Facing Tatkal Ticket Booking Issues? Here’s How to Link Your Aadhaar to IRCTC

Facing Tatkal Ticket Booking Issue? Here’s How to Link Aadhaar with IRCTC

Starting July 1, 2025, Indian Railways has enforced a new rule for booking Tatkal tickets. Now, passengers must link their Aadhaar number with their IRCTC account to use this urgent ticketing facility.

This update aims to simplify the booking process, reduce misuse, and ensure that only genuine travellers get access to the Tatkal quota.

Why Aadhaar Linking Is Now Mandatory

The Tatkal booking system often faces misuse from bots and unauthorised agents. To fix this, Indian Railways introduced Aadhaar-based authentication. This step helps verify user identity, secure bookings, and keep the limited Tatkal quota available for real passengers.

How to Link Aadhaar with Your IRCTC User ID

Follow these steps to authenticate your IRCTC profile:

  1. Visit www.irctc.co.in and log in.
  2. Go to My Account and click on Authenticate User.
  3. Enter your Aadhaar number or Virtual ID.
  4. Click Verify details and receive OTP.
  5. Enter the OTP sent to your Aadhaar-linked mobile.
  6. Accept the consent terms and click Submit.

You’ll receive a confirmation upon successful authentication. If it fails, check your details and try again.

How to Add Aadhaar-Verified Passengers

To book more than 12 tickets a month, add Aadhaar-authenticated passengers to your IRCTC master list:

  1. Log in and go to My Profile > Add/Modify Master List.
  2. Enter passenger details, including Aadhaar number.
  3. Submit the form and check verification status.
  4. Once verified, the passenger gets marked as authenticated.

At least one Aadhaar-verified passenger must be selected when booking more than 12 tickets.

Booking More Than 12 Tickets a Month? Here’s the Process

To book up to 24 tickets monthly:

  • Your IRCTC user ID must be Aadhaar-linked.
  • One travelling passenger should also be Aadhaar-authenticated.
  • During booking, select this passenger from the saved list.
  • Add other passenger details as needed.
  • Proceed to payment and confirm your ticket.

This system applies across all ticket types, including Tatkal.

Final Word

The new Aadhaar linking rule is a major shift in how Indian Railways handles Tatkal and high-volume bookings. It’s aimed at making travel smoother for genuine users while deterring misuse of the system.

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