Indian Railways Achieves 145 Million Tonnes Freight Loading in May 2026 Despite Global Headwinds

• Indian Railways (IR) — departmental undertaking under Ministry of Railways; world's 4th-largest rail network; backbone of bulk commodity logistics and mass transit in India.
• Monthly freight loading data is a lead indicator of industrial activity (coal, steel, cement) and is tracked alongside IIP/GST as a high-frequency economy gauge.
• May 2026 print of 145 Million Tonnes (MT) continues post-pandemic freight expansion despite West Asia turmoil; relevant for GS-III (Infrastructure, Economy).