Content

1. Ministry of Railways — Year End Review 2025
2. 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)

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.