Question map
Consider the following statements : I. Indian Railways have prepared a National Rail Plan (NRP) to create a 'future ready' railway system by 2028. II. 'Kavach' is an Automatic Train Protection system developed in collaboration with Germany. III. 'Kavach' system consists of RFID tags fitted on track in station section. Which of the statements given above are not correct?
Explanation
The correct answer is option A because statements I and II are incorrect.
**Statement I is incorrect:** The National Rail Plan lays down the road map for capacity expansion of the railway network by 2030 to cater to growth up to 2050.[1] The rail budget envisages a future-ready green Indian Railways by 2030.[2] The target year is 2030, not 2028 as mentioned in the statement.
**Statement II is incorrect:** Kavach is an Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system which has been indigenously developed by Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) in collaboration with Indian industry[3], not in collaboration with Germany. It is a completely indigenous system.
**Statement III is correct:** Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags are placed throughout the entire track length to enable the Kavach system to track train positions[4], which includes station sections. Therefore, statements I and II are not correct, making option A the right answer.
Sources- [1] https://www.indiabudget.gov.in/budget2022-23/economicsurvey/doc/echapter.pdf
- [2] https://www.niti.gov.in/sites/default/files/2025-03/Efficiency%20and%20competitiveness%20of%20Indian%20Railways.pdf
- [3] https://static.pib.gov.in/WriteReadData/specificdocs/documents/2022/mar/doc202231424701.pdf
- [4] https://www.pib.gov.in/PressNoteDetails.aspx?NoteId=153556&ModuleId=3
PROVENANCE & STUDY PATTERN
Full viewThis is a classic 'Metadata Swap' trap. The examiner took real current affairs (NRP, Kavach) and swapped the 'Target Year' (2030 → 2028) and the 'Origin' (Indigenous → Germany). Standard books discuss rail problems generally, but only specific PIB tracking of flagship schemes solves this.
This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.
- Statement 1: Did Indian Railways prepare a National Rail Plan (NRP) that aims to create a "future ready" railway system by 2028?
- Statement 2: Was "Kavach," the Automatic Train Protection system of Indian Railways, developed in collaboration with Germany?
- Statement 3: Does the Indian Railways "Kavach" system consist of RFID tags fitted on the track in station sections?
- Directly names the National Rail Plan and uses the phrase 'future ready' for the railway system.
- Specifies the roadmap timeframe as 'by 2030', which does not match the 2028 date in the statement.
- Refers to a 'future-ready' Indian Railways in official planning context.
- Sets the target year as 2030 ('future-ready green Indian Railways by 2030'), not 2028.
Mentions an explicit long‑range 'vision 2020' for Indian Railways with concrete technical strategies — shows Indian Railways produces named strategic/vision documents with target horizons.
A student could infer that similar strategic plans (like an NRP) with a target year are consistent with this institutional practice and then look for an NRP document or announcement with a 2028 horizon.
Describes 'Setu Bharatam' as a government scheme with a specified completion year (2019) — example of government transport programmes setting explicit deadlines.
Use the pattern that ministries set target years for infrastructure programmes to judge plausibility of an NRP targeting 2028 and then search official releases for a 2028 target.
Describes structured modernization models (PPP, foreign collaboration, Swiss Challenge) for station redevelopment — evidence of organized, programmatic modernization efforts.
A student could treat 'future ready' as modernization and expect an overarching plan (NRP) coordinating such models; then check for a national plan that integrates these approaches with a timeline to 2028.
Explains policy changes (100% FDI in rail infrastructure) to meet capital needs — indicates recent policy-level initiatives to reform and invest in rail infrastructure.
Combine this with the idea of a national plan: if policy reforms aim to attract investment, an NRP could plausibly set a target year (2028) for implementation; student should verify via official policy documents or the Railway Ministry.
Lists planned high‑speed rail corridors and discusses building new corridors — shows planning of major rail projects with corridor‑level timelines.
A student could infer that corridor planning fits within broader national rail planning and thus search those project announcements or the consolidated NRP to see if they reference a 2028 'future ready' goal.
- Explicitly states Kavach is an ATP system indigenously developed by RDSO.
- Specifies collaboration was with Indian industry, not a foreign country.
- Describes Kavach as a breakthrough in indigenous technology.
- Frames the system as India’s cutting-edge ATP, reinforcing domestic development.
- States directly that Kavach is an indigenously developed Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system.
- Presented in an official Ministry of Railways release, supporting the claim of domestic development.
States that one model Indian Railways uses is "collaboration with foreign governments to develop stations," showing an institutional pattern of partnering with foreign governments on rail projects.
A student could infer that India sometimes pursues government‑to‑government collaborations for major rail projects and therefore should check whether Kavach was handled under such a bilateral collaboration (e.g., with Germany).
Gives an example of Indian defence/vehicle production done with foreign (including German) firms or licences, showing precedent for German–Indian technical collaboration in transport/defence sectors.
A student could use this pattern to ask whether Kavach—a safety technology with defence‑style signalling/automation overlap—followed a similar licensing or joint‑development route with German firms or agencies.
Highlights serious safety problems and high accident rates on Indian Railways, implying a strong institutional motive to acquire or develop advanced safety systems like Automatic Train Protection.
Given the safety imperative, a student could look for whether India sought foreign expertise (including from Germany) to obtain or co‑develop ATP technologies such as Kavach.
Describes the very large size and central importance of Indian Railways, implying large‑scale projects and modernization efforts where foreign collaboration is plausible.
A student could combine this with knowledge of international rail technology providers (including German firms) to investigate if Kavach involved such external partners.
- Explicitly lists installation of Station Kavach at every station and block section.
- Explicitly lists installation of RFID Tags throughout the track length as a key activity of Kavach.
- States Kavach is being installed at each and every station and block section.
- States RFID tags are placed throughout the entire track length to enable the Kavach system to track train positions.
- Says Kavach 'uses RFID tags along the tracks to monitor train positions'.
- Supports that RFID tags are part of the track-side components of Kavach (including station areas).
Notes that signalling, communication systems and safety measures on Indian Railways are outdated and in need of improvement — implying modernization programs introduce new trackside/vehicle safety tech.
A student could infer that modernization efforts often add automatic safety devices (e.g., track or onboard equipment) and then check whether Kavach is such an upgrade and whether it uses trackside tags.
Describes station redevelopment and modernization models, showing stations and related infrastructure are being upgraded under planned projects.
One could reason station modernization projects are plausible opportunities to install trackside or station-section devices and then look up project specs to see if Kavach involves track-fitted tags.
Mentions electronic tagging (e.g., for wildlife) to track movements and warn railway officials — an example of RFID/ electronic tags being used in railway-related contexts.
Use this as an existence proof that RFID-style tagging is applied in railway contexts, then compare technical descriptions of Kavach to see if it uses similar tag technology on tracks.
Explains a possible future separation between infrastructure (RIC) and train operators (IRTs), implying that installation/maintenance responsibility for trackside equipment would lie with the infrastructure owner.
A student could deduce that if Kavach requires trackside fittings, the infrastructure body would likely install them — so checking which agency deployed Kavach helps test whether track tags were used.
- [THE VERDICT]: Trap (Current Affairs). While the topics are mainstream, the specific details (dates/partners) are manipulated to force errors.
- [THE CONCEPTUAL TRIGGER]: Railway Modernization & Atmanirbhar Bharat (Indigenization of Technology).
- [THE HORIZONTAL EXPANSION]: Memorize these Rail specs: 1) National Rail Plan target: 45% freight modal share by 2030. 2) Net Zero Carbon Emitter by 2030. 3) DFC Partners: Western (JICA/Japan), Eastern (World Bank). 4) Bullet Train: Japan (Shinkansen). 5) Vande Bharat: Indigenous (ICF Chennai).
- [THE STRATEGIC METACOGNITION]: When reading about a flagship tech (like Kavach), the first question must be 'Is it Desi or Foreign?' (Atmanirbhar check). When reading a Vision Document, the first question must be 'What is the deadline year?' (2025 vs 2030 vs 2047).
Understanding the size and economic importance of Indian Railways is essential when evaluating large-scale plans like a National Rail Plan.
High-yield for UPSC: questions often require context on why rail policy matters for national development and integration. Connects to infrastructure, transport policy, and economic planning topics and helps frame answers about feasibility and impact of strategic plans.
- INDIA PEOPLE AND ECONOMY, TEXTBOOK IN GEOGRAPHY FOR CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 7: Transport and Communication > Rail Transport > p. 79
- Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 12: Transport, Communications and Trade > Rail Transport > p. 11
- Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 14: Infrastructure and Investment Models > 14.5.1 Engine of future Economic growth > p. 410
Vision-driven planning (e.g., Vision 2020) illustrates how Indian Railways frames medium- to long-term modernization goals.
Important for policy-analysis questions: helps aspirants critique timelines, technology choices, and phased implementation. Links to topics on technology adoption, corridor upgrades, and high-speed rail policy.
- Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 14: Infrastructure and Investment Models > 14.5.2 High Speed Rail (HSR)/ Bullet Trains in India > p. 413
Funding mechanisms (FDI, PPP, Swiss Challenge) determine how large plans can be financed and implemented.
High-yield for governance and economy portions: enables discussion of fiscal constraints, private participation, and implementation risks. Connects to public-private partnership case studies, investment policy, and infrastructure delivery.
- Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 14: Infrastructure and Investment Models > 100% FDI is allowed under automatic route in railway infrastructure but not in train operations and safety. > p. 411
- Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 14: Infrastructure and Investment Models > 14.5.4 Railway Platform Modernization > p. 415
Questions about Kavach's origin hinge on whether railway systems are developed domestically or via partnerships with foreign governments or firms.
High-yield for UPSC because many railway modernization initiatives use foreign collaboration or licensed technology; understanding this helps answer questions on technology transfer, bilateral ties, and procurement choices. Connects to infrastructure diplomacy, defence/industry linkages, and policy on indigenisation.
- Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 14: Infrastructure and Investment Models > 14.5.4 Railway Platform Modernization > p. 415
- Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 11: Industries > Defence Vehicles > p. 47
Kavach is an ATP system, so familiarity with rail safety challenges and modern safety technologies is directly relevant to assessing its development and adoption.
Important for answering policy and technology questions on transport safety reforms; links to topics on accident reduction, signalling upgrades, and technological solutions in public infrastructure. Enables analysis-style questions on impact and implementation of safety systems.
- Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 12: Transport, Communications and Trade > Main Problems of Indian Railways > p. 17
- Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 14: Infrastructure and Investment Models > 14.5.2 High Speed Rail (HSR)/ Bullet Trains in India > p. 413
How Indian Railways procures and modernises infrastructure determines whether systems are sourced through domestic development, private partners, or foreign collaboration.
Useful for questions on reform models, project financing, and procurement policy; helps evaluate governance choices and their implications for technology origin and control. Connects to public policy, infrastructure financing, and regulatory design topics.
- Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 14: Infrastructure and Investment Models > 14.5.4 Railway Platform Modernization > p. 415
- Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 14: Infrastructure and Investment Models > Bibek Debroy Committee Report on Railway Reforms > p. 412
Kavach is a train protection technology and belongs to the broader category of signalling and safety systems used to prevent collisions and improve operations.
High-yield for UPSC because questions often target railway modernization, safety reforms, and accident prevention; mastering this links transport policy, infrastructure investment, and operational safety debates and helps answer questions on technological upgrades in railways.
- Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 12: Transport, Communications and Trade > Main Problems of Indian Railways > p. 17
The National Rail Plan (NRP) has a specific sub-target: increasing the average speed of freight trains to 50 kmph and creating three new Dedicated Freight Corridors (East-Coast, East-West, and North-South).
The 'Hindi Name' Heuristic: 'Kavach' means Armor in Hindi. Indian defense/tech systems with pure Hindi names (Prithvi, Akash, Nag, Kavach) are typically Indigenous. Systems with foreign collaboration often retain foreign names or English acronyms (e.g., Barak, MRSAM). The statement linking a Hindi name to 'Germany' is contradictory to the naming convention of DRDO/RDSO.
Mains GS-3 (Infrastructure/Indigenization): Kavach is a case study for 'Technological Sovereignty.' Unlike the expensive European ETCS Level-2, Kavach is a low-cost indigenous solution exportable to the Global South (Railway Diplomacy).