Indian Railways Tatkal Ticket Rules Change from August 1: OTP Verification Now Mandatory
Indian Railways Tatkal Ticket Rules Change from August 1: OTP Verification Now Mandatory
Indian Railways has announced a fresh set of guidelines for Tatkal ticket bookings, introducing stricter verification measures to make the reservation process more transparent and reduce the influence of ticket touts. The revised rules will come into force from August 1.
As part of the changes, passengers booking Tatkal tickets through the IRCTC website or mobile application will be required to complete Aadhaar authentication. In addition, bookings will only be confirmed after verifying a one-time password (OTP) sent to the mobile number linked with the passenger’s Aadhaar.
The Railways has also revised the booking procedure at reservation counters. During the initial Tatkal booking window, authorised ticketing agents will not be permitted to book tickets, ensuring that individual passengers receive priority access to available seats.
The booking timings remain unchanged. AC class Tatkal reservations will open at 10 am, while non-AC Tatkal bookings will begin at 11 am. However, to streamline operations at reservation counters, token distribution will begin earlier. Tokens for AC bookings will be issued between 8:30 am and 9:00 am, while those for non-AC bookings will be distributed from 9:30 am to 10:00 am.
Passengers visiting reservation counters must also carry a valid government-issued photo identity proof, such as an Aadhaar card, Voter ID, Driving Licence or another approved document. The details on the ID must match the information entered during ticket booking.
According to the Railways, the updated system has been designed to improve transparency in the Tatkal reservation process, prevent misuse by unauthorised agents and ensure that tickets are available to genuine travellers.
Passengers planning to book Tatkal tickets after August 1 are advised to verify their Aadhaar details with their IRCTC accounts in advance to avoid delays or booking issues.
