Railway Budget 2016-17: Highlights

Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu on 25 February 2016 presented the Rail Budget 2016-17 in the Lok Sabha. This was the third rail budget of the Narendra Modi-led NDA government and the second railway budget for Suresh Prabhu.

Railway Budget 2016-17: Highlights

The major statistical highlights of the Budget encompassing Financial Performance 2015-16 and Budget Estimates 2016-17 are given below:

Financial Performance 2015-16

• Net reduction in Gross Traffic Receipts by 15744 crore (Revised Estimates) in 2015-16 compared to the Budget Estimate (BE) target of 183578 crore rupees. Passenger earnings scaled down keeping in view the persistent negative growth trend since 2013-14 both in the suburban and non-suburban non-PRS segment of travel.

• Freight earnings impacted mainly on account of low demand from the core sector resulting in resetting the target in RE 2015-16 to 111853 crore rupees.

• Stringent economy and austerity measures adopted to contain the Ordinary Working Expenses (OWE) due to which budgeted Ordinary Working Expenses of 119410 crore rupees decreased in the Revised Estimates 2015-16 to 110690 crore rupees that is by 8720 crore rupees.

• BE provided for an appropriation of 34900 crore rupees to the Pension Fund. However, based on trend, the pension outgo moderately decreased to 34500 crore rupees in RE.

• Internal resource generation diminished and appropriation to DRF moderated to 5500 crore rupees in RE from the BE 2015-16 provisioning of 7900 crore rupees. Excess of receipts over expenditure in RE 2015-16 stands at 11402.40 crore rupees.

• Plan size for 2015-16 is currently estimated at 100000 crore rupees.

Railway Budget 2016-17: Major Initiatives

Budget Estimates 2016-17

• Gross Traffic Receipts kept at 184820 crore rupees. Passenger earnings growth has been pegged at 12.4 percent and earnings target budgeted at 51012 crore rupees.

• The freight traffic is pegged at incremental traffic of 50 million tonnes, anticipating a healthier growth in the core sector of economy. Goods earnings is accordingly proposed at 117933 crore rupees.

• Other coaching and sundries projected at 6185 crore rupees and 9590.3 crore rupees respectively.

• OWE provides for the implementation of the 7th Central Pay Commission.

• Pension outgo budgeted at 45500 crore rupees in 2016-17.

• Higher staff cost and pension liability impacts the internal resource position of the Railways.

• Appropriation to Depreciation Reserve Fund (DRF) from revenue placed at 3200 crore rupees and that from Production Units at 200 crore rupees.

• A withdrawal of 3160 crore rupees from DRF on net basis proposed though the gross expenditure to be met from DRF in the Annual Plan estimated at 7160 crore rupees.

• 5750 crore rupees proposed to be appropriated to the Capital fund. With a draw-down of 1250 crore rupees from previous balances in the fund, plan requirement of 7000 crore rupees for repayment of principal component of lease charges to IRFC met.

• Railways are preparing a Plan size of 121000 crore rupees in 2016-17.

1.    As per the Rail Budget 2016-2017, what is the proposed investment for modernization of railway infrastructure to be spent over 5 years?
a)    8.5 lakh crore rupees
b)    9 lakh crore rupees
c)    4.7 lakh crore rupees
d)    12 lakh crore rupees

2.    What is the name of the proposed long distance superfast train, which will be introduced for unreserved passengers?
a)    Anandoya Express
b)    Antyodaya Express
c)    Anand Express
d)    None of the above

3.    In the Rail Budget 2016-2017, Suresh Prabhu announced introduction of a service named Sarthi Seva for senior citizens. The service will be first introduced in which Indian Railways Zone?
a)    Southern Railway
b)    Northern Railway
c)    Konkan Railway
d)    North Central Railway

4.    Which of the following statements is wrong about the Rail Budget 2016-2017?
a)    Introduction of Humsafar trains for senior citizens
b)    Coolies will be called Sahayaks
c)    All new Railway stations to be built as per Accessible India guidelines
d)    The cleaning of toilets will be requested through SMS

5.    As per the Rail Budget 2016-2017, world's first bio-vacuum toilet developed by Indian Railways is being used in which Rajdhani train?
a)    Howrah Rajdhani
b)    Swarna Jayanti Rajdhani
c)    August Kranti Rajdhani
d)    Dibrugarh Rajdhani

6.    What is the theme of the Rail Budget 2016-2017?
a)    Reorganize, Restructure Rejuvenate Indian Railways: ‘Chalo, Milkar Kuch Karen’
b)    Chalo, Milkar Kuch Naya Karen: ‘Navinikaran, Sashaktikaran, Shodh aur Vikas’
c)    Nav Arjan, Nav Manak, Nav Sanranchna: ‘Chalo, Milkar Kuch Karen’
d)    Reorganize, Restructure Rejuvenate Indian Railways: ‘Nav Arjan, Nav Manak, Nav Sanranchna’

7.    What is/are the goal(s) of the Rail Budget 2016-2017?
a)    Reserved accommodation on trains available on demand and time tabled freight trains
b)    High end technology to improve safety record, elimination of all unmanned level crossings and higher average speed of freight trains 
c)    Semi high speed trains running along the golden quadrilateral and zero direct discharge of human waste
d)    All of the above

8.    The proposed all India 24/7 helpline number 182 will be introduced for which purpose?
a)    Time Enquiry
b)    Grievance
c)    Cleaning of toilets
d)    Women Security

9.    Name the proposed train which will operate at speed of 130 kmph and above, and will offer various onboard services such as entertainment, local cuisine and Wi-Fi.
a)    Antyodaya Express
b)    Humsafar
c)    Tejas
d)    Vikalp

10.    In the Rail Budget 2016-2017, Suresh Prabhu announced a new overnight double-decker, air-conditioned train. What is the name of the proposed train?
a)    UDAY
b)    Sunrise Express
c)    UDIT
d)    None of the above

11.    Name the proposed service through which passengers can request the cleaning of toilets through an SMS.
a)    Clean my Train
b)    Swachch Coach
c)    Swachch Paryatan
d)    Clean my Coach

12.    In the Rail Budget 2016-2017, a new service named Janani Sewa will be introduced. What is the aim of this service?
a)    To introduce children’s menu items on trains, baby foods, hot milk and hot water
b)    To introduce medical facilities for pregnant women on trains 
c)    To introduce women and child security on train
d)    None of the above

13.    In the Rail Budget 2016-2017, Suresh Prabhu announced three pillars of the strategy. Name the three pillars.
a)    Reorganize, Restructure Rejuvenate Indian Railways: ‘Chalo, Milkar Kuch Karen’
b)    Chalo, Milkar Kuch Naya Karen: ‘Navinikaran, Sashaktikaran, Shodh aur Vikas’
c)    Nav Arjan – New revenues, Nav Manak – New norms, Nav Sanranchna – New structures
d)    Reorganize, Restructure Rejuvenate Indian Railways: ‘Nav Arjan, Nav Manak, Nav Sanranchna’

14.    What is the sum set aside for providing innovation grants to employees, start-ups and small businesses to support internal and external innovation, as per the Rail Budget 2016-2017?
a)    20 crores
b)    60 crores
c)    5.6 crores
d)    50 crores

15.    Suresh Prabhu in the Rail Budget 2016-2017 set a target to eliminate all unmanned level crossings by which year?
a)    2017
b)    2018
c)    2019
d)    2020

16.    As per the Rail Budget 2016-2017, the capacity of e-ticketing system will be enhanced from 2000 tickets/min to
a)    7200 tickets/min
b)    5000 tickets/min
c)    6400 tickets/min
d)    3200 tickets/min

17.    Suresh Prabhu proposed coaches for long distance trains for unreserved passengers with facilities such as potable water and higher number of mobile charging points. What these coaches will be called?
a)    Humsafar
b)    Antyodaya
c)    Uday
d)    Deen Dayalu

18.    Name the proposed fully air-conditioned third AC service with an optional service for meals announced in the Rail Budget 2016-2017.
a)    Uday
b)    Antyodaya Express
c)    Humsafar
d)    Tejas

19.    What is the Targeted Operating Ratio for the Indian Railways for the year 2016-17 in the Railway Budget 20160-17?
a)    90%
b)    92%
c)    91%
d)    89%

20.    What is the capital expenditure (CAPEX) pegged or the Plan size proposed for the Indian Railways in the Railway Budget 2016-17?
a)    2.2 lakh crore rupees
b)    2.54 lakh crore rupees
c)    1.21 lakh crore rupees
d)    1.28 lakh crore rupees

Answers

1-(a)    6-(a)    11-(d)    16-(a)
2-(b)    7-(d)    12-(a)    17-(d)
3-(c)    8-(d)    13-(c)    18-(c)
4-(a)    9-(c)    14-(d)    19-(b)
5-(d)    10-(a)    15-(d)    20-(c)