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NSO to launch first-ever National Household Travel Survey in July: Mospi
The statistics ministry is slated to launch the first ever National Household Travel Survey (NHTS) in July at the behest of the Ministry of Railways, the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (Mospi) said in a statement on Thursday.
The one-year survey, being conducted as part of the National Sample Surveys (NSS) 80th round, will collect information on day-to-day travel within the country and will provide a picture of the travel patterns and choices of people across all demographics.
'The survey is aimed at collecting information on how, where, and for what purpose people travel within India, which is critical for making informed decisions on infrastructure projects and public transportation systems,' the statement released by the Mospi on Thursday said.
Addressing the two-day training workshop on the NHTS, NSO Director General Geeta Rathore emphasised the crucial role of the surveys in evidence-based policy making and stressed the need for high-quality, timely data.
'The critical data collected in this survey will aid in policy development and infrastructure planning,' the statement by MoSPI said.
In addition, the NSO will also conduct the Domestic Tourism Expenditure Survey (DTES), which aims to collect detailed data on expenditure made by households on domestic overnight trips.
Both surveys will cover the entire Indian Union, except for villages in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands which remain difficult to access throughout the year.
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Time of India
5 days ago
- Time of India
Tatkal ticket booking rules change from July 1: Aadhaar mandatory for IRCTC; how to link Aadhaar with IRCTC account
In a significant policy change aimed at enhancing transparency, root out fraud, and provide equitable access to emergency train travel, the Ministry of Railways has made comprehensive changes in the Tatkal ticket reservation system that will come into effect from July 1, 2025. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now As per the new guidelines, only the users who have registered their Aadhaar number with their IRCTC account will be eligible to reserve Tatkal tickets online, ushering a new era of digitally verified travel in India. The shift, issued formally in a directive to all zonal railways on June 10, 2025, is a part of a larger effort to stem the rampant abuse of Tatkal tickets by unauthorized agents and bots. While Indian Railways has supported this step with an added Aadhaar-based OTP authentication level from July 15, 2025, to further robustify the booking process to benefit genuine last-minute travelers, the change is aimed to stem the rampant misuse of Tatkal tickets. How to link Aadhaar to IRCTC account for Tatkal booking before the July 1 deadline To be eligible to book Tatkal tickets after July 1, follow these steps to link your Aadhaar: Pre-requisites: An active IRCTC account Your 12-digit Aadhaar number or Virtual ID A mobile phone linked with your Aadhaar to receive OTPs Follow the steps below: Go to the official IRCTC website and log in with your credentials. Go to the 'My Account' page and select 'Authenticate User'. Provide your Aadhaar Number or Virtual ID. Press 'Verify Details'. You will receive an OTP on your registered mobile number. Provide the OTP and authenticate after accepting the consent. On successful authentication, a success message will be displayed. How to add Aadhaar-verified passengers to your master list To make Tatkal booking faster, IRCTC provides the facility to pre-add passengers to your Master List and get them Aadhaar-verified. Login to your IRCTC account and navigate to My Profile > Master List. Enter the passenger's name, date of birth, and gender just like it appears on the Aadhaar card. Choose 'Aadhaar Card' as ID proof and fill in the Aadhaar number. Click 'Submit'. The status will display as Pending initially. You may verify status through 'Check pending Aadhaar verification' link. When verified, their information will be stored and automatically filled up while booking. Tip : Regularly update your Master List to prevent delays during peak Tatkal sessions. New Tatkal rules effective from July 1, 2025 1. Aadhaar verification becomes mandatory From July 1, Tatkal tickets can be booked only by users who have validated their Aadhaar number with their IRCTC account. This will mean that the passengers cannot proceed with Tatkal booking unless their IRCTC account has been Aadhaar linked and is verified through an OTP. 2. More OTP-Based Aadhaar Authentication from July 15 From July 15, even Aadhaar-authenticated users will be asked to perform an OTP-based authentication step associated with their Aadhaar number for every Tatkal booking. This additional layer is for the purpose of confirming that the user making the booking is the actual account holder and to avoid account abuse or automation-driven manipulation. 3. Restrictions for agents To avoid bulk bookings and provide regular users with a reasonable opportunity: IRCTC agents will be prevented from booking Tatkal tickets within the first 30 minutes of the booking period. AC Class (1A, 2A, 3A): Agents prohibited from booking between 10:00 AM and 10:30 AM Non-AC Class (SL, 2S): Agents prohibited from booking between 11:00 AM and 11:30 AM The Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS) and IRCTC have been asked to make backend technical modifications to ensure these booking windows automatically. The clampdown on middlemen would drastically enhance Tatkal availability for solo passengers. Why new Tatkal ticket rules are introduced As per Ministry of Railways officials, the primary reasons for the rule amendments are: Stopping abuse of the Tatkal system by touts, bots, and unofficial agents. Making room for actual last-minute passengers through eliminating artificial ticket shortages. Improving online governance by combining Aadhaar-based identity verification with mainstream services. Developing an honest, transparent system where mass automated bookings do not hold back common users. The ministry underlined the fact that such changes are in concordance with the national policy of "Digital India" and aid e-governance and transparency in public-facing services.


The Hindu
6 days ago
- The Hindu
Kumbakonam railway station poised for redevelopment
A ₹99-crore major redevelopment project to give a complete makeover to the Kumbakonam railway station is poised for implementation in the coming months. The Southern Railway has floated a tender to identify an agency to carry the work. The project was proposed by the Ministry of Railways following which the Southern Railway appointed a consultant for preparation of the master plan. A senior railway official said a comprehensive Detailed Project Report (DPR) was prepared covering the master plan, design methodology, traffic survey, commercial development, sustainable design, landscape design, smart features, construction methodology, and plan and social and environmental impact assessment. The official said the tender was floated a few days ago. Kumbakonam is a temple town housing several temples within the town and in its surroundings and nearby towns. Kumbakonam railway station was opened to passenger service on February 15, 1877 during the colonial era when the erstwhile South Indian Railway existed. The station is classified as a NSG 4 (Non Suburban) station attracting tourists from all over the country. As part of the redevelopment project, the existing railway station would be demolished and a new station building with world class amenities will be built. Provision of separate entry and exit in the station; departure lobby with booking windows, ticket vending machines and queuing hall; escalators and lifts; concourse with different categories of waiting hall, lounges, baby care room and cloakroom; retail area with F&B outlets, various kiosks space for Tamil Nadu Tourism, taxi; charging station for electric vehicles; parking facility and installation of baggage scanners and door frame metal detectors are among the slew of key features proposed in the new station, according to the DPR. Mahamaham The official said the plan was to complete the work in one-and-a-half years from the date of award of work. The yard remodelling would be taken up separately. 'The tender formalities should be finished early and the whole project should be completed well before the next Mahamaham festival which is scheduled to be held in Kumbakonam on March 9, 2028', said A. Giri, secretary, Thanjavur District Railway Users Association. The station with modern facilities should be ready for use to cater to the huge chunk of pilgrims visiting Kumbakonam for the month-long event, said Mr. Giri, a former member of the Tiruchi Divisional Railways Users' Consultative Committee.


Time of India
7 days ago
- Time of India
Booking tatkal tickets on IRCTC? Aadhaar and OTP are a must from July 1; know how to book tatkal ticket online on IRCTC through website and app
Booking tatkal tickets on IRCTC? Aadhaar and OTP are a must from July 1; know how to book tatkal ticket online on IRCTC through website and app In a significant overhaul of Indian railways' ticketing policy, the Ministry of Railways made it clear that from July 1, 2025, only Aadhaar-verified users will be entitled to reserve tickets under the Tatkal system through the IRCTC portal or mobile application. It is a key step towards stricter digital identity authentication to prevent misuse, bring in more transparency, and ensure the facility of emergency ticketing reaches legitimate passengers. In a sequel to this order, the ministry has also directed an extra OTP-based Aadhaar authentication layer from July 15, 2025, in order to further rationalise the process. The Indian Railways' move, as conveyed to all zonal railway divisions on June 10, 2025, is in light of increasing festival season demand and growing complaints of manipulation of bookings by agents. Here is the entire explanation of the new regulations, implementation schedule, agent restrictions, and booking practical tips all passengers must be aware of. Tatkal ticket booking rules changing from July 1: What you need to know 1. Aadhaar verification will be mandatory by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Air conditioners without external unit. (click to see prices) Air Condition | Search Ads Search Now Undo From July 1, Tatkal tickets could only be booked by passengers who have done Aadhaar authentication on IRCTC's website and mobile app. 2. Additional OTP verification from July 15 From July 15, 2025, even authenticated users will have to undergo a one-time password (OTP) authentication process associated with their Aadhaar number during every Tatkal booking. 3. Restrictions on agent bookings introduced With a view to minimizing bulk bookings and ensuring level playing ground for the public: IRCTC agents will be prohibited from booking Tatkal tickets within the first half-hour of the booking window. 10:00 AM to 10:30 AM: AC class tickets (1AC, 2AC, 3AC). 11:00 AM to 11:30 AM: Non-AC class tickets (SL, 2S). These restrictions will be applied on all zones and directions have been issued to both CRIS (Centre for Railway Information Systems) and IRCTC to enforce these steps by modifying back-end systems and user interfaces. The reason behind tatkal ticket booking rules change The Railway Ministry has made it clear that the aim is to: Prevent misuse of the Tatkal system by middlemen and unauthorised agents. Enhance availability of tickets for true last-minute travelers. Supplement digital transparency and complement national aspirations of Aadhaar-based e-governance. Promote equity in allotment of tickets by discouraging algorithmic or mechanical booking processes practiced by unscrupulous elements. Book tatkal ticket online via IRCTC website (Post July 1) Go to and log in with your IRCTC credentials. Verify your Aadhaar is linked and authentication done. Click on "Book Ticket" on the homepage. Under booking type, click on "Tatkal" and enter source, destination, travel date, and class. Enter the names, ages, ID proofs, and contact numbers of all the passengers. Select berth preferences. Give preference to lower berths to senior citizens or side berths in case of single travel. Verify fare breakdown and continue. OTP verification: Enter the OTP received on your Aadhaar-linked mobile number to continue. Make payment. Select from credit/debit card, UPI, net banking, or wallet payments. After payment, download and save your e-ticket to travel. Book tatkal ticket online through IRCTC mobile app Login through your credentials. Click on 'Tatkal Booking' and perform the same steps as the website: fill journey details, select class. Enter passenger details. Enter all travelers' names and preferences. Complete Aadhaar OTP verification when required. Go for payment, get confirmation, and download the ticket. Tips to book tatkal ticket online successfully Act quickly, be ready Log in 10 minutes prior to when the booking goes live. Pre-fill passenger information using IRCTC's "master list" functionality. Use a stable internet connection Avoid mobile data or public WiFi. Opt for broadband or high-speed fiber internet. Solve CAPTCHA practice CAPTCHA time can take valuable seconds. Get used to IRCTC's CAPTCHA format. Use multiple devices Attempt booking on both mobile and desktop at the same time. Alternative routes to try If your preferred train is fully booked, check for connecting trains through neighboring stations. Important IRCTC tatkal rules to remember No refund on confirmed tatkal tickets Partial refunds for waitlisted/RAC Tatkal reservations only. Aadhaar requirement Make sure Aadhaar is linked to your IRCTC account well in advance of July 1. International travelers Can use VPNs to mimic an Indian IP address, but will have to undergo Aadhaar verification (if Indian nationals). What does new tatkal ticket booking rules mean for regular travelers The new policy essentially transforms the manner in which emergency train tickets will be secured in India. While Aadhaar verification maximizes transparency and equity, it might also present challenges for those who have not linked their ID with IRCTC or those who are not technologically savvy. But in the long term, these shifts are bound to eliminate ticketing frauds, deter illegal agents, and empower legitimate users with quicker, better access. 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