The Railways Ministry has said that only those users will be able to book online tatkal tickets through the IRCTC website and app from the 1st of next month who have authenticated their account with Aadhaar. The step has been taken to ensure fair and transparent access to Tatkal tickets and to safeguard the interests of passengers.

Indian Railways has announced key modifications in the tatkal ticket booking system. According to the new scheme, Aadhaar-based OTP authentication will be mandatory for online tatkal bookings from the 15th of July this year. Tatkal tickets booked at computerised Passenger Reservation System counters and through authorised agents will require OTP authentication sent to the mobile number provided by the user at the time of booking.

To prevent bulk bookings during the critical opening period, authorised ticketing agents of Indian Railways will not be permitted to book opening-day Tatkal tickets during the first 30 minutes of the booking window. For AC classes, this restriction applies from 10 AM to 10:30 AM, and for non-AC classes, from 11 AM to 11:30 AM.

The Railways Ministry has said that these changes are being implemented to improve transparency in Tatkal bookings and to ensure that the benefits of the scheme reach genuine end users. Centre for Railways Information Systems and IRCTC have been instructed to make necessary system modifications and inform all Zonal Railways and concerned departments accordingly.