In a major reform move, Indian Railways will mandate Aadhaar-based authentication for Tatkal ticket booking from July 1. The changes aim to curb irregularities by booking agents and ensure that the Tatkal scheme benefits regular passengers.
From July 1, only Aadhaar-verified users will be able to book Tatkal tickets via the IRCTC website or mobile app. Additionally, starting July 15, Aadhaar-based OTP authentication will become compulsory for all bookings — including those made at PRS (Passenger Reservation System) counters and through authorized agents.
As per the updated policy, authorized ticketing agents will be barred from booking Tatkal tickets within the first 30 minutes after bookings open. For AC classes, agents won’t be able to book between 10:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., while for non-AC classes, bookings will be restricted from 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
