In 2015, which of the following banks became the first bank to tie up with Indian Railways to sell rail tickets directly through its own website?

Introduction / Context:
This question tests knowledge of innovative collaborations between banks and Indian Railways that make ticket booking more convenient for customers. In 2015, a significant step was taken when a private bank integrated railway ticket booking into its own online banking platform, allowing users to purchase tickets directly without visiting the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) site separately. This sort of technology-led tie-up is a common topic in banking and railways-related general knowledge questions.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The year is 2015.
• The tie-up is about selling rail tickets through the bank’s own website.
• The partner is specifically Indian Railways (via its ticketing system).
• Options list four major Indian banks: ICICI Bank, State Bank of India (SBI), Axis Bank and HDFC Bank.

Concept / Approach:
The approach is to recall which bank was highlighted in current affairs as the first to offer direct railway ticket booking from its internet banking portal. Among the given options, ICICI Bank made news for integrating IRCTC's ticketing service with its net banking, marketing it as a value-added digital convenience for its customers. While other banks also offer similar services, the question is about the first such tie-up in 2015, which is associated with ICICI Bank.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify that the question refers to an online service innovation involving rail tickets and bank websites. Step 2: Recall from news and exam materials that ICICI Bank was promoted as the first bank to collaborate with Indian Railways for selling tickets directly through its internet banking interface. Step 3: Consider that SBI, Axis Bank and HDFC Bank also have strong digital platforms, but they were not reported as the earliest to provide this specific integration in 2015. Step 4: Match this recollection with the options and select ICICI Bank. Step 5: Confirm mentally that no other listed bank was credited with being “the first” in this context during that year.

Verification / Alternative check:
Verification can be done by checking 2015–2016 banking awareness notes and official press releases from ICICI Bank and IRCTC. They clearly describe the arrangement allowing ICICI customers to log in to internet banking, choose the rail ticket booking option, and complete reservations without a separate IRCTC login process. Questions in earlier banking and railway exams have also repeatedly referenced ICICI Bank as the first bank to provide this facility, confirming the accuracy of the answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• SBI: Although State Bank of India has extensive online services, it was not the first bank highlighted for selling rail tickets directly through its own website in 2015.
• Axis Bank: This bank offers many digital innovations but is not associated with being the first in this particular collaboration with Indian Railways.
• HDFC Bank: Similarly, HDFC Bank is well-known for its digital offerings but was not reported as the first bank to integrate railway ticket booking on its portal in 2015.

Common Pitfalls:
Many candidates might choose SBI or HDFC Bank based purely on size or familiarity, assuming that the largest or most well-known bank must have been the first mover. Another pitfall is confusing later tie-ups or mobile app features with this initial web-based integration. To avoid such errors, aspiring candidates should create brief timelines of major banking innovations—such as the first bank to launch mobile wallets, contactless cards or integrated ticketing services—and revise them before exams, rather than relying on vague impressions.

Final Answer:
The first bank to tie up with Indian Railways in 2015 to sell rail tickets directly through its own website was ICICI Bank.