Lucknow : In a major move to curb unauthorized bookings and enhance transparency, Indian Railways has introduced significant changes to the Tatkal ticket booking system, which will come into effect in two phases — from July 1 and July 15, 2025.
According to Kuldeep Tiwari, Senior Divisional Commercial Manager of Northern Railway’s Lucknow Division, these amendments have been designed to ensure that the benefits of Tatkal bookings reach genuine passengers, rather than being misused by unscrupulous agents or software bots.
Key Changes Implemented:
From July 15, 2025, Aadhaar-based OTP authentication will become mandatory for booking Tatkal tickets. This applies to tickets booked:
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Via the IRCTC website or mobile app
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At computerized railway reservation counters
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Through authorized railway agents
To complete a Tatkal booking, passengers will need to enter an OTP sent to their Aadhaar-linked mobile number, ensuring authentication before the booking is processed.
Additional Measures for Transparency:
To prioritize the general public over booking agents during peak hours, the Indian Railways has also restricted Tatkal booking access for authorized agents:
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Agents will not be allowed to book AC class Tatkal tickets between 10:00 AM to 10:30 AM.
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They will also be barred from booking non-AC class Tatkal tickets from 11:00 AM to 11:30 AM.
During these time windows, only regular users will be able to book tickets, giving everyday travelers a fairer chance to secure reservations.
Background:
The Tatkal scheme, introduced to allow last-minute travelers to book confirmed tickets, has often been misused due to loopholes exploited by booking agents using unauthorized software. Despite multiple interventions in the past, ticket manipulation remained a challenge.
These new Aadhaar-linked measures are being viewed as a strong deterrent against such practices and a step toward secure, transparent ticketing.
Passengers are advised to ensure their Aadhaar is linked with their IRCTC account and mobile number before the new rule is enforced.
The railways reiterated that this move is part of a broader effort to ensure better service delivery and fair access to reservation facilities.
