Indian Railways Mandates Aadhaar for Tatkal Ticket Bookings
Mumbai: Indian Railways has introduced a new requirement for passengers booking Tatkal tickets, mandating e-Aadhaar authentication to ensure fair access and curb fraudulent activities. The policy, set to take effect by the end of June 2025, aims to prioritize genuine travelers and streamline the booking process, according to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.
The initiative addresses long-standing issues with Tatkal ticket bookings, which are designed for last-minute travel but are often snapped up within seconds by bots and unauthorized agents. To counter this, the Ministry of Railways is implementing e-Aadhaar verification for all IRCTC accounts. Passengers with Aadhaar-linked accounts will receive priority access during the first 10 minutes of the Tatkal booking window, a period during which even authorized IRCTC agents will be restricted from making bookings.
A senior railway official emphasized that the move is intended to enhance transparency and ensure that only legitimate passengers secure Tatkal tickets, particularly during emergencies. The official noted that fraudulent agents frequently use fake identities or automated software to bypass booking rules, making it difficult for genuine travelers to obtain tickets.
Under the new system, IRCTC accounts not verified with Aadhaar will face a three-day waiting period after registration before they can book Tatkal, Premium Tatkal, or Advance Reservation Period (ARP) tickets. This measure aims to deter misuse by discouraging the creation of fake accounts. Additionally, the Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has already taken action against fraudulent accounts, deactivating 25 million suspicious accounts and flagging an additional 2 million for review over the past year. Of the 130 million active IRCTC subscribers, only 12 million are currently Aadhaar-verified.
Data from May 24 to June 2, 2025, highlights the intensity of Tatkal bookings, with 62.5% of AC class tickets (approximately 67,159) and 66.4% of non-AC tickets sold within the first 10 minutes of the booking window opening. About 12% of tickets were booked eight to ten hours later, indicating that the system still accommodates some last-minute bookings.
The Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS) has been authorized to perform Aadhaar authentication on a voluntary basis to verify the identities of passengers, ticket-checking staff, and crew members, as per a Gazette notification dated May 27, 2025. This follows a statement from Vaishnaw on June 4, 2025, posted on his X account, where he announced that e-Aadhaar authentication would soon be implemented to help genuine users secure confirmed tickets.