Indian Railways to Prioritise Aadhaar-Linked Accounts in First 10 Minutes of Tatkal Booking Window

New Delhi: In a major step aimed at making the Tatkal ticket booking system more fair and transparent, the Indian Railways has announced a new Aadhaar-based rule that will change how passengers book last-minute train tickets. Beginning soon, only users who have linked their IRCTC accounts with Aadhaar will be allowed to book Tatkal tickets during the crucial first 10 minutes after the booking window opens.

This measure, announced by Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Wednesday, is designed to give genuine users a better chance of securing confirmed tickets. The first 10 minutes of Tatkal booking have long been dominated by automated scripts, touts, and agents—often leaving ordinary passengers frustrated and ticketless. The Railways hopes that Aadhaar authentication will curb such misuse and bring relief to genuine travelers.

“Account holders who link their IRCTC accounts with Aadhaar will get priority access to Tatkal bookings in the first 10 minutes of the booking window. Even authorised IRCTC agents will be restricted from booking during this period,” the Railways said in its official statement.

Why the First 10 Minutes Matter

The first 10 minutes of the Tatkal booking window are the most critical. According to an internal Railways study conducted between May 24 and June 2, a majority of Tatkal tickets are snapped up within this narrow time frame, especially in AC classes.

Here’s what the data reveals:

• For AC class tickets, only 5,615 tickets (out of 1,08,000) were booked in the first minute, while 22,827 were booked in the second minute.

• Within 10 minutes, an average of 67,159 tickets—or 62.5% of all online AC Tatkal tickets—were booked.

• The remaining 37.5% were spread over the next several hours, with only 3.01% booked more than 10 hours after the window opened.

The trend was similar for non-AC class tickets:

• Out of 1,18,567 daily average online bookings, 4,724 (4%) were made in the first minute, and 20,786 (17.5%) in the second minute.

• Around 66.4% of all non-AC Tatkal tickets were booked in the first 10 minutes, and 84.02% within the first hour.

These figures make it clear that the 10-minute window is the most competitive and crucial for passengers trying to secure last-minute reservations.

Protecting Genuine Passengers

The new Aadhaar-based system is aimed at ensuring that this 10-minute golden window is not misused. For years, touts and ticketing bots have managed to bypass human users by exploiting the IRCTC platform with advanced tools and scripts. This led to genuine users often losing out, especially during peak travel seasons or emergencies.

By linking booking privileges during the first 10 minutes to Aadhaar-verified accounts, the Railways intends to verify user identity and block bots and suspicious activity. Aadhaar authentication will act as a digital gatekeeper, allowing only verified, traceable individuals to access the most high-demand booking slot of the day.

An IRCTC official noted, “This isn’t just a tech upgrade. It’s a reset of how we approach urgent travel. The 10-minute Aadhaar-only window will give real people—not bots—the first chance to book.”

Crackdown on Fake and Suspicious Accounts

Along with Aadhaar-based priority access, Indian Railways is conducting a special verification drive of all IRCTC accounts. Accounts not linked with Aadhaar will undergo scrutiny, and those found to be suspicious or involved in irregular activity will be deactivated.

“Around 2.25 lakh Tatkal tickets are booked online every day. Ensuring fairness during the most crucial 10 minutes is the top priority. We are using AI-based tools to track unusual activity, including rapid bookings, multiple logins, and unnatural ticketing patterns,” said the ministry.

The Railways has also made it clear that even authorised agents will not be allowed to book tickets during this 10-minute period, further levelling the playing field for regular users.

Public Reaction and Future Implications

While many frequent travellers and railway users have welcomed the move, some have raised concerns about digital access and data privacy. Rural users, older passengers, or those who do not have Aadhaar linked to their IRCTC accounts may miss out on early access.

Railways officials, however, clarified that Aadhaar linking is not mandatory for all bookings—only for getting priority access in the first 10 minutes of the Tatkal window. After this period, all users, including agents and non-Aadhaar accounts, will be able to book as usual.

“We are not locking anyone out. We are just giving verified users a head start in a process that’s currently dominated by unfair means,” an official explained.

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The 10-minute window has long defined the success or failure of a Tatkal ticket booking. With over 60% of tickets vanishing in this short span, securing a spot during this time has been a near-impossible task for the average passenger. By prioritising Aadhaar-linked accounts, Indian Railways is attempting to restore balance and integrity to a system under pressure.

If successful, the new approach could serve as a model for other time-sensitive public services in India—where technology, transparency, and trust can work together to deliver better outcomes for citizens.