UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Indian Railways Makes Major Strides in Track Modernisation and Safety

Q1. With reference to Indian Railways' track modernisation as reported for the period up to 2025-26, consider the following statements. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. A cumulative 54,600 km of track was renewed during 2014–26.
  2. In 2024–25, deep screening was carried out over 7,442 track-km.
  3. As of 2026, over 80% of the network is capable of a sectional speed of 110 kmph and above.
  4. Between 2014 and 2026, the share of the network capable of 110 kmph and above declined.
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 3 only
  • C. 4 only
  • D. 2 and 4

Q2. Consider the following metric–value pairs relating to Indian Railways' track statistics. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. Track renewed in FY 2024–25 — 6,851 track-km.
  2. Track upgraded to permit a sectional speed of 130 kmph and above — over 23,000 track-km.
  3. Network capable of 110 kmph and above in 2014 — 31,445 km.
  4. Cumulative track renewed during 2014–26 — 6,851 km.
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 1, 2 and 3
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 3 only

Q3. The specification for Kavach Version 4.0, approved in 2024, was cleared by which one of the following authorities?

  • A. Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO)
  • B. Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS)
  • C. RailTel Corporation of India
  • D. Railway Board's Traffic Directorate

Q4. Kavach is certified to which one of the following Safety Integrity Levels, described as the highest level of safety integrity globally?

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

Q5. Of the assured ₹20,000 crore annual outlay of the Rashtriya Rail Sanraksha Kosh (RRSK), the single largest component was to come from which one of the following sources?

  • A. Gross Budgetary Support from the Union Government
  • B. Internal resources of the Railways
  • C. The Central Road and Infrastructure Fund
  • D. The Nirbhaya Fund

Q6. The Rashtriya Rail Sanraksha Kosh (RRSK) is best described as which one of the following?

  • A. A dedicated railway safety fund created in 2017-18 with a ₹1 lakh crore corpus over five years for critical safety works such as track renewal, bridges and signalling
  • B. A statutory tribunal set up exclusively to adjudicate railway accident compensation claims
  • C. A sovereign fund that solely invests Railway operating surpluses in overseas assets
  • D. A public-private fund created only to finance high-speed bullet-train corridors

Q7. Consider the following statements about Indian Railways' safety expenditure and outcomes over the last decade. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Safety expenditure grew from ₹39,200 crore in 2013-14 to ₹1,17,693 crore in 2025-26.
  2. This amounts to roughly a three-fold rise in safety expenditure over the decade.
  3. Consequential train accidents fell from 135 in 2014-15 to a much lower figure by 2025-26.
  4. The rise in safety spending was accompanied by an increase in consequential train accidents.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 3
  • C. 2 and 4
  • D. 1, 3 and 4

Q8. Which one of the following figures best represents Indian Railways' budgeted safety expenditure for 2025-26, described as roughly three times the 2013-14 level?

  • A. ₹1,17,693 crore
  • B. ₹1,20,389 crore
  • C. ₹39,200 crore
  • D. ₹20,000 crore

Q9. Which one of the following is the principal statute currently governing the operation of Indian Railways?

  • A. The Railways Act, 1989
  • B. The Indian Railway Board Act, 1905
  • C. The Indian Railways Act, 1890
  • D. The Railways (Amendment) Act, 2025

Q10. The Railways (Amendment) Act, 2025 repealed how many earlier railway statute(s), merging the provisions into the Railways Act, 1989?

  • A. 1
  • B. 2
  • C. 3
  • D. 4

Q11. The 344-km Vadodara–Virar section, commissioned under Kavach 4.0, falls under which one of the following zonal railways?

  • A. Western Railway
  • B. Northern Railway
  • C. East Central Railway
  • D. Central Railway