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Indian Railways Hikes Penalty to Min ₹10,000 Under Jan Vishwas Act 2026 for Prohibited Goods

Target:UPSC GS-IIMPSCSSC GATeachingPrelims HighMains MediumStatic GK Link
22 Jun 2026
~2 min
Source: Indian Express
Key Data:₹10,000Section 165Railways Act 1989Jan Vishwas Act 2026Up to 1 year imprisonment
Bodies:Ministry of Railways
Practice MCQs from today's news ▸
What This Article Covers

1.Indian Railways has hiked the minimum penalty to ₹10,000 for carrying prohibited goods under Section 165 of the Railways Act, 1989.

2.The change is via the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2026, which also removes imprisonment as a direct punishment for the primary offence.

3.Examiners can test Section numbers, penalty amounts, and the decriminalisation vs enhanced fine dichotomy across acts.

The Big Picture
Prelims · HighMains · Medium

Indian Railways has amended penalty provisions under the Jan Vishwas Act 2026, raising the minimum fine for carrying prohibited goods from ₹1,000 to ₹10,000. The reform decriminalises the primary offence but imposes heavy monetary penalties, with imprisonment only for default. This is a key governance move enhancing passenger safety and aligning with the decriminalisation thrust of the Jan Vishwas Act.

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

New Minimum Fine₹10,000
Earlier Maximum Fine₹1,000
Applicable SectionSection 165, Railways Act, 1989
Imprisonment on DefaultUp to 1 year
Enabling ActJan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2026

1-Minute Revision

  • ›New Minimum Fine: ₹10,000
  • ›Earlier Maximum Fine: ₹1,000
  • ›Target this Data: Minimum fine ₹10,000 under Section 165 (Jan Vishwas Act 2026 amendment)
  • ›Target this Nodal Body: Ministry of Railways (issued gazette notification on June 19, 2026)
  • ›Target this Legal Point: Section 165 of the Railways Act, 1989 as substituted by Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2026

Mastered this topic? Test your knowledge with a full MCQ quiz.

Practice exam-style questions, track your score, and strengthen your recall.

Q1Static LinkageEasy

Which ministry issued the gazette notification announcing the increased penalty for carrying prohibited goods on trains?

Q2Statement-basedHard

Consider the following statements regarding the new penalty rules:

1. The minimum fine for carrying prohibited goods under Section 165 is now ₹10,000.

2. The new provision allows imprisonment up to 3 years for the primary offence.

3. In case of default of payment, the court may order imprisonment up to one year.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Q3Data-centricMedium

According to the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2026, what is the new minimum fine for bringing prohibited goods on a railway under Section 165?

Q4Application/ImpactMedium

What is the primary objective behind increasing the penalty for carrying prohibited goods on trains?

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