Aadhaar OTP Now for 322 Trains; 3 Crore Fake IDs Busted

December 11, 2025

The Indian Railways has expanded Aadhaar‑based One‑Time Password (OTP) verification to 322 trains for online Tatkal ticket bookings, aiming to curb misuse and improve fairness in the highly competitive reservation system, Parliament was informed on Thursday. The move has already resulted in a significant increase in confirmed Tatkal ticket availability for passengers on these routes.

Aadhaar OTP Verification Now in 322 Trains for Online Tatkal Booking To Curb Misuse and Improve Fairness, 3 Crore Fake User IDs Busted https://t.co/Hum3jsHsUt #OnlineTatkalBooking #AadhaarOTP

— LatestLY (@latestly) December 11, 2025

Confirmed Ticket Availability Improves Sharply

According to a written reply by Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to questions in the Lok Sabha, the introduction of Aadhaar OTP verification has led to about 65 per cent growth in confirmed Tatkal ticket availability in the trains where it has been implemented. The strict identity check helps ensure that only genuine users complete the booking process and reduces abuse by bots and unauthorized users.

The OTP system has also been introduced in Tatkal bookings made at reservation counters, with 211 trains already covered under this phase as of early December. Passenger tickets at Passenger Reservation System (PRS) counters now require Aadhaar‑linked OTP verification as well, further strengthening the booking process.

Mass Deactivation of Fake User IDs

To eliminate fraudulent bookings and misuse of the system, Indian Railways has conducted extensive revalidation and verification of user accounts. This effort has resulted in the deactivation of around 3.02 crore suspicious or fake user IDs since January 2025, according to Vaishnaw’s statement. These accounts were identified during audits of IRCTC (Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation) user databases and booking patterns.

Anti‑bot technologies such as solutions from AKAMAI and other protective measures have been deployed to screen out automated scripts and ensure bookings are placed by real users with verified identities.

Enhanced Cyber Security Measures in Booking System

The Minister also highlighted the adoption of multiple cyber security safeguards, including firewalls, intrusion prevention systems, encrypted data center’s, network monitoring, and regular security audits, to protect the IRCTC reservation system from cyber threats. These measures are intended to maintain reservation integrity and prevent exploitation by malicious actors.

Complaints related to suspicious bookings are being filed on the National Cyber Crime Portal, ensuring legal action where necessary. The use of advanced threat monitoring and cyber intelligence services aims to further enhance the system’s resilience against fraud and attacks.

Broader Push for Aadhaar Authentication in Tatkal System

The Aadhaar OTP requirement is part of a broader reform to make Tatkal ticketing more transparent and equitable. Earlier updates mandated Aadhaar authentication and OTP verification for online Tatkal bookings to prevent bots and fake accounts from dominating the system and ensure that genuine passengers have better access to last‑minute travel options.

As part of these changes, only Aadhaar‑verified IRCTC users can complete Tatkal bookings online, and OTP verification ensures that the mobile number linked to Aadhaar is actively used by the ticket applicant.