The Union Railways Ministry has prohibited advertisements that are objectionable in the eyes of law, including alcoholic drinks, tobacco and smoking-related products, from being displayed in trains and railway stations.
As per media reports, the ministry has stated that it has formulated comprehensive Non-Fare Revenue (NFR) policies to generate revenue through advertising and branding initiatives. Under its Out-of-Home (OOH) advertising policy, opportunities for advertising have been provided in circulating areas of stations, while the Rail Display Network (RDN) policy has enabled digital advertising through screens and display systems in stations and surrounding areas. Mobile assets such as trains and coaches, both interior and exterior, have also been leveraged for branding under existing guidelines.
The ministry has specified that advertisements of alcoholic drinks, cigarettes, bidis, other tobacco products, private insurance companies offering policies against railway accidents, and ads featuring erotic background scenes or those promoting competing modes of transport have not been permitted.
It has further stated that for advertisements displayed in trains, prior approval for every advertising plan has been mandatory and must be submitted to the office of the divisional authority of the concerned railway division. While brand selection has remained the prerogative of the advertising agency, agencies have been required to comply with all central and state laws governing advertisement display.
The ministry has cautioned that any violation of these norms will lead to immediate corrective action.
Separately, the Railways Ministry has increased oversight of its subsidiary, the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), and has imposed a penalty of ₹10 lakh following a formal complaint regarding food quality on the Patna–Tatanagar Vande Bharat Express dated March 15.
A punitive charge of ₹50 lakh has also been imposed on the service provider involved, along with a directive for termination of its contract.
A railway representative has stated that passenger protection and satisfaction remain a priority. The ministry has noted that around 58 crore meals are served annually across the network, with a grievance rate of approximately 0.0008%, including complaints related to overcharging.
Following investigations into such complaints, penalties amounting to ₹2.6 crore have been enforced over the past three years. In 2025, three cases involving physical altercations between pantry staff and passengers have been reported, and criminal proceedings have been initiated against the personnel involved by the Government Railway Police.
