Indian Railways has rolled out a series of reforms effective July 2025 aimed at improving transparency, reducing misuse of the Tatkal ticket system, and enhancing passenger convenience. A major highlight is the introduction of mandatory Aadhaar authentication for booking Tatkal tickets online. From July 1, 2025, only Aadhaar-authenticated users will be able to book Tatkal tickets through the IRCTC website or mobile app. Additionally, Aadhaar-based OTP verification will become compulsory for such bookings starting July 15, ensuring stronger identity checks.
Railways Tighten Tatkal Rules, Extend Chart Prep Time for Passenger Convenience
To further tighten the system, Tatkal tickets booked at PRS counters or via agents will also require OTP-based verification from July 15. In a move to prioritize individual passengers, ticket booking time restrictions have been imposed on authorised agents. From July 1, agents will not be allowed to book AC class tickets between 10:00 AM to 10:30 AM, and non-AC tickets between 11:00 AM to 11:30 AM.
In another passenger-friendly reform, reservation charts will now be prepared 8 hours before train departure, instead of the previous 4-hour window. For trains departing before 2 PM, the chart will be finalized by 9 PM the previous day, giving travellers more time to confirm bookings.
Indian Railways Revises Fares, Mandates Aadhaar for Tatkal Bookings
Railway fares have also been revised. For ordinary non-suburban trains, Second Class fares have increased slightly after 500 km, with a rise of ₹5 to ₹15 based on distance slabs. Sleeper and First Class fares have increased by 0.5 paisa per km, while Mail/Express trains saw a 1 paisa/km rise in all non-AC classes. AC classes, including Chair Car, AC 3-Tier, AC 2-Tier, and Executive Class, will now cost 2 paisa/km more.
Importantly, no change has been made to reservation charges, surcharges, or GST rules. Fare rounding and pricing principles will follow existing standards. Passengers must now authenticate their IRCTC account by logging in, navigating to “My Account”, selecting “Authenticate User”, and completing the Aadhaar verification process to book Tatkal tickets. These reforms reflect Indian Railways’ commitment to improving service access, preventing ticketing fraud, and ensuring a fairer experience for all travellers.
Summary:
Effective July 2025, Indian Railways mandates Aadhaar authentication and OTP verification for Tatkal bookings to prevent misuse. Agent booking times are restricted, and reservation charts will now be prepared 8 hours in advance. Fare hikes apply across classes, though reservation and GST charges remain unchanged, aiming to enhance transparency and passenger convenience.
