Starting July 1, 2025, Indian Railways will implement a minor fare hike for passenger trains and introduce Aadhaar authentication for Tatkal bookings. While non-AC and AC train fares will rise slightly, suburban and short-distance second class travel fares remain unchanged. New booking restrictions and OTP verification will also roll out to streamline the reservation system for common passengers.
The fare adjustment will mark the first increase by Indian Railways in several years. According to sources, non-AC Mail/Express trains will see a hike of 1 paise per kilometre, while AC classes will see a 2 paise per kilometre increase. For second class passengers travelling over 500 kilometres, the rise is only half a paise per kilometre. No changes have been made to suburban fares or monthly season ticket prices, maintaining affordability for daily commuters.
The Railway Ministry has also introduced new guidelines for Tatkal ticket bookings starting July 1. Aadhaar authentication will now be mandatory for booking Tatkal tickets on the IRCTC website or app. This step is aimed at ensuring that Tatkal services are accessible primarily to genuine end-users. These measures are expected to reduce misuse of the system and offer fairer access to last-minute ticket seekers amid high demand and limited availability.
From July 15, an additional layer of Aadhaar-based OTP verification will be required during Tatkal ticket booking. Passengers must complete this authentication step while finalising their tickets, adding an extra security layer to the process. The OTP system is being introduced to further prevent booking manipulation and ensure transparency. Indian Railways has directed its IT arms to carry out the necessary technical upgrades to enable this integration across platforms.
In addition to fare changes and digital verification, new limitations have been imposed on authorised booking agents. These agents will no longer be permitted to book Tatkal tickets during the initial half-hour of availability—10:00 am to 10:30 am for AC and 11:00 am to 11:30 am for non-AC bookings. The goal is to curb mass blocking of tickets and improve access for individual travellers who often face challenges during peak booking windows.
With the twin rollout of revised fares and updated Tatkal procedures, Indian Railways aims to balance affordability, fairness, and transparency. While the fare hike is modest, the digital authentication measures signal a major shift toward secure, passenger-focused booking systems. As the new policies take effect in July 2025, travellers are advised to stay updated and adjust their travel and ticketing plans in accordance with the revised rules.
