When you are riding trains in India, then you can soon observe a significant change in booking last-minute tickets under the Tatkal scheme through IRCTC. To improve the online and in-reservation-desk Tatkal booking experience, the railways are implementing mandatory One-Time Password (OTP) verification of Tatkal booking. This new system is to reduce the misuse, reduce the number of bulk booking by agents and make sure that the real passengers are given a fair share.
🚨 What Is Changing: OTP Checks Become Mandatory.
- As of 1 July 2025, only those users, whose accounts are connected to Aadhaar, can book Tatkal tickets on the IRCTC site or mobile application.
- As of 15 July 2025, all Tatkal reservations, including online, computerized PRS counters, and authorized agents, will have to be OTP-verified against Aadhaar.
- The mobile number associated with Aadhaar will receive the OTP when the time of booking; the tickets will not be confirmed until a successful OTP is received.
- This is not only in web bookings. OTP authentication will also be required in booking done at reservation counters or through authorised agents.
Briefly OTP plus Aadhaar verifying are required in Tatkal tickets whether at the time of booking or at the reception.
✅ Why the Change? What the Railways Intend to Attain.
The idea to enforce OTP verification is supported by the increasing anxiety about the abuse of Tatkal booking system. The number of agents and automated bots, who abuse the lax checks, have over the years booked in bulk the Tatkal tickets that have large numbers of passengers who may be denied the opportunity to travel. Millions of suspicious user accounts have been claimed to have been blocked by the railways.
The system will ensure that:
- Bookings should be done by actual people.
- Eliminate agent and bot hoarding of tickets.
- Ensure that Tatkal tickets are distributed more fairly and openly.
These changes as made out in the official circular by the railways are considered as a continuation of a greater drive to make sure that the fruits of the Tatkal scheme are enjoyed by the common end user.
📅 What is the Timeline -And What is Going on?
Date Implementation / Milestone.
1 July 2025 Restricted to use Aadhaar to book Tatkal tickets online through IRCTC web site/app.
15 July 2025 OTP verification using adhaar numbers is made obligatory to all Tatkal bookings -online, counters, agents.
Since November 2025 OTP-based system tested on a limited number of trains; extended to more (52 trains) and booking counters.
December 2025 TPV in full Tatkal network is likely to be rolled out nationwide.
By the end of the first month of the year 2025, the system is in operation across several zones and trains – online booking and PRS counters. The process of expansion in terms of phase is in progress until the railway trains are covered.
What This Means to You: Travellers and Casual Bookers.
When you are about to book Tatkal ticket, remember to pay attention to the following:
- Connect Aadhaar with your IRCTC account – a now mandatory feature in Tatkal bookings.
- Be sure that your mobile number is up to date and valid OTP is going to be delivered here and only with successful verification you will be able to create a ticket.
- Get up early – as there will be a lot of demand during the opening hours of Tatkal windows, OTP delays or network slowness can cost you a seat.
- Counters and agents are no longer exceptions – even offline or agent-based bookings currently require OTP, and so there is no back-door (work-around) to use.
True solo travellers can get greater chances of doing so, as the new system is supposed to prefer common over bulk bookings, therefore individual passengers might have a more equal opportunity at tickets.
🔎 What to Be Careful of -Possible Concerns and Criticisms.
Though OTP + Aadhaar rule may appear a victory of fairness, there are some voices being raised on the same issue, more particularly regarding privacy and system availability. In one of these social sites, a user posted:
Tatkal ticket booking is now obligatory when using Aadhaar … Actually, it puts the users at greater risk without addressing fundamental issues with security.
Reddit
The problems of delayed OTP delivery, a network congestion at the time of booking performance, or even the lack of mobile service may continue to disrupt the process of booking, especially among those users who have a less connected network.
In addition to that, the individuals who are yet to obtain Aadhaar-linked IRCTC accounts may encounter initial challenges. To make this transition effective, the railways will have to educate the users and provide security in technical aspects.
Last Reflection — Is It a Radical Indian Rail Travel Change?
Absolutely. The relocation of IRCTC and railways is one of the largest changes done in the Tatkal booking procedures in recent years. Connecting bookings to Aadhaar and mobile-based OTPs, the system will help diminish the power of agents and minimize ticket scaling, as well as provide real and spontaneous travellers with an equal opportunity.
This may be a more level playing field among many regular passengers, particularly those that make their booking at the last minute. To some it is keeping up to date: connect Aadhaar, carry your phone, and be at Tatkal opening time.
It will be seen whether the OTP rule will resolve the long time problems of bulk bookings and unfair distribution of tickets. However, until now, the change is an indicator of a transition: a transition in which gives more control to the common traveller than to automated agents.
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