Indian Railways is set to introduce key changes to its ticketing system, aimed at improving transparency, security, and passenger convenience. These initiatives include advanced waitlist charting and mandatory Aadhaar authentication for Tatkal bookings.
Currently, Indian Railways prepares reservation charts four hours before the scheduled departure of a train. This practice often leaves waitlisted passengers uncertain about their travel plans until the last minute. To address this issue, Indian Railways is working on releasing the confirmed status chart of waiting list tickets 24 hours before a train's departure.
A trial run of this new system has commenced in the Bikaner Division. According to Dilip Kumar, Executive Director, Information and Publicity, Railway Board, this initiative aims to alleviate the concerns of passengers with waiting tickets. By knowing their ticket status 24 hours in advance, passengers can plan their travel more effectively.
This advanced charting system is expected to benefit passengers traveling from long distances to board their trains, providing them with ample time to make alternative arrangements if their tickets remain unconfirmed. Railway officials have stated that the pilot scheme will be incorporated into official policy only after receiving positive feedback from travelers.
The Railway Ministry is also considering preparing reservation charts eight hours before departure. For trains departing before 2 PM, the chart will be prepared by 9 PM the previous day. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has emphasized the importance of a smart, transparent, accessible, and efficient ticketing system focused on passenger convenience.
In a significant move to curb misuse and enhance transparency, Indian Railways will mandate Aadhaar authentication for Tatkal ticket bookings. Starting July 1, 2025, individuals booking Tatkal tickets through the IRCTC website and mobile app must have their Aadhaar linked to their IRCTC profile.
This new rule aims to prevent the exploitation of the Tatkal quota by unauthorized agents who often make bulk bookings. To further strengthen the system, Aadhaar-based OTP verification will be mandatory for all Tatkal bookings, including those made through Passenger Reservation System (PRS) counters and authorized railway agents, starting July 15, 2025.
To link Aadhaar with an IRCTC account, users can visit the IRCTC website or mobile app, log in with their credentials, navigate to the "Profile" tab, and select the "Link Aadhaar" option. They must then enter their Aadhaar number and name exactly as printed on the Aadhaar card, authenticate the information by entering the OTP received on their Aadhaar-registered mobile number, and submit the details.
Furthermore, agents will be restricted from booking Tatkal tickets during the initial 30 minutes after the booking window opens. This measure is intended to prioritize genuine passengers and prevent bulk bookings by agents. Account holders linked with Aadhaar will gain priority access during the initial 10 minutes of Tatkal sales.
These changes are aligned with efforts to bring transparency, improve passenger authentication, and prevent misuse of the Tatkal quota. The Railway Ministry has directed the Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS) and IRCTC to implement the necessary system updates and notify all Zonal Railways and concerned departments about these changes.
