June 5, 2025 - The Indian Ministry of Railways has made e-Aadhaar verification mandatory for Tatkal ticket bookings which is expected to start later this month. Without completing this verification, passengers will no longer be able to book Tatkal tickets. This announcement was shared by Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw via a post on X (formerly Twitter).

The move comes on the back of countless complaints from frustrated travellers who are unable to book Taktal tickets because of scalping and BOT misuse.

This new initiative introduces a digital verification system through the passenger's Aadhaar card, aimed at curbing illegal Tatkal ticket bookings by agents and touts. Additionally, anti-BOT systems have been installed by the Railways Ministry to give a boost to the website and prevent mass ticket buying by touts.

As of now, Tatkal tickets used to get sold out within minutes on the IRCTC website, often owing to illegal bulk bookings by agents. This new Aadhaar-based system has been introduced to put an end to such malpractice.

Under this system, each passenger will be required to verify their identity using their Aadhaar. An OTP (One-Time Password) will be sent to the mobile number linked with Aadhaar. Without entering this OTP, no Tatkal ticket can be booked. This will help prevent fraudulent bookings.

Key Highlights

• In the first 10 minutes of Tatkal booking, only passengers whose IRCTC accounts are linked to Aadhaar will be allowed to book tickets.
• Authorised IRCTC agents will also not be allowed to book tickets during these first 10 minutes.

How to Link Aadhaar with Your IRCTC Account

1. Go to IRCTC website
2. Log in using your username and password
3. Navigate to ‘My Account’ (top right corner)
4. Select ‘Link Your Aadhaar’
5. Enter your Aadhaar number and name (as per Aadhaar)
6. Enter the OTP received on your Aadhaar-linked mobile number
7. Click Update — Your account will be linked after successful verification

Important Tip

Ensure your mobile number is linked to your Aadhaar card, or you won’t receive the OTP. If it is not linked, you will need to visit an Aadhaar enrolment/update centre to add your mobile number.

This move is expected to help eliminate unfair booking practices during the high-demand Tatkal window and allow the booking experience for genuine travellers to be faster, fairer and fraud-free.

According to railway officials, even counter-based Tatkal bookings may soon require Aadhaar verification.