Latest news with #Tatkal

How Indian Railways plans to curb fraud with Tatkal booking overhaul

Business Standard

2 hours ago

Business
Business Standard

How Indian Railways plans to curb fraud with Tatkal booking overhaul

In response to mounting complaints from passengers, the Ministry of Railways is overhauling the Tatkal ticket booking system to enhance speed, fairness, and transparency. Aadhaar verification will be mandatory for all Tatkal bookings starting later this month, aiming to reduce automated scalping and unauthorised access. Tatkal tickets—meant for last-minute travel and released a day before departure—are often bought within seconds by bots or agents, leaving genuine travellers stranded. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw confirmed that Aadhaar-linked IRCTC accounts will get priority during the first 10 minutes of Tatkal sales. "Even authorised IRCTC agents will not be allowed to book tickets during this window," the Ministry said in a statement. Verified users get priority access Under the new system, Aadhaar-authenticated users will have a clear advantage. Unverified users will need to wait three days post-registration before being allowed to book Tatkal, Premium Tatkal, or Opening ARP tickets. Railway officials indicated that Aadhaar checks may also be extended to counter-based Tatkal bookings to create parity between online and offline platforms. Anti-bot tech and system upgrades To prevent misuse, the Railways has implemented anti-bot measures and partnered with a leading Content Delivery Network (CDN) to improve speed and resilience. Previously, bots accounted for nearly 50 per cent of login attempts during Tatkal hours. But system upgrades and AI-powered monitoring have led to a major drop. Over 25 million suspicious accounts have been deactivated. On May 22, 2025, a record 31,814 Tatkal tickets were booked in just one minute. Daily IRCTC logins rose 20 per cent in FY25 to 8.2 million, while daily bookings grew nearly 12 per cent. Over 86 per cent of reserved tickets are now booked online. Aadhaar at the centre of a secure system Earlier, Aadhaar authentication was handled by third-party systems. A recent Gazette notification now enables faster in-house verification. 'IRCTC will conduct special verification drives and shut down accounts deemed suspicious,' said an official. Even railway staff—including ticket checkers and train crews—are now covered under Aadhaar-based authentication for internal operations. Public outrage spurred reform The changes follow public uproar over IRCTC's booking glitches, sparked by a viral post from Thyrocare founder Dr A Velumani. 'Shocking. If it is true, it is betrayal!!' Velumani posted on X, attaching a screenshot of IRCTC freezing at 10 am during Tatkal bookings. He later suggested hourly load distribution to reduce server stress. His remarks triggered a wave of criticism online, prompting the Railways to fast-track reforms. Offline cancellations now simpler In Parliament, the Railway Minister also said that passengers holding physical tickets can now cancel them online via IRCTC or by calling 139. However, refunds will still be issued at reservation counters. Responding to BJP MP Medha Vishram Kulkarni, Vaishnaw clarified that 'waitlisted PRS counter tickets must be cancelled in person as per refund rules.' Faster platform, safer booking With 87 per cent of IRCTC's static content now served via CDN, system performance has improved. Passengers are encouraged to report online issues through the Cyber Crime Portal. If you've struggled to book Tatkal tickets before, help may be near—just ensure your Aadhaar is linked. In this new regime, identity equals access.

IRCTC Stops 2.5 Crore Fake Accounts to Make Tatkal Ticket Booking Easier

Hans India

5 hours ago

Business
Hans India

IRCTC Stops 2.5 Crore Fake Accounts to Make Tatkal Ticket Booking Easier

IRCTC, the online ticket booking system of Indian Railways, has taken strong steps to stop cheating in Tatkal ticket bookings. Many agents and fraudsters were creating fake accounts using fake email IDs. These accounts booked Tatkal tickets very fast and sold them at high prices in the black market. This made it hard for real passengers to book tickets. What IRCTC Did: Removed 2.5 crore fake user IDs Blocked 6,800+ fake email websites used for opening fake accounts Found 2.9 lakh fake bookings made in just 5 minutes after Tatkal booking opened New Technology to Stop Fraud: IRCTC is using AI (Artificial Intelligence) and anti-bot software to stop fake bookings. Bots were doing 50% of login attempts, but now this number is much lower because of these new tools. Aadhaar OTP Will Be Required: Soon, passengers will need to verify their Aadhaar using OTP to book Tatkal tickets. If your IRCTC account is linked to Aadhaar, you will get priority in booking. Better Booking Success: Before, only 43.1% of people were able to book Tatkal tickets. Now, after these changes, 62.2% of passengers are getting their tickets. Complaints and Safety: So far, 134 complaints about fake bookings have been made on the Cyber Crime Portal. IRCTC says these steps will help real users get tickets without problems.

Mandatory e-Aadhaar authentication for Tatkal train tickets: What you need to know

Time of India

10 hours ago

Business
Time of India

Mandatory e-Aadhaar authentication for Tatkal train tickets: What you need to know

In a significant move aimed at curbing misuse and streamlining ticketing, Indian Railways will soon make e-Aadhaar authentication mandatory for booking Tatkal tickets. The measure, proposed to go live by the end of June 2025, is part of the Centre's broader effort to ensure transparency and fairness in last-minute railway bookings. Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw recently stated that Railways will soon introduce e-Aadhaar authentication for booking Tatkal tickets. He took to social media and shared, 'Bharatiya Railways will soon start using e-Aadhaar authentication to book Tatkal tickets. This will help genuine users get confirmed tickets during need.' The Tatkal scheme, introduced to allow travelers to book emergency tickets at short notice, has long faced criticism due to rampant misuse by touts and automated bots. According to officials, many fraudulent agents bypass booking rules using fake identities or automated software, making it harder for genuine passengers to secure Tatkal tickets. How it works Indian Railways will address this by requiring consumers to utilise Aadhaar-based verification to confirm their identity when purchasing Tatkal tickets. This holds true for reservations made at counters as well as online at the IRCTC. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với mức chênh lệch giá thấp nhất IC Markets Đăng ký Undo Every ticket purchase made through the program will be digitally connected to a valid Aadhaar identification once it is put into place. Read more: $1000 to skip the US Visa queue? Donald Trump administration proposes new plan; find out here Benefits for genuine passengers To further prioritize legitimate travelers, the new system includes a provision where account holders who link their IRCTC accounts with Aadhaar will receive priority booking access during the first 10 minutes of the Tatkal ticket sales window. Notably, even authorized IRCTC agents will not be allowed to book tickets during this initial period. During the first 10 minutes of the Tatkal booking window, only Aadhaar-authenticated individual users will be allowed to book tickets. IRCTC-authorised agents, who have often been accused of bulk-booking and resale, will not be permitted to operate during this initial window. Combating fraudulent activities The new regulation comes after a Railways internal audit found widespread misuse. Authorities have revoked over 2.5 crore user IDs over the last six months on suspicion of unfair conduct. Approximately 2 million user accounts are also still being investigated. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, who has been spearheading digital reforms in the sector, stated that the e-Aadhaar requirement would enhance transparency, reduce fraudulent bookings, and improve access for genuine passengers. Read more: 10 oldest cities in India and their rich heritage Officials have clarified that this new Aadhaar authentication requirement will be limited to Tatkal tickets and not affect regular ticket bookings at this time. The mandatory e-Aadhaar authentication for Tatkal ticket bookings is a significant step towards creating a more transparent and equitable ticketing system. By implementing this measure, the Indian Railways aim to ensure that genuine passengers have fair access to Tatkal tickets, thereby enhancing the overall travel experience. One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change

Indian Railways to make e-Aadhaar verification mandatory for Tatkal tickets

India Today

11 hours ago

Business
India Today

Indian Railways to make e-Aadhaar verification mandatory for Tatkal tickets

Indian Railways will introduce an Aadhaar-based verification system for Tatkal bookings, officials said. By linking bookings with e-Aadhaar verification, authorities hope to ensure a more transparent and fair ticketing to IRCTC, the first advantage of Aadhaar verification is that Aadhaar-verified users will gain a 10-minute priority period when booking Tatkal tickets, which will be before all other users. No authorised agents will be permitted to book tickets during this time. Non-Aadhaar accounts will go through special verification before booking, and accounts under suspicion will be May 24 to June 2, the data indicated that most Tatkal tickets were sold in the first 10 minutes of opening, with roughly 67,159 tickets (62.5%) on AC booked in 10 minutes and about 66.4% in non-AC. About 12% of Tatkal tickets were booked 8 to 10 hours after the Tatkal window opened, indicating that the system accommodates last-minute bookings. WHY THE CHANGE?Several agents have been using bots and fake accounts to reserve multiple tickets for their clients, which prevents genuine users from accessing tickets. Over the past year, the IRCTC has blocked 35 million fake accounts and flagged an additional 2 million accounts as suspicious for further review. Moving forward, all accounts must be linked to Aadhaar to continue using IRCTC is implementing AI-based technology to combat misuse. These technologies are capable of identifying and preventing the abuse of automated bots, as well as blocking users with fake IDs and accounts created with temporary email addresses. Officials report that as a result of these measures, the daily creation of new accounts has decreased from 60,000-65,000 to just 10,000-12,000, significantly reducing traffic on the WILL SOON BE A MUSTThe Ministry of Railways, with approval from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), has tasked the Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS) with implementing Aadhaar verification for ticket bookings. Passengers will need to consent to the use of their Aadhaar details for authentication. This initiative aims to streamline booking systems and enhance security. Indian Railways to make e-Aadhaar verification mandatory for Tatkal tickets Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced on X (formerly Twitter) that Aadhaar authentication for Tatkal ticket bookings will soon begin, helping genuine users secure tickets when needed move by Indian Railways is expected to bring more fairness and ease to ticket booking, helping real passengers get their tickets faster while curbing misuse by bots and Watch

India.com