Last Day Alert! Link Aadhaar to IRCTC Before July 1 or Miss Tatkal Bookings

Starting July 1, passengers must link and verify their Aadhaar numbers with their IRCTC accounts to book tatkal train tickets online. Those who don’t complete this process will have to visit physical reservation counters to get tatkal tickets.

The Indian Railways has not yet said whether other ID proofs will be allowed for online bookings in the absence of Aadhaar. Until a decision is made, Aadhaar is the only way to book Tatkal tickets online.

New OTP-Based Aadhaar Verification for All Tatkal Bookings

To stop the misuse of illegal software used by touts, Indian Railways will launch an OTP-based Aadhaar verification system for both online and offline tatkal ticket bookings. This system will be active from July 15.

This step will make ticket booking slightly slower but fairer. Every day, about 2.25 lakh tatkal tickets are sold in India. Many of these are bought in seconds by touts using software, and later sold at higher prices. The new rule aims to stop this unfair practice.

How to Link Aadhaar with IRCTC Account

Passengers can link their Aadhaar by following these simple steps:

1. Log in to your IRCTC account (website or app).
2. Go to the “Profile” section and click on “Link Aadhaar”.
3. Enter your Aadhaar number and name as per Aadhaar.
4. Tick the consent box and click “Send OTP”.
5. Enter the OTP sent to your Aadhaar-linked mobile number.
6. You’ll get a message after successful verification.

Reservation Chart to Be Prepared 8 Hours Before Train Departure

Another change from July 1 is that the final reservation chart will now be ready 8 hours before train departure, instead of 4 hours earlier. This will help passengers—especially those with waitlisted tickets—plan their journey better.

Modern Reservation System Coming by December

Indian Railways is also working on a modern Passenger Reservation System (PRS), which will be ready by December 2025. This new system will offer a better and faster experience for all users.

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Conclusion

These changes aim to make tatkal bookings more secure, fair, and transparent. Passengers are advised to link their Aadhaar with IRCTC accounts soon to avoid inconvenience.

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