The Tatkal scheme, introduced by the Indian Railways to meet the urgent travel needs of passengers, has recently undergone significant modifications designed to ensure that the benefits of the scheme are truly reaped by the common end user.
These changes, announced in a Commercial Circular dated June 10, 2025, focus heavily on leveraging digital authentication methods like Aadhaar and imposing stricter controls on authorized agents, streamlining the booking process, and minimizing misuse.
If you rely on securing last-minute confirmed tickets, it is crucial to understand how these updates, implemented in July 2025, will impact your travel plans.
Why are these rules implemented?
The fundamental goal behind these modifications is to democratize access to the limited Tatkal quota, countering issues like ticket hoarding and illicit transfers that previously plagued the system.
The Ministry of Railways decided to implement multi-layered authentication for both online and offline Tatkal ticket purchases. These crucial system modifications were tasked to CRIS (Centre for Railway Information Systems) and IRCTC (Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation) to ensure seamless implementation across the network.
Aadhaar authentication
The first major change focuses on online bookings made through the official Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) website or its dedicated application.
Effective from July 1, 2025, tickets under the Tatkal Scheme can only be booked by users who have completed Aadhaar authentication.
This ensures that only genuine individuals registered with their unique identity are accessing the limited number of Tatkal tickets available for immediate sale.
Aadhaar based OTP authentication
Building upon the initial Aadhaar requirement, a second, stronger layer of security is being added to the online Tatkal environment.
Starting just a couple of weeks later, from July 15, 2025, Aadhaar based OTP authentication will also be made compulsory for online Tatkal bookings.
This implies a two-step verification process—authentication of the user’s Aadhaar linked account, followed by an immediate OTP verification during the time of transaction—aiming to drastically reduce automated bot usage and unauthorized bulk bookings.
Offline reservations
These authentication requirements are not limited to the digital realm; similar stringent checks are being applied to offline reservations as well. For Tatkal tickets booked through computerized PRS (Passenger Reservation System) counters of Indian Railways or via authorized agents, a new authentication protocol has been mandated.
By July 15, 2025, these bookings will require the authentication of a system generated OTP, which will be sent to the mobile number furnished by the user during the booking process.
Time restrictions on authorized ticketing agents
Perhaps one of the most targeted reforms is the imposition of strict time restrictions on authorized ticketing agents.
In an effort to prioritize general public access during the critical opening moments of the Tatkal window, authorized ticketing agents of Indian Railways shall not be allowed to book opening day Tatkal tickets during the first thirty minutes of the opening of the quota.
This restriction is designed specifically to prevent agents from cornering the market at the instant tickets become available.
Half-hour blackout period
For air-conditioned (AC) classes, which traditionally open first, the rule specifies a clear half-hour blackout period for agents. Authorized agents are not allowed to book opening day Tatkal tickets from 10:00 hours to 10:30 hours. This window is now exclusively preserved for end-user bookings, giving individual passengers a fairer chance at securing a seat in AC categories.
Similarly, for non-air-conditioned (non-AC) classes (like Sleeper Class), agents face a corresponding restriction. They shall not be permitted to book opening day Tatkal tickets for non-AC classes from 11:00 hours to 11:30 hours. This uniform 30-minute block for both AC and non-AC classes marks a major step toward curbing commercial exploitation of the emergency quota.
Reschedule confirmed ticket
It is important to note that the rules for postponement or preponement of a journey are not applicable to Tatkal tickets.
Stringent policy
Beyond the booking process, the rules governing cancellations for confirmed Tatkal tickets remain strict, as highlighted in the general updates for 2025. No refund is typically given on confirmed Tatkal tickets. The only exceptions remain when the train is canceled by the Railways or is delayed by more than three hours, and the entire journey is subsequently affected. This stringent policy encourages passengers to use the scheme only when travel is absolutely essential, thus maintaining its role as an emergency ticketing system.
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