New Delhi, June 12: India will make Aadhaar-based authentication mandatory for booking Tatkal train tickets from July, the Ministry of Railways said on Tuesday, in a move aimed at curbing misuse of the high-demand ticketing scheme and giving common passengers fairer access.
According to a circular issued by the ministry, starting July 1, only users who have verified their identity using Aadhaar on the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) website or mobile application will be allowed to book Tatkal tickets. From July 15, Aadhaar-based one-time password (OTP) authentication will become compulsory for both online and counter Tatkal bookings.
The new rules are part of a broader crackdown on automated ticketing tools frequently used by agents to corner tickets during peak demand, railway officials said.
“To prevent malpractices by agents and ensure the benefit of the Tatkal scheme reaches the common man, Aadhaar authentication will be mandatory for all Tatkal bookings,” the ministry’s circular said.
The mandate will also apply to bookings made through passenger reservation system (PRS) counters and by authorised agents. From July 15, counter bookings will require system-generated OTP verification sent to the mobile number provided by the user at the time of reservation.
Further, the government has restricted Tatkal booking access for authorised agents during the crucial opening window. Agents will not be allowed to book AC class Tatkal tickets between 10:00 and 10:30 a.m., and non-AC tickets from 11:00 to 11:30 a.m.
The Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS) and IRCTC have been asked to update booking platforms to implement the changes. Railways data shows the scale and intensity of Tatkal bookings, which cater to last-minute travellers. On average, around 225,000 Tatkal tickets are booked daily online.
An analysis of online Tatkal bookings between May 24 and June 2 found that in the AC category, over 5,600 tickets were booked within the first minute after the window opened. Nearly 63% of AC Tatkal tickets were reserved within the first 10 minutes, while only 3% were booked after 10 hours.
Similarly, in the non-AC category, about 66.4% of tickets were booked within 10 minutes of opening, indicating the fierce competition for seats. A senior Railway Ministry official said the Aadhaar verification system is a key part of efforts to counter the use of bots and scripts by touts, ensuring transparency and fairness in the reservation process.
