Big Changes to Tatkal Ticket Booking from July 2025: What Passengers Need to Know Big Changes to Tatkal Ticket Booking from July 2025: What Passengers Need to Know News If you rely on Tatkal bookings for last-minute travel, these updates are crucial. Priyanshu Tripathi <html> <p style="text-align: justify;">IRCTC is introducing major reforms&nbsp;to the Tatkal ticket booking system starting&nbsp;July 1, 2025, aimed at improving transparency, reducing misuse, and ensuring fair access for genuine passengers. If you rely on Tatkal bookings for last-minute travel, these updates are crucial.</p> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Aadhaar-Based Authentication is Now Mandatory</strong></h3> <p style="text-align: justify;">From <strong>July 1</strong>, <strong>2025</strong>, passengers booking Tatkal tickets online via the IRCTC website, mobile app or any other travel platform must have their Aadhaar linked and verified with their IRCTC account. This step is designed to:</p> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li>Prevent fraudulent bookings</li> <li>Ensure only verified users can access Tatkal quotas</li> </ul> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>OTP Verification for All Bookings from July 15, 2025</strong></h3> <p style="text-align: justify;">Starting July 15, 2025 both online and offline Tatkal bookings will require Aadhaar-based OTP verification. This includes:</p> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li>Bookings made at railway counters (PRS)</li> <li>Bookings made through authorized agents</li> </ul> <p style="text-align: justify;">This move adds a layer of security and ensures uniformity across booking platforms.</p> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Agents Restricted During Initial Booking Window</strong></h3> <p style="text-align: justify;">To give individual passengers a fair chance, Indian Railways is restricting access of&nbsp;authorised ticketing agents/other ticket booking platforms during the first 30 minutes of Tatkal booking:</p> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li><strong>AC Class Tatkal bookings</strong>: Agents barred from 10:00 AM to 10:30 AM</li> <li><strong>Non-AC Class Tatkal bookings</strong>: Agents barred from 11:00 AM to 11:30 AM</li> </ul> <p style="text-align: justify;">This change is expected to reduce bulk bookings and improve availability for regular users.</p> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>How to Prepare for the New Rules</strong></h3> <p style="text-align: justify;">Here&rsquo;s what you should do to stay ahead:</p> <ol style="text-align: justify;"> <li>Link your Aadhaar&nbsp;with your IRCTC account.</li> <li>Verify your mobile number&nbsp;with Aadhaar for OTP authentication.</li> <li>Avoid relying on agents&nbsp;during restricted hours.</li> <li>Update your IRCTC profile&nbsp;to ensure smooth booking.</li> </ol> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Trainman Tip</strong> - Please keep your Aadhaar linked mobile number ready for OTP authentication. Once authenticated, you can do Tatkal bookings.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Additionally, from 15 July, 2025, Aadhaar-based OTP authentication will be compulsory for all online Tatkal bookings.</p> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>How to Link your Aadhar with your IRCTC Account</strong></h3> <p style="text-align: justify;">You can complete the Aadhaar authentication process by following these simple steps:</p> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li>Log in to the IRCTC website <a href="http://www.irctc.co.in">www.irctc.co.in</a> or the IRCTC Rail Connect Mobile App.</li> <li>Navigate to the "<strong>My Account</strong>" section.</li> <li>Click on the &ldquo;<strong>Authenticate User</strong>&rdquo; link and follow the instructions.</li> </ul> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Why These Changes Matter</strong></h3> <p style="text-align: justify;">These reforms are part of Indian Railways&rsquo; broader strategy to:</p> <ul> <li style="text-align: justify;">Promote&nbsp;fairness and transparency</li> <li style="text-align: justify;">Curb black marketing&nbsp;and unauthorized bookings</li> <li style="text-align: justify;">Make the Tatkal system more&nbsp;passenger-friendly and secure</li> </ul> </html>

Big Changes to Tatkal Ticket Booking from July 2025: What Passengers Need to Know

  •  2 views · 
  • June 27, 2025

IRCTC is introducing major reforms to the Tatkal ticket booking system starting July 1, 2025, aimed at improving transparency, reducing misuse, and ensuring fair access for genuine passengers. If you rely on Tatkal bookings for last-minute travel, these updates are crucial.

Aadhaar-Based Authentication is Now Mandatory

From July 1, 2025, passengers booking Tatkal tickets online via the IRCTC website, mobile app or any other travel platform must have their Aadhaar linked and verified with their IRCTC account. This step is designed to:

  • Prevent fraudulent bookings
  • Ensure only verified users can access Tatkal quotas

OTP Verification for All Bookings from July 15, 2025

Starting July 15, 2025 both online and offline Tatkal bookings will require Aadhaar-based OTP verification. This includes:

  • Bookings made at railway counters (PRS)
  • Bookings made through authorized agents

This move adds a layer of security and ensures uniformity across booking platforms.

Agents Restricted During Initial Booking Window

To give individual passengers a fair chance, Indian Railways is restricting access of authorised ticketing agents/other ticket booking platforms during the first 30 minutes of Tatkal booking:

  • AC Class Tatkal bookings: Agents barred from 10:00 AM to 10:30 AM
  • Non-AC Class Tatkal bookings: Agents barred from 11:00 AM to 11:30 AM

This change is expected to reduce bulk bookings and improve availability for regular users.

How to Prepare for the New Rules

Here’s what you should do to stay ahead:

  1. Link your Aadhaar with your IRCTC account.
  2. Verify your mobile number with Aadhaar for OTP authentication.
  3. Avoid relying on agents during restricted hours.
  4. Update your IRCTC profile to ensure smooth booking.

Trainman Tip - Please keep your Aadhaar linked mobile number ready for OTP authentication. Once authenticated, you can do Tatkal bookings.

Additionally, from 15 July, 2025, Aadhaar-based OTP authentication will be compulsory for all online Tatkal bookings.

How to Link your Aadhar with your IRCTC Account

You can complete the Aadhaar authentication process by following these simple steps:

  • Log in to the IRCTC website www.irctc.co.in or the IRCTC Rail Connect Mobile App.
  • Navigate to the "My Account" section.
  • Click on the “Authenticate User” link and follow the instructions.

Why These Changes Matter

These reforms are part of Indian Railways’ broader strategy to:

  • Promote fairness and transparency
  • Curb black marketing and unauthorized bookings
  • Make the Tatkal system more passenger-friendly and secure





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