Tatkal Ticket Booking Rules Change: Here's What Passengers Need to Know

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A numbered token system has been introduced at railway reservation counters for Tatkal bookings.
Aadhaar authentication remains mandatory for online Tatkal ticket booking.
The revamped IRCTC website has improved booking success rates during the first few minutes of the Tatkal window.

NEW DELHI: Passengers planning to book Tatkal train tickets should note that Indian Railways has implemented several changes from August 1, 2026, to make the booking process smoother and reduce overcrowding at reservation counters. The updated system introduces a token-based queue at Passenger Reservation System (PRS) counters, while online bookings continue to require Aadhaar authentication through the IRCTC website and mobile app.

The new measures are aimed at improving efficiency during the high-demand Tatkal booking window.

Tatkal Ticket Booking Rules 2026: New Token System at Reservation Counters

Passengers visiting railway reservation counters for Tatkal tickets will now receive a numbered token immediately upon arrival. The token will determine their position in the booking queue, eliminating the earlier process of collecting a token separately before joining the line.

According to the revised schedule:

AC Tatkal booking tokens: Available from 8:30 am to 9:30 am
Non-AC Tatkal booking tokens: Available from 9:00 am to 9:30 am

Railways have also divided counter bookings into two categories:

Category A: Given priority during the booking process.
Category B: Processed only after all Category A bookings are completed.

Passengers under Category B must carry an Aadhaar card or another valid government-approved photo identity card while booking tickets.

Aadhaar Authentication Continues for Online Tatkal Booking

For passengers booking tickets through the IRCTC website or mobile application, Aadhaar authentication remains mandatory.

After logging in, users must verify their identity using a one-time password (OTP) sent to their Aadhaar-linked registered mobile number before completing the booking.

Indian Railways has also retained the existing restriction on authorised ticketing agents:

AC Tatkal: Agents cannot book between 10:00 am and 10:30 am
Non-AC Tatkal: Agents cannot book between 11:00 am and 11:30 am

This restriction is intended to give individual passengers a fair opportunity to secure Tatkal tickets.

Revamped IRCTC Website Improves Booking Speed

The upgraded IRCTC beta website has reportedly improved booking performance during the crucial opening minutes of the Tatkal window.

According to IRCTC data:

Bookings completed within the first three minutes increased by more than 5%.
Bookings completed within five minutes rose by 3%.
Bookings completed within 30 minutes improved by 2% compared with figures from early July.

Online ticket reservations also accounted for a record 89.84% of all railway bookings in July 2026, reflecting the growing preference for digital ticketing.