Indian Railways – Historical administrative structure For effective administration, into how many railway zones was the Indian Railway system traditionally divided (legacy classification used in many exam standards)?

Introduction / Context:
Exam questions on Indian Railways often reference the legacy administrative structure. While the present-day network has expanded to many more zones, older standards and textbooks commonly cite an earlier configuration. This item checks recall of that conventional division used in numerous competitive exams and civil engineering question banks.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question explicitly asks for the traditional/legacy number of zones used for effective administration, not the current count.
• Options range from four to nine zones.
• We assume the context of historical organization commonly quoted in older syllabi.

Concept / Approach:
Historically, Indian Railways described an administrative structure with nine zones in many standard references. Although reorganizations created additional zones later, multiple exam banks still use the nine-zone figure as the 'correct' legacy answer. Understanding the historical context prevents confusion with contemporary figures.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Identify the era/context intended: legacy administrative divisions.Recall that many classic references describe nine zones for effective administration.Select the option matching this legacy figure: nine railway zones.

Verification / Alternative check:
A quick cross-check with traditional exam-prep material and older handbooks confirms that 'nine zones' is the commonly accepted answer in the legacy context. Modern counts are higher but are not the target here.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Four/Six/Seven/Eight zones: These do not match the historical nine-zone classification found in standard older references.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes answer using the current number of zones. The key is noticing the exam’s legacy framing ('for effective administration' as stated in many older texts), which points to the traditional nine-zone answer.

Final Answer:
Nine railway zones