In a significant move to streamline Tatkal ticket bookings and prevent misuse, the Indian Railways has announced that from July 1, 2025, Tatkal train tickets can be booked on the IRCTC platform only through user accounts that are verified using an Aadhaar number.
The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), the official e-ticketing arm of the Railways, has issued a directive stating that all users intending to book Tatkal tickets must ensure their Aadhaar numbers are linked and verified within their IRCTC accounts before the deadline.
According to railway officials, this step aims to curb fraudulent bookings and ensure that the benefits of the Tatkal scheme, which is intended for last-minute travellers, reach genuine passengers.
How It Works:
- Users must log in to their IRCTC account and complete the Aadhaar verification process.
- Only after successful Aadhaar authentication will the user be allowed to book tickets under the Tatkal quota.
- This applies to both AC and non-AC Tatkal bookings across all zones.
The Aadhaar verification process is available under the “My Profile” section after logging into the IRCTC portal.
The Indian Railways clarified that this requirement does not affect general bookings (non-Tatkal), which can still be done through unverified accounts.
