IRCTC & IRFC get Navratna Status
The Central Government granted Navratna status to Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) and Indian Railway Finance Corporation (IRFC) on March 3, 2025. This upgrade provides the companies with enhanced financial and operational autonomy.
Stock Performance
The stock prices of both companies experienced a significant increase in the months following their status upgrade in March 2025. IRFC, in particular, has seen a remarkable gain of over 246% since January 2023.
Significance of the Upgrade
The Navratna status provides Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) with greater financial and operational freedom.
- Enhanced Autonomy: This allows companies like IRCTC and IRFC to make investments up to ₹1,000 crore or 15% of their net worth in a single project, or up to 30% of their net worth in total across all projects within a financial year, without seeking approval from the government.
- Criteria: Achieving Navratna status requires meeting specific criteria, including being a Miniratna Category-I company, having a positive rating in a performance evaluation system, and scoring a certain minimum score in six selected performance indicators.
- Industry Shift: With these upgrades, all seven listed CPSEs under the Ministry of Railways now hold Navratna status, a testament to their strong financial performance and strategic importance to the Indian railway ecosystem.
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