Indian Railways to Confer 70th Ati Vishisht Rail Seva Puraskar

Indian Railways will confer the 70th Ati Vishisht Rail Seva Puraskar–2025 on 100 officers and employees in recognition of exemplary service and outstanding contributions to the organisation. The awards aim to honour individuals and teams whose work has significantly strengthened railway operations, safety, innovation, and public service delivery across the country.

Award Ceremony and Dignitaries

The award ceremony will be held on January 9 at the India International Convention and Expo Centre (Yashobhoomi), New Delhi. The honours will be presented by Union Minister for Railways, Information and Broadcasting, and Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw. The event will also be attended by Ministers of State V. Somanna and Ravneet Singh, Chairman and CEO of the Railway Board Satish Kumar, Members of the Railway Board, and General Managers of various Railway Zones and Production Units.

Range of Achievements Recognised

A total of 100 awardees have been selected for the Ati Vishisht Rail Seva Puraskar–2025, reflecting a wide spectrum of professional excellence. Seventeen officers and employees are being recognised for innovation and process improvements that enhanced productivity, optimised resource utilisation, and reduced expenditure. Twenty-two railway personnel will be honoured for acts of exceptional courage and selfless service, performed at grave personal risk to protect passengers, staff, and railway property.

Operational Excellence and Infrastructure Development

Fourteen officers and staff members will receive awards for their contributions to revenue augmentation and vigilance, including efforts to curb ticketless travel, theft, and other malpractices. Nineteen employees are being honoured for excellence in operations, safety, asset maintenance, and protection of railway infrastructure. Sixteen awardees will be recognised for completing major railway projects within record timelines, contributing to infrastructure expansion and enhanced network capacity.

Imporatnt Facts for Exams

• Ati Vishisht Rail Seva Puraskar is among the highest service awards of Indian Railways.
• Indian Railways operates under the Ministry of Railways.
• Yashobhoomi is India’s largest convention and exhibition centre.
• Railway awards recognise both individual and institutional excellence.

Special Contributions and Institutional Honours

Ten awardees will be recognised for outstanding performance across diverse functional areas, while two sportspersons will be honoured for achieving national and international distinction and bringing laurels to Indian Railways. In addition to individual honours, 26 Shields will be presented to best-performing Railway Zones across various categories, acknowledging institutional excellence. The awardees include personnel who ensured safe operations during major events such as the Mahakumbh, maintained services during Operation Sindoor, and introduced advanced Ballast Cleaning Machines in challenging sections to improve track safety, ride quality, and long-term maintenance efficiency.