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IRCTC Mandates Aadhaar for Tatkal and First-Day ARP Online Bookings

IRCTC says the identity check will curb automated fraud to improve access for genuine passengers.

Overview

  • Only users who complete Aadhaar verification can book Tatkal tickets and make reservations on the day the Advance Reservation Period opens.
  • IRCTC says the move blocks creation of unauthorized accounts and is intended to ensure fairer allocation during high-demand windows.
  • A phased Aadhaar-OTP pilot active on 322 trains by December 4, 2025 was followed by longer Tatkal availability times in about 65% of those trains, the Railways Minister told Parliament.
  • The corporation has deployed a content delivery network and advanced anti-bot tools to filter malicious traffic and speed responses for legitimate users.
  • Website and app updates include removing the login captcha, sorting trains by departure time, and adding a show/hide filter, alongside 2025 enforcement that deactivated 3.03 crore suspicious IDs and revalidated 4.86 crore more.