INDIAN RAILWAY NEW TATKAL TICKETS BOOKING RULES

Reserving a last-minute train ticket in India can be a dreadful experience, especially around holidays, festivals, and peak travel times. To improve the ticketing process and resolve this issue, Indian Railways introduced major changes to the Tatkal ticket rules framework in 2025.

The changes are being introduced to prevent misuse, pave the way for a crackdown on agent-driven activity, and make the way clearer for real passengers to get a confirmed ticket.

Whether you’re booking a last-minute visit to family, racing to a work emergency or doing some last-minute holiday shopping, here’s how the new tatkal ticket booking rules work and will determine whether you can get a confirmed berth or be stuck on the waitlist.

In this guide, we’ll explain what’s new and how to book a tatkal ticket through a step-by-step procedure.

 

Benefits of New Tatkal Ticket Booking Rules

The newly updated Tatkal ticket rules are a complete shift toward making bookings more fair, fast, and secure. Here's how the new changes help people on the ground:

1.    Reduced Risk of Agent Misuse and Automation Bots

With Aadhaar-based OTP verification required for every passenger, each booking must be tied to a real person’s identity and mobile number. This move has made it a lot harder for bots and agents to hoard tickets and a lot easier for actual travellers to get a seat.

2.    Fair Access for All Passengers

No more unfair advantage. With two OTP checks, one during Aadhaar validation and one during payment, the system makes sure you’re the one booking your ticket and not someone doing it on your behalf.

3.    Faster Processing for Genuine Users

If your Aadhaar is already linked to your IRCTC account, you’re ahead of other people. Once your identity is verified, the system pre-fills your details, which saves time during the critical few minutes when every second counts.

4.    Greater Booking Transparency

IRCTC now records detailed timestamps for every step of a Tatkal booking transaction, such as login time, Aadhaar verification, OTP verification, payment initiation, and final booking confirmation.

This makes it convenient for Indian Railways as well as individuals to handle booking defaults, refund delays, or ticket manipulation complaints.

5.    Improved Ticket Security

In the old versions, a booking confirmation could be tampered with by using a shared login or even a forged ID. In case of any discrepancy, the IRCTC helpdesk can cross-verify ticket history using Aadhaar logs.

6.    Encouragement for Digital Participation

The process motivates more users to link Aadhaar with their IRCTC account, strengthening digital inclusion and aligning with broader government e-governance initiatives. It also aligns with other digital initiatives like online payments, UPI, and even optional travel insurance in India.

 

Indian Railway Tatkal Tickets Booking Step By Step Process (Updated 2025)

Here's a step-by-step walkthrough of how to navigate the Tatkal ticket rules smoothly.

1.    Log in to the IRCTC Website or App

·       For AC classes, agents cannot book tickets between 10:00 AM and 10:30 AM.

·       For non-AC classes, agents cannot book tickets between 11:00 AM and 11:30 AM. This exclusive half an hour is for individual users.

·       Make sure you're logged into an account with Aadhaar already linked.

·       If not linked, your booking attempt will end before it begins.

2.    Search your Train and Select your Travel Class

●      Enter your origin, destination, date, and preferred class (e.g., Sleeper, 3AC).

●      Only adult passengers (18+) with Aadhaar can book under the new Tatkal rules.

3.    Aadhaar Verification – Step 1

●      For each passenger, enter the Aadhaar number.

●      Click “Send OTP” and check your Aadhaar-linked mobile for the code.

●      Enter the OTP to complete identity verification.

4.    Enter Passenger Details

●      Add name, age, gender, and berth preference.

●      Use the saved/frequent travellers feature if you’ve booked with IRCTC before; this saves time.

5.    OTP Verification – Step 2 (Payment Stage)

●      Before you pay, IRCTC will send a second OTP to your registered mobile.

●      Enter it to authorize the transaction; this step helps block fraud.

6.    Make the Payment

●      Choose from UPI, Net Banking, Rupay, and Credit/Debit Card.

●      Tip: UPI is the fastest and least likely to fail during peak load.

7.    Download or Screenshot your Ticket

●      Once confirmed, your ticket status will show as Confirmed / RAC / Waitlisted.

●      Save a copy immediately; don’t rely on logging back in later.

The Tatkal ticket rules improve transparency and security by mandating Aadhaar authentication and greater agent supervision. These reforms aim to improve train travel efficiency, fairness, and digital inclusion.

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FAQs

1. When did the new Tatkal ticket booking rules come into effect?

Rules are in force from July 1, 2025 (Aadhaar authentication for online Tatkal bookings) and July 15, 2025 (OTP-based Aadhaar verification for all Tatkal bookings, online and offline counters and agents)." From the specified date, every online Tatkal booking through the IRCTC website or mobile app was under the regulation.

2. What major changes were made to the Tatkal booking process?

The major changes are: Aadhaar is now mandatory for all adult passengers booking under the Tatkal quota. You’ll also face a two-step OTP process, once for Aadhaar verification and again during payment.

There are stricter controls on agents and real-time logging, and fraud detection. Together, these changes are meant to tighten the system and keep it clean.

3. When is Aadhaar authentication required for Tatkal bookings on IRCTC?

Since July 1, 2025, there’s no option of skipping Aadhaar verification. If your Aadhaar isn’t linked to your IRCTC account, the booking process simply won’t move forward. This rule applies whether you’re using the desktop site or the mobile app. It’s a mandatory step now, with no exceptions.

4. What new rules apply to authorised booking agents?

Agents now have to play by the rules just like everyone else. Every Tatkal booking they make must include valid Aadhaar information for each passenger. Plus, the OTP has to come from the passenger’s registered mobile, not the agent’s.

IRCTC has imposed a cap on the number of Tatkal tickets that authorised agents can book, and their booking activity is continuously monitored to detect any irregularities or misuse.

5. What if I haven’t linked my Aadhaar to my IRCTC account yet?

If your Aadhaar isn’t linked, you can’t book Tatkal tickets online. Just log in to IRCTC, go to My Profile, and select ‘Add Aadhaar’. Follow the OTP process to complete the link. Once it’s done, it stays saved for future bookings (unless you remove it manually).

6. Is OTP verification only needed for online Tatkal bookings?

Yes, this extra security layer is just for online Tatkal bookings. You'll get one OTP when verifying your Aadhaar and another just before payment. This two-stage check keeps your booking secure and helps confirm it’s really you making the transaction.