Full Updates (Effective from July 1, 2025)
1. Major Fare Hike Starts Today
- AC classes: ₹0.02 per km increase
- Non-AC Mail/Express: ₹0.01 per km increase
- Second class non-AC: Additional ₹0.005 per km only for distances over 500 km; no change for journeys ≤ 500 km
- No change in suburban tickets or seasonal passes
2. Tatkal Booking Now Aadhaar-Verified
- From today, only Aadhaar-verified users can book Tatkal via IRCTC online or app.
- From July 15, an OTP-based verification (Aadhaar or DigiLocker ID) becomes mandatory via any booking channel
3. Reservation Chart Prep Moved to 8 Hours Prior
- Charts for long-distance trains will now be issued 8 hours before departure, instead of the earlier 4-hour window
4. Waitlist Quota Increased to 60%
- Up to 60% of berths in each class can now be waitlisted (vs 25% previously)
- At boarding stations, waitlists apply to 30% of seats
5. Ease of Filing Refunds (TDR)
- Refund requests for issues like >3-hour delay, AC failure, or rerouting can now be filed online via IRCTC website/app
6. Modernized PRS – Big Capacity Boost
- Booking capacity surges from 32,000 to 150,000 tickets per minute
- Enquiry capacity jumps from 400,000 to 4 million per minute
- Features include multilingual interface, fare calendar, seat selection, and special-user support (PWD, students, patients)
7. More Inquiry Slots
- From today’s update: 4 million enquiries per minute possible, up from 400,000
✔️ Summary Table
| Change | Effective Date | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Fare hike | July 1 | Slight rise per km |
| Aadhaar-only Tatkal | July 1 | Fairer booking |
| OTP verification for Tatkal | July 15 | Added security |
| Reservation chart time | July 1 | Earlier (8 hrs before departure) |
| Waitlist capacity | July 1 | More waitlist spots |
| Online refunds (TDR) | July 1 | Easier claims |
| PRS capacity upgrade | July 1 (Dec full roll-out) | Faster bookings & enquiries |
| Multi-language & UI features | July 1 | More inclusive interface |
