Indian Railways
Structure and Reform History
Indian Railways is the largest rail network in Asia and the world's 4th largest by route length (~67,956 km). It is wholly owned by the Government of India and administered by the Ministry of Railways. Indian Railways operates as a departmental undertaking (not a PSU), with the Railway Budget merged into the Union Budget since 2017 (following the Bibek Debroy Committee recommendation). The sector is critical for freight movement (over 40% of India's surface freight), passenger mobility, and employment (~1.3 million direct employees).
- Railway Board is the apex management body; it comprises the Chairman and five members overseeing Finance, Infrastructure, Operations, Rolling Stock, and Business Development.
- Major reform milestones: Privatisation of certain trains (Vande Bharat, Tejas Express), corporatisation of production units (Integral Coach Factory into Indian Railways Rolling Stock Company), introduction of Kavach (automatic train protection system).
- The 2022–23 Mission Mode Railway Reform agenda focused on safety, punctuality, and capacity expansion; the 2024–25 phase added electrification (100% electrification achieved in 2023) and Vande Bharat Metro launch.
- The "52 Reforms in 52 Weeks" initiative (2026) is the latest structured reform programme, covering cargo, passenger experience, construction, and technology adoption.
● Tracked since February 26, 2026 · last seen May 24, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes
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