Infrastructure MCQs for UPSC Prelims — April 2026

Q1. The Kavach Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system was indigenously developed by which one of the following bodies of Indian Railways?

  • A. Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO)
  • B. Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited (DFCCIL)
  • C. National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL)
  • D. Central Organisation for Railway Electrification (CORE)

Q2. With reference to gauges and the network of Indian Railways, consider the following statements: 1. Indian broad gauge has a track width of about 1.676 metres. 2. Project Unigauge, launched in 1992, aims to convert metre gauge and narrow gauge lines to broad gauge. 3. Indian Railways is the fourth-largest railway network in the world by route length. 4. The metre gauge has a track width greater than that of the broad gauge. Which of the statements given above are correctly identified?

  1. Indian broad gauge has a track width of about 1.676 metres.
  2. Project Unigauge, launched in 1992, aims to convert metre gauge and narrow gauge lines to broad gauge.
  3. Indian Railways is the fourth-largest railway network in the world by route length.
  4. The metre gauge has a track width greater than that of the broad gauge.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1, 2 and 4
  • C. 3 and 4 only
  • D. 2 and 3 only

Q3. With reference to the allocations for the Ministry of Railways in the Union Budget 2025-26, consider the following: 1. Gross Budgetary Support — ₹2,52,000 crore 2. Rolling stock — ₹57,693 crore 3. Gauge conversion — ₹4,550 crore 4. Total capital expenditure — ₹1,52,000 crore Which of the above is/are NOT correctly matched?

  1. Gross Budgetary Support — ₹2,52,000 crore
  2. Rolling stock — ₹57,693 crore
  3. Gauge conversion — ₹4,550 crore
  4. Total capital expenditure — ₹1,52,000 crore
  • A. 4 only
  • B. 1 and 4 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 3 only

Q4. With reference to the Vande Bharat and Amrit Bharat Express trains, consider the following statements: 1. Vande Bharat Express is a fully air-conditioned trainset designed for a maximum speed of 160 kmph. 2. Amrit Bharat Express is a non-AC push-pull long-distance train aimed at low and middle income passengers. 3. Vande Bharat trainsets are equipped with the Kavach collision-avoidance system. 4. Amrit Bharat Express is a fully air-conditioned semi-high-speed train. Which of the statements given above are correctly identified?

  1. Vande Bharat Express is a fully air-conditioned trainset designed for a maximum speed of 160 kmph.
  2. Amrit Bharat Express is a non-AC push-pull long-distance train aimed at low and middle income passengers.
  3. Vande Bharat trainsets are equipped with the Kavach collision-avoidance system.
  4. Amrit Bharat Express is a fully air-conditioned semi-high-speed train.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1, 3 and 4
  • C. 2 and 4 only
  • D. 1 and 4 only

Q5. Indian Railways has set the target of achieving 100% electrification of its Broad Gauge network by the end of which financial year?

  • A. FY 2025-26
  • B. FY 2023-24
  • C. FY 2027-28
  • D. FY 2029-30

Q6. As per the Ministry of Railways' Year End Review 2025, approximately what percentage of the Broad Gauge network of Indian Railways has been electrified?

  • A. About 99.2%
  • B. About 82%
  • C. About 94%
  • D. About 100%

Q7. In which year was the Udhampur–Srinagar–Baramulla Rail Link declared a 'National Project' by the Government of India?

  • A. 1997
  • B. 2002
  • C. 2005
  • D. 2009

Q8. Consider the following statements about the phase-wise commissioning of USBRL sections: 1. The Qazigund–Baramulla section was the first USBRL segment to be commissioned, in 2009. 2. The Banihal–Qazigund section, crossing the Pir Panjal range, was commissioned in 2013. 3. The final Katra–Banihal section was commissioned in 2014. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The Qazigund–Baramulla section was the first USBRL segment to be commissioned, in 2009.
  2. The Banihal–Qazigund section, crossing the Pir Panjal range, was commissioned in 2013.
  3. The final Katra–Banihal section was commissioned in 2014.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q9. How many bridges are there along the 272 km Udhampur–Srinagar–Baramulla Rail Link?

  • A. 743
  • B. 843
  • C. 943
  • D. 1,043

Q10. On the Udhampur–Srinagar–Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL), which one of the following is India's longest transportation tunnel?

  • A. Tunnel T-50 (Khari–Sumber)
  • B. Pir Panjal Tunnel (T-80)
  • C. The tunnel approach of the Chenab Bridge
  • D. The Anji Khad tunnel approach

Q11. During the record peak demand of 25 April 2026, India continued to export electricity to certain neighbouring countries even while meeting domestic demand. With reference to this, which of the following is/are NOT correctly identified as a country to which India exported electricity during that period?

  1. Nepal
  2. Bangladesh
  3. Myanmar
  4. Bhutan
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 3 only
  • C. 4 only
  • D. 2 and 4 only

Q12. Both the Ujwal Discom Assurance Yojana (UDAY) and the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), aimed at reforming power distribution, are administered by which one of the following?

  • A. Ministry of Power
  • B. Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
  • C. Ministry of Finance
  • D. NITI Aayog

Q13. PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, the scheme for rooftop solar in one crore households, is implemented by which one of the following ministries?

  • A. Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
  • B. Ministry of Power
  • C. Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
  • D. Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology

Q14. In India's solar power expansion, which one of the following Central Public Sector Enterprises functions as the principal nodal agency for implementing large-scale solar projects and tenders?

  • A. Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI)
  • B. NTPC Limited
  • C. Grid Controller of India (Grid-India)
  • D. Power Grid Corporation of India (POWERGRID)

Q15. Which one of the following was the first inter-regional alternating current (AC) transmission link established in the process of India's grid integration?

  • A. The 220 kV link between the Eastern Region and the North-Eastern Region
  • B. The 765 kV Solapur–Raichur link between the Western and Southern Regions
  • C. The 400 kV Rourkela–Raipur link between the Eastern and Western Regions
  • D. The Northern–Western Region synchronous interconnection

Q16. The realisation of 'One Nation-One Grid-One Frequency' in 2013 is specifically associated with which one of the following developments?

  • A. Synchronous interconnection of the Southern Region with the rest of the national grid through the 765 kV Solapur–Raichur line
  • B. The first inter-regional AC link established between the Eastern and North-Eastern Regions
  • C. The 400 kV Rourkela–Raipur double-circuit line linking the Eastern and Western Regions
  • D. The commissioning of the first cross-border HVDC link with Bangladesh

Q17. Grid Controller of India Limited (Grid-India) operates the National Load Despatch Centre (NLDC) together with how many Regional Load Despatch Centres (RLDCs)?

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

Q18. In the context of India's power sector, the figure of 256.1 GW attributed to 25 April 2026 most precisely refers to which one of the following?

  • A. The maximum instantaneous electricity demand met by the grid at a single moment during the day
  • B. The total quantum of electrical energy consumed across India over that entire day
  • C. India's total installed electricity generation capacity as on that date
  • D. The cumulative electricity generated from non-fossil sources during the summer season

Q19. Which one of the following is the flagship Government of India framework specifically aimed at proliferating public Wi-Fi hotspots through unlicensed Public Data Offices, and forms the principal focus of TRAI's April 2026 consultation paper?

  • A. BharatNet
  • B. Digital India Mission
  • C. PM-WANI (Prime Minister's Wi-Fi Access Network Interface)
  • D. Bharat 6G Vision

Q20. As per the data cited in the context of TRAI's April 2026 consultation paper on public Wi-Fi, approximately how many Public Data Offices (PDOs)/public Wi-Fi hotspots were operational under the PM-WANI framework as on 28 February 2026?

  • A. About 1.05 lakh
  • B. About 2.18 lakh
  • C. About 4.09 lakh
  • D. About 10 lakh

Q21. Match List I (Policy / scheme on inland waterways) with List II (Year of announcement / enforcement) and select the correct answer using the code given below:

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

Q22. In terms of cargo throughput, which one of the following National Waterways has consistently handled the largest volume of cargo, accounting for the dominant share of the record 145.84 million tonnes moved on India's National Waterways in FY 2024-25?

  • A. NW-1 (Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly river system)
  • B. NW-2 (Brahmaputra river)
  • C. NW-3 (West Coast Canal in Kerala)
  • D. NW-4 (Krishna-Godavari river system)

Q23. With reference to cargo performance of India's inland waterways, consider the following statements:

  1. Cargo traffic on National Waterways has grown from about 18 million tonnes in FY 2013-14 to over 145 million tonnes in FY 2024-25.
  2. The 'Jalvahak' Cargo Promotion Scheme reimburses up to 35% of the operating expenditure incurred while transporting long-haul cargo on National Waterways 1, 2 and 16.
  3. Inland Water Transport currently accounts for nearly 5% of India's freight modal mix.
  4. The Maritime India Vision 2030 targets inland waterways cargo of more than 500 million tonnes per annum by 2030.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 4 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 3
  • D. 3 and 4 only

Q24. Which of the following is/are NOT part of the Union Budget 2026-27 announcements relating to inland waterways and coastal shipping? 1. Launch of a Coastal Cargo Promotion Scheme. 2. Establishment of ship-repair ecosystems for inland waterways at Kochi and Kolkata. 3. Operationalisation of NW-5 in Odisha to link the Talcher–Angul mineral belt with Paradip and Dhamra ports. 4. Declaration of 106 additional National Waterways through a fresh National Waterways Act.

  1. Launch of a Coastal Cargo Promotion Scheme.
  2. Establishment of ship-repair ecosystems for inland waterways at Kochi and Kolkata.
  3. Operationalisation of NW-5 in Odisha to link the Talcher–Angul mineral belt with Paradip and Dhamra ports.
  4. Declaration of 106 additional National Waterways through a fresh National Waterways Act.
  • A. 2 and 4 only
  • B. 2 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 4 only

Q25. With reference to the Union Budget 2026-27 announcements on inland water transport, match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the code given below:

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

Q26. Consider the following statements regarding the announcements made in the Union Budget 2026-27 with respect to inland water transport in India: 1. The Budget proposes to operationalise 20 new National Waterways over the next five years. 2. A Coastal Cargo Promotion Scheme has been announced to raise the combined share of inland waterways and coastal shipping from 6% to 12% by 2047. 3. Dedicated ship-repair ecosystems catering to inland waterways are to be developed at Varanasi and Patna. 4. The Budget mandates raising the Inland Water Transport modal share to 25% by 2030. Which of the statements given above are correct?

  1. The Budget proposes to operationalise 20 new National Waterways over the next five years.
  2. A Coastal Cargo Promotion Scheme has been announced to raise the combined share of inland waterways and coastal shipping from 6% to 12% by 2047.
  3. Dedicated ship-repair ecosystems catering to inland waterways are to be developed at Varanasi and Patna.
  4. The Budget mandates raising the Inland Water Transport modal share to 25% by 2030.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • B. 1 and 4 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q27. Under the Jal Marg Vikas Project on National Waterway-1, match the terminal in List I with the State/UT in List II in which it is located, and select the correct answer using the code given below the Lists:

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

Q28. Consider the following statements regarding the Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP): 1. It is being implemented for capacity augmentation of navigation between Haldia and Varanasi on National Waterway-1. 2. The project is financed with technical assistance and an IBRD loan from the Asian Development Bank. 3. Construction of a new navigational lock at Farakka is one of the components of the project. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. It is being implemented for capacity augmentation of navigation between Haldia and Varanasi on National Waterway-1.
  2. The project is financed with technical assistance and an IBRD loan from the Asian Development Bank.
  3. Construction of a new navigational lock at Farakka is one of the components of the project.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q29. Under the Jal Marg Vikas Project, the new navigational lock being constructed at Farakka is located on which one of the following National Waterways?

  • A. National Waterway-1
  • B. National Waterway-2
  • C. National Waterway-3
  • D. National Waterway-5

Q30. The provisions of the National Waterways Act, 2016 are implemented by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), which functions under which one of the following Union Ministries?

  • A. Ministry of Jal Shakti
  • B. Ministry of Road Transport and Highways
  • C. Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
  • D. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change