Tatkal Booking New Rules: Aadhaar Authentication Now Mandatory for IRCTC Accounts from July 1, 2025
Starting July 1, 2025, the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has made Aadhaar authentication mandatory for booking Tatkal tickets through both its website and mobile app. This step aims to curb unauthorized bookings and ticket scalping by ensuring that only genuine users can access the Tatkal booking facility.
Why Aadhaar Authentication is Now Required?
Tatkal ticket booking, which opens one day before the date of travel, has become increasingly difficult for regular passengers due to high demand and bulk bookings by agents. Tickets are often sold out within a minute of the booking window opening at 10 a.m. To put an end to this issue and prevent agents from exploiting the system, the Railway Department has now made Aadhaar authentication compulsory for Tatkal bookings.
Important Dates to Note:
From July 1, 2025: Aadhaar authentication is mandatory for booking Tatkal tickets on the IRCTC website or mobile app.
From July 15, 2025: Users must enter an OTP sent to the mobile number linked to Aadhaar for completing the Tatkal ticket booking.
How to Link and Authenticate Your Aadhaar with Your IRCTC Account:
Follow these simple steps to link your Aadhaar number with your IRCTC account:
1. Login to the IRCTC website or app using your username and password.
2. Go to the ‘My Account’ section and click on ‘Authenticate User’.
3. Enter your Aadhaar number and click on ‘Verify Details’.
4. An OTP will be sent to your mobile number linked with Aadhaar.
5. Enter the OTP on the screen and click ‘Submit’.
6. If the verification is successful, a confirmation message will appear. You can also check the status under ‘Authentication Status’ in the ‘My Account’ section.
7. If the authentication fails, verify the accuracy of the Aadhaar number and check if your mobile number is correctly linked to Aadhaar before attempting again.
Key Benefits of Aadhaar Linking:
- Reduces fraudulent and agent-based bookings.
- Ensures fair access to Tatkal tickets for genuine passengers.
- Enhances the security of the booking process.
Passengers are advised to complete their Aadhaar authentication at the earliest to avoid last-minute issues during Tatkal booking.
