Ministry of Railways (India)

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The Ministry of Railways in India is in charge of the Indian Railways, the state-owned company that enjoys a monopoly in Rail transport in India. It is headed by the Railways Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav and two ministers of state.

Many stalwarts such as John Matthai, N. Gopalaswamy Ayyangar, Lal Bahadur Shastri,Madhu Dhandavathe, George Fernandes have served as Minister of Railways

It is also popularly referred to as Railway Board, particularly by Indian railwaymen.

The ministry is housed inside the Rail Bhawan in New Delhi.

Thanks to historical reasons, the Ministry of Railways presents a budget separate from the General Budget of India. The practice started in 1924. At the time, the Railway Budget formed about 70% of the country's budget. So separating it out allowed better focus on each budget's priorities. The Railway Budget now is less than 15% of the national budget. Though the Railway budget can no longer be justified as a separate budget presentation, it is still watched eagerly as the annual fare and tariff setting event.

[edit] See also

Indian Railway Organisational Structure