The Indian Railways, like the military, has many traditions dating back to the British era.
However, some of these practices are now changing.
One such long-standing tradition is the distribution of gold-plated silver coins to retiring employees and officers.
Recently, the Railway Ministry announced that this practice will be discontinued.
Why Were the Coins Stopped?
There are two main reasons behind this decision.
First, the price of silver has risen sharply, making these coins much more expensive than before.
Second, issues of corruption and poor quality were discovered.
Reports from Madhya Pradesh revealed that some silver coins given to retiring employees were adulterated.
Investigations showed that the coins contained very little silver and were mostly made of copper.
This suggested that the sellers had committed fraud.
To prevent further issues, the Railways decided to stop giving coins altogether.
Official Notice from the Railway Board
The Railway Board sent a letter to all zonal heads and production units stating:
“It has now been decided to discontinue the practice of presenting gold-plated silver coins or medals to retiring railway employees and officers.
Silver coins already purchased or in stock should be accounted for and used for other purposes.”
The letter did not mention a detailed reason, but officials confirmed that concerns about poor-quality coins and rising costs influenced the decision.
The move also has the President’s approval.
A Tradition That Began in 2006
The practice of giving silver coins started in March 2006.
At that time, railway employees who retired voluntarily or after completing service were awarded a 20-gram gold-plated silver coin.
Back then, each coin cost around ₹1,000.
Today, the cost has risen to approximately ₹10,000, further adding to the reason for discontinuing the tradition.
This marks the end of a long-standing ritual, reflecting the Railways’ effort to adapt to modern challenges and curb misuse of resources
