UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Indian Railways Commissions KAVACH 4.0 for the First Time on South Central Railway, Marking a Major Milestone in Railway Safety

Q1. In the context of Indian Railways' safety technology, the term 'TCAS' refers to which one of the following?

  • A. The radio-frequency anti-collision device developed for non-signalled sections, later shelved in favour of in-cab signalling
  • B. The European in-cab train control standard whose Level 2 specification Indian Railways adopted for high-density routes
  • C. The earlier designation of the indigenously developed system that Indian Railways now brands as KAVACH
  • D. The centralised platform that monitors the movement of all KAVACH-fitted trains in real time across zones

Q2. Consider the following elements described as part of the KAVACH system architecture: 1. Track-mounted RFID tags that provide the onboard unit with a precise location reference. 2. Secure Ultra High Frequency (UHF) radio communication between trackside equipment and locomotives. 3. Optical Fibre Cable laid along the track for data transmission between stations and trackside equipment. 4. Satellite positioning through NavIC as the primary means of determining train location. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. Track-mounted RFID tags that provide the onboard unit with a precise location reference.
  2. Secure Ultra High Frequency (UHF) radio communication between trackside equipment and locomotives.
  3. Optical Fibre Cable laid along the track for data transmission between stations and trackside equipment.
  4. Satellite positioning through NavIC as the primary means of determining train location.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 2 and 4
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q3. As per the Ministry of Railways, how many Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) are presently approved for supply of the KAVACH system?

  • A. Two
  • B. Three
  • C. Five
  • D. Seven

Q4. KAVACH Version 3.2, whose field experience formed the basis for the Version 4.0 specification, had been deployed on South Central Railway over how many route kilometres?

  • A. 738 route km
  • B. 1,306.3 route km
  • C. 1,452 route km
  • D. 1,465 route km

Q5. Consider the following features claimed for KAVACH Version 4.0 approved by RDSO: 1. A direct interface with existing Electronic Interlocking Systems. 2. Upgradation of the system's safety certification from Safety Integrity Level 2 to Safety Integrity Level 4. 3. Increased location accuracy. 4. A station-to-station KAVACH interface carried over Optical Fibre Cable. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. A direct interface with existing Electronic Interlocking Systems.
  2. Upgradation of the system's safety certification from Safety Integrity Level 2 to Safety Integrity Level 4.
  3. Increased location accuracy.
  4. A station-to-station KAVACH interface carried over Optical Fibre Cable.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1, 3 and 4
  • C. 2 and 4 only
  • D. 3 and 4 only

Q6. Consider the following statements regarding the commissioning of KAVACH Version 4.0 on South Central Railway: 1. It has been commissioned on the Malkajgiri–Kamareddi section falling in the Hyderabad Division. 2. On this section Version 4.0 replaces Version 3.2, the version South Central Railway had earlier deployed along with fitment on 144 locomotives. 3. South Central Railway is the zone on which Version 4.0 was commissioned for the first time anywhere on Indian Railways. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. It has been commissioned on the Malkajgiri–Kamareddi section falling in the Hyderabad Division.
  2. On this section Version 4.0 replaces Version 3.2, the version South Central Railway had earlier deployed along with fitment on 144 locomotives.
  3. South Central Railway is the zone on which Version 4.0 was commissioned for the first time anywhere on Indian Railways.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q7. KAVACH Version 4.0, commissioned for the first time on South Central Railway, is operational over how many route kilometres on that zone?

  • A. 96 route km
  • B. 105 route km
  • C. 108 route km
  • D. 344 route km

Q8. Consider the following statements about the KAVACH Version 4.0 sections commissioned in January 2026 and the preceding record: 1. The Vadodara–Virar section, the largest of them, lies on the Western Railway. 2. The Manpur–Sarmatanr section commissioned along with it lies on the Northern Railway. 3. The single commissioning that held the earlier record, on the Kota–Mathura section, lay on the West Central Railway. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The Vadodara–Virar section, the largest of them, lies on the Western Railway.
  2. The Manpur–Sarmatanr section commissioned along with it lies on the Northern Railway.
  3. The single commissioning that held the earlier record, on the Kota–Mathura section, lay on the West Central Railway.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q9. Consider the following statements about the rollout and financing of KAVACH Version 4.0: 1. Palwal–Mathura–Nagda, covering 633 route km, lies on the Delhi–Mumbai route. 2. Howrah–Bardhaman, covering 105 route km, lies on the Delhi–Mumbai route. 3. Bajwa (Vadodara)–Ahmedabad, covering 96 route km, was the first section in Gujarat to be covered. 4. Funds utilised on KAVACH works up to February 2026 stood at about Rs 2,763.90 crore. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. Palwal–Mathura–Nagda, covering 633 route km, lies on the Delhi–Mumbai route.
  2. Howrah–Bardhaman, covering 105 route km, lies on the Delhi–Mumbai route.
  3. Bajwa (Vadodara)–Ahmedabad, covering 96 route km, was the first section in Gujarat to be covered.
  4. Funds utilised on KAVACH works up to February 2026 stood at about Rs 2,763.90 crore.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 3
  • C. 1, 3 and 4
  • D. 2, 3 and 4

Q10. The Rashtriya Rail Sanraksha Kosh, announced in the Union Budget 2017-18 for renewal and upgradation of critical safety assets, was set up with a corpus of how much for its first five-year period?

  • A. Rs 20,000 crore
  • B. Rs 1 lakh crore
  • C. Rs 45,000 crore
  • D. Rs 1.08 lakh crore

Q11. Consider the following statements about the indigenous industrial base of KAVACH: 1. It was developed indigenously by RDSO in association with three Indian vendors and adopted as the National Automatic Train Protection system. 2. The approval of firms for supply of Version 3.2 followed field trials begun in 2016 and an assessment by an Independent Safety Assessor. 3. With the move to Version 4.0, the vendor base has been frozen, supply being restricted to the firms approved earlier. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. It was developed indigenously by RDSO in association with three Indian vendors and adopted as the National Automatic Train Protection system.
  2. The approval of firms for supply of Version 3.2 followed field trials begun in 2016 and an assessment by an Independent Safety Assessor.
  3. With the move to Version 4.0, the vendor base has been frozen, supply being restricted to the firms approved earlier.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3