IRCTC’s new tatkal rules you must know before your next confirmed train ticket booking: Know all FAQ's

IRCTC’s new tatkal rules you must know before your next confirmed train ticket booking: Know all FAQ’s
Indian Railways is gearing up to introduce mandatory e-Aadhaar authentication to book Tatkal train tickets, in a move aimed at curbing ticketing fraud and improving transparency in the reservation process. The new system is expected to roll out later this month and will be applicable to all users booking Tatkal tickets through the IRCTC portal, according to the reports.

Also read: Waiting list train ticket? Get ticket confirmation assurance with up to 3x money back guarantee from Ixigo, Redbus and MakeMyTrip“Indian Railways will soon start using e-Aadhaar authentication to book Tatkal tickets. This will help genuine users get confirmed tickets during need,” Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on June 3, 2025.

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What is Aadhaar authentication?

“Aadhaar Authentication” is a process by which the Aadhaar number along with demographic information (such as name, date of birth, gender etc) or biometric information (Fingerprint or Iris) of an individual is submitted to UIDAI’s Central Identities Data Repository (CIDR) for its verification and UIDAI verifies the correctness of the details submitted, or the lack thereof, on the basis of information available with it.Train ticket booking: New mobile app SwaRail launched by IRCTC; step-by-step guide on how to use it railway ticket

How to book tatkal tickets in IRCTC portal?

Step 1: Login by entering your User name and Password in the IRCTC website (https://www.irctc.co.in/nget/train-search)
Step 2: Provide your desired From – To station, Date of Journey and Class of travel.
Ste 3: Select Tatkal option in the quota dropdown. The next page displays the list of trains available for the selected route.
Step 4: Click on the type of class available in the selected train. The quota option is available on right side of the above mentioned train list.
Step 5: To book Tatkal ticket in the selected train, click on “Book Now” button
Step 6: Enter the names of the passengers, age, gender, berth preference and food choice for each passenger. The maximum length of names should be restricted to 16 characters.
Step 7: Enter the verification code. Enter the Passenger mobile number to receive the booking and cancellation free SMS.
Step 8: Click on Continue button.
The ticket details, Total fare (including GST & Convenience Fee) and availability of berths at the particular time appear on the screen
Step 9: After checking all details, click on the Continue button for the Payment process.
Step 10: Select the desired payment option from the displayed Payment Gateway menus.
Step 11: Click on “Pay & Book” button for redirection to the selected Bank website.
After successful payment and booking of accommodations, Ticket Confirmation Page will appear. Virtual reservation message (VRM) in the form of SMS will be sent on Mobile Number (as provided in the Passenger reservation form.

Important FAQs related IRCTC tatkal booking

What is Tatkal ticket time?

A: Tatkal ticket booking opens one day before the date of journey (excluding the day of journey) from the train’s originating station.
For AC classes (1A/2A/3A/CC/EC/EA/3E): Booking starts at 10:00 AM.
For Non-AC classes (SL/FC/2S): Booking starts at 11:00 AM.

Is Tatkal available 2 days before journey?

A: No, Tatkal booking is not available two days before the journey. It opens only one day in advance, excluding the day of journey. For example, if your train departs on the 5th, Tatkal booking opens on the 4th.

What is the maximum number of passengers allowed in one Tatkal booking?

You can book up to 4 passengers per PNR under the Tatkal quota.

Is there any discount or concession for senior citizens in Tatkal?

No, senior citizen concession is not applicable under Tatkal quota.

What are the payment options for booking Tatkal tickets?

You can pay using:
Net Banking
Credit/Debit Cards
IRCTC eWallet
UPI
Wallets (like Paytm, Amazon Pay)

Can I cancel a Tatkal e-ticket?

Confirmed Tatkal e-tickets: Cancellation allowed up to 30 minutes before departure, but no refund is granted.
RAC/Waitlisted Tatkal tickets: Refunds as per general railway rules.
Cancellation must be done online via IRCTC portal.

How much extra should I pay for my ticket?

Tatkal charges per passenger in addition to normal ticket.
The Tatkal Charges have been fixed as a percentage of fare at the rate of 10% of basic fare for second class and 30% of basic fare for all other classes subject to minimum and maximum as given in the table below:-