Indian Railways Becomes World’s Second-Most Electrified Network

Exam-focused facts from the 25 July 2026 current affairs briefing.

Key facts

Indian Railways has electrified 99.6% of its broad gauge network, making it the world's second-most electrified rail network after Switzerland.
According to the International Union of Railways (UIC) report, India's achievement places it ahead of China (82%), Spain (67%), Japan (64%), France (60%), and the United Kingdom (39%).
Diesel consumption for railway traction in India decreased from 293 crore litres in 2025-16 to 108 crore litres in 2024-2025 due to electrification.
As of June 2026, Indian Railways has commissioned about 1,161 MW of solar plants and 103 MW of wind power plants to support low-carbon operations.