Indian Railways has announced a reduction in the issuance of waiting tickets by up to 25%. This policy change, effective from July 1, 2025, is part of a broader initiative to curb black-marketing, enhance transparency, and prioritize genuine passengers. Under the new policy, the number of waiting tickets issued for each train will be capped at 25% of the available berth capacity.
For instance, if a train has 400 berths available after accounting for quotas for senior citizens, women, and other categories, the waiting list will be limited to 100. This measure applies uniformly across all travel classes, including Sleeper, Second AC, Third AC, and Chair Car, and encompasses both Tatkal and remote-location bookings. However, concessional fare and government warrant tickets are exempt from this cap . The decision to implement this cap comes in response to growing concerns over overcrowding and the prevalence of black-marketing in the railway ticketing system. Previously, there was no upper limit on waiting lists, leading to excessive overbooking and chaos during peak travel periods.
By reducing the number of waiting tickets, Indian Railways aims to make confirmed tickets more accessible to genuine passengers and regulate overcrowding in coaches. To further enhance the ticketing process, Indian Railways has introduced several new measures. Starting July 1, 2025, the booking of Tatkal tickets will require Aadhaar-based OTP authentication. This means that passengers must link their Aadhaar number with their IRCTC account and verify their identity using an OTP sent to their registered mobile number. This step is intended to prevent misuse of the Tatkal scheme and ensure that tickets are booked by legitimate travelers .
Additionally, to prioritize individual passengers over agents, authorized ticketing agents will be restricted 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 . In another significant development, Indian Railways has launched an AI-powered chatbot named AskDISHA 2.0. This tool allows passengers to book, cancel, and check the refund status of train tickets simply by speaking. The chatbot provides real-time train information and assists users in managing their travel plans more efficiently. This initiative aligns with the government’s push towards digitalization and aims to make the ticketing process more user-friendly and accessible .
Furthermore, starting July 2025, Indian Railways has announced a fare hike for both AC and non-AC classes. Passengers traveling in non-AC classes on ordinary mail/express trains will face a fare increase of 1 paisa per kilometer, while those in AC classes will see a hike of 2 paisa per kilometer. This adjustment is part of the ongoing efforts to improve railway infrastructure and services. These reforms signify a concerted effort by Indian Railways to modernize its operations, enhance passenger experience, and ensure equitable access to train services. By leveraging technology and implementing strategic policies, Indian Railways aims to create a more efficient and passenger-friendly railway system.
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