KKN Gurugram Desk | In a significant move to tackle fake bookings and ensure that genuine passengers get Tatkal tickets, Indian Railways has made Aadhaar verification mandatory for online Tatkal ticket booking. As part of a broader digital overhaul, IRCTC (Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation) has already deactivated over 2.4 crore fake user IDs, and nearly 20 lakh accounts are under investigation.

Why This Move? The Surge in Fake IDs and Bot Usage

According to IRCTC, over 2.25 lakh passengers try to book Tatkal tickets daily. Data between May 24 and June 2 revealed a peculiar pattern: only 5,615 AC Tatkal tickets were booked in the first minute of opening, while 22,827 bookings surged in the next minute. Officials blame this on bots and fake IDs created by touts and unauthorized agents.

This prompted IRCTC to partner with Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems, identifying suspicious accounts and shutting down bot activity. A whopping 2.4 crore IDs were blocked, and a rigorous Aadhaar-based verification system is now being enforced to stop misuse.

New Booking Protocols Introduced

From now on, Aadhaar-verified users will receive priority access to Tatkal ticket booking. For the first 10 minutes, only users whose accounts are Aadhaar-linked will be allowed to book Tatkal tickets. IRCTC agents – even those who are officially registered – won’t have access during this window.

Moreover, Railway officials are also planning to make Aadhaar OTP verification mandatory, not just for online bookings but potentially for counter ticket sales as well.

According to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, these steps will ensure fair access to Tatkal tickets for real passengers, not touts or booking syndicates.

IRCTC Tightens Grip on Fraudulent Users

An internal audit found that 2.9 lakh suspicious PNRs were generated in just five minutes after the Tatkal booking window opened. These included both general and premium tickets. To curb this exploitation:

• 20 lakh accounts are under Aadhaar re-verification.

• AI-powered filters track login behavior, repetitive booking patterns, and system manipulation.

• Accounts that fail verification will be gradually deactivated.

This entire mechanism aims to curb black marketing of train tickets, a long-standing issue during holiday seasons and peak travel periods.

What Passengers Need to Do

If you’re a regular traveler using Tatkal services via IRCTC, here’s what you need to know:

1. Link your IRCTC account with Aadhaar immediately.

2. Be ready for OTP-based verification in the near future.

3. Ensure your Aadhaar details match your profile info on IRCTC to avoid deactivation.

4. Understand that only verified users will have access in the critical initial booking window.

Agents and Brokers Lose Their Edge

In the past, ticketing agents and syndicates took advantage of technical gaps and bulk ID creation to hoard Tatkal tickets and resell them at a premium. With Aadhaar-based restrictions and AI monitoring, this network is facing a significant setback.

Additionally, IRCTC has disabled agent logins for Tatkal bookings during the initial 10-minute period, leveling the playing field for common passengers.

Will Aadhaar Be Required for All Tickets?

While the focus is currently on Tatkal ticketing, railway officials are considering extending Aadhaar-based verification to general bookings as well, especially during high-demand seasons. There is also a push toward e-Aadhaar integration for paperless travel authentication in future.

Future of Indian Railways Ticketing: Transparent and Tech-Driven

This initiative is a part of a larger digital transformation within Indian Railways, aimed at:

• Enhancing cybersecurity in ticketing

• Promoting transparent operations

• Prioritizing genuine users

• Using AI and data analytics to detect fraud in real-time

These reforms are also likely to integrate with UPI-based payments, facial recognition boarding systems, and paperless ticket validations in future stations.

Public Reactions

While some users have praised the move, calling it a long-overdue crackdown on black marketing, others have raised concerns about:

• Digital literacy gaps among rural users

• Privacy issues around Aadhaar data

• The ability of the AI system to avoid false positives

However, Railway officials assure that data security protocols are in place, and every account flagged by AI undergoes manual review before deactivation.

The message from IRCTC and Indian Railways is clear: No Aadhaar, No Tatkal. With this bold step, Indian Railways is positioning itself as a tech-forward and passenger-first organization, determined to weed out misuse and offer better services to its 23 million daily passengers.

Passengers are urged to act now, link their accounts, and be ready for a more streamlined and fair ticket booking experience.