Indian Railways Fare Hike from July 1: Key Changes in Passenger Train Ticket Prices, Aadhaar Now Mandatory for Tatkal Booking

Indian Railways Fare Hike from July 1: Key Changes in Passenger Train Ticket Prices, Aadhaar Now Mandatory for Tatkal Booking

Indian Railways Fare Hike from July 1: Key Changes in Passenger Train Ticket Prices, Aadhaar Now Mandatory for Tatkal Booking

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Indian Railways is set to revise its passenger train fare structure starting July 1, 2025, marking the first hike in ticket prices since the COVID-19 pandemic. The fare revision will apply to Mail, Express, and AC-class trains, while suburban and short-distance second-class travel remains unaffected.

Revised Train Fares from July 1, 2025

  • No fare hike for suburban train passengers.
  • Monthly season ticket (MST) prices will remain unchanged.
  • Second-class (ordinary) travel up to 500 kmNo change in fare.
  • For second-class journeys beyond 500 km: Hike of 0.5 paise/km.
  • Non-AC Mail/Express trains: Fare will rise by 1 paise/km.
  • AC-class travel: Fare to increase by 2 paise/km.

This fare adjustment aims to improve railway infrastructure and service delivery, according to officials quoted by The Economic Times.

Aadhaar Authentication Now Mandatory for Tatkal Bookings

In a related update, the Railway Ministry has announced that Aadhaar authentication will be mandatory for all Tatkal ticket bookings made via IRCTC website or app starting July 1, 2025. Users will need to verify their identity through OTP-based Aadhaar authentication.

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Tatkal Booking Restrictions for Agents

From July 15, 2025, authorized railway agents will be prohibited from booking Tatkal tickets during the initial window:

  • 10:00 am to 10:30 am for AC classes
  • 11:00 am to 11:30 am for non-AC classes

The Ministry has instructed IRCTC and CRIS to update their systems to reflect these changes and ensure smoother Tatkal bookings for the general public.

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