UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — India Emerges as Global Leader in Railway Electrification with 99.6% Broad Gauge Network Electrified, Second Only to Switzerland
Q1. With reference to the approximate share of national railway networks that were electrified as of 2025, consider the following country–electrification-share pairs:
1. United Kingdom — about 39%
2. Russia — about 82%
3. China — about 52%
4. India — about 99.2%
Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?
- United Kingdom — about 39%
- Russia — about 82%
- China — about 52%
- India — about 99.2%
- A. 2 and 3
- B. 1 and 4
- C. 1, 3 and 4
- D. 1 and 2
Q2. India has reached about 99.6% electrification of its broad-gauge network, which places it second in the world in the share of its rail network that is electrified. Which one of the following countries holds the first rank?
- A. Japan
- B. Switzerland
- C. Belgium
- D. Netherlands
Q3. Consider the following measures that have been identified as key strategies of Indian Railways for achieving its Net Zero Carbon Emitter goal:
1. Procurement of power through renewable energy sources
2. Shifting from diesel to electric traction
3. Promotion of energy efficiency
4. Mandatory purchase of carbon credits from the voluntary market to offset residual emissions
Which of the above is/are correctly identified as such a strategy?
- Procurement of power through renewable energy sources
- Shifting from diesel to electric traction
- Promotion of energy efficiency
- Mandatory purchase of carbon credits from the voluntary market to offset residual emissions
- A. 2, 3 and 4
- B. 1 and 4
- C. 1, 2 and 3
- D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Q4. To support its Net Zero 2030 goal, Indian Railways has tied up round-the-clock (RTC) renewable power for its traction requirement primarily through which one of the following central agencies?
- A. NTPC Green Energy Limited
- B. Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI)
- C. Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA)
- D. Rural Electrification Corporation (REC) Limited
Q5. During which one of the following periods did Indian Railways record its fastest average daily pace of broad-gauge electrification?
- A. 2004–2014
- B. 2014–2019
- C. 2019–2025
- D. 1990–2004
Q6. Before electrification was scaled up in 'mission mode' (i.e., up to about 2014), approximately how many route km of Indian Railways had been electrified?
- A. 37,001 route km
- B. 33,000 route km
- C. 21,801 route km
- D. 12,000 route km
Q7. In the context of railway electrification, the term 'traction' refers to which one of the following?
- A. The overhead equipment (OHE) that supplies electric current to a locomotive
- B. The application of motive (pulling) power to haul a train
- C. The grip or friction developed between the wheel and the rail
- D. The braking system that decelerates a moving train
Q8. The fall in diesel consumption for railway traction chiefly reduces India's foreign-exchange outgo on imported crude oil. Bulk import, pricing and distribution of this crude/petroleum for the economy fall under which one of the following?
- A. Ministry of Power
- B. Ministry of Railways
- C. Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas
- D. Ministry of Commerce and Industry
Q9. With reference to the renewable energy capacity that Indian Railways has commissioned/tied up for traction, consider the following statements:
1. More solar capacity than wind capacity has been commissioned to support railway traction.
2. Round-the-clock (RTC) renewable power has been tied up to meet traction power requirements.
3. The renewable capacity already commissioned for traction is by itself sufficient to meet the entire projected 2030 traction power requirement.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- More solar capacity than wind capacity has been commissioned to support railway traction.
- Round-the-clock (RTC) renewable power has been tied up to meet traction power requirements.
- The renewable capacity already commissioned for traction is by itself sufficient to meet the entire projected 2030 traction power requirement.
- A. 1 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1 and 2 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q10. With reference to India's first electric train service (1925), consider the following statements:
1. It ran between Bombay VT (now CSMT) and Kurla on the Harbour Line.
2. It operated on the Great Indian Peninsula (GIP) Railway.
3. It used 1,500 Volt DC traction.
4. Power for the electrified services was supplied by the Damodar Valley Corporation.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
- It ran between Bombay VT (now CSMT) and Kurla on the Harbour Line.
- It operated on the Great Indian Peninsula (GIP) Railway.
- It used 1,500 Volt DC traction.
- Power for the electrified services was supplied by the Damodar Valley Corporation.
- A. 1, 3 and 4
- B. 1, 2 and 3
- C. 2, 3 and 4
- D. 1, 2 and 4
Q11. Which one of the following is the dedicated organisation of Indian Railways specifically entrusted with the planning and execution of railway electrification works?
- A. IRCON
- B. CORE
- C. RVNL
- D. RITES