Indian Railways is set to felicitate 100 committed employees and officers with the prestigious 70th Ati Vishisht Rail Seva Puraskar 2025 in recognition of their exemplary service and outstanding contributions to the organisation. The award ceremony will be held on January 9, 2026, at the India International Convention & Expo Centre (Yashobhoomi), Dwarka, New Delhi.

The Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting, and Electronics & Information Technology, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, will confer the 70th Ati Vishisht Rail Seva Puraskar on the selected Railway personnel. The ceremony will also be attended by the Minister of State for Railways & Jal Shakti, Shri V. Somanna, the Minister of State for Railways and Food Processing Industries, Shri Ravneet Singh, 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.

A total of 100 awardees have been selected for the Ati Vishisht Rail Seva Puraskar–2025, covering a wide spectrum of contributions in innovation, operational efficiency, safety, security, revenue augmentation, timely completion of projects, excellence in sports, and other distinguished areas of service.

Encouraging Innovation and Efficiency

17 officers and employees will be honoured for introducing new innovations, processes, and procedures leading to improved productivity, economies in expenditure, import substitution, and more effective utilisation of resources, thereby strengthening overall efficiency within Indian Railways.

Honouring Bravery and Selfless Service

22 railway employees and officers will be recognised for meritorious acts performed in disregard of personal safety, resulting in the protection of lives and Railway property, and exemplifying exceptional courage, commitment, and dedication to public service.

Revenue Augmentation and Vigilance

14 officers and staff members will be awarded for their notable contributions in increasing Railway earnings and for effectively tackling ticketless travel, thefts, and other malpractices, thereby strengthening financial discipline and safeguarding revenue.

Operational Excellence and Asset Protection

19 employees and officers will be honoured for their exemplary work in improving operations, enhancing safety and security, ensuring better maintenance practices, and promoting the optimal utilisation and protection of Railway assets.

Timely Completion of Landmark Projects

16 officers and employees will be recognised for the completion of important Railway projects within record timelines, contributing significantly to infrastructure expansion, capacity enhancement, and improved operational performance.

Outstanding Performance in Other Fields

10 officers and employees will be recognised for their outstanding performance in fields beyond the defined categories, reflecting professional excellence, dedication, and impactful contributions across diverse functional domains of Indian Railways.

Celebrating Sporting Excellence

2 sportspersons who have achieved national and international recognition in sports and brought laurels to Indian Railways will also be conferred the Ati Vishisht Rail Seva Puraskar–2025.

Beyond Individual Recognition

In addition to individual honours, 26 Shields will be awarded to the best-performing Railway Zones across various categories, acknowledging their outstanding achievements and overall excellence.

The awardees include personnel who played a critical role in ensuring safe and seamless Railway operations during large-scale events such as the Mahakumbh. The awardees also include officers whose contributions during Operation Sindoor ensured uninterrupted railway operations and public relief under demanding conditions, as well as those who introduced advanced Ballast Cleaning Machines in difficult sections, significantly improving track safety, ride quality, and long-term maintenance efficiency.

The award ceremony underscores Indian Railways’ commitment to recognising dedication, professionalism, and exemplary service, while celebrating the collective efforts of its workforce in building a safer, more efficient, and passenger-centric Rail system.

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Dharmendra Tewari/ Dr. Nayan Solanki/ Manik Sharma