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DFCCIL MTS practice questions

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Question 1General Awareness / Current Affairs

The Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited (DFCCIL) was incorporated as a company under which Act, which governs its corporate existence?

  1. The Indian Railways Finance Corporation Act, 1986
  2. The Railways Act, 1989
  3. The DFCCIL Act, 2006
  4. The Companies Act, 1956 Correct answer.

Explanation

DFCCIL is a special purpose vehicle set up by the Ministry of Railways and registered as a company under the Companies Act, 1956 (now governed by the Companies Act, 2013 for ongoing compliance). It is not created by a dedicated DFCCIL statute, and the Railways Act, 1989 governs railway operations rather than the company's incorporation.

Question 2General Awareness / Current Affairs

DFCCIL is mandated to construct and operate dedicated freight corridors. Which pair correctly names the two corridors taken up in the first phase?

  1. Western DFC and Central DFC
  2. Eastern DFC and Southern DFC
  3. Northern DFC and Southern DFC
  4. Eastern DFC and Western DFC Correct answer.

Explanation

The first phase of the Dedicated Freight Corridor programme covers the Eastern DFC (Ludhiana–Sonnagar/Dankuni) and the Western DFC (Dadri–JNPT). The other corridors such as East-West, North-South and East Coast were proposed later and are not part of phase one.

Question 3General Awareness / Current Affairs

The Western Dedicated Freight Corridor terminates at which major port, which is also India's largest container-handling port?

  1. Mundra Port
  2. Visakhapatnam Port
  3. Kandla Port
  4. Jawaharlal Nehru Port (JNPT), Navi Mumbai Correct answer.

Explanation

The Western DFC runs from Dadri in Uttar Pradesh to Jawaharlal Nehru Port (JNPT) near Navi Mumbai, linking the National Capital Region's inland container depot to India's biggest container gateway. Mundra and Kandla lie in Gujarat and are not the WDFC's designated terminal port.

Question 4General Awareness / Current Affairs

The Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor is primarily aligned to serve which economic activity, being located in the coal and steel belt?

  1. Carriage of coffee from Karnataka plantations
  2. Transport of petroleum products from Gujarat refineries
  3. Movement of coal, steel and iron ore from the eastern states Correct answer.
  4. Export of seafood from Kerala

Explanation

The Eastern DFC passes through the coal, steel and cement belt of Jharkhand, West Bengal, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, so its traffic profile is dominated by bulk commodities such as coal, iron ore and steel. Petroleum from Gujarat and plantation or marine products from the south fall on other routes.

Question 5General Awareness / Current Affairs

DFCCIL's corridors use a track structure designed for heavier loads. What is the standard axle load specified for the dedicated freight corridor network?

  1. 20.32 tonnes
  2. 32.5 tonnes Correct answer.
  3. 25 tonnes
  4. 22.82 tonnes

Explanation

The dedicated freight corridors are built for a heavy-haul axle load of 32.5 tonnes, compared with the 22.82–25 tonne norms on much of Indian Railways' conventional network. This higher axle load allows heavier and longer freight trains, improving throughput per path.

Question 6General Awareness / Current Affairs

Which organisation is the funding partner that has supported the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor through a large loan, making it one of the biggest lenders to the project?

  1. World Bank
  2. New Development Bank
  3. Asian Development Bank (ADB)
  4. Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Correct answer.

Explanation

JICA has been the principal external financier of the Western DFC, while the Eastern DFC has been supported substantially by the World Bank. This split in funding partners is a frequently asked fact about the corridor programme.

Question 7General Awareness / Current Affairs

DFCCIL operates under the administrative control of which ministry of the Government of India?

  1. Ministry of Railways Correct answer.
  2. Ministry of Commerce and Industry
  3. Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
  4. Ministry of Road Transport and Highways

Explanation

DFCCIL is a public sector undertaking under the Ministry of Railways, which nominated it to plan, build and run the dedicated freight corridors. Ports, roads and commerce ministries are stakeholders in freight policy but do not administer DFCCIL.

Question 8General Awareness / Current Affairs

The Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor starts from Sahnewal near Ludhiana. Which city is its other end point on the Sonnagar–Dankuni section?

  1. Chennai
  2. Hyderabad
  3. Dankuni near Kolkata Correct answer.
  4. Guwahati

Explanation

The Eastern DFC stretches from Sahnewal near Ludhiana to Dankuni near Kolkata, with Sonnagar as an intermediate junction point. The corridor thus links Punjab's industrial belt to the Kolkata region.

Question 9General Awareness / Current Affairs

Which of these is a stated objective behind building dedicated freight corridors rather than running freight on the existing Indian Railways network?

  1. To separate freight and passenger traffic so each can run without mutual delay Correct answer.
  2. To replace all passenger trains with freight trains
  3. To convert Indian Railways into a private company
  4. To shift all freight movement to roadways

Explanation

Dedicated corridors segregate freight from passenger operations, which removes path conflicts, raises average speeds and improves punctuality for both streams. The programme does not abolish passenger services, privatise Indian Railways or divert freight to roads.

Question 10General Awareness / Current Affairs

DFCCIL has adopted which signalling technology on its corridors to enable high-density freight movement?

  1. Single-line working with telegraphic orders
  2. European Train Control System (ETCS) Level 2 with automatic train protection Correct answer.
  3. Mechanical semaphore signalling throughout
  4. Absolute block signalling with manual token exchange

Explanation

DFCCIL introduced ETCS Level 2 signalling, which provides continuous movement authority and automatic train protection, allowing higher speeds and closer headways. Manual token, telegraphic and semaphore systems are legacy methods unsuited to heavy-haul, high-density operations.

Question 11General Awareness / Current Affairs

Which famous inland container depot in Uttar Pradesh serves as the starting point of the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor?

  1. Varanasi
  2. Kanpur
  3. Agra
  4. Dadri Correct answer.

Explanation

The Western DFC begins at Dadri in Gautam Buddh Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, an important inland container depot feeding export-import traffic to JNPT. Kanpur, Agra and Varanasi are not the corridor's starting terminal.

Question 12General Awareness / Current Affairs

A DFCCIL freight train is to run at higher speed and heavier load than conventional trains. Which combination best explains the engineering changes required on the corridors?

  1. Removal of all bridges to avoid bottlenecks
  2. Narrower gauge track and lighter rails
  3. Use of single-line sections with no signalling
  4. Heavier rails, stronger bridges and a heavier axle load design Correct answer.

Explanation

Higher speeds and 32.5-tonne axle loads demand heavier rail sections, strengthened bridges and improved formation, along with modern signalling. Narrower gauge, removal of bridges or unsignalled single-line working would reduce capacity and safety rather than raise them.

Question 13General Awareness / Current Affairs

Which of the following is the correct full form of the abbreviation 'DFC' as used in the context of DFCCIL?

  1. District Freight Commission
  2. Direct Freight Charge
  3. Dedicated Freight Corridor Correct answer.
  4. Delhi Freight Company

Explanation

In DFCCIL, DFC stands for Dedicated Freight Corridor, the exclusive rail route built for freight trains. The other expansions are invented and do not correspond to any railway term.

Question 14General Awareness / Current Affairs

The Eastern DFC's alignment passes through which coal-rich state, making it suitable for transporting coal to power plants?

  1. Kerala
  2. Jharkhand Correct answer.
  3. Punjab
  4. Rajasthan

Explanation

Jharkhand, with its coalfields and steel plants, lies on the Eastern DFC route and is a key source of bulk traffic. Kerala, Punjab and Rajasthan are not the corridor's coal-loading states, though Punjab is its northern terminus state.

Question 15General Awareness / Current Affairs

Which of the following statements about DFCCIL's corporate status is correct?

  1. It is a statutory body created by an Act of Parliament
  2. It is a department directly under the Ministry of Finance
  3. It is a private limited company owned by a foreign investor
  4. It is a special purpose vehicle incorporated as a company under the Ministry of Railways Correct answer.

Explanation

DFCCIL is a special purpose vehicle registered as a company and functioning as a PSU under the Ministry of Railways. It is not a statutory body created by an Act, nor a finance ministry department, nor a foreign-owned private company.

Question 16General Awareness / Current Affairs

DFCCIL's corridors are expected to reduce the cost of logistics in India. Which outcome most directly reflects this benefit?

  1. Closure of all road freight operators
  2. Lower unit freight cost per tonne-kilometre due to heavier and longer trains Correct answer.
  3. Higher passenger ticket prices on the same routes
  4. Reduction in the number of ports in India

Explanation

Heavier axle loads and longer trains on dedicated corridors spread fixed costs over more tonne-kilometres, lowering unit freight cost and improving logistics competitiveness. Passenger fares, port counts and road operators are not directly reduced by the corridors.

Question 17General Awareness / Current Affairs

Which Indian Railways organisation is the largest single customer whose freight traffic is expected to be shifted onto the dedicated corridors?

  1. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation
  2. The Kolkata Tramways Company
  3. The Ministry of Defence
  4. Indian Railways' freight business, which pays DFCCIL for train operations Correct answer.

Explanation

Indian Railways' freight trains are the primary users of the corridors, and DFCCIL earns revenue from allowing them to run on the new infrastructure. Defence, metro and tramway bodies are not the principal freight customers of the corridors.

Question 18General Awareness / Current Affairs

The Eastern DFC connects to which major industrial region at its eastern end, aiding export-import trade?

  1. The Mumbai–Pune corridor
  2. The Ahmedabad–Vadodara corridor
  3. The Bengaluru–Chennai corridor
  4. The Kolkata–Haldia industrial and port region Correct answer.

Explanation

The Eastern DFC's eastern end near Dankuni serves the Kolkata–Haldia industrial belt, giving access to eastern ports and industries. The Mumbai–Pune, Bengaluru–Chennai and Ahmedabad–Vadodara corridors lie elsewhere in India.

Question 19General Awareness / Current Affairs

Which of these features is a characteristic of the 'dedicated' nature of the freight corridors?

  1. They are open only to road vehicles
  2. They are used only during the monsoon season
  3. They are used only by freight trains and not by regular passenger trains Correct answer.
  4. They are used only by passenger trains

Explanation

The corridors are dedicated exclusively to freight operations, which is why they are called dedicated freight corridors. Passenger trains, road vehicles and seasonal restrictions do not apply to them.

Question 20General Awareness / Current Affairs

DFCCIL's Western DFC primarily feeds which type of container traffic, given its link to JNPT?

  1. Coal export from Gujarat to Nepal
  2. Export-import container traffic between northern India and the port Correct answer.
  3. Pilgrimage tourist traffic
  4. Coastal passenger ferry traffic

Explanation

The WDFC links the northern hinterland to JNPT, India's largest container port, so it mainly carries export-import containers. Ferry, pilgrimage and coal-export-to-Nepal traffic are not the corridor's core function.

Question 21General Awareness / Current Affairs

Which of these is a stated benefit of the dedicated freight corridors for the environment?

  1. Higher emission of greenhouse gases per tonne-kilometre
  2. Complete elimination of all railway emissions
  3. Reduced carbon emissions per tonne of freight moved by shifting traffic from road to rail Correct answer.
  4. Increased use of diesel locomotives only

Explanation

Rail freight emits less carbon per tonne-kilometre than road freight, so shifting bulk cargo to the corridors lowers emissions. The corridors do not rely only on diesel, do not raise emissions and cannot eliminate all railway emissions.

Question 22General Awareness / Current Affairs

The Sonnagar–Dankuni section of the Eastern DFC has been planned on which model, involving private participation in construction and maintenance?

  1. Leasing the corridor to a foreign railway operator
  2. Complete nationalisation with no private role
  3. Public-private partnership on a design-build-finance-operate-maintain basis Correct answer.
  4. Conversion of the section into a road highway

Explanation

The Sonnagar–Dankuni stretch was planned as a PPP project on a design-build-finance-operate-maintain model, with DFCCIL retaining ownership. It was not nationalised, leased to a foreign operator or converted into a road.

Question 23General Awareness / Current Affairs

Which of these states does the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor pass through?

  1. Kerala
  2. Uttar Pradesh Correct answer.
  3. Assam
  4. Odisha

Explanation

The Western DFC starts at Dadri in Uttar Pradesh and runs through Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra to JNPT. Kerala, Assam and Odisha lie outside its alignment.

Question 24General Awareness / Current Affairs

DFCCIL's corridors were designed with longer loops and higher axle loads. What operational advantage does this give to freight trains?

  1. Longer and heavier trains can be run, raising throughput per path Correct answer.
  2. Train speeds are capped below conventional routes
  3. Trains must stop more often for crew changes
  4. Freight trains must share tracks with suburban services

Explanation

Longer loop lengths and higher axle-load design allow longer, heavier freight trains to run without frequent stops, increasing throughput per path. More crew stops, shared suburban tracks or lower speed caps would reduce rather than enhance capacity.

Question 25General Awareness / Current Affairs

Which body has been designated to plan and monitor the overall implementation of the dedicated freight corridor programme at the national level?

  1. The Reserve Bank of India
  2. The Supreme Court of India
  3. The Election Commission of India
  4. DFCCIL, under the Ministry of Railways Correct answer.

Explanation

DFCCIL, as the implementing agency under the Ministry of Railways, plans, constructs and monitors the dedicated freight corridor programme. The RBI, Election Commission and Supreme Court have no role in implementing rail corridors.

Question 26General Awareness / Current Affairs

Which Indian state is the northernmost point of the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor, where it begins near Dadri?

  1. Gujarat
  2. Haryana
  3. Rajasthan
  4. Uttar Pradesh Correct answer.

Explanation

The Western DFC starts at Dadri in Uttar Pradesh and runs south-west through Haryana, Rajasthan and Gujarat to JNPT in Maharashtra. Dadri lies in Uttar Pradesh's Gautam Buddha Nagar district, so the corridor's northern terminus state is Uttar Pradesh.

Question 27General Awareness / Current Affairs

DFCCIL's Western Dedicated Freight Corridor terminates at which container port on the Arabian Sea coast?

  1. Jawaharlal Nehru Port (JNPT) Correct answer.
  2. Mormugao Port
  3. Kandla Port
  4. Mundra Port

Explanation

The Western DFC is designed to link the National Capital Region with Jawaharlal Nehru Port near Mumbai, India's largest container-handling port. This connection is central to moving export-import containers between the hinterland and the sea.

Question 28General Awareness / Current Affairs

The Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited was incorporated as a company under which Act?

  1. Indian Railways Act, 1890
  2. Railways Act, 1989
  3. Companies Act, 1956 Correct answer.
  4. Multi-Modal Transportation of Goods Act, 1993

Explanation

DFCCIL is a public sector undertaking registered as a company under the Companies Act, 1956 (now governed by the Companies Act, 2013). The Railways Act, 1989 governs railway operations generally but is not the statute under which DFCCIL was incorporated.

Question 29General Awareness / Current Affairs

Which of these commodities is the principal bulk traffic expected on the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor because of its coal-field alignment?

  1. Perishable vegetables
  2. Coal Correct answer.
  3. Automobiles
  4. Crude petroleum

Explanation

The Eastern DFC passes through the coal belt of Jharkhand and West Bengal and is designed to carry coal from mines to power plants and steel plants. Coal is therefore the dominant bulk commodity associated with this corridor's traffic projections.

Question 30General Awareness / Current Affairs

DFCCIL's corridors are built to carry trains with a higher axle load than conventional Indian Railways routes. What does a higher permitted axle load most directly allow?

  1. Shorter signalling blocks
  2. Faster passenger train speeds
  3. Heavier freight trains per wagon and per train Correct answer.
  4. Reduced track maintenance costs

Explanation

Axle load is the weight a single wheelset transmits to the track; raising it lets each wagon and each train carry more tonnage. DFCCIL designed its track and bridges for heavier axle loads precisely to increase freight throughput per train.

Question 31General Awareness / Current Affairs

Which type of locomotive is specially designed for DFCCIL's corridors to haul heavy freight at sustained high speed?

  1. WAP-7 electric passenger locomotive
  2. WDP-4 diesel passenger locomotive
  3. WDG-4 diesel freight locomotive
  4. Twin-section WAG-12 electric freight locomotive Correct answer.

Explanation

The WAG-12, built at Madhepura in Bihar, is a high-horsepower twin-section electric locomotive procured for DFCCIL's heavy freight operations. Its power output suits long, heavy trains on the dedicated corridors.

Question 32General Awareness / Current Affairs

DFCCIL's corridors use a signalling system in which signals are displayed inside the driver's cab, allowing continuous supervision of train movement. This system is known as what?

  1. European Train Control System (ETCS) Level 2 Correct answer.
  2. Centralised traffic control with manual signals
  3. Automatic block signalling
  4. Absolute block signalling

Explanation

DFCCIL adopted ETCS Level 2, which transmits movement authorities to the train by radio and displays them in the cab. This continuous, cab-based supervision supports high-density freight operations without relying solely on lineside signals.

Question 33General Awareness / Current Affairs

The Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor is being developed in phases, with part of it built through private participation. Which model is used for the Sonnagar–Dankuni stretch?

  1. Public-Private Partnership on a design-build-finance-operate basis Correct answer.
  2. Turnkey EPC with government funding only
  3. Build-Operate-Transfer with toll collection
  4. Engineering, Procurement and Construction

Explanation

The Sonnagar–Dankuni section was planned on a public-private partnership model in which a concessionaire designs, builds, finances and operates the section. This contrasts with the EPC route used for most other sections funded by DFCCIL.

Question 34General Awareness / Current Affairs

Which of the following is a stated objective of building dedicated freight corridors rather than running freight on the existing network?

  1. Separating freight and passenger movement to reduce congestion Correct answer.
  2. Reducing the number of freight terminals
  3. Eliminating the need for electric traction
  4. Increasing passenger train speeds on the existing lines

Explanation

Separating freight from passenger traffic frees capacity on the existing network and allows each type of service to run on infrastructure suited to it. This reduces congestion and improves punctuality on both sets of lines.

Question 35General Awareness / Current Affairs

A logistics manager wants to shift container traffic from the National Capital Region to JNPT. Which corridor directly serves this route?

  1. East Coast DFC
  2. Southern DFC
  3. Eastern DFC
  4. Western DFC Correct answer.

Explanation

The Western DFC links Dadri in the National Capital Region to JNPT near Mumbai, making it the direct route for this container movement. The Eastern DFC runs toward Kolkata and does not serve the JNPT route.

Question 36General Awareness / Current Affairs

Which of these benefits is most directly attributed to the dedicated freight corridors in environmental terms?

  1. Elimination of all diesel traction in India
  2. Complete replacement of road freight
  3. Reduction in the number of railway stations
  4. Lower greenhouse gas emissions per tonne-kilometre through modal shift Correct answer.

Explanation

Rail freight emits less carbon dioxide per tonne-kilometre than road transport, so shifting freight from trucks to the corridors reduces emissions intensity. This modal shift is the corridor programme's principal environmental claim.

Question 37General Awareness / Current Affairs

Which of the following is the correct expansion of the abbreviation 'DFCCIL'?

  1. Development of Freight Corridors Company of India Limited
  2. Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited Correct answer.
  3. Dedicated Freight Carriage Council of India Limited
  4. Delhi Freight Cargo Company of India Limited

Explanation

DFCCIL stands for Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited, the public sector undertaking that builds and operates the freight corridors. The other expansions alter key words such as 'Corporation' or 'Cargo'.

Question 38General Awareness / Current Affairs

The Eastern DFC's eastern terminus is Dankuni in West Bengal. Which major industrial and port city does this terminus serve?

  1. Kolkata Correct answer.
  2. Haldia only
  3. Paradip
  4. Visakhapatnam

Explanation

Dankuni lies near Kolkata and serves the Kolkata metropolitan region, including its port and industrial belt. This terminus links the eastern coal and steel belt with export-import trade through the Kolkata ports.

Question 39General Awareness / Current Affairs

A DFCCIL corridor is described as 'dedicated'. What does this mean in operational terms?

  1. The track is reserved exclusively for freight trains Correct answer.
  2. The track is owned by private companies
  3. The track carries only container traffic
  4. The track is used only at night

Explanation

A dedicated corridor is reserved for freight services, so it is not shared with passenger trains. This exclusivity allows heavier, longer and faster freight trains to run without conflicting with passenger timetables.

Question 40General Awareness / Current Affairs

Which body was set up to coordinate the planning and monitoring of the dedicated freight corridor programme before DFCCIL took over implementation?

  1. Inland Waterways Authority of India
  2. Railway Board
  3. National Highways Authority of India
  4. Dedicated Freight Corridor Coordination Committee Correct answer.

Explanation

A coordination committee was constituted to oversee planning and monitoring of the corridor programme, with DFCCIL later handling implementation. The Railway Board sets policy for Indian Railways but is not the programme's dedicated monitoring body.

Question 41General Awareness / Current Affairs

Which of the following states does the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor NOT pass through?

  1. Uttar Pradesh
  2. Jharkhand
  3. Punjab
  4. Maharashtra Correct answer.

Explanation

The Eastern DFC runs from Sahnewal in Punjab through Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal to Dankuni. Maharashtra lies on the Western DFC route, not on the Eastern corridor.

Question 42General Awareness / Current Affairs

A DFCCIL freight train carries a heavier load than a conventional train on the same route. Which design feature of the corridors most directly supports this?

  1. Longer loop lines and stronger track structure Correct answer.
  2. Shorter station platforms
  3. Narrower track gauge
  4. Fewer bridges along the route

Explanation

Longer loop lines allow longer trains to be held and crossed, while stronger track and bridge structures support heavier axle loads. Together these features let the corridors handle heavier and longer freight trains than conventional routes.

Question 43General Awareness / Current Affairs

The Western DFC alignment passes through which desert region of Rajasthan, requiring special engineering measures?

  1. Chhotanagpur Plateau
  2. Thar Desert Correct answer.
  3. Deccan Plateau
  4. Rann of Kutch

Explanation

The Western DFC crosses the Thar Desert in Rajasthan, where shifting sand and extreme temperatures demand special track and drainage measures. The Rann of Kutch lies in Gujarat and is not the corridor's desert stretch.

Question 44General Awareness / Current Affairs

DFCCIL's corridors are expected to lower India's logistics costs. Which outcome most directly reflects this benefit?

  1. Higher passenger fares
  2. Longer transit times for exports
  3. Cheaper movement of goods per tonne-kilometre Correct answer.
  4. Increased road toll charges

Explanation

Lower logistics cost means goods can be moved at a cheaper rate per tonne-kilometre, which reduces the delivered cost of commodities. This is the direct economic benefit claimed for the dedicated corridors.

Question 45General Awareness / Current Affairs

Which of these is a characteristic of the 'dedicated' freight corridors that distinguishes them from ordinary Indian Railways freight routes?

  1. They are built to a higher axle-load and speed standard for freight only Correct answer.
  2. They carry both passenger and freight trains
  3. They use metre gauge track
  4. They are unelectrified

Explanation

The corridors are engineered specifically for freight, with higher axle-load capacity and higher permitted speeds than mixed-traffic lines. Because they carry no passenger services, the infrastructure can be optimised for freight alone.

Question 46General Awareness / Current Affairs

A DFCCIL corridor is designed to carry double-stack container trains. What infrastructure feature makes this possible?

  1. Narrower track gauge
  2. Adequate vertical clearance and a high axle-load track structure Correct answer.
  3. Shorter station platforms
  4. Fewer bridges along the route

Explanation

Double-stack container trains require sufficient vertical clearance along the route, including at bridges and overhead structures, along with track strong enough for the heavier load. DFCCIL designed its corridors with these clearances to allow double-stack operation.

Question 47General Awareness / Current Affairs

The Eastern DFC's alignment through Jharkhand and West Bengal makes it especially suitable for transporting coal to which type of facility?

  1. Thermal power plants Correct answer.
  2. Inland container depots only
  3. Airports
  4. Metro rail depots

Explanation

Coal from the Jharkhand and West Bengal belt is moved to thermal power plants, which are major bulk consumers. The Eastern DFC's alignment through this coal belt supports these power-sector supplies.

Question 48General Awareness / Current Affairs

DFCCIL is a Government of India enterprise that functions under the administrative control of which Union Ministry?

  1. Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
  2. Ministry of Coal
  3. Ministry of Commerce and Industry
  4. Ministry of Railways Correct answer.

Explanation

DFCCIL was set up as a special purpose vehicle of Indian Railways and reports to the Ministry of Railways, which owns and administers the rail network it is expanding. The other ministries listed deal with ports, coal and trade policy respectively, and none of them controls DFCCIL.

Question 49General Awareness / Current Affairs

A container train has to move from the National Capital Region to the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust near Mumbai. Which DFCCIL corridor provides the direct dedicated freight route for this movement?

  1. The North-South Dedicated Freight Corridor
  2. The Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor
  3. The East Coast Dedicated Freight Corridor
  4. The Western Dedicated Freight Corridor Correct answer.

Explanation

The Western DFC links Dadri in Uttar Pradesh with JNPT in Maharashtra, so it is the corridor that directly serves container traffic between the NCR and India's largest container port. The Eastern DFC runs from Ludhiana towards Dankuni and does not reach JNPT, while the other two names are not operational DFCCIL corridors.

Question 50General Awareness / Current Affairs

DFCCIL's corridors are engineered for a higher axle load than most conventional Indian Railways routes. Which axle load, in tonnes, are these corridors designed to carry?

  1. 22.82 tonnes
  2. 25.00 tonnes
  3. 32.50 tonnes Correct answer.
  4. 20.32 tonnes

Explanation

The dedicated freight corridors are built for a 32.5-tonne axle load, compared with the 22.82-tonne axle load common on much of the conventional network. This heavier loading is what allows each wagon to carry more and makes the corridors economical for bulk freight such as coal and ore.