India Railways changed ticket booking rules: Know new rules before booking

India Railways: The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has announced a major update to its Tatkal ticket booking system, adding e-Aadhaar authentication to enhance the booking process. India Railways changed ticket booking rules: Know new rules before booking.

The change, announced by Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav on June 3, 2025, aims to ensure that genuine users effectively obtain confirmed tickets. By submitting Aadhaar numbers along with demographic or biometric details to the UIDAI’s Central Identity Database, the authenticity of ticket applicants is verified, which reduces fraudulent bookings.

This step is expected to streamline the process and increase confidence among travelers. Along with the new confirmation process, IRCTC has outlined a step-by-step guide to booking Tatkal tickets on its platform. Users need to log in to the IRCTC website, select their travel details, and select the Tatkal option from the quota dropdown menu.

The process involves entering passenger details, including age, gender, and berth preferences, and completing the booking by selecting a payment option. The Tatkal booking window opens one day before the journey, at 10:00 AM for AC classes and 11:00 AM for non-AC classes.

This allows travelers to plan their trips effectively and avoid last-minute hassles, providing a seamless experience. The introduction of Aadhaar verification marks a strategic move by IRCTC to strengthen its ticketing system against misuse.

Tatkal charges, which are levied in addition to the normal ticket fares, are fixed at 10% for second class and 30% for other classes, with specific minimum and maximum charges. For example, the fare for AC 3 tier tickets ranges from Rs 300 to Rs 400, while the fare for executive class tickets ranges from Rs 400 to Rs 500.

This structured pricing is designed to ensure that Tatkal service remains readily available and cost-effective, providing a viable option for urgent travel needs. Transparency in pricing further helps travelers make informed decisions.

Cancellation of Tatkal tickets must be processed online. Notably, confirmed Tatkal e-tickets can be cancelled up to 30 minutes before departure, but no refund will be provided for these cancellations. In contrast, RAC and waitlisted tatkal tickets are eligible for refund as per the general railway rules.

Payment options for bookings include net banking, credit/debit cards, IRCTC e-wallet, UPI, and wallets like Paytm and Amazon Pay, which offers flexibility to users. This variety of payment methods ensures that users choose the most convenient option for their transactions, which increases user satisfaction.

Step to book Tatkal tickets on the IRCTC portal:

Step 1: Go to IRCTC’s official website and log in using your registered username and password.

Step 2: Fill in your departure and destination stations, date of travel, and preferred travel class.

Step 3: In the quota dropdown, choose the “Tatkal” option. A list of trains for the selected route will then be displayed.

Step 4: Choose your preferred train and travel class. You’ll find the quota selection option next to the list of trains.

Step 5: Click on the “Book Now” button beside the train and class of your choice to proceed with Tatkal booking.

Step 6: Enter passenger details such as name (up to 16 characters), age, gender, berth preference, and meal choice.

Step 7: Fill in the captcha code and provide a mobile number to receive SMS updates on your booking or cancellation.

Step 8: Click on the “Continue” button. The system will show ticket fare (inclusive of GST and convenience charges), along with seat availability.

Step 9: After verifying all details, click “Continue” again to move to the payment stage.

Step 10: Choose a payment method from the list of available gateways.

Step 11: Click on “Pay & Book” to be redirected to your chosen bank’s payment page.

Once the payment is successfully completed, your ticket will be confirmed and a confirmation message (VRM) will be sent via SMS to the mobile number you provided at the time of booking.

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