Crores of people travel by Indian Railways every day, and for millions of them, Tatkal tickets are like a lifeline. But often common passengers had to face trouble due to middlemen and bots in booking Tatkal tickets. Now to end this problem, IRCTC (Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation) has taken a revolutionary decision.
IRCTC has announced that from July 1, 2025, Tatkal tickets will be available only to those users whose Aadhaar number is linked and verified with their IRCTC account. The purpose of this new policy is to bring transparency in ticket booking and prevent fraudulent bookings done by agents/bots. If you also book Tatkal tickets, then this news is very important for you.
Why is the Aadhaar link necessary
This new rule is a big step towards making the ticket booking process more secure, fair, and transparent by the Indian Railways. Aadhaar linking will curb bulk bookings done by bots (automated software) and unauthorized agents. These bots often booked a huge number of Tatkal tickets in a matter of seconds, making it difficult for ordinary passengers to get tickets.
When the influence of middlemen is reduced, the chances of ordinary passengers getting tatkal tickets will increase significantly. Services will run smoothly only when the Aadhaar linking and verification process is completed ahead of time. So, if you are planning to book Tatkal tickets after July 1, get your Aadhaar linked to your IRCTC account immediately!
Linking Aadhaar to IRCTC is very easy
First, log in to IRCTC’s official website (irctc.co.in) or mobile app with your username and password. After logging in, you have to go to the ‘My Account’ or ‘Account’ section of the website or app. Here you will find the option of “Authenticate User” or “KYC”. Click on it. Now you will see the option to link Aadhaar and PAN card. Click on the ‘Aadhaar’ option and enter your 12-digit Aadhaar number.
After entering the Aadhaar number, click on the ‘Generate OTP’ button. A Time Password (OTP) will be sent to the mobile number linked to your Aadhaar. Enter this OTP in the specified place and click on ‘Verify’. As soon as you enter the OTP correctly, your Aadhaar will be successfully linked to your IRCTC account.
Now you can book 24 tickets in a month
This new rule is not limited to Aadhaar linking only, but it is also bringing a big change in the booking limit. Under the new system, now you can book a maximum of 24 tickets in a month. Earlier this limit was only 12 tickets per month without linking Aadhaar.
That is, now you will get the facility to book double the tickets, provided your Aadhaar is linked. From July 15, 2025, OTP verification on the mobile number linked to Aadhaar will also become mandatory while booking tickets. This rule will apply to all online bookings, PRS counter bookings, and agent bookings. This will add a security layer to the booking process.
Why is Aadhaar linking mandatory
Railways says that this move will crack down on ticket brokers and common passengers will be able to get tickets easily. Brokers often book Tatkal tickets using bots and multiple accounts, due to which general passengers are unable to get confirmed tickets. Aadhaar linking will disrupt this process and bring more transparency to the system.
Important Note: If there is any difference in the name or date of birth in your Aadhaar and IRCTC account, the system will alert you and the linking process may fail. In such a case, first of all, you have to get your Aadhaar data corrected.