**Summary:**
In response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2787, addressed on August 6, 2025, the Ministry of Railways outlines measures to enhance transparency and accessibility in Tatkal ticket bookings. Effective July 1, 2025, Aadhaar-based authentication is mandatory for booking Tatkal tickets via the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) website and app. This policy aims to curb misuse of Tatkal tickets by agents and touts by barring agents from booking tickets during the first 30 minutes of the Advance Reservation Period (ARP) for Tatkal bookings and restricting multiple bookings using fake accounts. The initiative is designed to make the Tatkal booking system more equitable. The response, provided by Minister of Railways, Information Broadcasting and Electronics Information Technology Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, indicates that ensuring transparency in Tatkal ticket booking is a continuous process, informed by feedback received across various platforms. The policy applies exclusively to online bookings made through the IRCTC platform and app. The document does not specify whether the rule applies to offline bookings or details of technical upgrades made to support it.
Key Entities Referenced
Aadhaar: A 12-digit individual identification number issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India.
Tatkal tickets: Reserved train tickets in India that can be booked one day before the date of travel.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India.
Ministry of Railways: The Indian government ministry responsible for the country's railway network.
DR. VINOD KUMAR BIND: Member of Parliament who raised the question.
SHRI RAJESH NARANBHAI CHUDASAMA: Member of Parliament who raised the question.
SHRI PRATAP CHANDRA SARANGI: Member of Parliament who raised the question.
SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW: Minister of Railways, Information Broadcasting and Electronics Information Technology.
IRCTC: Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation, responsible for catering, tourism and online railway ticket booking.
Indian Railways: The state-owned railway company of India
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2787
TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.08.2025
AADHAAR BASED AUTHENTICATION FOR TATKAL TICKET BOOKING
2787. DR. VINOD KUMAR BIND:
SHRI RAJESH NARANBHAI CHUDASAMA:
SHRI PRATAP CHANDRA SARANGI:
Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:
(a) whether Aadhaar-based authentication will be mandatory for Tatkal
ticket bookings and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether passengers with Aadhaar-linked IRCTC accounts will get
booking priority;
(c) if so, the details thereof;
(d) the manner in which this move will help reduce misuse of Tatkal
tickets by agents and touts; and
(e) whether this rule will also apply to offline bookings and if so, the
details thereof along with the details of technical upgrades made to
support it?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND
ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)
(a) to (e): To improve passenger access to Tatkal tickets & to ensure
transparency the following steps have been taken by Indian Railways:i. With effect from 01-07-2025, tickets under Tatkal Scheme can be
booked through the website of Indian Railway Catering and Tourism
Corporation (IRCTC)/its app only by Aadhaar authenticated users.
ii. Agents are barred from booking tickets during first 30 minutes of
ARP of Tatkal booking.
Measures taken in this regard have improved ease of booking by
reducing instant booking of tickets. The system has also been made
more equitable by restricting multiple bookings using fake accounts.
Taking steps to ensure transparency in booking of Tatkal tickets
based on feedback received on various platforms is a continuous and
ongoing process.
****