Indian Railways is all set to fully implement the OTP-based authentication system for Tatkal tickets booked at reservation counters (window tickets) across all remaining trains within the next few days, marking the final phase of its drive to eliminate touts and ensure tickets reach genuine passengers.
The move comes after successful pilots and phased rollouts throughout 2025. Railways first introduced Aadhaar-based authentication for online Tatkal bookings in July 2025, followed by OTP-based verification for all general quota bookings on the opening day in October 2025. Both measures received widespread appreciation from passengers for bringing transparency and ease.
On 17 November 2025, Railways launched a pilot for OTP-based Tatkal booking at PRS (Passenger Reservation System) counters, initially covering select trains. As of now, the facility has been extended to 52 high-demand trains. Under the new system, passengers filling out the reservation form at the counter must provide a mobile number. An OTP is instantly sent to that number, and the ticket is issued only after the passenger (or accompanying person) enters the correct OTP at the counter.
Once the OTP is verified, the Tatkal quota berth is confirmed, making it nearly impossible for touts to book tickets using fake or multiple identities.
Railway officials stated that the full rollout to all remaining Tatkal-enabled trains will be completed “within the next few days,” effectively ending the era of bulk Tatkal bookings by agents at railway counters.
With this, Indian Railways completes its three-tier authentication shield — Aadhaar for online Tatkal, OTP for AR (advance reservation) first day, and now OTP for counter Tatkal — making the reservation process more secure, transparent and passenger-friendly than ever before.
