13 June 2025 : From July 1, 2025, the process of booking Tatkal train tickets will change. Now, you won’t be able to book Tatkal tickets without an Aadhaar card and OTP verification. Indian Railways has made this major change to make the process more transparent and to benefit regular passengers. These new rules will be implemented specifically for those booking Tatkal tickets through the IRCTC website and mobile app.
Aadhaar will now be required for Tatkal train ticket bookings. From July 1 onwards, Aadhaar card will be mandatory for booking Tatkal tickets via the IRCTC website and mobile app. This step aims to prevent fraudulent bookings and ensure transparency.
From July 15, mobile number verification through OTP will also be required for Tatkal tickets booked at PRS counters (i.e., computerized railway booking counters at stations) and through authorized agents. An OTP will be sent to the mobile number provided at the time of booking, and the ticket will not be confirmed unless the OTP is entered. According to the Ministry of Railways, this step is being taken to prevent misuse of the Tatkal scheme and ensure it benefits genuine passengers.
To give common people a fair chance to book tickets first, the Railways has decided to impose a 30-minute restriction on booking timings for authorized agents.
For AC class Tatkal tickets, agents will not be allowed to book tickets from 10:00 AM to 10:30 AM.
For non-AC class Tatkal tickets, this restriction will apply from 11:00 AM to 11:30 AM.
Earlier, a large number of Tatkal tickets used to be booked within the first few minutes. For example, over 60 percent of AC class tickets are booked in the first 10 minutes, and 84 percent of non-AC class tickets are booked within the first hour.
IRCTC has also stated that strict surveillance is being conducted on fake and bot-based ticket bookings. In the past six months, 2.5 crore fake user IDs have been blocked, and over 20 lakh accounts are still under investigation. Special scrutiny will be done for user IDs that have not completed Aadhaar verification.
These new rules are intended to make the Tatkal ticket booking process more transparent, secure, and fair for genuine passengers. If you book Tatkal tickets, it is important to ensure that your Aadhaar and mobile number are updated.
Summary:
From July 1, only Aadhaar‑authenticated IRCTC users can book Tatkal tickets online. From July 15, OTP verification adds security, and agents are barred in initial 30 minutes.