Indian Railways has announced new rules to book Tatkal tickets starting July 1, 2025. Only Aadhaar-authenticated users will be allowed to book Tatkal tickets online. This rule applies to bookings made through the IRCTC website and mobile app.

The decision was shared through a directive issued by the Railway Ministry on June 10, 2025, to all railway zones. The ministry said this step is intended “to ensure that the benefits of the Tatkal Scheme are received by the common end users.”

From July 15, 2025, passengers will also have to complete an OTP verification linked to their Aadhaar when booking Tatkal tickets. This added security step will help confirm the identity of the person making the booking.

According to the directive, “With effect from 01-07-2025, tickets under the Tatkal scheme can be booked through the website of Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC)/ its app only by Aadhaar authenticated users.”

The new rules also include restrictions for authorised ticketing agents of Indian Railways. These agents will not be allowed to book Tatkal tickets during the first 30 minutes after bookings open. This means:

  • For AC classes, agents can book only after 10:30 AM (Tatkal booking opens at 10:00 AM).

  • For non-AC classes, agents can book only after 11:30 AM (Tatkal booking opens at 11:00 AM).

To roll out these changes smoothly, the Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS) and IRCTC have been asked to make the necessary technical updates. These changes will also be shared with all zonal railway divisions.

The goal behind this move is to make the Tatkal ticket booking process easier and more transparent for regular passengers, reducing misuse and ensuring that more genuine users get access to emergency travel bookings.