Content
- Ministry of Railways — Year End Review 2025
- Traditional Medicines of India on International Platforms
Ministry of Railways — Year End Review 2025
Why in News ?
- Year-End Review 2025 released by the Ministry of Railways .
- Highlights transformation in infrastructure, safety, freight capacity, passenger amenities, indigenisation & technology-driven operations, laying groundwork for 2026.
Relevance
GS-III (Infrastructure, Economy, Transport, Inclusive Growth)
- Rail infrastructure scale-up — tracks, electrification, bridges, DFCs, MAHSR, corridors
- Freight productivity & logistics cost reduction; Gati Shakti terminals, PPP, Make-in-India
- Green transition — near-total electrification, solar stations, road-to-rail modal shift
- Tech-led safety — Kavach 4.0, AI surveillance, signalling & track modernisation
Passenger Services — Expansion, Speed, Inclusivity
- Vande Bharat
- 164 services in operation (as of 26 Dec 2025); 15 new trains added in 2025.
- Vande Bharat Sleeper to redefine overnight long-distance AC travel.
- Amrit Bharat Trains (Non-AC, affordable comfort)
- 13 new trains in 2025; 30 services operational.
- Namo Bharat Rapid Rail
- 2 services functional — Bhuj–Ahmedabad & Jaynagar–Patna.
- Special Trains for peak demand
- 43,000+ trips in 2025 including
- 17,340 (Maha Kumbh)
- 12,417 (Summer)
- 12,383 (Chhath Puja)
- 1,144 (Holi)
- 43,000+ trips in 2025 including
Significance: Passenger mobility + festival load management without systemic congestion.
Track, Speed & Electrification — Safety + Capacity Backbone
- Track Commissioning (Apr–Nov 2025): 900+ km new lines.
- Track Renewal 2025
- 6,880 track-km rails renewed
- 7,051 track-km complete renewal
- 9,277 turnout renewals
- Long-term expansion (2014–25): 34,428 km new track (8.57 km/day vs 4.2 km/day in 2009–14).
- Speed Upgrades
- 130 kmph over 599 km
- 110 kmph over 4,069 km
- Electrification
- 99.2% BG network electrified
- 14 Zones + 25 States/UTs = 100% electrified
- Higher than UK (39%), Russia (52%), China (82%).
Inference: Mission-mode modernisation + reduced diesel dependence + faster operations.
Bridges, ROB/RUB & Level-Crossing Safety
- 2025: 1,161 ROB/RUBs constructed.
- 2014–25: 13,600+ bridges, >3× (2004–14: 4,148).
- 268 manned LC eliminations (2025–26 till Nov).
- 1,799 bridges rehabilitated in same period.
Outcome: Reduced collision risk + smoother road-rail interface.
Rolling Stock & Indigenisation
- LHB Coaches (Apr–Nov 2025): 4,224 units (+18% YoY)
- ICF: 1,659 | MCF: 1,234 | RCF: 1,331
- 2014–25: 42,600+ LHB coaches produced (18× over 2004–14).
- Wagon Production (FY 2024–25): 41,929 — highest in 3 years
- Jan–Nov 2025: 33,703 wagons.
Strategic Impact: Safer trains, higher load capacity, Make-in-India ecosystem.
Landmark Connectivity Projects
- USBRL (272 km) completed — All-weather Kashmir rail link
- Chenab Arch Bridge (359 m high) — world’s highest.
- Anji Cable-Stayed Bridge, T-50 longest tunnel.
- Bairabi–Sairang (51 km, Mizoram) — Aizawl enters rail map
- 45 tunnels, 55 major bridges; Rajdhani to Delhi flagged off.
- New Pamban Vertical-Lift Sea Bridge (2.08 km)
- 72.5 m lift span, 100-yr design life; boosts tourism + future India–Sri Lanka link prospects.
High-Speed Rail — MAHSR Progress (Japan Cooperation)
- Physical progress: 55.63% (Nov 2025)
- Financial progress: 69.62% | ₹85,801 crore spent
- Foundations: 412 km, Piers: 405 km, Girder Casting: 344 km, Launching: 330 km
Relevance: Tech-transfer, corridor-based urbanisation, high-skill jobs.
Freight, DFCs & Logistics Push — Toward 3,000 MT by 2030
- India now world’s 2nd-largest freight carrier.
- DFC Operations (Nov 2025):
- 403 trains/day on EDFC+WDFC
- FY25-26 cumulative: 82,718 trains | 64,111 MT-NTKM
- 1 Billion Tonne freight milestone (FY 2025-26)
- 4.4 MT/day loading driven by coal, iron ore, cement, containers.
- Tariff Reform: Flat ₹0.90/tonne-km for cement.
- 25 Gati Shakti Cargo Terminals commissioned (first/last-mile efficiency).
Case Studies
- First foodgrain rake to Anantnag — 1,384 tonnes.
- Cement & automobiles to Mizoram via Sairang line.
Inference: Lower logistics cost + hinterland market integration.
Safety — Historic Low Accident Levels
- Consequential accidents
- 2004–14: 1,711 (avg 171/yr)
- 2024–25: 31
- 2025–26 (till Nov): 11
- Safety Budget: ₹39,463 cr (2013-14) → ₹1,16,470 cr (2025-26).
- Fog devices: 90 → 25,939 (2014→2025).
- Kavach 4.0: 738 Rkm, higher accuracy + EI-OFC integration; large-scale rollout planned.
- CCTV: 1,731 stations | 11,953 coaches.
Outcome: Tech-enabled safety + human-error mitigation.
Station Redevelopment & Passenger Amenities
- Amrit Bharat Stations: 1,337 selected; 155 completed.
- Upgrades: wider concourses, lifts/escalators, modern toilets, F&B courts, OSOP kiosks, Divyang facilities.
- Solar Adoption: 2,626 stations solar-powered | 898 MW installed (≈70% traction use).
- Free Wi-Fi: 6,117 stations.
- RailOne App: UTS tickets, live tracking, e-catering, grievances, taxi/porter.
Impact: Urban integration + sustainability + travel convenience.
Governance, Digital Reforms & RPF Outcomes
- Aadhaar-linked ticketing
- First 15 min booking + Tatkal restricted to verified users.
- 5.73 cr suspicious accounts deactivated.
- RPF Operations (2025-till Nov)
- 376,205 passenger-help cases
- 17,231 children rescued (Nanhe Faristey)
- 2,868 lives saved (Jeevan Raksha)
- 53,607 luggage returns | ₹79.85 cr value
- AAHT rescues: 978 victims | 292 traffickers arrested
- NDPS seizures: ₹2,08,52,03,671 | 1,601 arrests
Signal: Passenger security + social protection + crime deterrence.
PPP-Led Manufacturing & Exports
- Madhepura (Alstom): 576 of 12,000-HP locos (76 in 2025–26 till Nov).
- Marhowra (Wabtec): 773 diesel locos; $400 mn export order to Guinea.
- Dahod (Siemens): 9,000-HP D9 locos, 90% indigenous components.
Strategic Payoff: Aatmanirbhar supply chains + export capability.
AI & Telecom Modernisation
- AI-based Intrusion Detection (Elephant Corridors): 141 Rkm (NFR).
- Video Analytics + FRS at 1,731 stations.
- Digital VHF radios, Tunnel communications, 67233 Rkm OFC,
Coach Guidance: 1,064 stations | Train Boards: 1,449 stations.
Effect: Operational reliability + passenger guidance + wildlife safety.
Recruitment & Sports
- 1,20,579 vacancies under recruitment (2024–25 calendar).
- RPF: 452 SI posts filled; 4,208 constable recruitment ongoing.
- Sports promotions: Pratika Rawal, Sneh Rana, Renuka Singh (ICC Women’s World Cup 2025).
Strategic Significance
- Economic: Logistics cost reduction, freight dominance, PPP-led asset creation.
- Social: Regional inclusion (Kashmir, Northeast), safer mobility, festival traffic management.
- Technological: Kavach 4.0, AI surveillance, high-speed rail ecosystem.
- Sustainability: Network electrification, solar stations, modal shift from road.
- Geostrategic: Border-hinterland connectivity + export-ready rail manufacturing.
Gaps & Watch-Points
- DFC final sections & last-mile linkages pending in some nodes.
- Cost-time overruns risk in mega projects (HSR, Himalayan works).
- Freight diversification still coal-heavy — needs container & MSME logistics push.
- Urban crowding & punctuality challenges on saturated corridors.
- Kavach coverage still limited vs network size — requires rapid scaling.
Traditional Medicines of India on International Platforms
Why in News ?
- MoS (IC) Ayush informed Rajya Sabha about India’s global initiatives to promote Traditional Medicine (TM) through collaborations, MoUs, WHO-partnerships, scholarships, research linkages and export-oriented support under the International Cooperation (IC) Scheme.
Relevance
GS-II (Health Governance, IR, Global Institutions)
- Health diplomacy / soft power via Ayush MoUs & collaborations
- WHO partnership leadership — GTMC Jamnagar, norms & UHC-linked TM policy
- Global rule-making — ICHI TM module, taxonomy & evidence frameworks
- Academic diplomacy — Ayush Chairs, training, research networks
- Scholarships & capacity-building for global practitioners/students
Policy Instrument — International Cooperation (IC) Scheme
- Objective Focus
- Promote export of Ayush products & services and market development abroad.
- Support Ayush manufacturers & service providers at international events/platforms.
- Establish Ayush Academic Chairs overseas, conduct training/workshops/symposia.
- Sponsor R&D, teaching and institutional collaborations with reputed global entities.
- Partnerships with UN agencies, esp. WHO for standards, research & policy alignment.
Significance: Converts Ayush from cultural heritage to globally mainstreamed health-sector asset.
WHO Collaboration — India as Global Hub for Traditional Medicine
- WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre (GTMC), Jamnagar, Gujarat
- First-ever global out-posted WHO Centre for Traditional, Complementary & Integrative Medicine (TCIM).
- Supports countries in integrating TM with Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
- Acts as knowledge & evidence hub for standards, safety, efficacy and accessibility.
- Core Functions
- Global positioning & leadership on TM.
- Norms, standards, guidelines, tools & methodologies for evidence and analytics.
- Creation of TM Informatics Centre — federated databanks & virtual libraries.
- Capacity-building & training incl. WHO Academy partnerships.
Outputs Delivered
- Benchmark documents (2022) — training & practice standards for Ayurveda & Unani.
- WHO Terminology documents — Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha (harmonised glossary for integration).
- ICHI Collaboration (Agreement: 24 May 2025)
- Development of Traditional Medicine intervention categories & index in the International Classification of Health Interventions (ICHI).
- First-ever global TM-specific classification module covering Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani.
Implication: Embeds Indian TM within global health taxonomies & regulatory science.
International Partnerships — Scale & Footprint
- Country-to-Country MoUs: 25 (Traditional Medicine & Homoeopathy cooperation).
- Academic Chairs abroad: 15 (Ayush Chairs in foreign universities/institutes).
- Institute-to-Institute MoUs: 52 (collaborative research & academics).
- Ayush Information Cells: 43 cells in 39 countries (public outreach & awareness).
- Scholarships / Fellowships: Dedicated International Ayush Fellowship/Scholarship for foreign students in Indian Ayush institutions.
Strategic Outcomes
- Knowledge diplomacy • Soft power projection • Research networks • Export ecosystem support.
Export & Market Development Dimensions
- IC Scheme supports:
- Participation of Ayush firms abroad, branding & certification credibility.
- Service-sector expansion (clinics, wellness, Panchakarma, education).
- Recognition of Ayush in global supply chains & regulatory frameworks.
Policy Relevance
- Contributes to services exports, health diplomacy, South-South cooperation, and Aatmanirbhar-led wellness economy.
Opportunities & Caution
- Opportunities
- Evidence generation → improves clinical acceptability & insurance inclusion.
- ICHI & WHO-GTMC → opens pathway for global regulation & reimbursement frameworks.
- Academic chairs & info-cells → sustained knowledge dissemination & talent pipeline.
- Challenges
- Need for high-quality clinical trials & pharmacovigilance.
- Harmonisation with country-specific regulatory regimes.
- Avoid over-commercialisation without standards & safety validation.
