support@headlinenews360.com
Last Updated:
By June end, Indian Railways will require e-Aadhaar authentication for Tatkal ticket bookings.
This move aims to reduce misuse and give priority to genuine passengers. (Representative Image)
In a bid to crack down on ticketing fraud and improve efficiency, Indian Railways is preparing to roll out mandatory e-Aadhaar authentication for all Tatkal ticket bookings. Scheduled for implementation by the end of June 2025, this initiative is part of the central government’s larger strategy to bring greater transparency and accountability to the process of booking last-minute train tickets.
Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, taking to X (formerly Twitter), announced that e-Aadhaar authentication will soon be introduced for booking Tatkal tickets.
Sharing the update on social media, he stated, “Bharatiya Railways will soon start using e-Aadhaar authentication to book Tatkal tickets. This will help genuine users get confirmed tickets during need,” highlighting the move as a step towards making urgent ticket bookings more accessible and secure for legitimate passengers.
Bharatiya Railways will soon start using e-Aadhaar authentication to book Tatkal tickets.This will help genuine users get confirmed tickets during need.
— Ashwini Vaishnaw (@AshwiniVaishnaw) June 4, 2025
The Tatkal scheme, originally launched to help passengers book tickets on short notice during emergencies, has often come under fire for widespread misuse. Reportedly, officials reveal that fraudulent agents often exploit the system by using fake identities and automated bots to bypass booking protocols, leaving genuine travellers struggling to secure Tatkal tickets.
The New Booking Process
To tackle the issue, Indian Railways will implement Aadhaar-based identity verification for all Tatkal ticket bookings. This requirement will apply to both online bookings through the IRCTC portal and offline reservations at railway counters.
Once the system is in place, every Tatkal ticket will be digitally linked to a verified Aadhaar ID, ensuring that only genuine users can access the service.
Key Benefits for Verified Users
To give priority to genuine passengers, the updated system introduces a special provision: users who link their IRCTC accounts with Aadhaar will be granted exclusive access to book Tatkal tickets during the first 10 minutes of the booking window.
During this initial phase, only Aadhaar-verified individual users will be allowed to make bookings.
IRCTC-authorised agents—often criticised for mass bookings and ticket reselling—will be restricted from making any transactions during this period, ensuring fairer access for regular passengers.
Curbing Ticketing Fraud
The decision to introduce the new regulation follows an internal audit by Indian Railways, which uncovered extensive misuse of the Tatkal booking system. In response, authorities have reportedly deactivated more than 2.5 crore user IDs over the past six months due to suspected malpractice, with investigations still ongoing for around 20 lakh additional accounts.
According to reports, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, who is spearheading digital reforms in the sector, highlighted the benefits of e-Aadhaar verification. He stated that this measure will increase transparency, reduce fraud, and simplify ticket access for genuine travellers.
Officials clarified that Aadhaar authentication will apply only to Tatkal tickets, not regular bookings. This move aims to create a fairer, more transparent system, ensuring genuine passengers get better access to Tatkal tickets and improving the overall travel experience.
A team of writers at News18.com bring you stories on what’s creating the buzz on the Internet while exploring science, cricket, tech, gender, Bollywood, and culture.
A team of writers at News18.com bring you stories on what’s creating the buzz on the Internet while exploring science, cricket, tech, gender, Bollywood, and culture.
- Location :
Delhi, India, India
- First Published:
