‘Only Aadhar authenticated users can book Tatkal tickets from July 1’

 

 

 

ONLY Aadhar authenticated users will be able to book tickets under the Tatkal scheme from July 1, 2025, onwards, the Railway Ministry said in an announcement. In a circular dated June 10, 2025, the ministry informed all zones that this decision was made “to ensure that the benefits of the Tatkal Scheme are received by the common end users.”. “With effect from 01-07-2025, tickets under Tatkal scheme can be booked through the website of Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC)/ its app only by Aadhaar authenticated users,” the Ministry said. Subsequently, Aadhaar-based OTP authentication shall also be made compulsory for Tatkal bookings from July 15, 2025, onwards. “Tatkal tickets shall be available for booking through computerized PRS counters of Indian Railways/authorized agents only after authentication of a system-generated OTP, which shall be sent on the mobile number furnished by the users at the time of booking.

 

This shall also be implemented by 15/07/2025,” the circular further stated. The circular also specified that authorized ticketing agents of the Indian Railways will not be permitted to book opening day Tatkal tickets during the first 30 minutes of the Tatkal booking window. Specifically, they will be restricted from booking Tatkal tickets for air-conditioned classes from 10.00 am to 10.30 am and for non-air-conditioned classes from 11.00 am to 11.30 am. The Ministry has directed the Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS) and IRCTC to make the necessary modifications to the system and communicate these changes to all zonal railways. Furthermore, the circular assured that wide publicity will be given to these modifications through all available means to inform the general public. 

 

 

A TRIAL was launched in which the confirmed status of waiting list passengers was announced 24 hours before a train’s departure, instead of the current practice of notifying passengers just 4 hours before, the Railway Ministry said on Wednesday. Ministry officials assured that the pilot project would become part of the policy only after receiving a positive response from the passengers. “We have started this pilot project in the Bikaner Division, where charts are being prepared 24 hours before the train departure. The current practice is doing so before 4 hours,” Dilip Kumar, Executive Director, Information and Publicity, Railway Board, said. He noted that this trial was being done keeping in mind the concerns of passengers who remain uncertain about their journey.

 

“Now, if they know 24 hours before that their tickets are confirmed, they can plan their travel better,” he added. Once a ticket is confirmed, passengers will lose a substantial chunk of the ticket amount as penalty in case of cancellation. If a confirmed ticket is cancelled between 48 hours and 12 hours before departure, passengers will receive 25 per cent of the ticket amount back. If cancelled between 12 hours and 4 hours before departure, they will receive only 50 per cent. “Seats or berths falling vacant due to cancellation will be filled up through the current booking system,” officials said.