Indian Railways mandated Aadhaar-based authentication to curb fraud and ensure fair Tatkal ticket booking
NEW DELHI: When you plan to travel by train, the first concern is usually getting a confirmed ticket. If you don’t secure one, you often end up turning to brokers or attempting Tatkal bookings through the IRCTC website or mobile app.
However, during Tatkal booking hours, lakhs of tickets are snapped up within just 1 to 5 minutes, leaving many disappointed. This happens because brokers and agents exploit the system using fake user IDs to grab a large share of these tickets. To combat such fraud and misuse, the Railway Ministry has taken significant steps. It has already deactivated crores of fake user IDs and is now introducing a new rule.
From July 1, 2025, only Aadhaar authenticated users will be able to book Tatkal tickets through the IRCTC website and mobile app. These changes aim to enhance user authentication and reduce black marketing and system abuse. The new provisions are as follows:
Aadhaar authentication for online Tatkal bookings
Effective July 1, 2025, Tatkal tickets booked via IRCTC’s official website and mobile app will be available only to users who have authenticated their accounts using their Aadhaar card number. Starting July 15, 2025, Aadhaar-based OTP authentication will also become mandatory for all online Tatkal bookings.
System-based OTP authentication at PRS counters and for agents
Speaking to The Sunday Guardian, Executive Director (I&P) and Spokesperson Dilip Kumar stated that the Railway Ministry has launched an aggressive campaign to combat automated tools and bots used for illegal bookings.
With the help of artificial intelligence, Indian Railways has blocked over 2.4 crore fake user IDs in the past six months. Additionally, over 20 lakh accounts are currently under investigation based on Aadhaar and other documentation. Out of the more than 130 million active IRCTC users, only 1.2 crore are Aadhaarverified.
Authorities have also registered 134 complaints on the National Cyber Crime Portal and have blocked over 6,800 disposable email domains suspected to be used in fraudulent activities. Investigations are underway to determine whether the individuals operating these fake IDs have links to international cybercrime networks. Indian Railways is now using anti-BOT software to detect and block fraudulent activities.
User IDs are being linked to Aadhaar numbers to ensure that fake IDs cannot be used to book train tickets. Indian Railways is booking around 32,000 tickets every minute, with 12 to 13 lakh tickets booked daily. On peak days, bookings have reached up to 16 lakh tickets. In another move, the Railway Board has directed that all ticket collectors (TCs) be equipped with the mAadhaar app during train journeys.
This will allow them to verify passenger Aadhaar details in real-time, ensuring that tickets are not being used fraudulently. As part of a pilot project in the Bikaner Railway Division, the passenger chart for trains is now being issued 24 hours in advance. This aims to help passengers plan better and possibly secure confirmed tickets. Currently, the standard practice across Indian Railways is to issue the chart four hours before departure.
