Lower Energy Cost, Better Maintenance Practises and Increased Freight Led to Surplus in Railways: Ashwini Vaishnaw

• Indian Railways (IR) posted a surplus in each of FY 2022-23, 2023-24 and 2024-25, with the Operating Ratio (OR) hovering near 98% — attributed by the Railway Minister to lower energy cost, better maintenance practices and increased freight loading.
• Important for UPSC: OR is the prime examinable metric of Railway finances; the statement was a Rajya Sabha written reply by Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw dated 6 Feb 2026.