With reference to the Railways Act and public nuisance, consider the following statements: 1. Continued nuisance after warnings can lead to a fine of ₹10,000 or imprisonment. 2. Section 145(2) of the Railways Act provides for a ₹1,000 fine and ticket forfeiture for public nuisance. 3. The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2026, amended the Railways Act to include specific penalties. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Indian Railways warns of ₹1,000 fine or imprisonment for audio on speaker mode

GS3Economy · S&T · Environment · Security· Security forces & agencies· Prelims· 10 October 2026

Public order vs individual liberty: a relevant GS3 and Ethics case study on regulatory enforcement.

Why in news

Indian Railways issued a warning regarding punitive actions against passengers playing audio or video on speaker mode to curb public nuisance.

Background

Under Section 145(2) of the Railways Act, 1989, as amended by the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2026, passengers face a ₹1,000 fine and ticket forfeiture for nuisance. Continued nuisance after warnings can lead to six months' simple imprisonment or a ₹5,000 fine.

Facts for Prelims

Act / BillJan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2026: Amended the Railways Act, 1989 to include specific penalties for public nuisance.
FactPenalty for nuisance: ₹1,000 fine and ticket forfeiture.
FactPenalty for continued nuisance: Six months' simple imprisonment or a ₹5,000 fine.
Act / BillSection 145(2) of the Railways Act, 1989: Governs the legal provisions for public nuisance on trains.

Prelims practice question

With reference to the Railways Act and public nuisance, consider the following statements:

Continued nuisance after warnings can lead to a fine of ₹10,000 or imprisonment.
Section 145(2) of the Railways Act provides for a ₹1,000 fine and ticket forfeiture for public nuisance.
The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2026, amended the Railways Act to include specific penalties.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a)1 only
(b)3 only
(c)1 and 2 only
(d)2 and 3 only

Show answer

Answer: (d) 2 and 3 only — Statements 2 and 3 are correct. Statement 1 is incorrect: The note states the fine is ₹5,000 or six months' simple imprisonment.

For Mains

Q. Discuss the balance between individual liberties and the enforcement of public order in public transport systems like Indian Railways.

Dimensions to cover in your answer

Enforcement friction: Difficulty in monitoring individual passenger behavior in high-density coaches
Legal clarity: Transition from discretionary policing to codified penalties under Jan Vishwas Act

Keywords: Public Nuisance · Jan Vishwas Act · Railways Act · Public Order · Punitive Action

Read the full news →Source: The Hindu ↗Also: GS2 · Bills, Acts & ordinances

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This note is generated automatically from SatyaDheesh's news feed and mapped to the UPSC CSE syllabus. Check facts against the original report or PIB before using them in an answer.