Indian Railways has introduced significant new norms for Tatkal train ticket bookings, effective July 1, 2025, mandating Aadhaar authentication for online purchases. This pivotal policy shift aims to streamline the booking process, enhance transparency, and curb misuse by agents and touts, ultimately fostering a more equitable and predictable travel experience for millions of passengers. The move underscores a strategic commitment to modernising public services and ensuring fair access to high-demand tickets.
The core of the recent policy directive, confirmed by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in the Rajya Sabha, mandates that tickets under the Tatkal Scheme can now only be booked through the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) website or its app by Aadhaar-authenticated users. This measure directly addresses concerns raised by Members of Parliament regarding booking priority and the curbing of illicit practices. By linking bookings to verified Aadhaar accounts, the Railways aim to create a more secure and accountable system, reducing instances of fraudulent bookings and ensuring that genuine passengers have a fairer chance.
Furthermore, a critical restriction has been placed on authorised agents, barring them from booking Tatkal tickets during the first 30 minutes of the Advance Reservation Period (ARP) for both AC and non-AC classes. Specifically, agents are restricted from 10:00 AM to 10:30 AM for AC classes and from 11:00 AM to 11:30 AM for non-AC classes. This strategic time-based restriction is designed to give individual passengers a head start in securing tickets during the peak booking window, thereby improving ease of booking and making the system more equitable for the general public.
Beyond online bookings, the new norms also extend to Tatkal tickets purchased at computerised Passenger Reservation System (PRS) counters and through authorised agents. These transactions will now require One-Time Password (OTP) authentication sent to the mobile number provided by the user at the time of booking. This additional layer of security aims to prevent unauthorised bulk bookings and ensure that the person making the booking is the legitimate user, further curbing the activities of touts and ensuring transparency across all booking channels.
Minister Vaishnaw stated that these measures have already improved the ease of booking by reducing instant booking of tickets and restricting multiple bookings using fake accounts. He emphasised that ensuring transparency in Tatkal ticket bookings, based on feedback received from various platforms, is a continuous and ongoing process. This proactive approach by Indian Railways reflects a commitment to responsive governance and leveraging digital solutions to enhance public service delivery, contributing to a more efficient and user-friendly public transport system.
This comprehensive overhaul of the Tatkal booking system is a vital step towards creating a more accessible and equitable public transport network in India. By prioritising genuine passenger needs and leveraging digital authentication, Indian Railways is not only improving operational efficiency but also fostering trust and fairness. Such initiatives are crucial for building sustainable urban and regional mobility, ensuring that all citizens, regardless of gender or socio-economic status, have reliable and transparent access to essential travel services, thereby contributing to a more inclusive society.
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