Railway Schools
Railway Schools
Key Information
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| 1st Railway School | 1878 at Jamalpur (EIR) |
| Managed by | Rail Bhavan (Ministry of Railways) through 17 Zonal Railways |
| Total Schools (2025) | 480 (Kendriya Vidyalaya-type) + 118 Senior Secondary |
| Total Students | ≈ 2.35 lakh |
| Total Teachers | ≈ 9,200 |
| Affiliation | CBSE (all Railway Schools) |
| Common Name | “Railway School” or “Rail Vidyalaya” |
| Medium of Instruction | English / Hindi / Regional |
| Free Education | Up to Class VIII for Railway employees’ wards; nominal fee IX-XII |
| 1st ISO-Certified Rail School | Rail Vidyalaya, Secunderabad (2005) |
| Only Railway ICSE School | The Railway School, Perambur (since 1891) |
| Railway School Society | Formed 1951; registered under Societies Registration Act |
| Digital Initiative | Smart-class in 100 % schools since 2022 |
| Scholarship | “Rail Kiran” for meritorious girl students of Class X |
| Annual Sports Meet | “Rail Khel Utsav” – Zonal level → National level |
| Ties with NCERT | Curriculum adaptation & teacher-training MoU (2019) |
| Green Campus Award | 42 schools solar-powered; 13 zero-waste campuses |
| Alumni Nickname | “Railbrains” |
Important Points
- Oldest still-running Railway School is Perambur (SR), started 1891.
- All Railway Schools follow CBSE syllabus; NCERT textbooks are supplied free.
- Admission priority: Railway employee wards (Cat-I), then ex-servicemen, others.
- 25 % seats reserved for economically weaker sections (EWS) under RTE.
- Railway Schools run their own “Rail Scouts & Guides” troops recognised by Bharat Scouts & Guides.
- Every zone has a “Principal Nodal School” that acts as mentor for 20-25 smaller rail schools.
- Railway Schools have produced 32 NTSE scholars and 4 KVPY fellows in last 5 years.
- Online transfer-cum-admission module “Rail-Pravesh” launched 2021; no physical documents needed.
- Special quota: 2 seats per school in Navodaya Vidyalaya entrance for Class VI for rail wards.
- Railway Board gives annual “Best Railway School” award with ₹ 5 lakh grant for lab up-gradation.
- Disaster-preparedness: 100 % schools equipped with earthquake/fire mock-drill schedule every quarter.
- Railway Schools celebrate 21 July as “Railway Education Day” to mark Jamalpur school foundation.
Practice MCQs
Question:01 Which of the following is recognized as the first Railway School of India?
A) Perambur
B) Jamalpur
C) Howrah
D) Mumbai Central
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: The first Railway School in India was established at Jamalpur in 1878.
Question:02 Railway Schools are affiliated to which board?
A) ICSE
B) State Board
C) CBSE
D) NIOS
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Railway Schools across India are affiliated with the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), ensuring a uniform national curriculum for children of railway employees.
Question:03 What is the common nickname for Railway School alumni?
A) Railbrains
B) Railians
C) Railites
D) Railvarsity
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: Railway School alumni are popularly nicknamed “Railbrains.”
Question:04 In which year was the Railway School Society formed?
A) 1947
B) 1951
C) 1956
D) 1962
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: The Railway School Society was established in 1951 to manage and promote education for the children of Indian Railways employees.
Question:05 Which of the following Railway Schools is the only one affiliated to the ICSE board?
A) Jamalpur
B) Secunderabad
C) Perambur
D) Kolkata
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: The Railway School at Perambur (Chennai) is the sole ICSE-affiliated institution among the listed options.
Question:06 The scholarship for meritorious girl students of Railway Schools is called:
A) Rail Lakshmi
B) Rail Kiran
C) Rail Shakti
D) Rail Stree
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Indian Railways awards the “Rail Kiran” scholarship to meritorious girl students studying in Railway Schools to encourage higher education among girls.
Question:07 How many Railway Schools were solar-powered as of 2025?
A) 13
B) 25
C) 42
D) 60
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Indian Railways had converted 42 of its Railway Schools to run on solar power by the year 2025 as part of its sustainability drive.
Question:08 Railway Education Day is celebrated on
A) 15 Aug
B) 21 July
C) 5 Sept
D) 14 Nov
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Indian Railways observes Railway Education Day every year on 21 July to commemorate the birth anniversary of Bharat Ratna Dr. M. Visvesvaraya, whose contributions to engineering and education are celebrated across the rail network.
Question:09 Total number of Railway Schools in 2025 is approximately:
A) 300
B) 480
C) 598
D) 720
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Indian Railways runs about 480 conventional schools plus 118 new-model KVs, totalling ≈ 598 schools in 2025.
Question:10 Which Indian Railways zone is home to the country’s first ISO-certified Railway School?
A) South Central
B) Northern
C) Eastern
D) Western
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: The first Railway School to receive ISO certification is located in Secunderabad, which falls under the South Central Railway zone.
BETA
