The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is known for its challenging questions in exams and interviews. One such question could be: Why do we say Indian Railways instead of Indian Railway? The answer lies in the structure of the vast railway network in India.
Multiple Zones Make Indian Railways
Indian Railways is not a single railway system but a collection of multiple zones that span the entire country. Currently, there are 17 zones, each responsible for managing specific regions.
The 17 Zones of Indian Railways
- Central Railway
- Eastern Railway
- East Central Railway
- East Coast Railway
- Northern Railway
- North Central Railway
- North Eastern Railway
- North Frontier Railway
- North Western Railway
- Southern Railway
- South Central Railway
- South Eastern Railway
- South East Central Railway
- South Western Railway
- Western Railway
- West Central Railway
Governance and Authority
Each zone operates under the supervision of the Railway Board, which is led by its chairman and CEO, currently Satish Kumar. The Railway Board, in turn, reports to the Ministry of Railways under the Government of India.
A Network, Not a Singular Entity
The term Indian Railways emphasizes the network’s collective nature, comprising various zones working together to form one of the largest railway systems in the world.
