Tatkal Ticket Booking: IRCTC’s new rules will be implemented from July 1, 2025. Now Aadhaar verification is necessary, from July 15, tickets will not be available without OTP. Tightening the noose on brokers, real passengers will get the benefit. Know how to link Aadhaar to your IRCTC account, so that there is no last-minute tension.
If you use the Tatkal Ticket Booking facility of Indian Railways, then this news is very important for you. From July 1, 2025, IRCTC has decided to implement new rules for Tatkal ticket booking. Now Aadhaar verification will be mandatory to book Tatkal tickets through the IRCTC website or app. Not only this, from July 15, 2025, OTP-based verification will also be required while booking Tatkal tickets.
The Railway Minister made a big announcement
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav has already given information about this big change in the Tatkal booking system. He has said that from July 1, 2025, in the first 30 minutes of the Tatkal booking window, only those users will be able to book tickets whose IRCTC account will be linked to Aadhaar and KYC verified. He said, “This step has been taken to deliver tickets to genuine passengers and crack down on brokers.” This is an important initiative that will bring transparency to the booking process.
How to verify Aadhaar in IRCTC account
If you have not yet done Aadhaar verification in your IRCTC account, follow these easy steps:
Visit the IRCTC website or mobile app and log in to your account.
Go to the ‘My Account’ section and select the ‘Authenticate User’ option.
Enter your Aadhaar number or Virtual ID.
Click on ‘Verify Details’.
An OTP will be sent to your Aadhaar-linked mobile number.
Enter the received OTP, tick the consent box, and click on ‘Submit’.
If the verification is successful, your account will be authenticated with Aadhaar. If unsuccessful, an alert message will appear on the screen – in such a case, double-check the information and try again.
Click on the ‘Authenticate User’ link in the ‘My Account’ tab again to check the verification status.
How to add an Aadhaar number to your IRCTC profile
If your Aadhaar number is not yet registered in your IRCTC account, follow the steps below to do so:
Visit the IRCTC website and log in.
Under the ‘Profile’ tab, select the ‘Link Aadhaar’ option.
Enter your name and Aadhaar number as per the Aadhaar.
Tick the consent checkbox and click on ‘Send OTP’.
An OTP will be sent to the mobile number linked to your Aadhaar.
Enter the OTP and click on ‘Verify OTP’.
Click on ‘Update’. After this, a pop-up message will appear on the screen which will say – “Your Aadhaar verification is successful and KYC details have been updated.”
Please keep these things in mind
If you have not yet linked your Aadhaar to your IRCTC account, then log in immediately and complete the verification by going to the profile section. Also ensure that the mobile number linked to Aadhaar is updated, so that OTP can be easily received during Tatkal booking. Remember, seats get filled very fast in Tatkal booking, so keep your Aadhaar linking and login details ready in advance to avoid last-minute hassle.
This new system of IRCTC is a big step towards bringing transparency and security to Tatkal ticket booking. This will not only stop fake bookings and brokerage but will also increase the chances of common passengers getting tickets without any hassle. If you also book Tatkal tickets, then get Aadhaar verification done in your IRCTC profile before July 2025, so that any kind of problem can be avoided.