Tatkal Ticket Booking Rules Changed: Indian Railways Introduces Token System, Faster IRCTC Bookings

Indian Railways has rolled out a fresh set of changes for Tatkal ticket booking, effective from August 1, 2026, covering both counter bookings and the online process through IRCTC. The update introduces a token system at Passenger Reservation System counters to cut down on overcrowding, alongside a revamped IRCTC beta website that is said to be speeding up online bookings. Aadhaar authentication remains compulsory for booking Tatkal tickets online, while counter bookings have now been split into two priority categories. Here is what travellers need to know before their next last-minute booking.

New Token System At Counters

Passengers arriving at PRS counters to book Tatkal tickets will now be handed a numbered token as soon as they arrive, which fixes their position in the queue. This replaces the older system that required passengers to collect a token separately and then stand in line again to finish the booking, reported Jagran.

Tokens for AC class bookings will be given out between 8:30 am and 9:30 am, while non-AC class tokens will be issued between 9 am and 9:30 am. New Rules From August 1, 2026: List of Rule Changes That Will Impact Your Wallet.

Counter Bookings Split Into Two Categories

Counter bookings now fall into two categories. Category A passengers are served first, and Category B, which covers everyone else, is attended to only once Category A bookings are wrapped up.

Passengers in Category B need to carry their Aadhaar card or another Railways-approved photo ID. Anyone heading to a counter should keep their ID ready and be mindful of the token-collection timing for their class of travel. Indian Railways Announces 5 New Reforms Under ‘Reform Express’; Cargo, Construction, and Passenger Convenience in Focus.

Aadhaar Still Mandatory For Online Bookings

The existing rule continues for online bookings too. Tatkal tickets on the IRCTC website or app can only be booked by users who have completed Aadhaar authentication, with an OTP sent to the registered mobile number required to finish the transaction.

Authorised booking agents remain barred from making Tatkal bookings during the first 30 minutes of the booking window, which is 10 am to 10:30 am for AC classes and 11 am to 11:30 am for non-AC classes.

IRCTC's Revamped Website Speeding Up Bookings

The updated IRCTC beta website appears to be making a visible difference to booking speed. IRCTC data shows bookings completed within the first three minutes of the Tatkal window rose by more than 5 percent after the beta site went live, with a 3 percent rise in bookings within five minutes and a 2 percent rise within 30 minutes, when compared with early July figures.

Online bookings as a whole hit a record 89.84 percent share of all railway ticket bookings in July 2026. For those booking online, the key takeaway is to keep Aadhaar authentication done well in advance, since a faster website only helps if there is no last-minute paperwork left to sort out once the window opens.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 03, 2026 03:13 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).