Railway Budget — Set 5
Indian Railways · रेल बजट · Questions 41–50 of 50
Who was the minister who introduced the 'Rail Neer' bottled water in the budget?
Correct Answer: A. Nitish Kumar
Nitish Kumar launched 'Rail Neer' in 2003 through the IRCTC. It was aimed at providing safe and standardized drinking water to passengers. The first plant was established at Nangloi, Delhi.
In which year did the budget first mention the 'Dedicated Freight Corridor' (DFC)?
Correct Answer: B. 2005
The DFC project was formally conceptualized and mentioned in the 2005-06 budget. It aims to create high-capacity rail lines exclusively for freight. This separates freight from passenger traffic, increasing speed for both.
Which ministry used to oversee the 'Railway Budget' before 1924?
Correct Answer: A. Ministry of Finance
Before 1924, the railway budget was part of the General Budget managed by the Finance Ministry. The separation gave the railways more commercial freedom to manage its huge capital. This was a unique feature of the British-era Indian administration.
What is 'Revenue Expenditure' in the railway budget?
Correct Answer: B. Money spent on daily operations and maintenance
Revenue expenditure is the money spent on day-to-day operations like salaries, fuel, and repairs. It does not result in the creation of new assets. High revenue expenditure can limit the funds available for modernization.
Which minister introduced the first 'Tejas Express' in the budget?
Correct Answer: A. Suresh Prabhu
The Tejas Express was announced in the 2016 Railway Budget by Suresh Prabhu. It is a semi-high speed, fully air-conditioned train with modern onboard facilities. It was the first train to have features like automatic doors and bio-vacuum toilets.
What is the 'Consolidated Fund of India' in relation to the budget?
Correct Answer: B. The government's main account from which all money is drawn
All revenues received by the government and loans raised by it are kept in this fund. All budget expenditures must be authorized by Parliament from this fund. The railway budget was effectively an appropriation from this central account.
Which budget introduced the 'Mahila Vahini' or women's security wing?
Correct Answer: B. 2013
The creation of a specialized women's security wing within the RPF was announced in 2013. It was aimed at enhancing the safety of women passengers. This followed increased national focus on gender-based security issues.
What is the 'Capital-at-Charge' in railway finance?
Correct Answer: B. Total investment made by the government in railways
Capital-at-Charge is the cumulative capital investment made by the government into the railways. Before the merger, railways paid a 'dividend' on this capital to the government. It represents the historical value of all assets created.
Which budget launched the 'Vande Bharat' (Train 18) initiative?
Correct Answer: C. 2019
The Vande Bharat Express initiative was formally highlighted in the 2019 interim budget. It is India's first indigenous semi-high speed engineless train. It was developed by the Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai.
In railway budget terminology, what does 'Operating Ratio' indicate about the financial health of Indian Railways?
Correct Answer: B. Amount spent to earn 100 rupees of revenue
The Operating Ratio (OR) of Indian Railways indicates how many paise (or rupees) are spent to earn 100 rupees of revenue. A lower OR indicates better financial health. For example, an OR of 95% means IR spends Rs. 95 to earn Rs. 100, leaving only Rs. 5 for capital investments and repayment.