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In fiscal year 2025-26, online ticket bookings via Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) comprised 88% of all reservations, amounting to 48.25 crore tickets by February 2026. The Ministry of Railways introduced Aadhaar authentication for Tatkal and general reservations to counter fraudulent activities, deactivate fake accounts, and ensure
Aadhaar Authentication
Starting October 1, 2025, Aadhaar authentication will be mandatory for booking general reserved tickets online through the IRCTC website/app during the first 15 minutes of ticket availability. This measure aims to benefit common users and prevent misuse. There will be no changes to the booking timings at computerized PRS
IRCTC
The Ministry of Railways has introduced measures to enhance food quality and hygiene on trains, including awarding contracts for clusters of trains and deploying hotel management graduates to supervise catering services. In the last fiscal year, IRCTC imposed ₹13.2 crore in fines for complaints while serving 16.5 lakh
Tatkal tickets
The Ministry of Railways has announced new measures for Tatkal ticket bookings to enhance user authentication and prevent misuse. Starting July 1, 2025, only Aadhaar authenticated users can book Tatkal tickets online. Additionally, OTP-based authentication will be mandatory for all Tatkal bookings from July 15, 2025. Authorised agents will also