Key Takeaways
- Government Schemes of Indian Railways enhance safety, modernization, and environmental sustainability.
- Key schemes include Mission Raftaar, Swachh Rail, and electrification initiatives aimed at improving infrastructure.
- The Amrit Bharat Station Scheme and Vande Bharat Express focus on modernizing passenger amenities and train speeds.
- Railway exam aspirants should study these schemes, as they frequently appear in General Awareness questions.
- Ongoing projects demonstrate India’s commitment to developing a more efficient railway network.
Major Government Schemes of Indian Railways: Indian Railways is not just the backbone of transport in India; it is also one of the largest employers and service providers in the world. To make railways safer, modern, eco-friendly, and passenger-friendly, the government keeps introducing new schemes, policies, and initiatives. For railway exam aspirants, knowing about these schemes is very important because such questions are frequently asked in the General Awareness section. Let us go through the recent government schemes of Indian Railways, explained in easy and simple language.
Why are Government Schemes in Railways important?
Government Schemes are very useful in Indian Railways as they help to improve and modernize the railway infrastructure, ensuring the safety and comfort of passengers. Some of the main reasons why government schemes are important are given below:
- To modernize the railway infrastructure.
- To improve passenger comfort and safety.
- To make operations eco-friendly and sustainable.
- To increase efficiency in freight movement.
- To strengthen digital services like online booking and smart ticketing.
What are the major Government Schemes of Indian Railways?
There are major government schemes such as Mission Raftaar, Swachh Rail, ABSS and more that have been launched by Indian Railways in recent times. Given below are the details:
| No. | Scheme/Initiative | Launched By/Year | Objective | Highlights |
| 1 | Mission Raftaar | Indian Railways | Increase average train speeds | Passenger: 50 km/h, Freight: 75 km/h, saves time & reduces congestion |
| 2 | Mission 100% Electrification | Target 2030 | 100% electrification of broad-gauge | Reduces fuel imports, cuts pollution, net-zero carbon |
| 3 | Swachh Rail, Swachh Bharat | Part of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan | Clean & hygienic railways | Bio-toilets, clean stations, waste management, awareness drives |
| 4 | Digital India in Railways | Digital India Mission | Digitization & transparency | IRCTC online booking, cashless payments, QR tickets, and real-time tracking |
| 5 | Vande Bharat Express | 2019 onwards | Semi-high-speed modern trains | Speed 160 km/h, auto doors, Wi-Fi, infotainment, plan for 400 trains by 2030 |
| 6 | Amrit Bharat Station Scheme (ABSS) | 2023 | Modernize 1300+ stations | Airport-like facilities, clean toilets, free Wi-Fi, and better waiting rooms |
| 7 | Mission Net Zero Carbon 2030 | Target 2030 | Make IR net zero carbon | Electrification, solar & wind energy, efficient locomotives |
| 8 | Kavach – Safety System | Indian Railways | Prevent accidents & overspeeding | ATP tech, auto braking, train-station communication |
| 9 | Green Initiatives | Ongoing | Eco-friendly practices | LED lights, bio-toilets, electric locos, solar stations, no plastic |
| 10 | Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFC) | Govt. of India | Faster goods transport | Eastern (Ludhiana–Dankuni), Western (JNPT–Dadri), reduces passenger congestion |
| 11 | One Station One Product | Indian Railways | Promote local products | Each station is linked with a unique product, supports artisans & SMEs |
| 12 | Mission Healthy Railways | Indian Railways | Passenger food & health | e-Catering, hygienic food stalls, clean water, and medical helplines |
| 13 | Smart Ticketing – UTS on Mobile | Indian Railways | Paperless ticketing | Mobile app for unreserved tickets saves time & queues |
| 14 | Gatishakti Master Plan | Govt. of India | Integrated multi-modal transport | Rail + road + air + waterways, better logistics & industrial hubs |
| 15 | Mission Satyanishtha | Indian Railways | Ethics & transparency | Integrity, anti-corruption, and better customer satisfaction |
| 16 | Mission Solar Chulha & Renewable Energy | Indian Railways | Clean energy usage | Solar kitchens, solar/wind energy at stations & workshops |
| 17 | Rail Madad Helpline (139) | Indian Railways | Passenger grievance redressal | Complaints, queries, and lost luggage tracking |
| 18 | Rail Kaushal Vikas Yojana (RKVY) | 2021 | Skill development | Training in trades (fitter, welder, electrician), job creation |
| 19 | Bharat Gaurav Trains | 2021 | Tourism promotion | Theme-based trains for cultural, religious, and historical circuits |
| 20 | Station Redevelopment Programme | Indian Railways | World-class stations | Lounges, food courts, smart counters, digital displays |
Major Government Schemes of Indian Railways – A Complete Overview
A complete overview of the major government schemes of Indian Railways is tabulated below. Check it out:
| S.No | Scheme/Initiative | Objective | Key Features / Benefits | Notes |
| 1 | Mission Raftar | Increase average speed of freight and passenger trains | Track modernization, signaling upgrades, elimination of bottlenecks | Ongoing, focused on freight corridors and express trains |
| 2 | Mission 100% Electrification | Achieve full electrification of Indian Railways | Reduces fossil fuel use, energy-efficient operations, eco-friendly | Target year: 2030, projects ongoing across major routes |
| 3 | Swachh Rail, Swachh Bharat | Improve cleanliness at stations and trains | Bio-toilets in coaches, waste management, passenger awareness | Implemented across major stations and trains |
| 4 | Digital India in Railways | Digitize railway operations and passenger services | Mobile ticketing, GPS tracking, AI for maintenance | Ongoing, includes UTS app, online booking, and digital payments |
| 5 | Vande Bharat Express | Introduce high-speed, modern trains | Made-in-India trains, faster, safer, Wi-Fi, automatic doors | Several routes operational, expanding network |
| 6 | Amrit Bharat Station Scheme (ABSS) | Redevelop stations into modern infrastructure | Improved passenger facilities, multimodal integration | Launched, ongoing redevelopment of major stations |
| 7 | Mission Net Zero Carbon 2050 | Achieve net-zero carbon emissions | Renewable energy, energy-efficient locomotives, electrification | Long-term goal, pilot projects in place |
| 8 | Kavach – Safety System | Prevent train collisions and accidents | Automatic braking, over-speed control, signaling system | Ongoing, being installed on priority routes |
| 9 | Green Initiatives | Environmental sustainability of railways | Solar-powered trains/stations, waste-to-energy, energy-efficient lighting | Ongoing, includes multiple renewable energy projects |
| 10 | Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFC) | Separate freight and passenger traffic | Electrified freight-only tracks, reduces congestion, faster freight movement | Udhampur–Dadri and other DFCs operational or under construction |
| 11 | One Station One Product | Promote local products at stations | Stalls showcasing handicrafts, handlooms, regional products | Implemented at major stations to boost local economy |
| 12 | Mission Healthy Railways | Promote health and wellness | Gyms, wellness centers, medical facilities at stations | Being implemented gradually at major stations |
| 13 | Smart Ticketing – UTS on Mobile | Digitize unreserved ticketing | Mobile bookings, cashless payments, reduces queues | Active and widely used on Indian Railways network |
| 14 | Mission Suryashakti | Harness solar energy for railways | Solar panels on stations, trains, and offices | Ongoing, part of green energy initiatives |
| 15 | Mission Solar Chulla & Renewable Energy | Use renewable energy for operations | Solar cookers for pantry cars/staff, solar/wind energy | Pilot projects implemented; expanding network-wide |
| 16 | Rail Madad Helpline | Passenger assistance and grievance redressal | Toll-free helpdesk (139), lost property, emergency help | Operational nationwide |
| 17 | Rail Kaushal Vikas Yojana (RKVY) | Skill development for youth | Technical and operational training, customer service skills | Active, supports railway manpower requirements |
| 18 | Bharat Gaurav Trains | Promote tourism & cultural heritage | Theme-based trains, regional culture, handicrafts | Operational on selected routes for tourism promotion |
| 19 | Station Redevelopment Projects | Modernize key railway stations | World-class facilities, passenger amenities, integration with urban transport | Ongoing, includes major junctions across India |
| 20 | Rail Mitra / Digital & Customer-Friendly Initiatives | Enhance passenger experience & convenience | Apps, online grievance redressal, e-catering, smart stations | Implemented gradually across zones |
What railway exam aspirants must know from these schemes?
The railway exam aspirants must know what type of expected questions can come from these schemes, tricks to remember these schemes, and the benefits of these schemes for exams. General Awareness questions in RRB NTPC, RRB Group D, ALP, and Technician exams often ask about government schemes. Check the details below:
| Scheme Name | Expected Questions in Railway Exams | Tricks/Memory Tips to Remember | Benefits/Significance for Railway Exams |
| Mission Raftar | Likely on modernisation, phasing old practices | Associate “Raftar = Speed” → trains → Mission Raftar | Shows knowledge of Indian Railways’ modernisation and high-speed initiatives |
| Mission 100% Electrification | Questions like: “Which mission aims at complete railway electrification?” | Remember 100% → Electrification → All trains → Green Energy | Important for questions on sustainability & energy efficiency in Railways |
| Reach 3 Rail, Reach 3 Rail | Questions on doubling/tripling rail lines, connectivity initiatives | “3” → Triple → Rail expansion | Shows knowledge of Indian Railways’ modernization and high-speed initiatives |
| Digital India in Railways | “Which scheme integrates digital tech in Indian Railways?” | Link “Digital India” with e-ticketing, Wi-Fi, online tracking | Relevant for technology and digitalization-related questions |
| Vande Bharat Express | Questions on semi-high-speed trains: origin, features, top speed | “Vande Bharat = Fast train = Modern India” | Useful in trains & innovation-related GK |
| Amrit Bharat Express | Likely questions: “Which train initiative focuses on modern train coaches?” | Amrit → Premium → Modern trains | Helps in questions on modernization & passenger amenities |
| Mission Net Zero Carbon 2030 | Questions on sustainability, carbon-neutral trains | “Net Zero → Environment → Carbon” | Critical for environmental awareness topics in exams |
| Kaush – Safety Initiative | Questions on safety measures, accident reduction programs | Kaush → Safety → Train security | Important for railway safety-related questions |
| Green Initiative Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFC) | Questions on freight efficiency & green corridors | Green → Eco-friendly → DFC → Freight | Useful in freight transport and sustainability topics |
| Mission Healthy Railways | Health & hygiene in trains/stations | Think “Healthy → Clean → Passengers → Railways” | Useful for questions on passenger amenities & hygiene initiatives |
| Smart Ticketing: UTS on Mobile | Mobile ticketing, digital ticketing schemes | UTS → Mobile app → Tickets | Useful for tech-based railway GK questions |
| Mission Suryodaya | Solar energy initiatives in Railways | Surya → Sun → Solar energy → Mission Suryodaya | Important for renewable energy and green initiatives |
| Chalo & Renewable Energy | Renewable energy & energy efficiency | Chalo → Energy movement → Green energy | Helps in eco-friendly project GK questions |
| Mission Vistadome | Tourism & scenic train coaches | Vistadome → Glass windows → Scenic view → Tourism | Relevant for tourism-related questions in Railways |
| Rail Kaushal / Digital & Automation | Skill development, automation in operations | Kaushal → Skill → Digital → Automation | Useful in GK on skill & technology development |
| Rail Cessation | Helps in the GK/GA section on infrastructure development | Associate with “Ending old → Modern trains” | Important for modernization and policy-related questions |
Current Status of Different Government Schemes
The current status of many government schemes is still in progress. Check out the different government schemes and their present status:
| Scheme | Year Launched | Objective | Current Status |
| Mission Raftaar | 2017 | Increase train speeds | Work in progress |
| 100% Electrification | 2021–22 Budget | Eco-friendly railways | 40,000 km done |
| Swachh Rail, Swachh Bharat | 2014 | Clean trains & stations | 100% bio-toilets |
| Vande Bharat Express | 2019 | Semi-high-speed trains | 50+ running |
| Amrit Bharat Station Scheme | 2023 | Modernize 1300+ stations | Work ongoing |
| Kavach Safety System | 2022 | Prevent train collisions | 1500+ km equipped |
| Dedicated Freight Corridors | 2006 | Faster goods transport | Partially open |
| One Station One Product | 2022 | Promote local products | 1000+ stations |
| Rail Kaushal Vikas Yojana | 2021 | Skill training | 50,000+ trained |
| Bharat Gaurav Trains | 2021 | Tourism promotion | Running |
| Rail Madad Helpline/App | 2018 | Passenger grievance redressal | Active |
| Mission Net Zero 2030 | 2020s | Carbon neutrality | Work in progress |
The recent government schemes of Indian Railways show the commitment towards modernization, safety, and sustainability. From eco-friendly projects like Mission Electrification and Net Zero Carbon to passenger-centric schemes like Amrit Bharat Station Scheme and Vande Bharat Express, Indian Railways is transforming at a fast pace. For exam aspirants, remembering these schemes is very important. With regular revision and smart memorization, this topic can become a high-scoring area in the General Awareness section.
FAQs
Government Schemes are very useful in Indian Railways as they help to improve and modernize the railway infrastructure, ensuring the safety and comfort of passengers.
The major government schemes in Indian Railways include Mission Raftaar, Swachh Rail, 100% Electrification, One Station One Product, Mission Net Zero 2030, and more.
The recent government schemes of Indian Railways show the commitment towards modernization, safety, and sustainability.
The main objective of the Mission Raftaar scheme is to increase average train speeds.
General Awareness questions in RRB NTPC, RRB Group D, ALP, and Technician exams often ask about government schemes.
Hello! This is Arijit Dutta. I am a skilled Content Writer at Oliveboard with nearly 3+ years of experience in crafting engaging, informative, and exam-focused content for the Railways Domain. With a strong command of language and a keen understanding of learner needs, I contribute significantly to Oliveboard’s mission of delivering high-quality educational resources. Passionate about clear communication and continuous learning, I consistently create content that helps government job aspirants achieve their goals. Outside of work, I enjoy playing cricket and listening to music, which helps me stay balanced and creative in my professional journey.