Tatkal booking new rules 2025 – In a significant move aimed at curbing misuse and ensuring fair access to emergency train travel, the Ministry of Railways will soon make e-Aadhaar authentication mandatory for booking Tatkal tickets, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced on Wednesday.
New Rule to Tackle Tatkal Booking Abuse
The upcoming change is part of the government’s broader initiative to eliminate automated booking tools and unauthorized agents that block genuine users from getting confirmed Tatkal tickets.
“Bharatiya Railways will soon start using e-Aadhaar authentication to book Tatkal tickets. This will help genuine users get confirmed tickets during need,” Vaishnaw stated via a post on X (formerly Twitter).
What Will Change?
- Mandatory e-Aadhaar authentication will be introduced for all Tatkal bookings.
- Users who link their Aadhaar with IRCTC accounts will receive priority access during the first 10 minutes of Tatkal ticket sales.
- IRCTC agents will not be allowed to book Tatkal tickets during this initial window.
- This is in addition to the existing rule where Aadhaar-linked accounts can book up to 24 tickets per month.
Massive Crackdown on Bots and Fake Accounts
As part of its anti-malpractice campaign:
- Indian Railways has deactivated over 2.4 crore user accounts in the last six months.
- 20 lakh more accounts have been marked suspicious and are under investigation.
A senior railway official said these measures aim to ensure that tickets are booked by genuine passengers and not hoarded by touts using scripts or bots.
How This Change Will Impact
This update could significantly improve the chances for real passengers to secure Tatkal tickets during peak seasons or emergencies. It also reinforces Indian Railways’ move towards a more secure and transparent digital ecosystem.
Stay tuned to Your Railway Guide for the official implementation date and step-by-step Aadhaar authentication guide once announced.
