Indian Railways has introduced a major change in the process of booking Tatkal tickets from reservation counters. Under the new system, Tatkal tickets will now be issued only after OTP verification.
This step aims to make the Tatkal booking process more transparent and prevent misuse. The new mechanism is expected to be fully implemented in the coming days, offering relief to passengers who often face difficulties in securing Tatkal tickets.
As per the updated procedure, passengers will still need to fill out the reservation form as before. After submitting the form, an OTP will be sent to the mobile number provided. The passenger must share this OTP with the booking clerk at the counter. The ticket will be confirmed only after the correct OTP is entered.
With this change, Tatkal tickets will be issued only to the person whose mobile number is used during booking. This move is expected to curb ticket misuse and ensure that genuine passengers can obtain Tatkal tickets more easily.
Notably, Railways began trialing the OTP-based Tatkal verification system at reservation counters in November 2025. The system has already been implemented for 52 trains, and preparations are underway for a nationwide rollout.
