Author: News Desk

Indian Railways has introduced a new feature allowing passengers to book confirmed tickets for Vande Bharat Express trains up to 15 minutes before departure. This initiative, launched on select Southern Railway routes, is designed to provide more flexibility for last-minute travel while improving seat utilization. The facility is currently available on eight Vande Bharat trains operating in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh. Passengers boarding from en route stations can avail this update both through the IRCTC website and app, as well as at physical PRS counters. No additional charges apply for last-minute bookings and standard fares remain in…

The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways has sharply raised the cost of renewing registration for vehicles older than 20 years, doubling fees across most categories to discourage the use of aging, high-pollution models. For two-wheelers, the renewal charge has been increased from ₹1,000 to ₹2,000. Three-wheelers and quadricycles will now cost ₹5,000, up from ₹3,500. Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs) face a jump from ₹5,000 to ₹10,000. Imported vehicles have been hit with the steepest hikes. Old imported two- and three-wheelers will now require ₹20,000 for renewal, while imported cars will attract a fee of ₹80,000. According to officials, vehicles…

Municipal Administration Minister K. N. Nehru laid the foundation stone for a ₹69.20-crore biogas plant at the Vellalore dump yard. The plant will process 250 tonnes of biodegradable waste daily and is aimed at promoting eco-friendly waste management in Coimbatore. Inspection of Semmozhi Poonga Project The minister inspected progress on the ₹167.25-crore Semmozhi Poonga eco-park, being developed across 45 acres at the Central Prison site in Gandhipuram. He said the Coimbatore Corporation Commissioner had requested an additional ₹50 crore to complete the project. “With the chief minister’s approval, the funds will be released so the project can be finished on…

Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd clarified on Monday that no negotiations are currently underway with the Defence Ministry regarding the ₹70,000-crore Project 75 India submarine contract. Background of the Deal On Sunday, reports suggested the Centre had cleared negotiations between the Defence Ministry and Mazagon Dock for six submarines to be built in partnership with Germany’s ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS). The shipbuilder, however, stated in its exchange filing: “No negotiations have been commenced with the Ministry of Defence for the project.” Selection and Partnerships The Defence Ministry had earlier shortlisted Mazagon Dock in January to build six submarines with Air Independent Propulsion…

Banaras Locomotive Works (BLW) in Varanasi has commissioned India’s first removable solar panel system fitted between railway tracks. The 70-metre-long pilot project uses 28 solar panels with a total capacity of 15 kWp. The initiative marks a significant step towards sustainable railway operations. Boosting Railways’ Net-Zero Vision The project aligns with Indian Railways’ target of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2030. If deployed widely, the technology could generate nearly 321,000 kWh of electricity per kilometre every year, strengthening the push for clean energy in transport. Design for Flexibility The solar modules are mounted directly on the concrete sleepers using epoxy…

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla’s 18-day stint aboard the International Space Station (ISS) as part of Axiom Mission-4 has confirmed the reliability of India’s astronaut screening and selection methods. Air Vice Marshal Anupam Agarwal, Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Medical), said on Sunday that the successful training of Shukla and the Gaganyaan crew proved India’s systems were effective, despite having been built from scratch. Building From Scratch When the Gaganyaan programme was cleared in December 2018, India had no existing data to draw upon. “There are numerous medical and physical factors to consider, but since this is our first attempt,…

Adani Group, the Indian multinational conglomerate, is reportedly weighing the acquisition of Shree Digvijay Cement Company’s cement manufacturing plant and port facilities, according to market reports. Potential Deal StructureIf completed, the acquisition would see Adani Group take over key industrial and logistics assets. The move aligns with the conglomerate’s broader strategy of deepening its footprint in infrastructure, ports, and logistics. Strategic Implications Market ImpactWhile the acquisition remains under consideration and details such as deal size are undisclosed, market watchers see it as another signal of Adani Group’s aggressive growth push in infrastructure. Investors are now awaiting clarity on valuation and…

Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund, through subsidiary Qatar Holding LLC, has moved the Karnataka High Court to recover $235 million from edtech entrepreneur Byju Raveendran and his investment vehicle, Byju’s Investments (BIPL). The petition seeks enforcement of a Singapore arbitration award and attachment of Raveendran’s assets in India. Loan and Personal Guarantee The dispute stems from a $150 million loan extended by Qatar Holding in September 2022 to BIPL, guaranteed personally by Raveendran. The financing was used to acquire nearly 17.9 million shares of Aakash Educational Services, with restrictions against transferring them. According to Qatar Holding, those shares were later moved…

India and Saudi Arabia have launched a Joint Working Group (JWG) to boost maritime cooperation, marking a new step in their growing strategic partnership. The agreement was finalised during a high-level virtual meeting on August 20, 2025, between India’s Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, and Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Transport and Logistic Services, Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser. The initiative builds on centuries-old ties and aligns with both countries’ national visions—India’s Maritime India Vision 2030 and Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, and Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. With bilateral trade touching USD 42 billion in FY 2024–25, both sides…

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) have dismissed recent rumours suggesting that motorcycles and scooters will be charged tolls from July 2025. Official Clarification In a public statement, NHAI confirmed that two-wheelers are exempt from toll charges under the National Highway Fee Rules of 2008. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari also reaffirmed this on social media, saying toll exemption for two-wheelers “remains in full effect.” Why Two-Wheelers Stay Toll-Free The exemption exists to ease financial pressure on low-income road users and reduce congestion at toll plazas. Two-wheelers cause minimal wear and tear…