Aadhaar authentication is mandatory to book Tatkal tickets on IRCTC from July 1, 2025; and OTP based authentication mandatory for booking Tatkal tickets online, at PRS counters, and via authorised agents, from July 15
Indian Railways makes Aadhaar Authentication mandatory for booking Tatkal tickets on IRCTC Website and App from July 1, 2025.
From July 15, 2025, OTP based identity authentication is mandatory for Tatkal Bookings made online, at PRS Counters, and through authorised agents.
Also, there will be no opening-day Tatkal Bookings by Agents in the first 30 minutes, for AC and Non-AC Classes.
As per the latest announcement by the Ministry of Railways on 11 June 2025, Indian Railways has announced these new changes in their Tatkal ticket booking system, which are aimed at reducing misuse of Tatkal booking scheme by enhancing user authentication.
The Ministry of Railways, Govt. of India, urges all passengers to take note of these changes and encourages everyone to ensure Aadhaar linkage with their IRCTC user profiles to avoid inconvenience.
The details of these new changes or requirements for booking Tatkal tickets are as follows:
1. Aadhaar Authentication for Online Tatkal Bookings:
From 1st July 2025, booking of Tatkal tickets online through IRCTC’s official website and mobile app will be available only to users authenticated with Aadhaar.
Furthermore, from 15th July 2025, Aadhaar-based OTP authentication will be mandatory for all Tatkal bookings made online.
2. System-Based OTP Authentication at PRS Counters and Agents:
From 15th July 2025, Tatkal tickets booked at computerised Passenger Reservation System (PRS) counters and through authorised agents, will require OTP authentication sent to the mobile number provided by the user at the time of booking.
Non Aadhar users can book Tatkal tickets at these computerised PRS counters or booking windows by giving their phone number on which OTP will be receieved for verification.
3. Booking Time Restriction for Authorised Agents:
Authorised ticketing agents of Indian Railways will not be permitted to book opening-day Tatkal tickets during the first 30 minutes of the booking window, to prevent bulk bookings during this critical opening period of booking Tatkal tickets.
For AC classes, this restriction on agents applies from 10:00 AM to 10:30 AM, and this restriction is from 11:00 AM to 11:30 AM for non-AC classes.
What does this mean to you or any individual person booking Tatkal?
This means that, whether online or at the Passenger Reservation System (PRS) counters, the first priority to book Tatkal tickets is now given to individual people during the opening half-hour time period, from 10:00 AM to 10:30 AM for AC classes, and from 11:00 AM to 11:30 AM for non-AC classes, as travel agents or authorised agencies won't be able to book tickets during those initial 30 minutes time periods.
Individuals can book Tatkal even after the above initial periods also, whether it be online or at the counters, but now you've got the first priority during the first 30 minutes from the Tatkal opening time.
Tatkal tickets can be booked one day in advance for selected trains only, excluding the date of journey from the train originating station. They can be booked on the opening day from 10:00 AM for AC class (2A/3A/CC/EC/3E) and at 11:00 AM for Non- AC class(SL/FC/2S).
The Indian Railways announcement says that these changes are being implemented to improve transparency in Tatkal bookings and to ensure that the benefits of the scheme reach genuine end users.
As per the latest announcement today on June 11, 2025, CRIS and IRCTC have been instructed to make necessary system modifications and inform all Zonal Railways and concerned departments accordingly.
Through this announcement, The Ministry of Railways urges all passengers to take note of these changes and encourages everyone to ensure Aadhaar linkage with their IRCTC user profiles to avoid inconvenience.
Just last week on June 04, 2025, the Minister of Railways had announced that e-Aadhaar authentication would soon to be required for booking Tatkal tickets on Indian Railways.
As per a recent report from just a week ago, Indian Railways has cracked down on unauthorised automated bookings and implemented a new system that has effectively mitigated all bot traffic, which peaks during the first five minutes of Tatkal booking being opened to the public.
Bot traffic accounts for up to 50% of overall login attempts during this period. It further noted that 2.5 crore (25 million) suspected user IDs were deactivated.
And now with the new Aadhaar and OTP based authentication requirements, it will enhance the booking experience, which goes on to improve the overall train travel experience in Indian Railways.
This is a really welcome move, and those of you who have tried booking a Tatkal ticket will already know how frustrating it can be as they usually get all sold out within seconds or minutes, when the booking window for a train opens.
- Only Aadhaar authenticated user can book Tatkal tickets on IRCTC Website and App from July 1 - Ministry of Railways, Govt. of India, on PIB : Press Information Bureau. Posted On: 11 JUN 2025 4:27PM by PIB Delhi.
- Indian Railways Cracks Down on Unauthorized Automated Bookings; Boosts Website Access for Genuine Users - Ministry of Railways, Posted On: 04 JUN 2025 3:54PM by PIB Delhi.