Indian Railways and IRCTC have started the Citizen-First Rail Ticketing and AI Scheduling upgrade to make ticket booking easier. This new system aims to remove bots and brokers from the Tatkal booking process. The upgrade was initiated in May 2026 to handle summer rush and will fully replace the 40-year-old Passenger Reservation System by August 2026.
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How will the new AI system stop brokers?
The AI system can now identify suspicious booking patterns in real time. It tracks extremely fast typing, automated entry tools, and multiple bookings from a single IP address. It also monitors unusually fast payment processes to block bot-like behavior during Tatkal hours.
What are the main benefits for passengers?
- Faster Booking: The system can now book 1.25 lakh tickets per minute, which is five times more than the previous limit of 25,000-32,000 tickets.
- Better Prediction: The RailOne app AI now predicts waitlist confirmation with 94% accuracy, up from 53%.
- Flexible Travel: Passengers with confirmed tickets can now change their travel date without paying any cancellation fee.
What are the new mandatory rules for booking?
| Feature | Requirement/Detail |
|---|---|
| Aadhaar Verification | Mandatory for online Tatkal booking to prevent fraud. |
| Account Linking | Users must link Aadhaar and complete OTP verification on IRCTC. |
| New User Wait | Non-verified users may have to wait 3 days after registration for high-demand tickets. |
| Summer Specials | 908 special trains with over 18,000 trips announced for passenger convenience. |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the new booking capacity of the AI system?
The new system can book up to 1.25 lakh tickets per minute, which is significantly higher than the previous capacity of 25,000 to 32,000 tickets.
Is Aadhaar verification mandatory for Tatkal tickets?
Yes, Aadhaar authentication is now mandatory for online Tatkal bookings to stop fraud. Users need to link their Aadhaar with their IRCTC account.