Indian Railways has unveiled a sweeping overhaul of its Tatkal booking system aimed at tackling persistent issues like scalping, bots, and fraudulent IDs. After widespread user frustration, particularly at the rapid disappearance of Tatkal tickets, authorities are seriously ramping up measures to restore fairness and accessibility.
Key changes include:
Mandatory e‑Aadhaar Authentication: Starting later this month, passengers will need to complete e‑Aadhaar verification when booking Tatkal tickets. This initiative ensures each booking is tied to a verified identity, aimed at preventing misuse and agent-driven scalping
Mass Deactivation of Fraudulent IDs: In a major cleanup, the IRCTC has deactivated around 2.5 crore fake user accounts detected between January and May 2025. Many of these were tied to disposable email domains used to exploit multiple bookings simultaneously
Advanced Bot-Blocking and System Upgrades: The revamped platform now includes advanced anti-bot mechanisms and content delivery network (CDN) improvements. This has enabled fairer ticket distribution—evidenced by a record 31,814 tickets sold in 60 seconds on May 22, 2025, highlighting the system’s improved resilience
During this crackdown, IRCTC also flagged 2.9 lakh suspicious bookings made within five minutes of Tatkal window openings, indicating large-scale automated misuse
Additionally, over 6,800 disposable email domains were blocked, and related cyber‑crime complaints have been registered
Impacts & Expectations:
These reforms promise a faster, more transparent Tatkal experience for genuine users. With identity verification and anti-fraud protocols, the system discourages illicit practices and empowers honest travelers. The changes mark a major step toward digital integrity and equity in India’s railway ticketing ecosystem.
