No Aadhaar, No Tatkal: Indian Railways Tightens the Rules from July

Image Source: Kashmir Media Watch

If you’re someone who relies on Tatkal for last-minute train tickets, there are some important changes coming your way from July 2025. Indian Railways is tightening up the process to make sure tickets actually go to real travelers and not just agents or bots.

Here’s what you should know:

Aadhaar is Now a Must: From July 1, you’ll need to have your Aadhaar number linked and verified with your IRCTC account to book Tatkal tickets online. This is meant to cut down on fake bookings and make sure the person booking is the one actually traveling.

OTP for Every Booking: Starting July 15, every time you book a Tatkal ticket online, you’ll get a one-time password (OTP) on your Aadhaar-linked mobile number. You’ll need to enter this OTP to complete your booking. It’s an extra step, but it should help stop misuse and keep your account secure.

Agents Get a Late Start: Agents won’t be able to book Tatkal tickets during the first 30 minutes after bookings open. For AC classes, that’s from 10:00 to 10:30 AM; for non-AC, from 11:00 to 11:30 AM. This gives regular passengers a better shot at snagging those high-demand tickets.

These changes are all about making Tatkal bookings fairer and more transparent. If you haven’t linked your Aadhaar to your IRCTC account yet, now’s the time.

Source: Economic Times, PIB, Times of India, Hindustan Times