From July 1, 2025, Indian Railways has revamped the Tatkal ticket booking process to eliminate fraud and make the system fairer for genuine travelers. Now in new tatkal booking system, only verified users using Aadhaar or DigiLocker-based ID verification can book Tatkal tickets through the IRCTC website and app.
New Tatkal Booking System: Key Security Features
- OTP-based Aadhaar authentication will be mandatory from July 15 for all Tatkal bookings, including at counters.
- Priority access in the first 10 minutes of Tatkal opening is given to Aadhaar-linked accounts.
- IRCTC agents are barred from booking Tatkal tickets during the first 30 minutes of AC (10–10:30 AM) and non-AC (11–11:30 AM) ticket windows.
- This move is part of a crackdown on misuse; over 2.4 crore fake accounts have already been deactivated.
Advance Reservation Chart Preparation – Now 8 Hours Before Departure!
To reduce last-minute stress and provide more clarity for waitlisted passengers, Indian Railways will now prepare reservation charts 8 hours before train departure, instead of the earlier 4 hours.
How it Works:
- For trains leaving before 2:00 PM, charts will now be finalized by 9:00 PM on the previous day.
- This gives waitlisted passengers ample time to plan alternative travel if tickets are unconfirmed.
- Especially helpful for those traveling from rural or distant stations who often suffer due to last-minute surprises.
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Supercharged PRS Coming by December 2025
Say hello to new tatkal booking systems! By the end of 2025, Indian Railways will launch a fully modernized Passenger Reservation System (PRS) capable of:
- Handling 1.5 lakh bookings per minute (up from 32,000)
- Processing 4 million enquiries/min (10x current volume)
- Offering multilingual, mobile-friendly UI with features like fare calendars, seat preferences, and special provisions for Divyangjan, students, and patients.
Good News! Clerkage Charges May Be Reduced or Scrapped
Currently, if your waitlisted ticket gets cancelled, you still lose money through clerkage fees:
- ₹60 for reserved classes
- ₹30 for unreserved
Now, Indian Railways is actively considering removing or reducing these charges, especially for waitlisted/unconfirmed tickets – a big relief for regular passengers.
Timeline at a Glance
| Date | Change |
|---|---|
| July 1, 2025 | Verified (Aadhaar/DigiLocker) users only for Tatkal online |
| July 15, 2025 | Aadhaar OTP mandatory for all Tatkal bookings |
| August–Oct 2025 | 8-hour chart prep rolls out in phases |
| December 2025 | New PRS fully functional |
Why These Changes Matter
These updates are designed to bring transparency, speed, and fairness to millions of railway passengers. Whether you’re a student, daily commuter, or holiday traveler, Indian Railways is working to make your journey smoother and stress-free.
As Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said, “The focus is on passenger comfort, ensuring a seamless and pleasant journey.”