Indian Railway Finance Corporation Ltd Company Summary

Indian Railway Finance Corporation Limited (IRFC) was incorporated on December 12, 1986 as the funding arm of the Indian Railways for mobilizing funds from domestic as well as overseas Capital Markets. Thereafter, The Company received a Certificate of Commencement of Business from the RoC on December 23, 1986. The MCA, through its notification dated October 8, 1993, classified the Company as a Public Financial Institution and subsequently, Company was registered with RBI to carry on the business of a non-banking financial institution dated February 16, 1998.

Indian Railway Finance Corporation operates as a Schedule A Navratna Central Public Sector Enterprise under the Ministry of Railways, Govt. of India. In more than 42 years of existence, IRFC has played a significant role in supporting the expansion of the Indian Railways and related entities by financing a significant proportion of its annual plan outlay.IRFC a Government of India undertaking under the Ministry of Railways, plays a significant role in funding the Indian Railways.

Their main business is leasing of rolling stock assets, railway infrastructure assets and lending to other entities. The MoR is responsible for procurement of Rolling Stock Assets and for improvement, expansion and maintenance of Project Assets. The primary objective of IRFC is to meet the predominant portion of Extra Budgetary Resources (EBR) requirement of the Indian Railways through market borrowings at the most competitive rates and terms.

IRFCs cumulative funding to rail sector has crossed Rs.5.04 lakh crore as of 31st March, 2022. The funds are utilized for acquiring rolling stock assets and also building up infrastructure, constituting significant part of annual capital expenditure of Indian Railways. So far, it has funded acquisition of 13764 locomotives, 76735 passenger coaches, 265815 wagons, which constitute around 75% of the total rolling stock fleet of Indian Railways.

From 2011-12 onwards, IRFC has forayed into funding of railway projects and capacity enhancement works. IRFC has also been lending to various entities in Railway sector like Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL), Railtel, Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL), Pipavav Railway Corporation Limited (PRCL) etc.As on 31st March 2025, 86.36% of the paid-up equity share capital of the Company comprising of 11,286,437,000 Equity Shares of Rs. 10/- each were held by President of India acting through administrative ministry i.e., Ministry of Railways (MoR).

The balance 13.64% of paid-up equity share capital was held by public.IRFC was granted Navratna Status by DPE in March 2025.During FY 2025-26, IRFC executed 12 financing agreements worth Rs 72,949 crore, scaling its diversified lending portfolio. Over 75% of business has been acquired through competitive RFPs. Among key transactions, IRFC refinanced Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limiteds (DFCCIL) through a Rs 9,821 crore long term rupee facility, resulting in savings of approximately Rs 2,700 crore for DFCCIL.

In line to diversify into rail-linked infrastructure financing, IRFC sanctioned a Rs 12,640 crore loan to CSPGCL and committed financing of close to Rs 15,000 crore to MAHAGENCO for power projects, by enhancing the IRFCs presence in the energy infrastructure. The Company executed a Rs 12,842 crore refinancing deal for Hindustan Urvarak & Rasayan Limited (HURL), entering into refinancing in the fertilizer sector.