Indian Railways announces minor fare hike
Heads up if you travel by train—Indian Railways is hiking passenger fares for the first time in several years, starting July 1, 2025.
Non-AC Mail and Express trains will cost one paise more per kilometer, while AC classes go up by two paise per kilometer.
No fare hike for suburban tickets
No fare hike for suburban tickets or second-class journeys under 500km, so daily commutes stay easy on the pocket.
Second-class trips over 500km get a tiny bump—just half a paise more per km.
Monthly season ticket prices aren't changing either.
Aadhaar verification for Tatkal tickets
Booking Tatkal tickets? From July 1, you'll need to verify your Aadhaar on IRCTC's site or app.
An extra OTP step kicks in from July 15. Plus, agents can't book first-day Tatkal tickets during the opening half hour—meant to give regular travelers a fairer shot at snagging those seats.