Indian Railways ticket booking is getting smarter with early charting, Aadhaar OTP for Tatkal, and a modern PRS upgrade by 2025. Know the key changes for exam preparation.
Indian Railways Ticket Booking Gets Smarter: Early Charting, Aadhaar Tatkal & Modern PRS
Revolutionising Reservation Chart Preparation
Indian Railways has announced a new policy to prepare reservation charts 8 hours before train departure, instead of the current 4-hour window For trains scheduled before 2:00 PM, charts will be completed the previous night at 9 PM, giving passengers earlier confirmation on waitlist status and time to make alternate arrangementsThis move enhances efficiency for those boarding from remote or suburban areas.
Strengthening Tatkal Ticket Booking Security
Beginning 1 July 2025, Tatkal bookings via IRCTC will require Aadhaar-based authentication and OTP verification This measure, to be fully in place by end-July, aims to curb misuse and bots. In the first 30 minutes of Tatkal booking, only individual verified users—not agents—can book tickets online
Upgrading the Passenger Reservation System (PRS)
By December 2025, the Passenger Reservation System will undergo a major technological upgrade Developed by CRIS, it will support up to 150,000 bookings per minute—five times the current capacity—and process 40 lakh enquiries per minute, ten times more than today Features like multilingual interface, fare calendars, seat preference, and special accessibility for Divyangjan, students, and patients will be added
Why This News is Important
Enhances Waiting-List Transparency
Preparing bills 8 hours in advance reduces uncertainty for passengers on the waitlist, especially those traveling from rural or suburban regions. This early clarity aids in planning and prevents last-minute travel disruptions.
Boosts Security in Tatkal Bookings
Mandatory Aadhaar OTP authentication and restrictions on agents during peak Tatkal windows promote fairness. The move deters bots and fraud, ensuring genuine passengers have priority access.
Improves Booking Capacity & Speed
The upgraded PRS, capable of handling 150,000 ticket bookings and 40 lakh enquiries per minute, will significantly reduce system overloads, improve response times, and ensure smoother operations during peak periods.
Promotes Inclusivity & User-Centric Design
Multilingual support, seat preference, fare calendar view, and facilities for specific user groups reflect a passenger-first approach, aligning with public service objectives—key focus areas for civil service exams.
Reflects Digital Governance & Efficiency
These reforms showcase how Indian Railways is leveraging tech to streamline services—an example of governance modernization frequently cited in government exam syllabi.
Historical Context: A Journey from Manual to Smart Ticketing
Indian Railways has gradually evolved from manual reservations to computerized systems since the 1980s, with the PRS introduced in 1986 by CRIS Over time, IRCTC’s e-ticketing, UTS, and NTES apps were added, but issues like unpredictable charting and Tatkal fraud persisted. The Tatkal scheme, initiated in 1997, aimed to help late planners but became susceptible to misuse by agents . These current reforms are the next logical step in a decades-long evolution: smarter charting, secure Tatkal booking, and a fully digital, responsive PRS platform.
Key Takeaways from “Indian Railways Ticket Booking Gets Smarter”
| S.No | Key Takeaway |
|---|---|
| 1 | Reservation charts will be prepared 8 hours before departure (or by 9 PM day before for early trains). |
| 2 | Aadhaar-based OTP authentication is now mandatory for Tatkal bookings starting July 1, with full rollout by end-July. |
| 3 | Agents will be temporarily blocked from booking Tatkal tickets in the first 30 minutes to reduce misuse. |
| 4 | Upgraded PRS by December 2025 will handle 150,000 bookings and 40 lakh enquiries per minute. |
| 5 | New features include multilingual interface, seat preference, fare calendar, and accessibility support. |
FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. When will Indian Railways begin preparing reservation charts 8 hours in advance?
Answer: The new reservation charting system is already being implemented in phases and will become standard across India soon, especially for trains departing before 2 PM (charting by 9 PM the previous night).
Q2. What is the purpose of Aadhaar OTP authentication in Tatkal booking?
Answer: It is introduced to prevent ticket booking fraud, eliminate bot-based bookings, and give priority access to genuine individual users.
Q3. What will be the capacity of the upgraded Passenger Reservation System (PRS)?
Answer: It will handle up to 1.5 lakh bookings and 40 lakh inquiries per minute, significantly boosting speed and efficiency.
Q4. Are railway agents allowed to book Tatkal tickets immediately when the booking window opens?
Answer: No, for the first 30 minutes of the Tatkal window, agents will not be allowed to make bookings to ensure fair access to individual passengers.
Q5. Who is developing the upgraded PRS system for Indian Railways?
Answer: The Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS) is responsible for developing the upgraded PRS system.
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