SATHEE: Railway Schools

Railway Schools

Item	Details
1st Railway School	1878 at Jamalpur (EIR)
Managed by	Rail Bhavan (Ministry of Railways) through 17 Zonal Railways
Total Schools (2025)	480 (Kendriya Vidyalaya-type) + 118 Senior Secondary
Total Students	≈ 2.35 lakh
Total Teachers	≈ 9,200
Affiliation	CBSE (all Railway Schools)
Common Name	“Railway School” or “Rail Vidyalaya”
Medium of Instruction	English / Hindi / Regional
Free Education	Up to Class VIII for Railway employees’ wards; nominal fee IX-XII
1st ISO-Certified Rail School	Rail Vidyalaya, Secunderabad (2005)
Only Railway ICSE School	The Railway School, Perambur (since 1891)
Railway School Society	Formed 1951; registered under Societies Registration Act
Digital Initiative	Smart-class in 100 % schools since 2022
Scholarship	“Rail Kiran” for meritorious girl students of Class X
Annual Sports Meet	“Rail Khel Utsav” – Zonal level → National level
Ties with NCERT	Curriculum adaptation & teacher-training MoU (2019)
Green Campus Award	42 schools solar-powered; 13 zero-waste campuses
Alumni Nickname	“Railbrains”

Oldest still-running Railway School is Perambur (SR), started 1891.
All Railway Schools follow CBSE syllabus; NCERT textbooks are supplied free.
Admission priority: Railway employee wards (Cat-I), then ex-servicemen, others.
25 % seats reserved for economically weaker sections (EWS) under RTE.
Railway Schools run their own “Rail Scouts & Guides” troops recognised by Bharat Scouts & Guides.
Every zone has a “Principal Nodal School” that acts as mentor for 20-25 smaller rail schools.
Railway Schools have produced 32 NTSE scholars and 4 KVPY fellows in last 5 years.
Online transfer-cum-admission module “Rail-Pravesh” launched 2021; no physical documents needed.
Special quota: 2 seats per school in Navodaya Vidyalaya entrance for Class VI for rail wards.
Railway Board gives annual “Best Railway School” award with ₹ 5 lakh grant for lab up-gradation.
Disaster-preparedness: 100 % schools equipped with earthquake/fire mock-drill schedule every quarter.
Railway Schools celebrate 21 July as “Railway Education Day” to mark Jamalpur school foundation.

1. Which is the first Railway School of India?

A) Perambur B) Jamalpur C) Howrah D) Mumbai Central Answer: B) Jamalpur (1878)

2. Railway Schools are affiliated to which board?

A) ICSE B) State Board C) CBSE D) NIOS Answer: C) CBSE

3. What is the common nickname for Railway School alumni?

A) Railbrains B) Railians C) Railites D) Railvarsity Answer: A) Railbrains

4. In which year was the Railway School Society formed?

A) 1947 B) 1951 C) 1956 D) 1962 Answer: B) 1951

5. Which Railway School is the only ICSE-affiliated one?

A) Jamalpur B) Secunderabad C) Perambur D) Kolkata Answer: C) Perambur

6. The scholarship for meritorious girl students of Railway Schools is called:

A) Rail Lakshmi B) Rail Kiran C) Rail Shakti D) Rail Stree Answer: B) Rail Kiran

7. How many Railway Schools are solar-powered as of 2025?

A) 13 B) 25 C) 42 D) 60 Answer: C) 42

8. Railway Education Day is celebrated on:

A) 15 Aug B) 21 July C) 5 Sept D) 14 Nov Answer: B) 21 July

9. Total number of Railway Schools in 2025 is approximately:

A) 300 B) 480 C) 598 D) 720 Answer: C) 598 (480 + 118)

10. Which zone houses the first ISO-certified Railway School?

A) South Central B) Northern C) Eastern D) Western Answer: A) South Central (Secunderabad)