Tatkal Ticket Booking Rules: There will be a significant change to the regulations relating to Tatkal ticket booking starting today if you frequently book tickets for Indian Railways travel. Aadhaar card authentication was made mandatory for Tatkal ticket booking by the Railways on July 1st of this month. Now, Aadhaar OTP will also be required for online Tatkal ticket booking via the IRCTC website or app. Let us check why this rule change is required and what the advantages will be.

For the common user, buying Tatkal tickets has so far been like fighting a battle. In actuality, the poor were disappointed and found it more difficult to get tickets because the brokers and fake agents involved in the booking caused these to sell out minutes before the Tatkal Ticket Window opened. The railways modified the Tatkal ticket rule to incorporate Aadhaar authentication in order to resolve this issue. This will prevent fraudsters and make it simpler for ordinary travelers to purchase Tatkal tickets.

A notification from Indian Railways about the change in Tatkal ticket booking rules states that starting on July 1, Tatkal tickets on IRCTC must be booked using Aadhaar authentication. OTP-based Aadhaar authentication will become mandatory on July 15, 2025. By making this modification, the railways will guarantee that the person whose Aadhaar number is registered will book the Tatkal ticket. This rule change is being applied to Tatkal Ticket Booking.

The railways started this procedure to prevent Tatkal ticket fraud, which will make booking tickets very simple. When a user books a Tatkal ticket through an IRCTC account linked to their Aadhaar card, they will actually receive an OTP on their registered mobile number. Your reservation will only be confirmed once it has been submitted. It is now necessary to have an OTP and Aadhaar in order to book a Tatkal ticket in person (at the counter) as well as online.

Additionally, Indian Railways has changed the rules to make it easier for regular passengers to obtain Tatkal tickets. Specifically, for the first half hour after the Tatkal ticket booking window opens, only common users who have been authenticated by Aadhaar will be permitted to book AC and non-AC tickets; agents will then be able to do so. It's important to note that Tatkal reservations for AC classes begin at 10 am, while those for non-AC classes begin at 11 am. This revision will facilitate the process for regular travelers to purchase Tatkal tickets.