Know these rules before booking a Tatkal ticket; one mistake could cause you to miss your train

Tatkal Ticket Booking Rules: New rules have been implemented for Tatkal ticket booking. Now, tickets will not be issued without OTP verification. A small mistake can cost you your seat. Therefore, it is important to know the rules before booking.

Tatkal Ticket Rules: Millions of people travel by train every day in India. Most people book their tickets in advance, but often they don't get tickets through normal booking, so they book through Tatkal. However, people often face problems while booking Tatkal tickets. As soon as the countdown ends, the seats disappear, and they are left with only disappointment. If this is the case, then it's time to change your approach. Indian Railways has made a major change regarding Tatkal ticket booking.

This change has been implemented since December 1st. Now, just fast internet or quick fingers won't be enough. You must have your mobile phone with you to book a ticket. Because now, Tatkal tickets will not be issued without OTP verification. This change is considered a relief for ordinary passengers and a major blow to touts. If you don't know the rules, a small mistake could cause you to miss your train.

No Tatkal ticket booking without OTP

According to the new directives of the Railway Board, a Tatkal ticket will only be confirmed when the OTP received on your mobile phone is verified. This OTP will be sent to the mobile number you provided during booking. Until this code is entered into the system, the ticket will not be generated. This rule is not limited to the IRCTC website or mobile app.

It will also apply at railway station counters. Earlier, tickets were booked as soon as the payment was made. But now the process has become safer and more controlled. This clearly means that if you provide the wrong number or don't have your phone with you, your booking may get stuck midway.

Benefits for ordinary passengers

The biggest objective of this new OTP system is to curb touts. For a long time, there have been complaints that all the seats get filled within seconds of Tatkal booking opening. This was due to illegal automatic software, which touts used to book multiple tickets simultaneously. Now, the OTP will be sent only to the passenger's mobile phone. This will prevent such software from working. This will increase transparency in booking and improve the chances of genuine travelers getting tickets.

Aadhaar linking is also mandatory.

The railways have implemented a new rule from October 28, 2025. If you want to book a ticket between 8 and 10 AM, your IRCTC account must be linked to your Aadhaar. Understanding these rules is essential to securing your Tatkal ticket.