The paper refers briefly to the d.c. electrification and to some operating statistics on the Indian Railways and gives a few details of the electrification schemes undertaken in the Second and Third Five-Year Plans, using a 25 kV single-phase industrial-frequency system. Power supply arrangements, traction overhead equipment, ancillary civil, signalling and telecommunication engineering work and a.c. rolling stock are described. It outlines the technical improvements made in fixed installations and rolling stock in the light of experience gained so far, the organisation set up for the execution of electrification projects and the efforts made to develop the manufacture of rolling stock and other equipment in India.