On January 9, 2026, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Ministry of Railways (MoR), Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (MIB), and Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY), conferred 100 railway officers and employees with the 70th Ati Vishisht Rail Seva Puraskar (AVRSP 2025) and awarded 26 shields to the top-performing railway zones.
- The award ceremony was held at the India International Convention and Expo Centre (IICEC), Yashobhoomi in New Delhi, Delhi.
Exam Hints:
- What? MoR Awarded 70th Ati Vishisht Rail Seva Puraskar (AVRSP)
- By Whom? Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, MoR.
- Awardees: 100 Individuals and 26 Institutional Shields.
- Where? New Delhi, Delhi.
- Launch of Key Roadmap: “52 weeks, 52 reforms” for 2026.
- Commemorative Event: Marked 100 Years of Electrification in Indian Railways on January 9, 2026 with a coin and postal stamp.
About Ati Vishisht Rail Seva Puraskar (AVRSP 2025):
Significance: The AVRSP is one of the highest service awards of Indian Railways (IR), recognizing exemplary service, innovation, courage, and institutional excellence.
Key People: The event was attended by Union Ministers of State (MoS) Veeranna Somanna, MoR; Satish Kumar, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Indian Railway Board; and others.
Commemorative Releases: During the event, a commemorative coin issued by the India Government Mint, Kolkata (West Bengal, WB), and a postal stamp released by the Department of Posts (DoP) under the Ministry of Communications were unveiled to celebrate the theme “100 Years of Electrification in Indian Railways.”
- On January 9, 2026, Indian Railways marked the completion of 100 years of rail electrification. To date, over 68,700 route kilometres(km) have been electrified across India, with more than 72% of the work completed.
Individual Awards (100 Awardees):
Innovation: 17 officers and employees were recognised for innovation and process improvements that enhanced efficiency and optimised resource utilisation.
Courage: 22 railway personnel were honoured for exceptional courage and selfless service performed at personal risk to protect lives and railway property.
Revenue: 14 officers and staff received awards for revenue augmentation, vigilance measures, and effective action against ticketless travel and theft.
Operations: 19 employees and officers were recognised for operational excellence, safety enhancement, and effective asset maintenance.
Infrastructure: 16 officers and employees were awarded for the timely completion of major railway projects that expanded infrastructure and capacity.
Diverse Fields: 10 personnel were honoured for outstanding contributions across various functional and professional domains.
Sports: 2 sportspersons were recognised for national and international achievements that brought laurels to IR.
Click here to read full list of 70th AVRSP 2025
Institutional Awards (26 Shields):
Excellence: 26 Shields were presented to the best-performing Railway Zones for institutional excellence and outstanding operational achievements.
Operations & Safety: Recognition was given for safe operations during the Mahakumbh, uninterrupted services during Operation Sindoor, and enhanced track safety through advanced Ballast Cleaning Machines.
Sustainability: Awards acknowledged strengthened railway electrification efforts supporting operational efficiency and environmental sustainability.
Click here to read the full list of Shield Winners
Strategic Roadmap for 2026:
During the event, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, MoR, unveiled an ambitious reform roadmap titled “52 weeks, 52 reforms” for the year 2026 to implement one major reform every week across key areas like customer service, maintenance, and quality management.
Six Core Resolutions:
- Push for systemic reforms and accountability.
- Adoption of technology, innovation and Artificial Intelligence (AI), and advanced signalling.
- Upgrade of maintenance standards for long-term safety.
- Uncompromising focus on Safety by reducing consequential accidents.
- Transforming training and talent development within one year through mandatory upskilling and digital tools.
- Eradication of the colonial mindset and empowering younger officers.
About Ministry of Railways (MoR):
Union Minister- Ashwini Vaishnaw (Rajya Sabha- Odisha)
Minister of State (MoS)- Veeranna Somanna (Constituency- Tumkur, Karnataka); Ravneet Singh Bittu (Rajya Sabha- Rajasthan)
