Date: 2026-01-09Category: Press ReleaseState: Union GovernmentCountry: India
Ashwini Vaishnaw Confers 70th Ati Vishisht Rail Seva Puraskar 2025 to 100 Railway Officials, 26 Shields to Best-Performing Zones in Different Categories
**Executive Summary**
This document details the 70th Ati Vishisht Rail Seva Puraskar conferred by the Union Minister for Railways to 100 railway officials and 26 Shields to best-performing zones on January 9, 2026. The Minister outlined Indian Railways' ambitious roadmap for 2047. The roadmap includes six core resolutions for the future of Indian Railways.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Awards and Recognition:**
* The 70th Ati Vishisht Rail Seva Puraskar was conferred.
* 100 railway officials received the Ati Vishisht Rail Seva Puraskar.
* 26 Shields were awarded to best-performing Railway Zones in various categories.
* **Vision and Goals:**
* Indian Railways must reach a new level to realize "Viksit Bharat, Viksit Railways" by 2047.
* Indian Railways has embarked on a "52 weeks, 52 reforms" roadmap for 2026 to improve customer service, maintenance, production, quality management, health systems, and operations.
* **Six Core Resolutions:**
* **Systemic Reforms:** Implementation of time-bound changes across various functional areas, emphasizing accountability and execution.
* **Technology Adoption:** Deep and widespread adoption of technology, innovation, and AI.
* **Maintenance Standards:** Fundamental upgrade of maintenance standards.
* **Safety Focus:** Sharp and uncompromising focus on safety with a goal of reducing accidents.
* **Training and Talent Development:** Transforming training and talent development with skill upgradation.
* **Eradication of Colonial Mindset:** Urging officials to embrace openness to new ideas, empower younger officers and field staff, promote Indian solutions.
* **Infrastructure & Operations:**
* Extensive track construction has significantly increased railway capacity.
* Commemorative coin marking 100 years of electrification in Indian Railways was launched.
* Rail connectivity has expanded to regions such as Jammu & Kashmir and the North East.
* Focus on greener operations, door-to-door and multimodal logistics.
**Impact Analysis**
**Railway Officials**
* **Impact:** Recognition and motivation through the Ati Vishisht Rail Seva Puraskar.
* **Action Required:** Continue working towards the goals outlined in the six core resolutions.
**Railway Zones**
* **Impact:** Recognition as best-performing zones.
* **Action Required:** Maintain high standards and continue contributing to the overall performance of Indian Railways.
**Indian Railways Employees and Officers**
* **Impact:** Expected to implement reforms, embrace new technologies, and prioritize safety and customer service.
* **Action Required:** Actively participate in structured workshops, contribute reform ideas, and adapt to new training programs.
Key Entities Referenced
Indian Railways: The primary organization undergoing reforms and improvements.
Ministry of Railways: The government body responsible for overseeing Indian Railways.
Ati Vishisht Rail Seva Puraskar: An award conferred to railway officials for their service.
52 weeks, 52 reforms: The reform roadmap of the Indian Railways.
Ministry of Railways
Ashwini Vaishnaw Confers 70th Ati Vishisht Rail
Seva Puraskar 2025 to 100 Railway Officials, 26
Shields to Best-Performing Zones in Different
Categories
Indian Railways Must Reach a New Level to Realise Viksit
Bharat, Viksit Railways by 2047: Ashwini Vaishnaw
Union Minister Unveils Six-Point Resolution Roadmap:
Systemic Reforms, Technology Adoption, Safety Focus,
Advanced Training, Maintenance Excellence and Mindset
Change to Power Next-Gen Railways
Dedicated Railway Workforce Is the Backbone of India’s
Transport Transformation: V. Somanna
Modernisation, Safety and Passenger Focus Define the New
Indian Railways: Satish Kumar
प्रव तथ: 09 JAN 2026 8:30PM by PIB Delhi
The Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting, and Electronics & Information
Technology, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw conferred 70th Ati Vishisht Rail Seva Puraskar to 100 Railway
officials and 26 Shields to best performing Zones in different categories today at the India International
Convention & Expo Centre (Yashobhoomi), Dwarka, New Delhi. The ceremony was graced by the
Minister of State for Railways & Jal Shakti, Shri V. Somanna, the Chairman & CEO of Railway Board,
Shri Satish Kumar, along with Members of the Railway Board and General Managers of various
Railway Zones and Production Units.
Addressing the gathering at the Ati Vishisht Rail Seva Puraskar, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw said that Indian
Railways must move to an entirely new level to realise the vision of Viksit Bharat, Viksit Railways by
2047. Congratulating railway employees for their dedication, he said their collective efforts have enabled
Railways to overcome long-standing challenges, expand capacity, improve efficiency, and deliver major
infrastructure and operational milestones.जतनी मेहनत आप सबन े क ह और जस तरह कमटमट के साथ काम कया ह, उसका आज दशभर म
बहुत असएशन और रकशन ह क रल वे क पूरी फै मली ने पूरी ताकत लगाकर कई ऐसी ॉब्लम्स,
जो वष से चली आ रही थ, उ पूरी तरह सॉल्व कर दया ह: रल मंी ी @AshwiniVaishnaw जी
pic.twitter.com/dcYR0wN8R2
— Ministry of Railways (@RailMinIndia) January 9, 2026
Shri Vaishnaw added that extensive track construction has led to a significant increase in railway capacity.
He noted that special trains were operated during all major rush seasons such as Diwali–Chhath,
Christmas, and the summer period, ensuring smoother travel for passengers, and that a new benchmark
was set in the previous year.
ट्रक कं स्ट्रक्शन म 35,000 कमी ट्रक का नमाण कया गया और उसके कारण आज कै पेसटी बढ़ी ह।
चाह दवाली–छठ हो, चाह समस हो, चाह समर हो- हर एक मेजर रश सीजन म आपने ेशल ट्रन्स
चलाईं और पछल े साल तो एक नया रकॉड ही बना डाला: रल मंी ी @AshwiniVaishnaw जी pi
c.twitter.com/KrabMWKLLK
— Ministry of Railways (@RailMinIndia) January 9, 2026
The Union Minister said that Indian Railways has embarked on an ambitious reform roadmap for 2026
titled “52 weeks, 52 reforms”, under which one major reform will be implemented every week across
key functional areas such as customer service, maintenance, production, quality management, health
systems, and operations. He said a series of structured workshops are being conducted to redefine
standards, identify bottlenecks, and set clear, time-bound action plans, with active participation from
officers across departments.
He outlined six core resolutions that will guide Indian Railways in the coming phase:
First, a decisive push for systemic reforms, with time-bound changes across customer service,
maintenance, production, quality, and health systems, driven by accountability and execution.
Second, deep and widespread adoption of technology, innovation, and artificial intelligence, including
new-generation rolling stock, advanced track systems, modern signalling, and smarter maintenance
practices to improve reliability and productivity.
Third, a fundamental upgrade of maintenance standards, acknowledging that moving away from
outdated practices may cause short-term discomfort but is essential for long-term safety and performance.
Fourth, a sharp and uncompromising focus on safety, with the aim of dramatically reducing
consequential accidents through better training, technology deployment, disciplined operations, and daily
monitoring at all levels of leadership.
Fifth, transforming training and talent development, making continuous skill upgradation mandatory,
linking training to career progression, and using modern tools such as simulators and digital platforms to
build a highly competent workforce.
Sixth, the complete eradication of the colonial mindset, urging officials to embrace openness to new
ideas, empower younger officers and field staff, promote Indian solutions, and take pride in Made-in-
India achievements that are now being accepted globally.He also highlighted the importance of engaging startups and innovators, encouraging railway employees
to contribute reform ideas, and ensuring that successful innovations are scaled across the network.
Drawing parallels with major national reforms, he said Indian Railways must show similar courage and
confidence in change. He said that with a young workforce, transparent systems, and a reform-oriented
mindset, Indian Railways is well positioned to become a global benchmark and a key pillar in India’s
journey towards becoming a developed nation by 2047.
On the occasion, a commemorative coin marking 100 years of electrification in Indian Railways was also
launched.
Addressing the gathering, Shri V. Somanna congratulated railway employees and officers, describing
Indian Railways as one of the world’s largest service organisations and crediting the Rail Parivar for
ensuring safe and comfortable travel for millions every day.
He noted that rail connectivity has expanded to regions such as Jammu & Kashmir and the North East,
citing major engineering achievements that have strengthened national integration. He also referred to
Amrit Bharat and Namo Bharat trains for improved connectivity, and said the upcoming Vande Bharat
Sleeper will enhance long-distance travel.
Highlighting progress in railway electrification and environmental sustainability, he said Indian Railways
is moving towards greener operations. Sharing his experience from field visits, he praised the dedication
and commitment of railway staff at all levels, calling them the backbone of the organisation.
In his address, Shri Satish Kumar said that Indian Railways has undergone rapid transformation,
emerging as a modern, safe, and passenger-centric organisation. Emphasising that safety remains the
highest priority, he spoke about continuous improvements through modern signalling systems, electronic
interlocking, elimination of unmanned level crossings, enhanced track monitoring, and related safety
measures. On freight operations, he said Indian Railways is setting new benchmarks through door-to-door
and multimodal logistics, contributing meaningfully to the nation’s economic progress.
He also recalled the completion of a century of railway electrification, describing it as a proud milestone
in the journey of Indian Railways, commemorated through special initiatives. Acknowledging railway
employees as the “real heroes,” he credited their discipline, dedication, and service as the backbone of
this transformation.
AAttii VViisshhiisshhtt RRaaiill SSeevvaa PPuurraasskkaarr 22002255Indian Railways confers Ati Vishisht Rail Seva Puraskar to its employees every year. These awards are
given into two categories, the individual awards, as well as Shields presented to the best-performing
Railway Zones. Individual awards serve as a platform to acknowledge and celebrate the dedication, hard
work, and exceptional contributions of Railway personnel towards making the Indian Railways a more
efficient, safe, and passenger-friendly organization. Shield awards in various categories are presented
recognizing their outstanding achievements and contributions to the overall performance of the Indian
Railways.
List of Officials selected for 70th Ati Vishisht Rail Seva Puraskar (AVRSP)-2025
List of Shield Winners
*****
Dharmendra Tewari/ Dr. Nayan Solanki/ Ritu Raj/ Manik Sharma
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