Indian Railways
When was the 1st Rail Budget presented? At 11.00 a.m. today (July 6), Union Railway Minister Laloo Prasad Yadav will announce his first Railway Budget. Take the Rediff Business Quiz and find out how much you know about the Indian Railways and the budget.
Biz Quiz is best viewed in Internet Explorer (IE) and Netscape above version 6.0.
1. When was the 1st Rail Budget in India presented? a) Nov 1947 b) Dec 1947 c) Jan 1948
Wrong! Try again.
Wrong! The correct answer is Nov 1947. John Mathai presented the first Railway Budget for independent India in November 1947. Mathai was also India's second finance minister from 1949-51.
Correct! John Mathai presented the first Railway Budget for independent India in November 1947. Mathai was also India's second finance minister from 1949-51.
2. Which of these was the railway minister for two terms? a) Mamata Banerjee b) Nitish Kumar c) Ram Vilas Paswan
Wrong! Try again..
Wrong! The correct answer is Nitish Kumar. Janata Dal (United) MP, Nitish Kumar was Union Railways Minister from 1998-99 and then from July 22, 2001 till the 13th Lok Sabha was dissolved in April 2004.
Correct! Janata Dal (United) MP, Nitish Kumar was Union Railways Minister from 1998-99 and then from July 22, 2001 till the 13th Lok Sabha was dissolved in April 2004.
3. India's first train ran between: a) Howrah and Hoogly b) Bombay and Thane c) Allahabad and Kanpur
Wrong! Try again..
Wrong! The correct answer is Bombay and Thane. The first railway on the Indian sub-continent ran over a stretch of 21 miles from Bombay (now Mumbai) to Thane. The idea first occurred to George Clark, the chief engineer of the Bombay Government, during a visit to Bhandup in 1843. The formal inauguration ceremony was performed on April 16, 1853, when 14 railway carriages carrying about 400 guests left Bori Bunder amidst the loud applause of a vast multitude and to the salute of 21 guns.
Correct! The first railway on the Indian sub-continent ran over a stretch of 21 miles from Bombay (now Mumbai) to Thane. The idea first occurred to George Clark, the chief engineer of the Bombay Government, during a visit to Bhandup in 1843. The formal inauguration ceremony was performed on April 16, 1853, when 14 railway carriages carrying about 400 guests left Bori Bunder amidst the loud applause of a vast multitude and to the salute of 21 guns.
4. Which Indian train won the world Heritage Status from UNESCO? a) Rajdhani Express b) Palace on the Wheels c) Darjeeling Himalayan Railways
Wrong! Try again..
Wrong! The correct answer is Darjeeling Himalayan Railways. This little railway has a gauge of 2 ft and a length of 51 miles, with steep gradients and loops. It is at Siliguri that the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway begins its journey. In March 1878, a scheme for the construction of the railway was drawn up. Work began in May 1879, and in March 1880, the thenViceroy of India, Lord Lytton, travelled on a train as far as the eighteenth mile, which was then the limit of the line. In the following August the line was opened for passenger and goods traffic as far as Kurseong, 4,864 ft above the sea and thirty-two miles from Siliguri. In July, 1881, the line was opened all the way to the Darjeeling station.
Correct! This little railway has a gauge of 2 ft and a length of 51 miles, with steep gradients and loops. It is at Siliguri that the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway begins its journey. In March 1878, a scheme for the construction of the railway was drawn up. Work began in May 1879, and in March 1880, the thenViceroy of India, Lord Lytton, travelled on a train as far as the eighteenth mile, which was then the limit of the line. In the following August the line was opened for passenger and goods traffic as far as Kurseong, 4,864 ft above the sea and thirty-two miles from Siliguri. In July, 1881, the line was opened all the way to the Darjeeling station.
5. Which is the world's oldest functioning steam engine? a) The Fairy Queen b) Orient Express c) Royal Orient
Wrong! Try again..
Wrong! The correct answer is The Fairy Queen. In 1855 the Fairy Queen rolled out for the erstwhile East Indian Railway. For the first time after 1908, the Fairy Queen rolled again on February 1, 1997 from Delhi to Alwar. The steam engine is the oldest working engine in the world. Finding its pride of place in the Guinness Book of World Records and also capturing the National Tourism Award, this prestigious pristine beauty s steaming once again. Its next scheduled journey is on October 23, 2004.
Correct! In 1855 the Fairy Queen rolled out for the erstwhile East Indian Railway. For the first time after 1908, the Fairy Queen rolled again on February 1, 1997 from Delhi to Alwar. The steam engine is the oldest working engine in the world. Finding its pride of place in the Guinness Book of World Records and also capturing the National Tourism Award, this prestigious pristine beauty s steaming once again. Its next scheduled journey is on October 23, 2004.
