Indian Railways is about to hike passenger prepare fares for the primary time in a number of years. The minor increase in fares can be effective from July 1, 2025. Sources informed TOI that the passenger fare for non-AC Mail/Express trains can be hiked by 1 paise per kilometre. The fare hike for AC courses can be 2 paise per kilometre.Earlier this month, Indian Railways made a major announcement requiring Aadhaar authentication for tatkal prepare ticket bookings beginning July 1, 2025. Through a directive issued on June 10, 2025, the Railway Ministry has knowledgeable all railway zones that this new requirement is meant “to ensure that the benefits of the Tatkal Scheme are received by the common end users.”The railways’ official discover acknowledged that “With effect from 01-07-2025, tickets under Tatkal scheme can be booked through the website of Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC)/ its app only by Aadhaar authenticated users.”The ministry has additionally introduced that starting July 15, 2025, travellers can be required to finish an extra step of Aadhaar-based OTP authentication while reserving tatkal tickets.The new pointers established limitations on Tatkal ticket reservations for authorised reserving brokers of Indian Railways.These representatives at the moment are barred from reserving first-day Tatkal tickets throughout the preliminary half-hour window. The restriction is effective from 10.00 am to 10.30 am for AC class bookings and from 11.00 am to 11.30 am for non-AC class bookings.The railway ministry has directed each the Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS) and IRCTC to make crucial system modifications and talk these adjustments to all zonal railway divisions. This initiative seeks to streamline the Tatkal reservation course of for travellers.This story is being up to date