In the history of Indian Railways, in which year was the first electric railway line opened for public service?

Introduction / Context:
This question tests your knowledge of transport and infrastructure history in India. Specifically, it asks about the year when the first electric railway line began operation. Railways are a crucial part of India development story, and milestones such as the first train, gauge conversions and the introduction of electric traction are popular topics in general knowledge examinations.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The focus is on the first electric railway line in India.
• The question wants the year in which this electric line was opened for public service.
• The options given are the years 1925, 1905, 1910, 1915, and 1930.
• We assume the conventional exam fact that refers to the suburban electric service started around Mumbai.

Concept / Approach:
India initially relied on steam locomotives for railway traction. With time, electric traction was introduced on selected suburban routes to improve efficiency and handle dense commuter traffic. Standard exam references state that the first electric train service in India was started in 1925 on the Bombay Victoria Terminus to Kurla section of the Central Railway. Therefore the year to be remembered for the first electric railway operation is 1925, not the earlier or later years provided in the options.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that electric traction was introduced in India after several decades of steam operation, not as early as 1905. Step 2: Connect the first electric train with the Bombay Victoria Terminus to Kurla suburban section on Central Railway. Step 3: Remember from exam oriented material that this landmark event is dated to 1925. Step 4: Compare this date with other options such as 1910, 1915, and 1930, which do not match the standard historical reference for the first electric line. Step 5: Select 1925 as the correct year in which the first electric railway line was opened for public traffic in India.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify this answer by consulting railway history summaries in general knowledge books or on official railway heritage sources. They consistently mention 1925 as the year when electric multiple units started running between Bombay Victoria Terminus, now Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, and Kurla. This is celebrated as the beginning of electric train services in India and is widely used in exam questions as the benchmark year for the first electric railway.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
The year 1905 is too early for the introduction of electric railway traction in India, which was still dominated by steam at that time. The years 1910 and 1915 also precede the documented start of electric services on the Bombay suburban section. The year 1930 is later and corresponds to a period when electric traction was already in use, not when it was first introduced. Therefore none of these alternative years accurately represents the opening of the first electric railway line.

Common Pitfalls:
Students often confuse different milestone dates related to Indian Railways, such as the year of the first train in 1853, the introduction of metro rail or recent high speed services. Another common error is to guess a round year such as 1930 without recalling the specific date linked to the Bombay suburban electric line. To avoid these mistakes, clearly associate 1925 with the first electric railway service between Bombay Victoria Terminus and Kurla.

Final Answer:
1925