Beginning July 1, individuals reserving Tatkal train tickets on the IRCTC platform must ensure that their Aadhaar is connected to their IRCTC account. According to new regulations set forth by the Indian Railways, Aadhaar authentication is now required to book Tatkal tickets, and bookings will only be allowed for passengers verified through this procedure.
Steps to link Aadhaar with IRCTC account
- Visit www.irctc.co.in or open the IRCTC Rail Connect app.
- Log in using your credentials.
- Navigate to ‘My Account’ and select ‘Link Your Aadhaar’ or ‘Aadhaar KYC’.
- Input your 12-digit Aadhaar number or Virtual ID.
- Click on ‘Send OTP’.
- Enter the OTP sent to your Aadhaar-linked mobile number.
- Agree to the consent form and submit your information.
Upon completion, your Aadhaar status will display as ‘Verified’ in your IRCTC profile.
Adding Aadhaar-verified passengers to the master list
Only Aadhaar-verified passengers can be selected during the booking of Tatkal tickets. To include verified passengers:
- After logging in, navigate to ‘My Profile’ → ‘Master List’.
- Enter the passenger’s name, gender, date of birth, and Aadhaar number.
- Choose Aadhaar as the means of ID proof.
- Submit the entered details.
The verification status will transition from ‘pending’ to ‘verified’ after processing.
Aadhaar OTP verification also required from July 15
Starting July 15, OTP verification via Aadhaar will be mandatory during the booking of Tatkal tickets. This requirement applies across all booking methods—whether online, at counters, or through agents. Passengers should verify that the mobile number associated with their Aadhaar is active to successfully complete this step.
Additional advantages
Accounts linked with Aadhaar on the IRCTC platform can book up to 24 train tickets each month, whereas accounts that are not Aadhaar-verified are restricted to 12 tickets.
First Published: Jun 18, 2025 4:55 PM IST
