Business
What’s likely to be unveiled by the Railway Budget
The Rail Budget this year will focus on making long-distance travel comfortable, densening the railway network in the poll-bound states and enhancing the connectivity in metro cities as well as the Northeast region.
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present her fourth Budget on Tuesday (February 1).
This will be the sixth joint Budget after the merger of the Rail Budget with the Union Budget in 2017.
As per information, it is expected that the Centre will increase the Rail budget by 15 to 20 per cent this year.
With the Assembly elections in five states round the corner, the Centre can announce new railway facilities for the common passengers.
Although the Railways incurred a loss of Rs 26,338 crore in the last one year, this time the Rail Budget is expected to be enhanced to around Rs 2.5 lakh crore.
Last year, the Centre allocated a record budget of Rs 1,10,055 crore for the Railways.
The Centre can also propose the electrification of a record 7,000 km of railway track this time as part of its efforts to achieve complete electrification of broad-gauge railway lines by the end of 2023.
The lower and the middle class pay special attention to the Rail Budget as they share a deep connection with the railways, which is considered as the lifeline of the country. There is also a possibility of the announcement of high-speed trains in the Budget.
Plans are being made to strengthen the rail connectivity in the poll-bound states and metro cities. For this, the government can involve some private partners.
A bullet train between New Delhi and Varanasi can also be announced in the Budget. Significantly, the work of the first bullet train between Ahmedabad and Mumbai is already underway.
Similarly, announcement of a bullet train on the Delhi-Howrah route is also expected in the Budget.
Announcements regarding semi-high speed trains on the Golden Quadrilateral route, expansion of Vande Bharat Express and new dedicated freight corridors are also expected.
As per the sources, the special focus in the Rail Budget will be on the Golden Quadrilateral Routes, on which the government can announce to run semi-high speed trains having a speed of 180 to 200 kmph. These trains will be like the Vande Bharat Express.
The replacement of the old ICF coaches in all trains and installation of new LHB coaches, is another major announcement to be expected in the Budget.
About ten new light trains (aluminium ones), which are energy efficient, can be announced for long distance journeys. Similarly, a proposal to make 6,500 aluminium coaches, 1,240 locomotives and about 35,000 wagons can be proposed in the Budget.
Railways is also manufacturing several special trains replacing the traditional IPS coaches with the LHB coaches made of German technology. Also the coaches for a new ‘Deccan Queen’ are being manufactured at the Integral Coach Factory in Chennai.
For this new ‘Deccan Queen’, two specially designed coaches for guards, five AC chair car coaches, 12 non-AC chair car coaches and one pantry cum dining coach have been made. This train will have 20 coaches and each one will have its own specialty. On the same lines, other trains are also expected to be announced in the Budget.
In the Rail Budget, the Centre will also be focusing on the expansion of the rail network in the Northeast region.
In the last Budget also, the Finance Minister had announced plans to build new DFC corridors for routes like East Coast, East-West and North-South. Just before the Manipur elections, for the first time since Independence, a goods train reached Rani Gaidinliu railway station in Tamenglong district of Manipur.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has recently taken stock of the Jiribam-Imphal new line project in Manipur through an aerial survey. The project includes the longest tunnel in the country, which will connect Guwahati and Imphal. Vaishnaw had said that Rs 7,000 crore has been allocated this year for various rail projects in the Northeast.
Business
UPI clocks highest ever single-day payments of Rs 1.02 lakh crore as GST rate cuts spur demand

New Delhi, Oct 23: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman highlighted on Thursday that the unified payments interface (UPI) platform processed 754 million payments worth Rs 1.02 lakh crore on October 18, marking the highest single-day tally, as consumer demand surged due to the GST rate cuts.
During the three-day period between Dhanteras and Diwali, the average UPI volumes stood at 736.9 million — higher than 647.46 million in the corresponding period a month ago, the Finance Minister said.
“It has been a cracker of a Diwali for retailers this year as GST rate cuts have boosted consumption, enabling the middle class to add more items to their shopping bags this festive season,” she observed.
From lab-grown diamonds to casual wear and products to adorn homes, both mass and premium segments of the market picked up, Sitharaman remarked.
She pointed out that the roll-out of Goods and Services Tax (GST) 2.0 has injected fresh momentum into India’s growth story by enhancing household purchasing power, easing business operations, and simplifying tax administration.
“By rationalising slabs and lowering rates across a range of consumer goods, the reform has delivered tangible savings for households, freeing up disposable income and helping stimulate demand,” the Finance Minister added.
According to the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), Diwali sales soared to an all-time high of Rs 6.05 lakh this year.
This marks a 25 per cent jump over the 2024 festive sales of Rs 4.25 lakh crore from the Navratri to Diwali period and is the highest-ever sales in India’s trading history, according to Research and Trade Development Society, the research wing of CAIT.
Mainline retail accounted for nearly 85 per cent of total sales, indicating a strong revival of the brick-and-mortar market, the survey showed.
The reduction in GST rates across key consumer and retail categories such as confectionery, home decor, footwear, and ready-made garments, consumer durables and daily use items significantly improved price competitiveness and increased purchase momentum.
About 72 per cent of surveyed traders reported higher sales volumes directly attributable to reduced GST, according to the survey.
Consumers expressed greater satisfaction with stable prices amid festive demand, aiding consumption continuity post-Diwali.
The non-corporate and non-agricultural sector has emerged as a central pillar of India’s growth, driven by 9 crore small businesses, crores of small manufacturing units and the largest base of consumers.
Business
China Eastern Airlines resuming direct Delhi-Shanghai flights from Nov 9

New Delhi, Oct 23: China Eastern Airlines on Thursday announced the resumption of flights on its India route, and the direct flights between Shanghai and Delhi will start from November 9, in fresh momentum for people-to-people exchanges and economic and trade collaboration between New Delhi and Beijing.
The service will operate three times weekly — on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. China Eastern Airlines has designated the Airbus A330-200, known for its long-range capability and comfortable cabin environment, for this route.
“The flight from Delhi, MU564, will depart at 7.55 p.m., arriving in Shanghai at 4.10 a.m. the following day. Flight MU563 from Shanghai Pudong International Airport will depart at 12.50 p.m. and arrive at Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi, at 5.45 p.m. local time. Tickets for the route are now available for sale,” the airline said in a statement.
The Shanghai and Delhi route is one of the most strategically significant air links between India and China, connecting the major economic and cultural hubs of both nations.
The resumption of this service marks the full restoration of China Eastern Airlines’ network in India.
InterGlobe Air Transport has been the exclusive General Sales Agent (GSA) for China Eastern Airlines in India since 2002, when the airline became the first Chinese carrier to offer direct flights between India and China.
The company manages comprehensive sales, marketing, reservation and ticketing, and operational support for the airline.
It will continue leveraging its extensive network and understanding of the Indian travel market to ensure the sustained success of this vital route, said the airline.
Earlier, low-cost airline IndiGo announced new daily direct flights between New Delhi and China’s Guangzhou from November 10. The airline said that the route will be operated using IndiGo’s Airbus A320 aircraft.
It recently announced daily flights between Kolkata and Guangzhou, starting October 26. The announcement came after the Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that India and China would restart direct flights between designated cities.
Business
Apple ships record 4.9 million iPhones to India in Q3 2025

New Delhi, Oct 23: Riding high on the success of its new iPhone 17 series and festive season demand, Apple Inc recorded its highest-ever quarterly shipments to India, sending 4.9 million smartphones to the country during the July–September quarter of 2025 (Q3 CY25), according to industry estimates.
According to research firm Omdia, this marks a 47 per cent year-on-year (YoY) growth and represents Apple’s strongest performance in the Indian market to date.
What’s more, India accounted for 9 per cent of Apple’s total global iPhone shipments in the quarter — the highest share ever for the country — underscoring India’s growing importance in the company’s global strategy.
The launch of the iPhone 17 series on September 9 played a key role in driving record sales.
The new lineup features major camera upgrades, including a 48MP Fusion Main camera and a 48MP Fusion Ultra-Wide lens, alongside a 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR display with ProMotion.
The device also comes with the new A19 chip for enhanced performance and Ceramic Shield 2 technology, offering three times better scratch resistance and reduced glare.
Apple is expected to post its highest-ever festive quarter in India this year, with analysts forecasting a 28 per cent increase in sales compared to last year, driven by the early popularity of the iPhone 17 series.
This milestone comes on the heels of another major achievement for the Cupertino-based company — record iPhone exports from India.
In the April–September period of the current financial year, Apple shipped iPhones worth about $10 billion (over Rs 88,500 crore), marking a 75 per cent growth compared to the same period last year, according to industry estimates.
The success reflects the strong push of the government’s ‘Make in India’ and production-linked incentive (PLI) schemes, which have encouraged Apple to expand its manufacturing base in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
A majority of the iPhones produced in India this year — nearly 78 per cent — were exported to the US, up from 53 per cent a year earlier.
-
Crime3 years ago
Class 10 student jumps to death in Jaipur
-
Maharashtra1 year ago
Mumbai Local Train Update: Central Railway’s New Timetable Comes Into Effect; Check Full List Of Revised Timings & Stations
-
Maharashtra1 year ago
Mumbai To Go Toll-Free Tonight! Maharashtra Govt Announces Complete Toll Waiver For Light Motor Vehicles At All 5 Entry Points Of City
-
Maharashtra1 year ago
False photo of Imtiaz Jaleel’s rally, exposing the fooling conspiracy
-
National News1 year ago
Ministry of Railways rolls out Special Drive 4.0 with focus on digitisation, cleanliness, inclusiveness and grievance redressal
-
Maharashtra11 months ago
Maharashtra Elections 2024: Mumbai Metro & BEST Services Extended Till Midnight On Voting Day
-
National News1 year ago
J&K: 4 Jawans Killed, 28 Injured After Bus Carrying BSF Personnel For Poll Duty Falls Into Gorge In Budgam; Terrifying Visuals Surface
-
Crime1 year ago
Baba Siddique Murder: Mumbai Police Unable To Get Lawrence Bishnoi Custody Due To Home Ministry Order, Says Report