Indian Railways Tightens Tatkal Ticket Booking Norms to Curb Misuse, Boost Access for Common Passengers

New Delhi | June 11, 2025 :In a significant move aimed at ensuring fair access to Tatkal train tickets for the common man, the Indian Railways has announced a series of major modifications to the Tatkal ticket booking system, both online and offline. These measures are focused on preventing misuse by automated bots and unauthorized agents while enhancing transparency and security in the booking process.

Over the past six months, the Railways has identified and blocked 2.5 crore suspicious IRCTC user IDs that were allegedly using bot software to exploit the Tatkal ticketing system. This step is part of a broader crackdown on digital malpractices in railway e-ticketing.

Starting July 1, 2025, booking Tatkal e-tickets via the IRCTC app will only be allowed for Aadhaar-verified user accounts. Further enhancing security, an OTP-based Aadhaar authentication system will be rolled out from July 15, 2025, ensuring only genuine passengers can access the system during the high-demand Tatkal hours.

For those booking Tatkal tickets at railway counters (PRS), passengers or their representatives will now be required to provide a valid mobile number, on which an OTP will be sent for verification. Only after successful authentication will the Tatkal ticket be issued. This provision will also come into effect on July 15, 2025.

To further support individual passengers, the Indian Railways has reserved the first 30 minutes of Tatkal bookings exclusively for them:

• From 10:00 AM to 10:30 AM for AC classes

• From 11:00 AM to 11:30 AM for Non-AC classes

During this window, Tatkal bookings will be accessible only to individual users booking online or from PRS counters at stations. Travel agents and authorized agencies will be permitted to book Tatkal tickets only after this period, i.e., after 10:30 AM for AC and 11:30 AM for Non-AC.

This newly structured system aims to reduce the dominance of agents and ensure better accessibility for common travelers, especially during peak seasons and urgent travel situations.

For individuals who do not have Aadhaar, Tatkal bookings can still be made through PRS counters and authorized travel agents, ensuring that non-Aadhaar holders are not completely excluded from the process.

Railway officials have also implemented technological safeguards to prevent automated software or bots from gaining undue advantage during the ticket booking process. These systems are designed to ensure that genuine users are prioritized over unfair digital practices.

The Indian Railways, through these reforms, is reinforcing its commitment to digital transparency, fairness, and passenger convenience in one of the world’s largest ticketing networks.