UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Indian Railways Commissions Kavach on 190 Route Kilometres of Prayagraj–Kanpur Section of Delhi–Howrah High-Density Corridor

Q1. Kavach was formally adopted by Indian Railways as the National Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system in which year?

  • A. 2016
  • B. 2018
  • C. 2020
  • D. 2022

Q2. As per the latest position, how many OEMs (vendors) are approved for the supply of the Kavach system?

  • A. Two
  • B. Three
  • C. Four
  • D. Five

Q3. The Kavach Version 4.0 specification deployed on the Prayagraj–Kanpur section is developed and approved by which organisation of Indian Railways?

  • A. Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO)
  • B. Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS)
  • C. Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL)
  • D. Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited (DFCCIL)

Q4. The raising of speed to 160 kmph on the existing New Delhi–Howrah route (including Kanpur–Lucknow), which the Prayagraj–Kanpur Kavach commissioning enables, was approved by which body?

  • A. Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA)
  • B. Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS)
  • C. NITI Aayog
  • D. Railway Board alone

Q5. Kavach is certified to which Safety Integrity Level, the highest level defined for railway signalling systems?

  • A. SIL-1
  • B. SIL-2
  • C. SIL-3
  • D. SIL-4

Q6. With reference to the institutional and policy framework of Kavach, consider the following statements: 1. Kavach was adopted as India's National ATP system in July 2020. 2. The Kavach Version 4.0 specification was approved by RDSO in July 2024. 3. Kavach is developed under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. 4. Kavach 5.0, announced in 2025, is designed for suburban sections. Which of the statements given above are correctly identified?

  1. Kavach was adopted as India's National ATP system in July 2020.
  2. The Kavach Version 4.0 specification was approved by RDSO in July 2024.
  3. Kavach is developed under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
  4. Kavach 5.0, announced in 2025, is designed for suburban sections.
  • A. 1 and 3
  • B. 1, 2 and 4
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q7. With reference to Mission Raftaar and the high-density corridor context of Kavach, consider the following statements: 1. Mission Raftaar was announced in the Railway Budget 2016-17. 2. The CCEA approved raising speed to 160 kmph on the New Delhi–Mumbai and New Delhi–Howrah routes. 3. The next phase of Kavach for 160 kmph running is planned on the Ghaziabad–Tundla section. 4. The Prayagraj–Kanpur section commissioned in 2026 lies on the Delhi–Mumbai high-density corridor. Which of the statements given above are correctly identified?

  1. Mission Raftaar was announced in the Railway Budget 2016-17.
  2. The CCEA approved raising speed to 160 kmph on the New Delhi–Mumbai and New Delhi–Howrah routes.
  3. The next phase of Kavach for 160 kmph running is planned on the Ghaziabad–Tundla section.
  4. The Prayagraj–Kanpur section commissioned in 2026 lies on the Delhi–Mumbai high-density corridor.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 2, 3 and 4
  • C. 1 and 4
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q8. The Palwal–Mathura–Nagda stretch (633 Rkm), the single largest component of the initial 738-km Kavach 4.0 rollout, lies on which route?

  • A. Delhi–Mumbai route
  • B. Delhi–Howrah route
  • C. Delhi–Chennai route
  • D. Mumbai–Chennai route

Q9. With reference to the deployment and coverage of Kavach, consider the following statements: 1. Kavach 4.0 has been commissioned on 1,452 route km across the Delhi–Mumbai and Delhi–Howrah routes. 2. The Howrah–Bardhaman section (105 Rkm) lies on the Delhi–Howrah route. 3. The initial 738-km Kavach 4.0 rollout included the Palwal–Mathura–Nagda section. 4. The Prayagraj–Kanpur Kavach stretch measures 290 route km. Which of the statements given above are correctly identified?

  1. Kavach 4.0 has been commissioned on 1,452 route km across the Delhi–Mumbai and Delhi–Howrah routes.
  2. The Howrah–Bardhaman section (105 Rkm) lies on the Delhi–Howrah route.
  3. The initial 738-km Kavach 4.0 rollout included the Palwal–Mathura–Nagda section.
  4. The Prayagraj–Kanpur Kavach stretch measures 290 route km.
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 1, 2 and 3
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q10. The rollout of Kavach across the Indian Railways network is implemented under which Union Ministry?

  • A. Ministry of Railways
  • B. Ministry of Road Transport and Highways
  • C. Ministry of Heavy Industries
  • D. Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways

Q11. Kavach is promoted as India's indigenous, cost-effective substitute for which imported automatic train protection/control system?

  • A. European Train Control System (ETCS)
  • B. Positive Train Control (PTC)
  • C. Communications-Based Train Control (CBTC)
  • D. Train Protection and Warning System (TPWS)