Image Source – PoTools Blog
New Delhi, June 5, 2025 — As part of a major digital effort to improve transparency and
combat ticket fraud, Indian Railways will soon require e-Aadhaar authentication for booking
Tatkal tickets. This was announced by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in a post on the
social media platform X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday.
“Bharatiya Railways will soon start using e-Aadhaar authentication to book Tatkal tickets.
This will help genuine users get confirmed tickets during need,” said Vaishnaw.
Why This Move Matters
The Tatkal booking system, initially designed to help passengers with urgent travel needs,
has faced significant misuse over time. A significant number of Tatkal tickets are often seized
by agents or obtained via automated bots, with little regard for the needs of genuine
travellers.
The IRCTC (Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation) recently revealed the extent
of this abuse by deactivating over 2.5 crore fake user IDs as a result of an internal audit. This
audit uncovered that bots can be programmed to bypass standard booking processes, granting
ticketing agents an unfair edge.
Consequently, securing Tatkal tickets during peak travel times, like festivals, is becoming
increasingly difficult for regular travellers.
How e-Aadhaar Authentication Will Help
Under the new scheme, passengers will now have to digitally authenticate their Aadhaar
related credentials when they book a Tatkal ticket – this will help ensure that there is a real
person identified to each Tatkal ticket booked (to help):
- Eliminating fake user IDs
- Preventing bulk bookings by agents
- Curbing the use of bots
- Improving access for genuine travellers
The digital verification will likely involve a simple OTP-based e-KYC (Know Your
Customer) process, making it user-friendly while still adding a robust layer of security.
Expected Rollout
While the Indian Railways has not disclosed a date, sources suggest that the new system may
be rolled out late this month, perhaps first for selected high-demand routes.
Railway sources are also expected to combine the verification system with the already
established IRCTC, thus providing passengers with Aadhaar-linked accounts for a seamless
transition experience.
Public Reaction and Future Implications
The decision has been polarising. Many regular travellers and travel advocacy groups see the
announcement as a step toward impartial and transparent booking of train tickets, while
privacy advocates now fret over data breaches or misuse of Aadhaar in this context.
Nevertheless, this decision is consistent with the Digital India initiative and, most
importantly, reinforces Indian Railways’ sustained focus on harnessing technology to
improve passenger experience and operational efficiency.
References:
- Indian Express: “Railways to introduce Aadhaar authentication for Tatkal tickets”
- Times of India: “IRCTC deletes 2.5 crore fake user IDs to tackle ticketing fraud”
- Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw’s official X handle (formerly Twitter)
