From next month i.e. July 2025, there is going to be a big change in the Tatkal train ticket booking system. After July 1, passengers whose Aadhaar card is not linked to an IRCTC account will not be able to book Tatkal tickets from the website or mobile app of the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC).

Railways have made Aadhaar authentication and OTP-based verification mandatory. From July 15, OTP linked to Aadhaar will also have to be entered on every Tatkal booking, so that the identity of the user can be ensured while booking. Linking an IRCTC account with Aadhaar is not a very difficult task. You can do this work easily from home.

According to the Ministry of Railways, these changes in the Tatkal ticket booking rules have been made to bring transparency in the booking process, prevent black marketing of tickets by fake agents, and provide timely tickets to needy passengers in case of emergency. Tatkal tickets can be booked only through computerized PRS counters or authorized agents of Indian Railways.

How to link an IRCTC account with Aadhaar

So, if you have not yet linked your Aadhaar to your IRCTC account, do it immediately by following the easy steps given below:

First of all, you have to visit the official website of IRCTC www.irctc.co.in.

Log in using your username and password.

After logging in, you have to go to the ‘My Profile’ section. It is usually at the top or left side of the page.

Now click on the ‘My Account’ or ‘My Profile’ option.

In the profile, you will see the option of ‘Aadhaar KYC’, click on it.

Now enter your 12-digit Aadhaar number and click on ‘Send OTP’.

A one-time password (OTP) will come from your Aadhaar to the registered mobile number. Enter the OTP in the specified place and verify. After verification, your IRCTC account will be linked to Aadhaar.

Why is this change necessary

There are many important reasons behind making Aadhaar linking mandatory in Tatkal ticket booking by the Railways, which are in the interest of the passengers. Aadhaar authentication will bring more transparency in the booking process. This will ensure that tickets are being booked by genuine passengers only. Fake agents often booked Tatkal tickets using bogus IDs and then sold them at higher prices.

Aadhaar linking will curb such black marketing. In an emergency, passengers who really need Tatkal tickets often could not get tickets because seats were filled due to fake bookings. This new rule will help in providing tickets to those in need. OTP verification on every booking will ensure the identity of the user, which will reduce the chances of fraud.