As of early 2019 in India, who was serving as the Union Minister of Railways in the Union Council of Ministers?

Introduction / Context:
Questions on current affairs often ask about who held particular ministerial portfolios at specific points in time. For competitive exams, you must pay close attention to the year mentioned in the question, because ministerial positions can change. This question focuses on India's Union Ministry of Railways and specifically asks who was the Union Minister of Railways in 2019, a period when the Narendra Modi government was in office at the Union level.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question refers to the year 2019 in India.
• It asks for the Union Minister of Railways in the Union Council of Ministers at that time.
• Options include Amit Shah, Arun Jaitley, Piyush Goyal, and Nitin Gadkari, all senior leaders associated with the same ruling party during that period.
• We assume the reference is to the portfolio around the time of the 2019 general elections and early months of the Modi government.

Concept / Approach:
Ministerial portfolios are allocated by the Prime Minister and notified by the President of India. During the period around 2019, Piyush Goyal held the Railways portfolio. Amit Shah was primarily associated with the Home Affairs portfolio, Arun Jaitley with Finance and Corporate Affairs earlier in the Modi government, and Nitin Gadkari with Road Transport and Highways and related ministries. Therefore, among the given options, the correct answer is Piyush Goyal as the Union Minister of Railways in 2019.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: List the typical portfolios linked with each leader around 2019: Amit Shah with Home Affairs, Arun Jaitley with Finance, Piyush Goyal with Railways, and Nitin Gadkari with Road Transport and Highways.Step 2: Recall that Piyush Goyal was widely reported and referred to as the Railway Minister in exam oriented current affairs material for that period.Step 3: Cross check mentally that neither Amit Shah nor Nitin Gadkari were holding the Railways portfolio at that time.Step 4: Recognise that Arun Jaitley's association was mainly with Finance, not Railways.Step 5: Conclude that Piyush Goyal is the only option that correctly matches the Railways portfolio for the year mentioned.

Verification / Alternative check:
Year wise compilations of Union Council of Ministers and current affairs magazines for examinations from that time list Piyush Goyal as Minister of Railways. They also often mention his additional responsibilities, such as holding other portfolios temporarily, but Railways remained his primary identity in many exam questions. Comparing multiple sources and memory aids from that period consistently points to Piyush Goyal, which confirms the selection made here.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Amit Shah: He is a key leader and Home Minister but did not hold the Railways portfolio at that time.
• Arun Jaitley: Famous as Finance Minister and for handling economic policy, not Railways.
• Nitin Gadkari: Known for Road Transport and Highways, Shipping, and related infrastructure ministries, not Railways.

Common Pitfalls:
Because these leaders are all prominent and served simultaneously, aspirants sometimes mix up their portfolios. Another common mistake is ignoring the year in the question, since cabinet reshuffles occur. A practical tip is to link each leader with a keyword: Shah with internal security and Home, Jaitley with Finance, Gadkari with roads and highways, and Goyal with Railways and energy related portfolios. This mental map helps prevent confusion in questions framed about specific years like 2019.

Final Answer:
As of early 2019, the Union Minister of Railways in India was Piyush Goyal.