Railway Budget Highlights
Railway Budget Highlights
Overview
Since 2017 the Railway Budget has been merged with the Union Budget, ending 92 years of stand-alone presentation. The Ministry of Railways now submits its Annual Financial Statement to Parliament as part of the Union Budget, with a separate “Budget for Railways” document released later by the Ministry.
Key Facts & Figures
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| First separate Railway Budget | 1924-25 (Sir William Acworth Committee) |
| Last separate Railway Budget | 2016-17 (presented on 25 Feb 2016 by Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu) |
| Budget merger announced | 21 Sept 2016 (NITI Aayog recommendation) |
| FY 2025-26 Gross Budgetary Support (GBS) | ₹2.65 lakh crore (highest ever) |
| FY 2025-26 total capital outlay | ₹3.10 lakh crore |
| Operating Ratio (FY 24 RE) | 96.8 % |
| Operating Ratio (FY 25 BE) | 94.5 % |
| Freight loading target (FY 25) | 1,580 MT |
| Passenger earnings target (FY 25) | ₹70,000 crore |
| New Vande Bharat trains (FY 25) | 150 (3rd-gen, 320 km/h version) |
| Route-km sanctioned to New Line/Doubling | 7,000 km |
| 100 % electrification target | 31 Dec 2024 (achieved 95 % till Mar 2025) |
| Station redevelopment under Amrit Bharat | 1,275 stations (500 in FY 25) |
| Kavach (ATP) coverage (FY 25) | 6,000 km (2,500 route-km added) |
| RRTS operational section (FY 25) | Delhi – Meerut (82 km) |
| Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) completion | 100 % (EW & WW) by Mar 2025 |
Important Points
- Operating Ratio = Working Expenses / Gross Earnings (lower is better).
- Capital outlay is financed through GBS, internal resources, IRFC borrowings, PPP & extra-budgetary resources.
- Revenue from freight subsidises passenger fares; freight earns ~65 % of total revenue.
- “Amrit Bharat Station Scheme” replaces 24-yr old “Model Station” scheme.
- “PM Gati Shakti” multi-modal integration is the umbrella plan for infra spend.
- Vande Bharat sleeper & Vande Metro variants introduced in FY 25.
- 100 % electrification saves ₹18,000 crore/yr in fuel bill.
- Kavach (indigenous ATP) mandatory on Golden Quadrilateral & entire BG network by 2026.
- Rail Land Development Corporation (RLDA) monetises 3,000 acres for non-fare revenue.
- “One Station-One Product” (OSOP) expanded to 500 stations for MSME sales.
- Railways set to become net-zero carbon emitter by 2030 (only global major to target pre-2050).
- Highest ever capex in FY 25 is 9 times the 2014 level.
Frequently Asked in Exams
- Year of merger of Railway Budget with Union Budget – 2017-18.
- Who presents the Railway financial statement now – Union Finance Minister (Railway Minister only issues detailed ‘Pink Book’).
- Colour of the traditional Railway Budget document – Pink (hence “Pink Book”).
- Largest source of IR revenue – Freight (coal & steel lead).
- Full form of ATP being rolled out by IR – Automatic Train Protection (indigenous system named “Kavach”).
BETA
