IRCTC Ticket Booking Update: All the changes in their Tatkal booking system that Indian Railways was planning to introduce starting July 1st, 2025 will now go on to be common to all users booking online, PRS counter, and through agents. As per the new railway directives, this step became compulsory for all Tatkal bookings from 15 July.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has clarified that Aadhaar-linked IRCTC accounts will be pressurised into early access to the Tatkal booking window. For the first 10 minutes, only these verified users can book tickets agents will simply be completely barred from using the site during this time; this move ensures that regular passengers get a fair chance.
Fighting Fraud and Bots
This is an effort by the Indian Railways to battle against the ticket scalping, bot based booking and fake accounts which had resulted in massive unfair reservations in Tatkal category. Two and a half crore suspicious IRCTC accounts are already blocked. Besides that, enhanced anti-bot measures are being implemented for system integrity.
Booking for Tatkal is open for one day before traveling:
For AC tickets: 10:00 am.
For Non-AC tickets: 11:00 am.
The first 10 minutes are now reserved for Aadhaar-verified users only. New IRCTC users without Aadhaar verification will have to wait three days post-registration before they can access Tatkal, Premium Tatkal, or ARP bookings.
Also Read: Can You Resell or Transfer an IRCTC Ticket? Legal Rules Explained
Link your Aadhaar to your IRCTC account to benefit from priority access.
Avoid delays during last-minute bookings by verifying early.
Agents are barred from going in that period of priority booking.
The latest reform gives first preference in booking to genuine travelers under the Tatkal scheme. Linking the Aadhaar number with IRCTC is not only advisable but also now a yardstick advantage.