From July 2025, Indian Railways is rolling out a series of new IRCTC ticket booking rules aimed at making the reservation process more transparent, secure, and passenger-friendly. The most significant changes focus on Tatkal ticket bookings, chart preparation timings, and fare revisions, directly impacting millions of train travellers across the country.
The biggest change is that Aadhaar authentication becomes mandatory for all Tatkal ticket bookings through the IRCTC website and mobile app from 1 July 2025. Passengers must link their Aadhaar number with their IRCTC user account and complete the verification process. Without this, booking a Tatkal ticket online will not be possible. This step is meant to curb misuse of the Tatkal quota by agents and bots, ensuring that only genuine passengers get access to these last-minute tickets.
From 15 July 2025, the system will introduce an additional layer of security. OTP-based Aadhaar verification will be required at the time of booking, not just online but also at railway counters and through authorised agents. When booking a Tatkal ticket, passengers will receive a one-time password on their Aadhaar-linked mobile number, which must be entered to complete the booking. This rule is expected to eliminate fake accounts and prevent bulk bookings by touts and unauthorised agents.
To further ensure fairness, authorised agents are now restricted from booking Tatkal tickets during the first 30 minutes of the booking window. For AC classes, agents cannot book between 10:00 AM and 10:30 AM; for non-AC classes, the restriction is from 11:00 AM to 11:30 AM. This exclusive window is reserved for individual Aadhaar-verified users, giving regular passengers a better chance to secure tickets without competition from agents.
Another important change is in the preparation of reservation charts. Earlier, the final chart was prepared four hours before the train’s departure. Now, it will be ready eight hours prior, giving waitlisted passengers more time to know their status and make alternative travel plans if required. For trains departing before 2 PM, the chart will be prepared by 9 PM the previous night. This adjustment is intended to provide greater clarity and reduce last-minute uncertainty for travellers.
Indian Railways has also revised ticket fares for the first time since 2020. Fares for non-AC Mail and Express trains have increased by one paisa per kilometre, while AC classes see a rise of two paisa per kilometre. However, suburban trains, second-class journeys under 500 kilometres, and monthly season tickets remain unaffected by this hike. The fare changes also apply to premier trains like Rajdhani, Shatabdi, Duronto, and Vande Bharat.
A few more technical upgrades are on the horizon. By December 2025, Indian Railways plans to launch a new, high-capacity Passenger Reservation System (PRS) capable of handling up to 1.5 lakh bookings per minute. This upgrade aims to improve booking speed and reliability, especially during peak hours.
For those who have not yet linked their Aadhaar with their IRCTC account, the Ministry of Railways has strongly advised doing so immediately to avoid inconvenience. New users should register and complete Aadhaar verification at least three days before attempting to book Tatkal or Premium Tatkal tickets, as unverified accounts will face a delay in activation.
These new rules are designed to make the ticketing process more transparent, secure, and fair for genuine passengers, reducing the influence of touts and agents and improving the overall travel experience for the public.
