Railway RRB / NTPC - MCQ Practice Questions

Broad Gauge of 1676 mm is the predominant gauge in Indian Railways, used for major routes.

The maximum permissible speed for most passenger trains on Indian Railways is 130 km/h, which applies to premium express trains like Rajdhani and Shatabdi Express running on upgraded tracks. This is the standard speed ceiling set by Indian Railways for broad gauge (BG) lines that have been specially maintained and tested for higher speeds. Many students confuse this with 160 km/h, which is the speed achieved by certain semi-high-speed trains like Vande Bharat Express on select upgraded corridors — but 160 km/h is not the general maximum speed limit applicable across the network for regular passenger trains. Option B (110 km/h) is the limit for ordinary Mail/Express trains, not the maximum overall limit. For the purpose of RRB/NTPC exams, 130 km/h is the accepted standard answer for the maximum speed limit of passenger trains on Indian Railways.

As of 2024, there are 18 railway zones in Indian Railways after recent reorganization.

NTPC is actually the recruitment exam for Non-Technical Popular Categories by RRB, not an acronym for a specific term.

The engine or motor in diesel/electric locomotives converts fuel or electrical energy into mechanical energy for movement.

Railway buffers (couplers) absorb and dissipate shock energy, protecting coaches from damage during coupling/decoupling.

# Indian Railways Braking System

The primary braking system used in Indian Railways is the Air Braking System (Westinghouse type), which uses compressed air to apply and release brakes across multiple coaches simultaneously.

## Step 1: Understanding Braking System Types

Indian Railways operates over 68,000 km of track with thousands of coaches. The braking system must be:

## Step 2: Why Air Braking System (Westinghouse)?

The Westinghouse air braking system is preferred because:

## Step 3: Comparison with Other Systems

| System | Advantages | Disadvantages |

|--------|-----------|---------------|

| Air (Westinghouse) | Fail-safe, long trains, quick | Complex |

| Vacuum | Simpler, older | Slower, unreliable |

| Hydraulic | Compact | Limited range, not fail-safe |

| Electromagnetic | Fast | Requires electricity, expensive |

## Step 4: Indian Railways Standard

Indian Railways adopted the Westinghouse air braking system as the standard because it is:

Answer: Air braking system (Westinghouse) (Option B)

52 kg/m is the standard rail section weight commonly used on Indian Railway routes.

Rajdhani Express is a premium intercity service connecting major cities with high-speed and premium amenities.

Sidings are branch tracks where trains can be parked, waiting, or loaded/unloaded without blocking main lines.

The Office of Chief Safety Officer under the Ministry of Railways oversees railway safety in India.

The minimum track curvature radius for broad gauge is approximately 800 meters on Indian Railways.

Howrah Station in Kolkata has the maximum number of platforms (23 platforms) among Indian railway stations.

OHE stands for Overhead Equipment in Indian Railway terminology. It refers to the entire system of wires, masts, and supporting structures installed above the railway tracks to supply electric power to electric locomotives and EMUs (Electric Multiple Units). The OHE carries high-voltage alternating current (25 kV AC in India) that the pantograph of the train collects to power the traction motors. This is a very common term used by Indian Railways and frequently appears in RRB/NTPC exams.

Average speed = Distance/Time = $\frac{480}{8}$ = 60 km/h

The train departs at 6:00 AM and arrives at 2:00 PM, so the total time taken is $2:00\text{PM}-6:00\text{AM}=8\text{hours}$. Using the formula:

So the correct answer is 45 km/h (Option A). Many students mistakenly choose 60 km/h by incorrectly counting only 6 hours (perhaps thinking 6 AM to 12 PM), but carefully counting from 6 AM to 2 PM gives a full 8 hours. Always double-check the time gap by counting hour by hour if needed: 6→7→8→9→10→11→12→1→2, which is exactly 8 hours.

Percentage increase = (100-80)/80 × 100 = $\frac{20}{80}$ × 100 = 25%

Sleepers (ties) support rails, maintain gauge, and distribute loads; train speed control is managed by braking systems and track design, not sleepers.

IRSS refers to Integrated Railway Signal System used in modern Indian Railways for safe train operations.

The broad gauge of 1676 mm (or 5 feet 6 inches) is the standard gauge used in most of Indian Railways.