Indian Railways mandates Aadhaar OTP for Tatkal bookings
Indian Railways has announced the implementation of Aadhaar-based OTP verification for all Tatkal bookings. This measure aims to ensure that genuine passengers have fair access to last-minute train tickets. Starting July 1, 2025, passengers wishing to book Tatkal tickets through the IRCTC website or mobile app must authenticate their accounts using Aadhaar. This step is designed to prevent unauthorized agents and bots from exploiting the system. From July 15, an additional layer of security will be introduced, requiring an OTP sent to the registered mobile number linked with Aadhaar to complete the booking process.
Not only online bookings but also those made at Passenger Reservation System (PRS) counters and through authorized railway agents will require OTP verification starting July 15. This uniform policy across all booking channels aims to eliminate discrepancies and ensure a level playing field for all passengers. To further promote fairness, authorized agents will be prohibited 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. This initiative is expected to give individual passengers a better chance to secure tickets without competition from agents.
Passengers are advised to link their Aadhaar numbers to their IRCTC accounts well in advance to avoid any inconvenience. The new rules are expected to significantly reduce the prevalence of fraudulent bookings and ensure that Tatkal tickets serve their intended purpose of providing emergency travel options to genuine passengers. Indian Railways has emphasized that these changes are part of a broader effort to modernize the ticketing system and make it more secure and user-friendly. The introduction of Aadhaar-based OTP verification is a step towards achieving these objectives and restoring public confidence in the Tatkal booking process.
As the implementation date approaches, passengers are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the new procedures and ensure their accounts are properly set up to take advantage of the Tatkal scheme without any hindrances.
