked for the first 30 minutes of Tatkal booking windows – AC Classes: 10:00 AM to 10:30 AM and Non-AC Classes: 11:00 AM to 11:30 AM
Answer. To curb fraud, stop bot misuse, ensure genuine passengers get fair access, and to promote secure, verified online bookings under the Digital India mission.
Also Read: IRCTC Tatkal Ticket Booking Guide: Time, Charges and How to Book Online or Using App
Also Read: Indian Railways Introduces ‘Book Now, Pay Later’ Service for Ticket Reservations
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