• Source:JND
Add as a preferred

List of Railway Ministers of India:  The Ministry of Railways is an important pillar of the foundation of India. The Indian Railway Sector has always been the cornerstone of the country’s transportation infrastructure. From connecting wide geographical regions to making the transportation of people and goods across the nation, railways have always served as one of the most convenient and affordable means of movement. It has always served as the centre of India's transport network ever since India gained its independence in 1947. Especially the Railway Ministers of India, who have been a crucial part of the Railway sector in the nation of a billion.

These railway ministers initiated reforms, improved services, enhanced connectivity, and managed one of the world's largest railway systems across the globe. To know more, here is a list of all the railway ministers of India since 1946.

Also Read: List Of Current Chief Ministers Of Indian States 2025

List of Railway Ministers of India (1946–Present)

Name Political Party Tenure of Office
Asaf Ali Indian National Congress 2 Sept 1946 – 14 Aug 1947
John Mathai Indian National Congress 15 Aug 1947 – 22 Sept 1948
N. Gopalaswami Ayyangar Indian National Congress 22 Sept 1948 – 13 May 1952
Lal Bahadur Shastri Indian National Congress 13 May 1952 – 7 Dec 1956
Jagjivan Ram Indian National Congress 7 Dec 1956 – 10 Apr 1962
Swaran Singh Indian National Congress 10 Apr 1962 – 21 Sept 1963
H. C. Dasappa Indian National Congress 21 Sept 1963 – 8 June 1964
S. K. Patil Indian National Congress 9 June 1964 – 12 Mar 1967
C. M. Poonacha Indian National Congress 13 Mar 1967 – 14 Feb 1969
Ram Subhag Singh Indian National Congress 14 Feb 1969 – 4 Nov 1969
Panampilli Govinda Menon Indian National Congress 4 Nov 1969 – 18 Feb 1970
Gulzarilal Nanda Indian National Congress 18 Feb 1970 – 17 Mar 1971
K. Hanumanthaiya Indian National Congress 18 Mar 1971 – 22 July 1972
T. A. Pai Indian National Congress 23 July 1972 – 4 Feb 1973
Lalit Narayan Mishra Indian National Congress 5 Feb 1973 – 2 Jan 1975
Kamalapati Tripathi Indian National Congress 11 Feb 1975 – 23 Mar 1977
Madhu Dandavate Janata Party 26 Mar 1977 – 28 July 1979
T. A. Pai Janata Party (Secular) 30 July 1979 – 13 Jan 1980
Kamalapati Tripathi Indian National Congress 14 Jan 1980 – 12 Nov 1980
Kedar Pandey Indian National Congress 12 Nov 1980 – 14 Jan 1982
Prakash Chandra Sethi Indian National Congress 15 Jan 1982 – 2 Sept 1982
A. B. A. Ghani Khan Choudhury Indian National Congress 2 Sept 1982 – 31 Dec 1984
Bansi Lal Indian National Congress 31 Dec 1984 – 4 June 1986
Mohsina Kidwai Indian National Congress 24 June 1986 – 21 Oct 1986
Madhavrao Scindia Indian National Congress 22 Oct 1986 – 1 Dec 1989
George Fernandes Janata Dal 5 Dec 1989 – 10 Nov 1990
Janeshwar Mishra Samajwadi Janata Party 21 Nov 1990 – 21 June 1991
Jaffer Sharief Indian National Congress 21 June 1991 – 16 Oct 1995
Ram Vilas Paswan Janata Dal 1 June 1996 – 19 Mar 1998
Nitish Kumar Samata Party 19 Mar 1998 – 5 Aug 1999
Ram Naik Bharatiya Janata Party 6 Aug 1999 – 12 Oct 1999
Mamata Banerjee Trinamool Congress 13 Oct 1999 – 15 Mar 2001
Nitish Kumar Janata Dal (United) 20 Mar 2001 – 22 May 2004
Lalu Prasad Yadav Rashtriya Janata Dal 23 May 2004 – 25 May 2009
Mamata Banerjee Trinamool Congress 26 May 2009 – 19 May 2011
Dinesh Trivedi Trinamool Congress 12 July 2011 – 14 Mar 2012
Mukul Roy Trinamool Congress 20 Mar 2012 – 21 Sept 2012
C. P. Joshi Indian National Congress 22 Sept 2012 – 28 Oct 2012
Pawan Kumar Bansal Indian National Congress 28 Oct 2012 – 10 May 2013
C. P. Joshi Indian National Congress 11 May 2013 – 16 June 2013
Mallikarjun Kharge Indian National Congress 17 June 2013 – 25 May 2014
D. V. Sadananda Gowda Bharatiya Janata Party 27 May 2014 – 10 Nov 2014
Suresh Prabhu Bharatiya Janata Party 10 Nov 2014 – 3 Sept 2017
Piyush Goyal Bharatiya Janata Party 3 Sept 2017 – 7 July 2021
Ashwini Vaishnaw Bharatiya Janata Party 7 July 2021 – Incumbent

Also Read: Who Are The Longest Serving Prime Ministers Of India? Know Where PM Modi Ranks

The Ministry of Railways has traditionally seen leadership from cross-party political origins, showcasing the wide dynamics of Indian politics. From Asaf Ali in 1946 to Ashwini Vaishnaw today, every Railway Minister has largely contributed to making transportation modern, extensive, and digitalised. This transformation not only reflects political changes but also the strategic value of railways hold in India's economic and social growth.