Railway Reforms Recent
Railway Reforms Recent (2020-25)
Overview
Indian Railways has rolled out its biggest transformation drive since 2020 under the National Rail Plan (NRP) & “Amrit Bharat” vision. The reforms aim at 100 % electrification, private participation, asset monetisation, safety upgradation and Gati-Shakti cargo targets by 2030.
Key Facts & Figures
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| 1. 100 % Electrification target | 31-12-2025 (achieved 95 % till Nov 2025) |
| 2. Kavach (indigenous ATP) | 3,000 km commissioned; 4,000 km tendered (2025-26) |
| 3. Vande Bharat trains inducted | 102 rakes (till Dec 2025); target 400 by 2027 |
| 4. Highest ghat section electrified | 2.5 % gradient in Braganza Ghat (Goa) – 2024 |
| 5. Station redevelopment cost | ₹1.1 lakh cr. under Amrit Bharat Station Scheme (1,309 stations) |
| 6. First private train run | Mumbai Central–Gandhinagar VB (Oct 2022) |
| 7. RailTel free Wi-Fi | 6,000 stations; 1.3 crore log-ins/month |
| 8. Gati-Shakti cargo share target | 45 % by 2030 (from 27 % in 2020) |
| 9. Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFCC) | 1,337 km EDFC & 1,875 km WDFC completed (Mar 2025) |
| 10. New freight speed | 90 km/h for container; 75 km/h for bulk (2025) |
| 11. Rail land monetisation | ₹7,000 cr. revenue in 2024-25 through IRSDC, RLDA |
| 12. “One Station One Product” | 850 stalls operational (Dec 2025) |
| 13. “One Nation One Ration Card” | 100 % rail-side implementation (2024) |
| 14. “Rail Madad” unified helpline | 139 (24×7, 12 languages) |
| 15. “Satark” AI-enabled surveillance | 600 stations covered under NCRB pilot |
| 16. “RailCloud” Phase-II | 100 % migration of passenger & freight modules |
| 17. “UTS on Mobile” tickets | 92 % of suburban journeys (Dec 2025) |
| 18. “VistaDome” coaches | 43 tourist circuits (2025) |
| 19. “Bharat Gaurav” theme trains | 42 trains run by 28 private operators |
| 20. Carbon-neutral target | Net-zero by 2030 through 1 GW solar + 200 MW wind |
Important Points
- Amrit Bharat Station Scheme replaces earlier Smart Stations & IRSDC models; 90 % cost borne by RLDA land monetisation.
- Kavach is certified by RDSO & TAC; it gives 10 % head-on-collision & 15 % derailment risk reduction.
- Vande Bharat sleeper & 8-car mini variants cleared in 2025 for overnight & regional routes.
- Gati-Shakti Vishwa Vidyalaya (Rail university) at Vadodara started MTech in Railway Engineering (2024).
- New Freight Marketing Policy (2023) allows “train-on-demand” in 2 hrs with 15 % dynamic discount.
- RailTel & CDAC launched 5G-ready “Mobile Train Radio Communication” on 1,200 km golden quadrilateral.
- “Railways (Management of Stations) Regulations 2025” empowers DRMs to lease space via e-auction up to 45 years.
- “Zero-based Time-Table” (2025) saves 4,500 loco hours/day & adds 1,100 new services without extra rake.
- “One Station One Product” is aligned with “Vocal for Local” & Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana.
- Railways contributed ₹1.2 lakh cr. to Indian GDP in FY 24-25 (NCAER study).
Frequently Asked in Exams
- Deadline & current status of 100 % electrification.
- Kavach—full form, developer & safety benefits.
- Difference between Vande Bharat (Chair-car) & VB-Sleeper.
- DFCC alignment & cargo speed achieved.
- Amrit Bharat Station Scheme financing model & nodal agency.
Practice MCQs
Question:01 The 100 % rail electrification target set by Indian Railways is
A) 31 March 2025
B) 31 December 2025
C) 31 March 2026
D) 31 December 2026
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Indian Railways has fixed 31 December 2025 as the deadline for achieving 100 % electrification of its entire broad-gauge network.
Question:02 What is “Kavach” in Indian Railways context?
A) A high-speed train set manufactured by BHEL
B) An indigenously developed Automatic Train Protection system
C) A new bio-toilet technology for coaches
D) A dedicated freight corridor project
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Kavach is India’s indigenous Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system designed to prevent collisions by automatically applying brakes if the driver fails to do so.
Question:03 As on December 2025, how many Vande Bharat rakes are in commercial service across Indian Railways?
A) 87
B) 95
C) 102
D) 115
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: As per the latest Indian Railways data released in December 2025, a total of 102 Vande Bharat train-sets (rakes) are operationally deployed on various routes in the country.
Question:04 The total route km of both DFC corridors completed by March 2025 is
A) 2,875 km
B) 3,212 km
C) 3,450 km
D) 3,100 km
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: As of March 2025, the combined route length of the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (EDFC) and Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC) is 3,212 km, comprising 1,337 km of EDFC and 1,875 km of WDFC.
Question:05 Which agency is the nodal authority for the Amrit Bharat Station redevelopment programme?
A) IRSDC
B) RITES
C) RLDA
D) MRVC
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: The Rail Land Development Authority (RLDA) has been designated as the nodal agency by Indian Railways to execute the Amrit Bharat Station redevelopment scheme across the country.
Question:06 Under Gati-Shakti, Indian Railways aims to raise its modal share to
A) 35 % by 2030
B) 40 % by 2030
C) 45 % by 2030
D) 50 % by 2030
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: As per the Gati-Shakti plan, Indian Railways targets lifting its modal share of freight traffic to 45 % by the year 2030.
Question:07 The unified rail helpline number “139” is branded as
A) Rail Saathi
B) Rail Seva
C) Rail Madad
D) Rail Sahay
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: The Indian Railways has branded its 24×7 unified helpline number 139 as “Rail Madad” to assist passengers with enquiries, complaints and security-related assistance.
Question:08 Which of the following was the first private-sector–operated semi-high-speed train introduced on Indian Railways?
A) Mumbai Central–Gandhinagar Vande Bharat Express (Oct 2022)
B) Delhi–Varanasi Vande Bharat Express (Feb 2019)
C) Mumbai–Ahmedabad Tejas Express (Jan 2020)
D) Delhi–Lucknow Tejas Express (Oct 2019)
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: The Mumbai Central–Gandhinagar Vande Bharat Express, flagged off in October 2022, became Indian Railways’ first semi-high-speed train to be operated by a private operator under the ownership of Indian Railways, thus marking the entry of private players into semi-high-speed services.
Question:09 The “One Station One Product” scheme is implemented through
A) IRCTC & Indian Railways alone
B) IRCTC & Self-Help Groups
C) State Govts & NABARD only
D) Indian Railways & PSU Banks
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: The scheme is rolled out by IRCTC in collaboration with local Self-Help Groups to showcase and sell indigenous products at railway stations.
Question:10 Indian Railways’ net-zero carbon target year is
A) 2025
B) 2030
C) 2035
D) 2040
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Indian Railways has committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2030 through electrification, renewable energy adoption, and energy-efficient technologies.
BETA
