UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Development of Indian Railways

Q1. India's first passenger train of 16 April 1853, running between Bombay (Boribunder) and Thane, was operated by which one of the following railway companies?

  • A. Great Indian Peninsula Railway
  • B. East Indian Railway
  • C. Madras Railway Company
  • D. Bombay, Baroda and Central India Railway

Q2. With reference to the origin milestones of Indian Railways, consider the following statements: 1. The first passenger train of 1853 ran between Boribunder and Thane hauled by a locomotive named Falkland. 2. The first railway line in South India (1856) was operated by the Madras Railway Company. 3. The first railway line in North India (1859) connected Allahabad and Kanpur. 4. The inaugural 1853 train covered a distance of about 63 km between Bombay and Thane. Which of the statements given above are correct?

  1. The first passenger train of 1853 ran between Boribunder and Thane hauled by a locomotive named Falkland.
  2. The first railway line in South India (1856) was operated by the Madras Railway Company.
  3. The first railway line in North India (1859) connected Allahabad and Kanpur.
  4. The inaugural 1853 train covered a distance of about 63 km between Bombay and Thane.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1 and 4 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 2 and 4

Q3. The Railway Board is headed by a Chairman (who is also the CEO) along with functional Members. Which of the following is NOT correctly identified as a Member of the Railway Board? 1. Member (Infrastructure) 2. Member (Operations & Business Development) 3. Member (Rolling Stock) 4. Member (Signal & Telecommunication) Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. Member (Infrastructure)
  2. Member (Operations & Business Development)
  3. Member (Rolling Stock)
  4. Member (Signal & Telecommunication)
  • A. 4 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 4 only
  • D. 3 only

Q4. Which one of the following statements correctly describes the institutional status of Indian Railways?

  • A. It is a departmental undertaking of the Central Government, managed directly by the Government
  • B. It is a statutory corporation registered under the Companies Act
  • C. It is a public sector undertaking under the Ministry of Heavy Industries
  • D. It is an autonomous body functioning under NITI Aayog

Q5. The separation of the Railway Budget from the General Budget in 1924 was based on the recommendations of which one of the following committees?

  • A. Acworth Committee
  • B. Robertson Committee
  • C. Mackay Committee
  • D. Wedgwood Committee

Q6. With reference to the financing and budgeting of railways in colonial India, consider the following statements: 1. Under the guarantee system, the colonial government guaranteed a fixed rate of return to private British railway companies on their invested capital. 2. The Railway Budget was separated from the General Budget in 1924. 3. The Acworth Committee (1920-21) recommended the merger of the Railway Budget with the General Budget. Which of the statements given above are correct?

  1. Under the guarantee system, the colonial government guaranteed a fixed rate of return to private British railway companies on their invested capital.
  2. The Railway Budget was separated from the General Budget in 1924.
  3. The Acworth Committee (1920-21) recommended the merger of the Railway Budget with the General Budget.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q7. As per the Ministry of Railways' Year End Review 2025, approximately what percentage of the Broad Gauge network of Indian Railways has been electrified?

  • A. About 99.2%
  • B. About 82%
  • C. About 94%
  • D. About 100%

Q8. Indian Railways has set the target of achieving 100% electrification of its Broad Gauge network by the end of which financial year?

  • A. FY 2025-26
  • B. FY 2023-24
  • C. FY 2027-28
  • D. FY 2029-30

Q9. With reference to the Vande Bharat and Amrit Bharat Express trains, consider the following statements: 1. Vande Bharat Express is a fully air-conditioned trainset designed for a maximum speed of 160 kmph. 2. Amrit Bharat Express is a non-AC push-pull long-distance train aimed at low and middle income passengers. 3. Vande Bharat trainsets are equipped with the Kavach collision-avoidance system. 4. Amrit Bharat Express is a fully air-conditioned semi-high-speed train. Which of the statements given above are correctly identified?

  1. Vande Bharat Express is a fully air-conditioned trainset designed for a maximum speed of 160 kmph.
  2. Amrit Bharat Express is a non-AC push-pull long-distance train aimed at low and middle income passengers.
  3. Vande Bharat trainsets are equipped with the Kavach collision-avoidance system.
  4. Amrit Bharat Express is a fully air-conditioned semi-high-speed train.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1, 3 and 4
  • C. 2 and 4 only
  • D. 1 and 4 only

Q10. With reference to the allocations for the Ministry of Railways in the Union Budget 2025-26, consider the following: 1. Gross Budgetary Support — ₹2,52,000 crore 2. Rolling stock — ₹57,693 crore 3. Gauge conversion — ₹4,550 crore 4. Total capital expenditure — ₹1,52,000 crore Which of the above is/are NOT correctly matched?

  1. Gross Budgetary Support — ₹2,52,000 crore
  2. Rolling stock — ₹57,693 crore
  3. Gauge conversion — ₹4,550 crore
  4. Total capital expenditure — ₹1,52,000 crore
  • A. 4 only
  • B. 1 and 4 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 3 only

Q11. With reference to gauges and the network of Indian Railways, consider the following statements: 1. Indian broad gauge has a track width of about 1.676 metres. 2. Project Unigauge, launched in 1992, aims to convert metre gauge and narrow gauge lines to broad gauge. 3. Indian Railways is the fourth-largest railway network in the world by route length. 4. The metre gauge has a track width greater than that of the broad gauge. Which of the statements given above are correctly identified?

  1. Indian broad gauge has a track width of about 1.676 metres.
  2. Project Unigauge, launched in 1992, aims to convert metre gauge and narrow gauge lines to broad gauge.
  3. Indian Railways is the fourth-largest railway network in the world by route length.
  4. The metre gauge has a track width greater than that of the broad gauge.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1, 2 and 4
  • C. 3 and 4 only
  • D. 2 and 3 only

Q12. The Kavach Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system was indigenously developed by which one of the following bodies of Indian Railways?

  • A. Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO)
  • B. Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited (DFCCIL)
  • C. National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL)
  • D. Central Organisation for Railway Electrification (CORE)