Tatkal Tickets: End of Black Marketing! E-Aadhaar Mandatory for Booking – Know the New Rules

Tatkal Tickets: Indian Railways is soon set to introduce a significant change to the Tatkal ticket booking system. To curb black marketing of tickets and ensure convenience for genuine passengers, the Ministry of Railways plans to make e-Aadhaar-based authentication mandatory. This new rule is expected to be implemented later this month (please note, this news is contextual to June 2025).

Key Highlights of the New Rules:

• E-Aadhaar Mandatory: Passengers will now have to go through e-Aadhaar authentication while booking Tatkal tickets. This will make the identity verification process more transparent and reduce the tendency to book tickets under fake or bogus identities.
• Curbing Black Marketing: The primary objective of this step is to reduce the black marketing of Tatkal tickets and the menace of touts. Confirming the passenger’s identity through Aadhaar will bring transparency to the ticket booking process.
• Benefit for Genuine Passengers: Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has stated that this system will enable genuine passengers, who urgently need tickets, to get confirmed tickets more easily.
• Priority Access: Passengers who link their railway accounts with Aadhaar will get priority in booking Tatkal tickets during the first 10 minutes of the sale window. Even IRCTC’s authorized agents will not be permitted to book tickets during this initial period.
• Reduction in Fraudulent Transactions: It is anticipated that digital verification for ticket booking will significantly reduce fraudulent transactions and deceptive activities.

What Does This Mean for Passengers?

Once this new rule is implemented, the experience of booking Tatkal tickets will become more secure and reliable. Passengers will need to keep their Aadhaar information handy, and it would be wise to link it with their railway account beforehand. This will facilitate obtaining tickets during emergencies and reduce the chances of falling prey to touts.

This initiative by Indian Railways is undoubtedly an effort to make the ticketing system more modern and passenger-friendly. It remains to be seen how successfully this system will be implemented and how much ordinary passengers will benefit from it.