New Railway Rules from July: Check Fare, Booking Changes
IRCTC Tatkal rules change from July 2025. Aadhaar OTP required. Train ticket prices updated. Agents blocked during booking windows. Know full details.
image for illustrative purpose
Indian Railways has rolled out significant policy changes effective July 2025, aimed at simplifying passenger services, curbing ticketing malpractices, and streamlining fare structures across the board.
Effective July 1, passengers booking Tatkal tickets through the IRCTC website or mobile application must complete Aadhaar authentication. Users must link their Aadhaar with their IRCTC account to proceed with online Tatkal bookings.
Beginning July 15, an added layer of OTP-based authentication will be enforced for Tatkal bookings not only online but also at Passenger Reservation System (PRS) counters and through authorized agents.
To ensure equitable access to tickets, the railways has restricted booking windows for agents:
* For AC classes, agents are barred from booking tickets between 10:00 AM and 10:30 AM.
* For non-AC classes, the blackout window is between 11:00 AM and 11:30 AM.
These windows have been reserved exclusively for individual passengers.
The reservation chart preparation time has been extended. The first chart will now be ready eight hours before train departure. For trains scheduled before 2:00 PM, the chart will be finalized the previous night at 9:00 PM. This change replaces the previous four-hour rule, giving passengers more clarity on seat availability.
A new fare structure has been implemented from July 1. The increases vary by class and distance:
* Non-Suburban Trains (Ordinary, Non-AC):
* No hike for journeys up to 500 km.
* Rs 5 increase for 501–1500 km.
* Rs 10 for 1501–2500 km.
* Rs 15 for 2501–3000 km.
Mail/Express (Non-AC):
* Second Class, Sleeper, and First Class: 1 paisa per km hike.
AC Classes (Mail/Express):
* Chair Car, AC 3-Tier, 2-Tier, First, and Executive Classes: 2 paisa per km hike.
The new rates apply to Rajdhani, Shatabdi, Duronto, Tejas, Vande Bharat, Humsafar, Amrit Bharat, Mahamana, Gatimaan, Antyodaya, Yuva Express, Jan Shatabdi, and others. AC Vistadome and Anubhuti coaches are also included in the revised pricing.
Ancillary charges such as reservation fees, superfast surcharges, and applicable GST will remain as per existing rules. No modifications have been made to these components.
How to Link Aadhaar with IRCTC Account
To complete Aadhaar authentication for Tatkal bookings:
1. Log in to the IRCTC website or Rail Connect app.
2. Navigate to "My Account".
3. Select “Authenticate User” and follow the prompts.
