UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — ₹9,072 cr. for three railway projects for various States
Q1. With reference to the institutional framework under which the three railway multi-tracking projects worth ₹9,072 crore were approved in February 2026, which one of the following best describes the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan?
- A. A digital platform for integrated, multi-modal infrastructure planning coordinating central ministries and infrastructure agencies
- B. A capital subsidy scheme through which the Union funds state-level rail and road doubling projects on a 50:50 basis
- C. A sovereign green-bond issuance framework earmarked exclusively for railway electrification and dedicated freight corridors
- D. An inter-state freight tariff equalisation programme operated by the Ministry of Railways for backward districts
Q2. Consider the following statements comparing the three railway multi-tracking projects worth ₹9,072 crore approved by the Cabinet in February 2026 with the earlier batch of four multi-tracking projects approved under PM Gati Shakti covering Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Chhattisgarh:
1. The February 2026 batch adds about 307 km to the rail network, whereas the earlier four-project batch added about 894 km.
2. Both batches together cover projects in the States of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.
3. The February 2026 batch includes a project lying entirely within the State of Gujarat.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- The February 2026 batch adds about 307 km to the rail network, whereas the earlier four-project batch added about 894 km.
- Both batches together cover projects in the States of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.
- The February 2026 batch includes a project lying entirely within the State of Gujarat.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q3. With reference to the three railway multi-tracking projects worth ₹9,072 crore approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs in February 2026, consider the following States:
1. Maharashtra
2. Madhya Pradesh
3. Odisha
4. Jharkhand
Which of the above is/are correctly identified as States covered by these three projects?
- Maharashtra
- Madhya Pradesh
- Odisha
- Jharkhand
- A. 1 and 3 only
- B. 2 and 4 only
- C. 1, 2 and 4 only
- D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Q4. The approval for the three railway multi-tracking projects worth approximately ₹9,072 crore (Gondia-Jabalpur, Punarakh-Kiul and Gamharia-Chandil) in February 2026 was granted by which one of the following bodies?
- A. Cabinet Committee on Security
- B. Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs
- C. Cabinet Committee on Investment and Growth
- D. Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs
Q5. The three multi-tracking projects approved in February 2026 (Gondia-Jabalpur, Punarakh-Kiul and Gamharia-Chandil) at a total outlay of about ₹9,072 crore are to be executed by which one of the following Union Ministries?
- A. Ministry of Road Transport and Highways
- B. Ministry of Railways
- C. Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
- D. Ministry of Commerce and Industry (DPIIT — Logistics Division)