Business
Indian Railways records sharp decline in accidents, safety budget hiked 3-fold
New Delhi, July 22: There has been a sharp decline in train accidents in the country over the last 12 years as a result of the high priority being accorded to safety on Indian Railways.
The annual budgetary allocation for safety has shot up more than three-fold from Rs 39,200 crore in 2013-14 to Rs 1,20,389 crore in 2026-27, the Centre told the Parliament on Wednesday.
The number of “consequential accidents” came down from 135 in 2014-15 to 16 in 2025-26 and only two accidents have been reported in 2026-27 till June this year, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said in a written reply to a query in the Lok Sabha.
“The causes of the accidents that took place over Indian Railways broadly include track defects, locomotive or coach defects, equipment failures, human errors, etc. Rail safety has now been strengthened through modern technology, infrastructure and enhanced maintenance. As many as 6,671 stations have been equipped with electronic interlocking and complete track circuiting while 10,395 level crossing gates have also been brought under the interlocking system to minimise human errors,” Union Minister Vaishnaw noted.
Complete track circuiting of these railway stations has been undertaken to enhance safety by verification of track occupancy by electrical means.
Detailed instructions on issues related with safety of signalling, for example, mandatory correspondence check, alteration work protocol, preparation of completion drawing, etc. have been issued.
The Indian Railways has added 36,429 track kilometres during 2014–26, which is more than 2.5 times higher than 2004–14 which has enhanced track safety.
Modernisation of rolling stock and maintenance practices strengthens safety, with LHB coach production rising more than 21 times to 49,366 during 2014–26 and weld failures reduced by 93 per cent.
The indigenously developed Kavach 4.0 safety system has been successfully commissioned on 2,490 route kilometres covering the high-density Delhi–Mumbai and Delhi–Howrah routes.
Kavach implementation work is also under progress on 21,937 route kilometres, with installation being taken up on 7,435 locomotives and 1,200 EMU/MEMU trains.
The amount utilised for Kavach works so far up to June 2026 is Rs 3874.9 crore.
The allocation of funds during the year 2026-27 is Rs 2066.24 crore.
Requisite funds are made available as per the progress of works.
In reply to another query, Union Minister Vaishnaw said that at present, recruitment against 1,61,889 vacancies of non-gazetted personnel has been taken up on Indian Railways as per annual calendar 2024, 2025 and 2026.
During January to December 2024, ten Centralised Employment Notifications for 92,116 vacancies were notified for filling up of posts of Assistant Loco Pilots, technicians, Sub-Inspectors, Constables in Railway Protection Force (RPF), Junior Engineers, Depot Material Superintendent, Chemical and Metallurgical Assistant, Paramedical Categories, Non-Technical Popular Categories (Graduate), Non-Technical Popular Categories (Under-Graduate), Ministerial and Isolated Categories and Level-1 categories such as Assistants, Track Maintainers and Pointsman.
First stage/Single stage Computer Based Tests for 92,116 posts have been completed.
“During 2026-2027 (up to June 30, 2026) panels for more than 3,300 candidates for various posts, including the posts of Technicians, Junior Engineers, Paramedical Categories, Ministerial and Isolated categories and Assistant Loco Pilots have been finalised. Majority of them are in safety categories,” Union Minister added.
Business
LG Electronics India gets notice to pay up Rs 153.58 crore as customs duty

New Delhi, Sep 25: LG Electronics India Ltd has received a show cause notice from the Customs authorities for the recovery of Rs 153.58 crore as customs duty for allegedly not including royalty payments in the assessable value of certain imported goods, the company has stated in a stock exchange filing.
The show cause notice has been issued following an investigation carried out by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), alleging non-inclusion of royalty payments in the assessable value of certain imported goods.
The notice, dated September 22, was issued by the Office of the Commissioner of Customs, Nhava Sheva Port in Navi Mumbai, and was received by the company on September 24.
Meanwhile, LG Electronics, along with arch rival and compatriot Samsung, are also facing an investigation for alleged wrong claims of concessional 5 per cent customs duty on imported OLED glass screens. The DRI authorities have expressed the view that the concessional rate is meant for the older LCD and LEDs used in products sold in the mass market. For OLED parts, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence is of the opinion that both Samsung and LG should have paid a 15 per cent customs duty, according to a Reuters report.
LG Electronics is reported to have sent responses to written questions by the authorities on its OLED imports and has voluntarily deposited the money to pay for the difference in customs duty as estimated by officials.
Meanwhile, LG Electronics India reported a 27.2 per cent year-on-year surge in net profit to Rs 653 crore for the first quarter of financial year 2026-27compared with the corresponding figure of Rs 513 crore in the same quarter of 2025-26, driven by strong summer demand and premium product sales.
The company’s revenue rose 15.5 per cent during the April-June quarter to Rs 7,233 crore compared with the corresponding figure of Rs 6,262 crore in the same quarter of the previous financial year.
Business
Sensex, Nifty open with marginal gains amid mixed global cues

Mumbai, Sep 25: The Indian equity markets opened with marginal gains early on Friday, amid rising US Treasury yields and continued geopolitical uncertainty weighing on overall sentiment.
As of 9.24 am, Sensex was up 96 points, or 0.13 per cent, to reach 73,676 and Nifty was up 20 points, or 0.09 per cent to reach 23,084.
Main broad-cap indices performed in line with the benchmark indices, as the Nifty Midcap 100 inched up 0.03 per cent, and the Nifty Smallcap 100 added 0.06 per cent.
Sectoral indices on NSE traded mixed with IT, FMCG, consumer durables and healthcare posting losses. Nifty IT was the top loser, down 1.37 per cent. Nifty realty was the top gainer, up 0.59 per cent.
The US 10-year Treasury yield has moved above the 5.20 per cent mark and remains close to multi-year highs, increasing pressure on global financial conditions and reducing the relative attractiveness of emerging market equities. The rise in global yields, combined with a stronger dollar, has also added pressure on the Indian rupee, analysts said.
On the geopolitical front, uncertainty remains elevated as diplomatic progress between the US and Iran remains unclear. Renewed tensions and continued risks around energy supply routes are keeping global investors cautious, with any further escalation capable of pushing crude prices higher again.
In the previous session, Nifty closed at 23,063, down 1.64 per cent. Immediate support is placed at 22,800–23,000, while resistance is seen at 23,250–23,300.
Bank Nifty closed at 55,438, down 1.96 per cent. Immediate support is placed at 55,000–55,200, while resistance is seen at 55,800–56,000.
In Asian markets, China’s Shanghai index shed 1.04 per cent, and Shenzhen lost 2.34 per cent, Japan’s Nikkei added 1.23 per cent, and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index declined 1.77 per cent. South Korea’s Kospi added 0.9 per cent.
US markets ended largely in red overnight, even as Nasdaq added 0.01 per cent. The S&P 500 lost 0.02 per cent, and the Dow Jones shed 0.31 per cent.
On September 24, foreign institutional investors (FIIs) net sold equities worth Rs 5,027 crore, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs) bought equities worth Rs 4,301 crore.
Business
Adani Group Chairman in Kolkata to meet CM Adhikari today

Kolkata, Sep 24: Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani will meet West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari in Kolkata on Thursday.
Gautam Adani arrived in the city on Wednesday night and on Thursday morning visited the iconic Goddess Kali Temple at Kalighat in South Kolkata and offered prayers.
Later in the day, he will be at the foundation stone-laying ceremony for the Adani Arogya Mandir, a proposed 2,000-bed hospital in New Town. The Chief Minister is scheduled to join the ceremony.
The proposed hospital is seen as a part of the state government’s efforts to attract investment in the healthcare sector and also the beginning of a broader investment push by the Adani Group in West Bengal.
The Adani Group Chairman is likely to have a meeting with CM Adhikari and senior cabinet members, focusing on the Group’s future investments in the state.
After the change of regime in West Bengal, the BJP-led state government is pushing for investments in the state.
CM Adhikari has promised to create more jobs and set up industries. Famous industrialists are coming forward to make investments in the state. The state government expects the Adani Group to invest in multiple sectors in the state.
State secretariat insiders said that the Adani Group has plans to invest in multiple sectors in the state. The Group has already been a part of the restoration of the Writers’ Buildings, the old state secretariat at B.B.D. Bag in Central Kolkata.
Besides that, the Adani Group will be associated with the forthcoming Durga Puja festival. The Group will select the eight best community Durga Pujas and will donate Rs 25 lakh to each.
A special visit programme has also been organised for eminent personalities from home and abroad to showcase the art and tradition of Durga Puja to the world. This special Puja preview tour will be held for three days on October 10, 11 and 12.
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