UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Mission 100% Electrification: Powering the Future of Indian Railways
Q1. Indian Railways is reported to have electrified approximately 99.2% of its network (about 69,427 Route Kilometres) as of which point in time?
- A. November 2025
- B. November 2023
- C. March 2021
- D. January 2019
Q2. In Indian Railways' electrification statistics, the unit 'RKM' (in which 69,427 RKM stands electrified) most precisely refers to:
- A. Route Kilometre — the length of railway route, counted once irrespective of the number of parallel running tracks
- B. Running Kilometre — the total distance run by all trains in a year
- C. Track Kilometre — the summed length of every individual track, counting each parallel line separately
- D. Revenue Kilometre — the passenger-earning distance of the network
Q3. Consider the following as strategies identified by Indian Railways to achieve its Net Zero Carbon Emitter by 2030 target:
1. Procurement of power through renewable energy sources
2. Shifting from diesel to electric traction
3. Promotion of energy efficiency
4. Afforestation
Which of the above is/are correctly identified?
- Procurement of power through renewable energy sources
- Shifting from diesel to electric traction
- Promotion of energy efficiency
- Afforestation
- A. 1 and 3
- B. 2 and 4
- C. 1, 2 and 4
- D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Q4. Which single measure is described as the central lever for Indian Railways to become a Net Zero Carbon Emitter by 2030?
- A. 100% electrification of the Broad Gauge network (shift to electric traction)
- B. Afforestation along railway land
- C. Rooftop solar panels at railway stations
- D. Energy efficiency retrofits in railway buildings
Q5. Of the 898 MW of solar capacity commissioned by Indian Railways (Nov 2025), the larger share — about 629 MW — is dedicated to which purpose?
- A. Traction (running electric trains)
- B. Non-traction (station lighting and service buildings)
- C. Sale to the national grid under open access
- D. Wind-solar hybrid balancing
Q6. In Indian Railways' renewable energy accounting, 'non-traction' solar power denotes power used for:
- A. Station buildings, lighting, offices and service facilities rather than for moving trains
- B. Only the propulsion of electric locomotives on main lines
- C. Power exclusively exported to the national grid
- D. Power solely reserved for wind-solar hybrid plants
Q7. With reference to the bodies executing railway electrification and rail infrastructure, consider the following statements:
1. The Central Organisation for Railway Electrification (CORE) is headquartered at Prayagraj.
2. CORE was set up in 1979 specifically for railway electrification work.
3. Unlike CORE, Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) is a public sector undertaking that has been accorded Navratna status.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- The Central Organisation for Railway Electrification (CORE) is headquartered at Prayagraj.
- CORE was set up in 1979 specifically for railway electrification work.
- Unlike CORE, Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) is a public sector undertaking that has been accorded Navratna status.
- A. 1 only
- B. 1 and 2 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q8. The Central Organisation for Railway Electrification (CORE) executes its work through field project units located at how many cities?
Q9. Consider the following statements about India's first electric train service:
1. It ran between Victoria Terminus (now CSMT) and Kurla.
2. It operated on a 1,500 V DC traction system.
3. It was run by the Great Indian Peninsula Railway.
4. It was the first railway line of any kind ever opened in India.
Which of the above is/are correctly identified?
- It ran between Victoria Terminus (now CSMT) and Kurla.
- It operated on a 1,500 V DC traction system.
- It was run by the Great Indian Peninsula Railway.
- It was the first railway line of any kind ever opened in India.
- A. 1 and 2
- B. 2, 3 and 4
- C. 1, 2 and 3
- D. 1, 3 and 4
Q10. Electric traction on Indian Railways began with the running of India's first electric train in which year?
- A. 1925
- B. 1853
- C. 1947
- D. 1969
Q11. The 'Broad Gauge' network — the gauge targeted for 100% electrification by Indian Railways — is defined by a track width of:
- A. 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
- B. 1,435 mm (4 ft 8½ in)
- C. 1,000 mm (1 metre)
- D. 762 mm (2 ft 6 in)
Q12. To meet its net-zero goal, the renewable energy capacity that Indian Railways projects it will require by 2029-30 is approximately:
- A. 30,000 MW
- B. 8,200 MW
- C. 898 MW
- D. 3,000 MW