UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Indian Railways Electrification Cuts Diesel Consumption by 178 Crore Litres in 2024–25, Achieving a 62% Reduction Since 2016–17
Q1. Indian Railways has set the goal of electrifying 100% of its Broad Gauge network. This objective is being pursued primarily under which one of the following flagship missions?
- A. Mission 100% Electrification (Mission Electrification)
- B. Mission Raftaar
- C. Kavach Mission
- D. Mission Amrit Sarovar
Q2. With reference to the pace of Broad Gauge electrification of Indian Railways, consider the following statements:
1. More route-kilometres of the Broad Gauge network were electrified during 2014–25 than in all the years up to 2014.
2. Between 2019 and 2025 the pace of electrification averaged more than 15 km per day, against about 1.42 km per day during 2004–2014.
3. Up to 2014 about 46,900 RKM had been electrified, whereas only 21,801 RKM were added during 2014–25.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- More route-kilometres of the Broad Gauge network were electrified during 2014–25 than in all the years up to 2014.
- Between 2019 and 2025 the pace of electrification averaged more than 15 km per day, against about 1.42 km per day during 2004–2014.
- Up to 2014 about 46,900 RKM had been electrified, whereas only 21,801 RKM were added during 2014–25.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q3. As announced by the Ministry of Railways in February 2026, the diesel consumption of Indian Railways in 2024–25 declined by which one of the following, compared with 2016–17?
- A. About 62%
- B. 100% — diesel was completely eliminated
- C. About 50%
- D. About 82%
Q4. With reference to the Ministry of Railways' February 2026 announcement on electrification, consider the following statements:
1. 25 States have achieved 100% electrification of their railway network.
2. About 10,932 route-kilometres have been electrified since 2023–24.
3. Broad Gauge network electrification has reached about 99% of the network.
4. Indian Railways became a Net Zero carbon emitter in 2024–25.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 25 States have achieved 100% electrification of their railway network.
- About 10,932 route-kilometres have been electrified since 2023–24.
- Broad Gauge network electrification has reached about 99% of the network.
- Indian Railways became a Net Zero carbon emitter in 2024–25.
- A. 1, 2 and 3
- B. 1 and 4 only
- C. 2, 3 and 4
- D. 1 and 2 only
Q5. With reference to the Central Organisation for Railway Electrification (CORE), consider the following statements:
1. It functions as an organisation under the Ministry of Railways.
2. It is headquartered at Prayagraj.
3. It was set up in 1979 to execute railway electrification.
4. After commissioning, it permanently retains ownership and itself undertakes operation and maintenance of all electrified sections.
Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?
- It functions as an organisation under the Ministry of Railways.
- It is headquartered at Prayagraj.
- It was set up in 1979 to execute railway electrification.
- After commissioning, it permanently retains ownership and itself undertakes operation and maintenance of all electrified sections.
- A. 4 only
- B. 1 and 3
- C. 2 and 4
- D. 3 only
Q6. With reference to the Central Organisation for Railway Electrification and Broad Gauge traction, consider the following statements:
1. The organisation was set up in 1979 specifically to accelerate railway electrification.
2. The overhead traction system commissioned for the Broad Gauge network operates at 25 kV Alternating Current.
3. The organisation is an autonomous statutory body functioning entirely independent of the Railway Board.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- The organisation was set up in 1979 specifically to accelerate railway electrification.
- The overhead traction system commissioned for the Broad Gauge network operates at 25 kV Alternating Current.
- The organisation is an autonomous statutory body functioning entirely independent of the Railway Board.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q7. India's first electric train, run on 3 February 1925, operated on which one of the following sections and traction systems?
- A. Victoria Terminus–Kurla on 1500 V Direct Current
- B. Victoria Terminus–Kurla on 25 kV Alternating Current
- C. Bombay VT–Thane on 1500 V Direct Current
- D. Howrah–Bardhaman on 3000 V Direct Current
Q8. With reference to the origin of electric traction in India, consider the following statements:
1. India's first electric train was an Electric Multiple Unit service run on a suburban section at Mumbai.
2. It used 1500 V Direct Current traction, whereas the present Broad Gauge electrification standard is 25 kV Alternating Current.
3. The 1925 service made India the first country in Asia to operate electric railways.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- India's first electric train was an Electric Multiple Unit service run on a suburban section at Mumbai.
- It used 1500 V Direct Current traction, whereas the present Broad Gauge electrification standard is 25 kV Alternating Current.
- The 1925 service made India the first country in Asia to operate electric railways.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q9. Under Indian Railways' Net Zero Carbon Emission 2030 vision, consider the following as stated components/measures:
1. 100% electrification of the Broad Gauge network.
2. Securing solar and wind power capacities to meet traction energy requirements.
3. Use of Head-On Generation and regenerative braking to reduce fuel consumption.
4. Complete replacement of all rail freight movement by road-based electric trucks by 2030.
Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?
- 100% electrification of the Broad Gauge network.
- Securing solar and wind power capacities to meet traction energy requirements.
- Use of Head-On Generation and regenerative braking to reduce fuel consumption.
- Complete replacement of all rail freight movement by road-based electric trucks by 2030.
- A. 4 only
- B. 1 and 2
- C. 3 and 4
- D. 2 only
Q10. As part of its Net Zero 2030 vision, Indian Railways plans to install how much land-based solar power capacity on its vacant land by 2030?
- A. 20 GW
- B. 30 GW
- C. 10 GW
- D. 4,260 MW
Q11. Towards meeting its renewable energy requirements, which one of the following capacities has Indian Railways already secured for solar power?
- A. 4,260 MW
- B. 3,427 MW
- C. 20,000 MW
- D. 147 MW
Q12. Once newly electrified Broad Gauge sections are commissioned, their day-to-day operation and maintenance is taken over by which one of the following?
- A. The concerned Zonal Railway
- B. Central Organisation for Railway Electrification (CORE)
- C. Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL)
- D. RailTel Corporation of India Limited