Are you planning to travel soon and looking for train tickets? If you’re considering Tatkal tickets due to long waiting lists for regular bookings, it’s important to be aware of the latest updates from Indian Railways. To enhance the Tatkal ticket booking process and curb fraudulent activities, Indian Railways will now require e-Aadhaar verification for Tatkal ticket purchases.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced this change on X, stating that the introduction of e-Aadhaar authentication will help genuine passengers in securing confirmed tickets during peak travel times. Currently, travelers can link their Aadhaar to their IRCTC accounts, which allows them to book up to 24 tickets monthly.
Bharatiya Railways will soon start using e-Aadhaar authentication to book Tatkal tickets.
This will help genuine users get confirmed tickets during need.
— Ashwini Vaishnaw (@AshwiniVaishnaw) June 4, 2025
With the new e-Aadhaar requirement, users who have linked their accounts with Aadhaar will have priority access during the first 10 minutes of Tatkal ticket sales, which means they can book tickets before anyone else, including authorized IRCTC agents.
This measure is part of a broader initiative to combat the misuse of automated tools for booking tickets online. In the past six months, the railways have reportedly deactivated and blocked more than 24 million accounts, with about 2 million additional accounts currently under investigation for suspicious activity. These updated procedures aim to create a more reliable and efficient booking system for passengers in need of immediate travel options.
What Is Tatkal Booking
While an E-Aadhaar is mandatory, if you’re curious about Tatkal bookings, here’s a quick overview:
- If you’re unable to secure tickets through the regular booking method, you can choose Tatkal booking, which opens one day before your travel date.
- For example, if you’re traveling on June 10th, Tatkal booking will be available starting at 10 AM on June 9th.
- Tatkal tickets are slightly more expensive than regular tickets.
- It’s advisable to log in right when the Tatkal booking window opens, as tickets for popular routes tend to sell out quickly.
- Please note that the quota system for Ladies, Senior Citizens, Students, and others does not apply during Tatkal bookings.
