Railway Sports
Railway Sports
Key Information
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| 1st Railway Sports Championship | 1928 at Secunderabad |
| Governing Body | Railway Sports Promotion Board (RSPB) since 1950 |
| Headquarters of RSPB | New Delhi |
| Total affiliated zones | 17 Indian Railways zones |
| Annual flagship meet | Inter-Railway Sports Championship |
| Railway’s own stadium | Karnail Singh Stadium, New Delhi |
| Railway’s football team | Called “Railways Football Club” |
| 1st Arjuna from Railways | P. K. Banerjee (Football, 1961) |
| Most Arjuna Awards by zone | Northern & Western Railways (tied) |
| Railway cricket team in Ranji | 2 titles (1958-59, 1962-63) |
| 1st Dronacharya to Railways | O. M. Nambiar (Athletics, 1985) |
| Railway women’s hockey team | 34 National titles (highest) |
| Railway Sports School | Located in Vijayawada since 1986 |
| Railway’s Para-athlete star | Sundar Singh Gurjar (Paralympics) |
| Railway’s esports wing | Launched 2021 for RRB employees |
| Railway’s sports budget FY 24 | ₹ 210 crore |
| Railway’s own TV channel for sports | RailSports TV (YouTube) |
| Highest sports quota jobs in | Group C & D every year |
| Railway’s traditional game trophy | “Durand Cup” (shared with Army) |
| Railway’s sports day | 16 September (RSPB foundation day) |
Important Points
- RSPB is the apex body for all sporting activities in Indian Railways.
- Railways is the largest employer-sportsperson recruiter through Sports Quota.
- Karnail Singh Stadium is the only stadium owned & operated by Railways in Delhi.
- Railways has produced >300 Arjuna, >30 Dronacharya & >25 Major Dhyan Chand awardees.
- Women’s Hockey (Railways) has won the National Championship 34 times—record.
- Railways organises 30+ disciplines in the Inter-Railway Championship every year.
- “Railway Sports Talent Hunt” is conducted in rural schools to spot talent.
- Railways funds coaching camps for Olympics, Asian & Commonwealth Games.
- Employees selected under Sports Quota get 5-year sports duty leave for training.
- Railways has a special diet & stipend scheme for junior athletes aged 12-18.
- Railway teams participate in corporate leagues: Indian Football, Hockey, Kabaddi.
- RSPB signed MoU with SAI & TOP Scheme for Tokyo 2020 & Paris 2024 Olympics.
Practice MCQs
Question:01 In which year was the first Railway Sports Championship held?
A) 1925
B) 1928
C) 1930
D) 1932
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: The inaugural Railway Sports Championship took place in 1928.
Question:02 The Railway Sports Promotion Board (RSPB) was constituted in
A) 1947
B) 1950
C) 1952
D) 1955
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: The Railway Sports Promotion Board (RSPB) was officially constituted in the year 1950 to promote and organize sports activities among Indian Railways personnel.
Question:03 Where is the headquarters of RSPB located?
A) Mumbai
B) Kolkata
C) New Delhi
D) Secunderabad
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: The Railway Sports Promotion Board (RSPB) has its headquarters in New Delhi.
Question:04 Who was the first Arjuna Awardee from Indian Railways?
A) M. A. K. Pataudi
B) P. K. Banerjee
C) Milkha Singh
D) O. M. Nambiar
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Indian footballer P. K. Banerjee, who was employed with Indian Railways, became the first sportsperson from the Railways to receive the Arjuna Award in 1961.
Question:05 The Railway-owned Karnail Singh Stadium is situated in
A) Bhopal
B) Delhi
C) Patiala
D) Bangalore
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Karnail Singh Stadium, owned by the Indian Railways, is located in Delhi.
Question:06 [How many times has the Railway women’s hockey team won the National title as of 2026?]
A) 28
B) 30
C) 32
D) 34
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D
Explanation: The Railway women’s hockey team has clinched the National championship title 34 times, maintaining its record as the most successful team in the competition’s history up to 2026.
Question:07 Which of the following Para-athletes is employed with Indian Railways?
A) Devendra Jhajharia
B) Sundar Singh Gurjar
C) Mariyappan
D) Varun Bhati
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Sundar Singh Gurjar, the renowned javelin thrower, is on the rolls of Indian Railways.
Question:08 The Railway Sports School was established at
A) Hubli
B) Vijayawada
C) Jamalpur
D) Pune
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: The Railway Sports School was set up in Vijayawada to nurture sporting talent among railway employees’ children and promote sports across Indian Railways.
Question:09 Railways won the Ranji Trophy cricket title for the first time in
A) 1955-56
B) 1958-59
C) 1960-61
D) 1963-64
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Railways lifted their maiden Ranji Trophy during the 1958-59 season.
Question:10 Railway Sports Day is observed every year on
A) 16 Sep
B) 15 Aug
C) 1 May
D) 14 Apr
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: Indian Railways marks Railway Sports Day annually on 16 September to commemorate the founding of its sports promotion body and to encourage sports culture among its staff.
BETA
