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Railway minister say Tatkal tickets will need Aadhaar: How will it help you
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Wednesday said the national transporter will soon introduce e-Aadhaar authentication for Tatkal train ticket bookings, seeking to curb fraud and ensure fair access.
The step will 'help genuine users get confirmed tickets during need', said Vaishnaw on X.
This digital verification step is expected to significantly misuse of the Tatkal quota by touts and unauthorised agents who often corner a large share of last-minute tickets.
Why this move matters
For years, the Tatkal system has been got complaints of:
Bots used by agents to book tickets within seconds
Fake IDs or multiple accounts blocking genuine users
Sale of tickets in the black market
What is the Tatkal ticket scheme?
Tatkal allows passengers to book tickets at short notice, typically a day before the journey. These tickets are more expensive than regular bookings but are often the only option for urgent travel.
Tatkal bookings open at:
10 am for AC classes
11 am for non-AC classes
How to book a Tatkal ticket
To book a Tatkal ticket, log in to your IRCTC account a few minutes in advance. Enter your journey details, select the Tatkal quota, and proceed to choose a train. Fill in passenger information, name, age, gender, seat preference, and tick the box for 'book only if confirm berths are allotted' if needed. Complete the captcha, select your bank/payment method, and make the payment quickly to avoid a timeout. You can book up to four passengers per PNR, and only two Tatkal tickets per user ID per day are allowed during peak hours.
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India Today
3 hours ago
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Indian Railway announce big change in Tatkal ticket booking and yes, it involves Aadhaar
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The Hindu
8 hours ago
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How to link Aadhaar to your IRCTC account and tips to book Tatkal tickets faster
To guarantee that the general public receives the benefit of the Tatkal ticket system and to prevent malpractices by agents, the Ministry of Railways has revised the scheme, in which only users authenticated with Aadhaar can book Tatkal tickets through IRCTC's official website or mobile app from July 1. How to link Aadhaar to your IRCTC account? 1. Go to the IRCTC's official website. 2. Log in with your credentials. 3. Go to 'My Account' Tab and click on 'Authenticate User' 4. Enter your Aadhaar number/Virtual ID. 5. Click on the 'Verify details and receive OTP' button. 6. Enter the OTP, check the consent form, and click on 'Submit'. 7. Once submitted, you will get a confirmation like this. Tips to book Tatkal tickets faster 1. Add/Modify the 'Master List' with the names and details of the passengers, along with the Aadhar Number verified before Tatkal booking opens. 2. The easiest payment method is to use the IRCTC's e-wallet, where you can add the required amount to the wallet in advance. 3. Make sure you have a good internet connection to book your Tatkal tickets faster. 3. The booking for AC tickets begins at 10 am, while the tickets for the sleeper classes are available from 11 am onwards. Do not log in early, as you may get automatically logged out after a point. Therefore, log in on time. 4. Once logged in, add your destination, date, and choose the Tatkal option. Click on Search. Make sure not to waste your time here. Therefore be prepared. 5. This will take you to a list of trains. Choose the train. 6. When you are asked to add the passengers' names, tick the names of the passengers you have already added in your 'Master List'. This will speed up the process instead of wasting time entering information manually while booking tickets. 7. Once done, it will take you to the payment page. While it takes more time to make the payment through debit/credit card/internet banking, IRCTC's e-wallet will make the payment faster with a single click if you have already added the money in it before booking the ticket. How to add/modify Master list with Aadhaar-verified passenger names? 1. Log in to the IRCTC website with your credentials. 2. Navigate to the 'My Account' tab and click on 'My Profile'. 3. Choose 'Add/Modify Master List' from the drop-down menu. 4. Provide the details of the new passengers and enter their Aadhaar numbers. 5. Once added/modified, click 'Submit'. 6. Once IRCTC verifies, the status will turn to verified automatically. 7. You can add the names from the list when you book Tatkal tickets.
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Railway officials suspended after BSF flags ‘unhygienic' train coaches
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