📘 IAS Prelims 2025 — GS-I | Q.82 | Classroom Explanation
(Current Affairs | Science & Technology | Transport Safety)

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📌 Question

Q.82)
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 sections.

Which of the statements given above are not correct?

(a) I and II only
(b) II and III only
(c) I and III only
(d) I, II and III

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✅ Correct Answer: (a)

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🧑‍🏫 Classroom Explanation

This is a high-probability UPSC current affairs question mixing timeline traps, indigenous technology claims, and technical components.

Let us decode statement by statement.

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🔍 Statement-wise Analysis

🔹 Statement I — ❌ Not Correct

• Indian Railways prepared the National Rail Plan (NRP) for India – 2030, not 2028.
• Objective:
  • 🚄 Create a future-ready railway system by 2030
  • 🚚 Increase rail freight modal share to ~45%
  • 📦 Integrate infrastructure planning with commercial strategy

📌 UPSC Trap: Slight year shift (2028 vs 2030)

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🔹 Statement II — ❌ Not Correct

• Kavach is NOT developed with Germany
• It is:
  • 🇮🇳 Indigenously developed
  • By RDSO (Research Designs & Standards Organisation)
  • In collaboration with Indian industry
  • Certified SIL-4 (highest safety level)

📌 UPSC Trap: Foreign collaboration assumption = ❌
Kavach is a Make in India rail safety technology

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🔹 Statement III — ✅ Correct

• RFID tags are a core component of Kavach
• Installed:
  • Along the entire track length
  • Including station sections & block sections
• Purpose:
  • 📡 Train position detection
  • 🚨 Collision avoidance
  • ⛔ Signal passing at danger (SPAD) prevention

📌 Technical Accuracy: Statement III is factually correct.

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🧠 One-Line Memory Hook (Prelims Gold)

“NRP → 2030 | Kavach → Swadeshi | RFID → On tracks.”

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📍 GS Mapping

Railway Safety Systems

GS Paper III (Mains)

Infrastructure

Indigenous Technology

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