No Official Provision for Serving Halal-Certified Food in Trains, Says Indian Railways
In recent weeks, a debate has unfolded across social media regarding the type of food served on Indian trains — particularly whether the Indian Railways has been offering halal-certified meals to passengers. With rumours and misinformation spreading rapidly, the Ministry of Railways has finally issued a clear statement to set the record straight.
According to officials, there is no official provision or requirement for serving halal-certified food on trains. Let’s break down what this means and why the clarification was necessary.
🚆 Indian Railways Clarifies Its Stand
The Railway Ministry confirmed that:
There is no policy instructing caterers to supply halal-certified meals.
Food provided onboard, whether vegetarian or non-vegetarian, must comply only with FSSAI guidelines, which regulate hygiene, quality, and safety.
Certifications like halal or jhatka are not mandated by the Railways.
The clarification comes amid concerns from certain passenger groups claiming that only halal-certified meals were being supplied by food contractors. The Railways responded by stating that such claims are “misleading” and not supported by any official instruction.
🍽 How Food Is Actually Managed on Indian Trains
Indian Railways uses two primary systems to supply food:
#IRCTC-managed base kitchens
#Private catering contractors working under IRCTC guidelines
All of them must follow:
#FSSAI safety standards
#Approved menus
#Pricing guidelines
#Hygiene protocols
No religious certification is part of the food-service criteria.
This means caterers are free to source food from FSSAI-approved suppliers, without needing additional labels unless they choose them voluntarily for business reasons.
🔍 Why the Rumours Emerged
The controversy began when images of packaged food items carrying “halal-certified” labels, allegedly served in trains, circulated online. This led to questions about whether IRCTC had mandated such certifications.
However:
The Railways clarified that some suppliers may independently use halal certification for their meat products because it is common in the Indian food industry, especially in poultry processing.
This does not reflect a Railways policy.
IRCTC does not force any particular certification — religious or otherwise.
💬 Railways’ Message to Passengers
Authorities emphasized that passengers concerned about food quality or service can:
Lodge complaints via the Rail Madad app
Contact onboard supervisors
Report issues through IRCTC helplines
But as of now, the official stand remains firm:
👉 There is no rule requiring halal-certified food to be served on Indian trains.
The Indian Railways’ clarification helps end the confusion surrounding food certification onboard trains. Their focus remains on maintaining quality, hygiene, and safety — not enforcing any religious standards.
The message is simple and direct:
Food on trains follows FSSAI guidelines, not halal or jhatka mandates.
Edited by- Shaurya Arora
