In a major step to prevent misuse and simplify ticketing, Indian Railways will soon require mandatory e-Aadhaar authentication for booking Tatkal tickets. Set to be implemented by the end of June 2025, this initiative is part of the government’s wider push to promote transparency and fairness in last-minute train reservations.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw recently announced that e-Aadhaar authentication will soon be introduced for booking Tatkal tickets. Sharing on social media, he said, “Bharatiya Railways will soon start using e-Aadhaar authentication to book Tatkal tickets. This will help genuine users get confirmed tickets during need.”
The Tatkal scheme, designed to help travelers book emergency tickets at short notice, has faced ongoing criticism due to widespread misuse by touts and automated bots. Officials reveal that many fraudulent agents exploit fake identities and automated software to bypass booking rules, making it increasingly difficult for genuine passengers to obtain Tatkal tickets.
How It Works
Indian Railways will tackle this issue by mandating Aadhaar-based verification to confirm the identity of passengers booking Tatkal tickets. This requirement will apply to reservations made both at railway counters and online through the IRCTC platform. Once implemented, every Tatkal ticket purchased will be digitally linked to a valid Aadhaar ID, ensuring secure and transparent bookings.
Benefits for Genuine Passengers
To give priority to legitimate travelers, the new system allows IRCTC account holders who link their accounts with Aadhaar to access Tatkal bookings exclusively during the first 10 minutes of the ticket sale window. During this period, only Aadhaar-authenticated individual users can book tickets. Notably, IRCTC-authorized agents—often accused of bulk booking and resale—will be barred from booking tickets in this initial time frame, ensuring fairer access for genuine passengers.
Combating Fraudulent Activities
The new regulation follows a Railways internal audit that uncovered widespread misuse. Over the past six months, authorities have revoked more than 2.5 crore user IDs suspected of unfair practices, with around 2 million accounts still under investigation. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, leading digital reforms in the sector, emphasized that the e-Aadhaar requirement will boost transparency, curb fraudulent bookings, and ensure better access for genuine passengers.
Officials have clarified that the new Aadhaar authentication requirement will apply only to Tatkal ticket bookings and will not affect regular ticket reservations at this time.
The mandatory e-Aadhaar authentication for Tatkal bookings marks a significant step toward a more transparent and fair ticketing system. With this measure, Indian Railways aims to ensure genuine passengers receive fair access to Tatkal tickets, ultimately improving the overall travel experience.
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