India's political landscape is ablaze with activity! From the ongoing debates surrounding the new farm bills and their impact on rural India, to the upcoming state elections shaping the national narrative, the stakes couldn't be higher. Key political figures are maneuvering strategically, with alliances shifting and power dynamics constantly in flux. The opposition's challenge to the ruling party is intensifying, sparking vigorous debates on crucial policy matters including economic reforms and social justice initiatives. Parliamentary proceedings are filled with heated exchanges, reflecting the deep divisions within the nation. This evolving political climate directly impacts the lives of every Indian citizen, influencing everything from economic opportunities to social welfare programs. Stay informed about the latest developments in Indian politics, from crucial legislative decisions to grassroots movements, by exploring Abtak.com for in-depth analysis and breaking news updates. Understanding the intricacies of our political system is crucial; stay engaged, stay informed, and stay ahead.
New Delhi, Oct 23 (SocialNews.XYZ) Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Wednesday informed that Indian Railways has established special "war rooms" at the divisional, zonal, and board levels to manage heavy passenger congestion during the festive season effectively. The Minister said that real-time decisions are being made through these war rooms to ensure smooth passenger movement. So far, 10,700 trains have been operated through IRCTC, while nearly 3,000 additional trains have been kept in reserve to address sudden spikes in passenger demand. Explaining the system's effectiveness, Vaishnaw cited recent examples where congestion was swiftly resolved. On October 18, Udhna railway station in Surat witnessed a heavy passenger load, which was immediately eased after additional trains were deployed from nearby stations. A similar situation in Ambala was managed by increasing the number of trains in and around Jalandhar. The minister further informed that the number of destinations in Bihar has been expanded to 18 this year, compared to seven last year, to accommodate the rising travel demand ahead of the festive season. A central command war room has also been set up at Rail Bhavan in New Delhi to oversee and coordinate the overall network. This facility enables real-time monitoring of congestion, passenger grievances, and on-ground incidents. According to Vaishnaw, over 80 war rooms are now operational across the Indian Railways system, making it a robust mechanism to ensure timely interventions and improved passenger experience. Earlier, in an official statement, the Indian Railways said that it plans to run 1,500 special trains during the next five days with an average of 300 specials per day to cater to the surge in passengers ahead of Chhath festivities. These special trains will be operated in addition to the regular train services that are already running to these destinations. "As travel surges for the Chhath festival ahead, Indian Railways is going the extra mile to ensure that all travellers reach their destination safely and comfortably," the statement said. This year, Indian Railways increased the number of special trains it ran during the Diwali season. According to the statement, in addition to regular trains, 4,493 special train trips -- an average of 213 trips per day -- were run over the past 21 days, assisting passengers in getting home safely for the Diwali celebrations.
Bengaluru, Jul 19 (PTI) Hockey India on Saturday announced a 40-member core probable group for the upcoming senior women's national coaching camp, which will be held at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) Centre here from July 21 to August 29. The camp holds significant importance as the Indian women's hockey team gears up for the women's Asia Cup, set to begin on September 5 in Hangzhou, China. The tournament will serve as a direct qualification pathway for the 2026 FIH Women's World Cup, with only the champion earning a guaranteed spot. All players from the previous camp have been retaine ...Read More >
To ease last-minute anxiety for passengers, the Indian Railways (IR) will soon begin preparing reservation charts by 9 pm the previous evening for trains scheduled to depart before 2 pm. The Ministry of Railways announced on Sunday that the change, which will benefit waitlisted passengers in particular, will be rolled out in phases across the network. Currently, charts are prepared four hours before the train departure time. A ministry official told News18 that this will be a major relief for w ...Read More >
Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has said indigenously made 150 Vandebharat trains are slated for export with the first train set already flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. More railway rolling stock, including metro coaches, are getting export orders and the upcoming ₹521.26 crore mega Kazipet Railway Manufacturing Unit is going to play a key role once it is commissioned in 2026, he told the media at the factory site on Saturday (July 19, 2025). What will be manufactured the ...Read More >
New Delhi, August 3: Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Sunday said that India's first bullet train between Mumbai and Ahmedabad will commence operations "very soon," and it will reduce travel time between the two cities to just 2 hours and 7 minutes. Talking to reporters at the Bhavnagar terminus in Gujarat, after virtually flagging off three trains: the Ayodhya Express, Rewa-Pune Express, and Jabalpur-Raipur Express, Vaishnaw stated that the bullet train project is moving quickly. Mumbai's Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) will be connected to major cities of Gujarat, such as Vapi, Surat, Vadoda ...Read More >
Guwahati: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated the Bairabi-Sairang new railway line, valued at over Rs 8,070 crore, linking Mizoram's capital to the Indian Railways network for the first time. Mr Modi however failed to reach Aizawl due to inclement weather condition so inaugurated the projects virtually from Mizoram's Lengpui Airport, and addressed the gathering. Expressing his gratitude for warmth and affection of the people, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "From today, Aizawl will be on India's railway map... Overcoming many challenges, including difficult terrain, this ...Read More >
New Delhi, Oct 19: Union Minister for Railways, Information and Broadcasting, and Electronics and Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw, today conducted a surprise inspection of Anand Vihar Railway Station to ensure passenger safety and convenience during the festive season. Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw inspected the holding area at the station and interacted directly with passengers, seeking feedback on the cleanliness of the railway premises and the facilities being provided. Speaking to the media, Vaishnaw stated that the Railways has made extensive arrangements to ensure that passengers ...Read More >
Punjab News: Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced on Monday that the Indian Railways has allocated ₹5421 crore to enhance railway infrastructure in Punjab. Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced on Monday that the Indian Railways has allocated ₹5421 crore to enhance railway infrastructure in Punjab. The announcement, made via video conferencing, highlighted that this year's funding is 24 times higher compared to the period between 2009-2014. The minister revealed that 30 Amrit Stations are being developed in Punjab at a cost of ₹1122 crore, while 34 Amrit Stations are ...Read More >
Srinagar: Before towering cranes and cutting-edge engineering transformed the Himalayan landscape, the monumental dream of connecting "Kashmir to Kanyakumari" by rail began with the plodding footsteps of humble mules. This extraordinary backstory underpins the official realization of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL), inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 6, 2025, a project crowned by the awe-inspiring Chenab Bridge. According to Afcons Infrastructure Limited, the company behind the Chenab Bridge, the earliest and most formidable hurdle wasn't just the design of ...Read More >
The Union Cabinet has increased the budgetary outlay for the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY) by ₹1,920 crore, bringing the total to ₹6,520 crore, aiming to boost the food processing sector. These enhanced funds will support the establishment of 50 multi-product food irradiation units and 100 food testing labs. The Union Cabinet on Thursday raised budgetary outlay for the flagship scheme Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY) by Rs 1,920 crore to Rs 6,520 crore to boost the f ...Read More >
Ahmedabad: Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Sunday announced that India's first bullet train between Mumbai and Ahmedabad will begin operations very soon, reducing travel time between the two cities to just 2 hours and 7 minutes. He was speaking to reporters at the Bhavnagar terminus in Gujarat after virtually flagging off three trains, namely the Ayodhya Express, Rewa Pune Express, and Jabalpur Raipur Express. He further stated that the bullet train project is progressing rapidly. The 508-kilometre high-speed rail corridor will connect Mumbai's Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) with key cities ...Read More >
New Delhi: The government on Wednesday approved a hike in dearness allowance for its employees, increased the minimum support price for key crops, and okayed a mission to boost pulses output in the country, in decisions that will cost the Centre ₹1.2 trillion. In a festival-season bonanza, the Union cabinet approved a 3% increase in the dearness allowance (DA) and dearness relief (DR) for central government employees and pensioners. Effective 1 July, the DA stands at 58% of the basic pay, and would benefit about 4.92 million employees. Similarly, the DR would benefit 6.87 million pensioners ...Read More >
The Amrit Bharat Station Scheme is a long-term project by the Indian Railways aimed at transforming more than 1,300 railway stations across the country. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is inaugurating 103 redeveloped Amrit stations across India on Thursday via video conferencing from Bikaner. The redeveloped stations are spread across 86 districts in 18 States and Union Territories and have been built at a cumulative cost of over Rs 1,100 crore, according to a release by the ministry of railways. ...Read More >
Samastipur (Bihar) [India], July 8 (ANI): In a continued effort to modernise and upgrade railway infrastructure in Bihar, Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw on Monday laid the foundation stone and inaugurated several key projects worth Rs 17.30 crore at Karpoorigram Station under the Samastipur division. At the outset, Vaishnaw inspected the Digha Bridge Halt and thoroughly reviewed passenger amenities, safety, cleanliness, platform condition, drinking water, lighting, and security arrangements, according to a statement from the Ministry of Railways. He directed officials to work t ...Read More >
New Delhi: The Vande Bharat Express has been running across the country for quite some time, but now the government is considering another major gift. The Vande Bharat Sleeper Express train is set to launch soon. The first Vande Bharat Sleeper train will run between Delhi and Patna. This will make the journey from Patna to Delhi much easier. Travel will be time-saving and convenient. Indian Railways may launch this train before Diwali, or Dhanteras, which will reduce the journey from Delhi to Patna. Fares are likely to be slightly higher than other express trains. The ticket schedule has not ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], October 8 (ANI): Vande Bharat Express will be launched between Ernakulam and Bengaluru by mid-November, said Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw on Wednesday. Meanwhile, during a virtual meeting held between Union Minister of Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw and the BJP's Kerala team, the proposal of Kerala BJP President Rajeev Chandrasekhar to launch the Vande Bharat Express between Ernakulam & Bengaluru was considered. Posting on X, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw wrote, "Had a virtual meeting with the @BJP4Keralam team and district presidents. Glad to share that @Ra ...Read More >
The Indian Railways has directed passengers to avoid carrying flamable items on trains this Diwali (Photo for representational purposes only) ShowQuick Read Summary is AI-generated, newsroom-reviewed * Passengers must not carry potentially dangerous items on trains this Diwali * Indian Railways has set up permanent holding areas at major stations to manage crowds * Passengers should report suspicious items or behaviour to railway staff or security forces immediately Did our AI summary help ...Read More >
Katra: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday flagged off the Katra-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express, inaugurating an alternative all-weather transportation system for Kashmir by connecting the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail link with the national railway network. The train will commence commercial operations from Saturday, allowing passengers to travel in the two pairs between Srinagar and Katra except on Wednesdays. The Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail project in the tough Himalayan terrain has been referred to as a marvel. It is expected to be a game changer in the development of the mount ...Read More >
Officials say the train will help the troubled region, but many Kashmiris see it as a tool to entrench the Indian government's control. After decades of highly complex engineering work and billions of dollars in investment, India has finally connected the Himalayan region of Kashmir by rail to the rest of the country. The train link, which was officially inaugurated on Friday, fulfilled a dream dating back to the British colonial era. Indian officials called it a transformative leap for the res ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: In a significant development, Indian Railways has proposed to prepare and release the reservation chart eight hours before a train's departure, replacing the current practice of releasing the chart four hours before departure. This new timeline is expected to come into effect from 1st July this year. The decision follows a series of meetings between railway officials and Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, aimed at improving convenience for passengers, particularly those holding waitlisted tickets. Confirming the development to this newspaper, a senior railway official said on Sun ...Read More >
A Russian‑Indian joint venture has showcased the first design of a new high‑speed sleeper coach at the International Railway Equipment Exhibition in New Delhi. Kinet is a joint venture between Russian rolling stock companies and Indian government-owned Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) for the manufacturing and maintenance of 120 Indian 'Vande Bharat' high-speed trains. The venture is expected to unveil the first prototype in June 2026, with manufacturing set to begin by the end of December, ...Read More >
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Wednesday highlighted India's remarkable progress in railway modernisation under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stating that the results of the past 11 years are clearly visible. New Delhi, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Wednesday highlighted India's remarkable progress in railway modernisation under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stating that the results of the past 11 years are clearly visible. Speaking a ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], February 10 (ANI): Northern Railways is making extensive preparations for the upcoming Snan on February 12, ensuring smooth travel for MahaKumbh devotees. CPRO Northern Railway Himanshu Shekhar Upadhyay said over 300 trains operated on February 9, with continuous monitoring through CCTV cameras and a control centre at Prayagraj stations. He urged passengers to ignore rumours about train cancellations. Also Read | Ranveer Allahbadia Parental Sex Question: Case Filed Against YouTuber-Podcaster BeerBiceps, Samay Raina, Ashish Chanchlani, Jaspreet Singh and Apoorva Makhija for ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jun 29 (PTI) Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw recently reviewed the progress of ongoing reforms in the passengers reservation system and emphasized the need for smart, transparent, accessible and efficient ticketing system with a focus on passenger convenience, the ministry on Sunday said. Under Vaishnaw's guidance, officials are working to prepare the reservation chart eight hours before the train's departure instead of the current system of four hours. "It will benefit passengers travelling from remote locations or suburbs of major cities for catching long distance trains. It w ...Read More >
New Delhi, July 1: Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw launched on Tuesday the RailOne mobile application, which can help passengers get easy access to multiple services such as ticket booking, train and PNR enquiry, journey planning, rail help services and meal booking. Vaishnaw inaugurated the app, available on both Android Play Store and iOS App Store platforms, at the 40th Foundation Day celebrations of the Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS). "RailOne App is a one-stop solution for all passenger needs. Through this app, passengers get easy access to the following services: Ticket ...Read More >
The percentage of non-AC coaches on Indian Railways is as high as 70 per cent. Image: ANI Indian Railways has significantly enhanced the travel facilities for the benefit of economically weaker passengers with the number of seats available for non-AC passengers increasing to 54 lakh, which constitutes 78 per cent of the total, while AC seats comprise the remaining 22 per cent, the Parliament was informed on Wednesday. Due to the higher availability of general coaches, the number of passengers t ...Read More >
Bengaluru, 29 September 2025: Axis Bank, one of the largest private sector banks in India, in collaboration with Freecharge, has unveiled Credit on UPI with Gold Loans - India's first gold-backed credit line accessible through the Unified Payments Interface (UPI). This innovative product is designed to unlock the economic potential of gold assets, especially for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), self-employed entrepreneurs and merchants across both urban and rural India. Credit on UPI with Gold Loans enables customers to access instant credit against their gold holdings. The produc ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jun 30 (PTI) The Ministry of Railways has decided to prepare reservation charts for long-distance trains eight hours in advance, instead of the current four hours, to help passengers travelling from remote locations plan their journeys better. The decision was taken during a recent review meeting chaired by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, a statement issued by the ministry said. Also Read | Kolkata Fatafat Result Today: Kolkata FF Result for June 30, 2025 Declared, Check Winning Numbers and Result Chart of Satta Matka-Type Lottery Game. Under Vaishnaw's guidance, officials are ...Read More >
Hyderabad, Jul 19 (PTI) India's electronics exports have soared past USD 40 billion, marking an eight-fold growth during the last 11 years, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Saturday. He also highlighted that the domestic electronics production has gone up by six times. Addressing the 14th Convocation of IIT Hyderabad, near here, Vaishnaw also emphasised the rapid progress of India's first bullet train project, which is expected to become operational by August or September 2027. Looking ahead, Vaishnaw said the first Made in India semiconductor chip, on a commercial scale, will be man ...Read More >
Passengers at Patna Junction Patna: With Chhath drawing near, the railways is preparing for an additional rush of an estimated 15 to 20 lakh passengers heading to Bihar from Oct 25. Most of these passengers are migrant workers and families returning to their native places to celebrate the festival and cast their votes in the assembly polls scheduled for Nov 6 and 11 across the state.However, the combined rush of Diwali and Chhath has overwhelmed the railway network. Regular trains from major cities such as New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Secunderabad and Pune are al ...Read More >
A visually animated video showing three high-speed trains seamlessly crossing paths at a railway junction has gone viral across social media platforms. The video, often shared with patriotic captions, has been widely mistaken for real footage showcasing India's railway capabilites, with some users attributing it to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw's leadership. However, the clip is entirely computer-generated. The animation depicts an elaborate X-shaped junction where three trains pass each ot ...Read More >