BJP Mahila Morcha Demands Vande Bharat Train for Jammu–Haridwar Route, Submits Memorandum to Railway Minister Jammu: The BJP Mahila Morcha Jammu and Kashmir chapter, led by its president Advocate Neha Mahajan, has formally submitted a memorandum to Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, urging the introduction of a Vande Bharat Express train on the Jammu–Chandigarh–Haridwar route. The submission took place in the presence of Sat Sharma, a Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) and President of the BJP Jammu and Kashmir unit, as well as General Secretary Urvashi Gupta. The initiative aims to address long-standing connectivity challenges and improve regional infrastructure. The memorandum highlights the severe inadequacy of existing train services between Jammu and Haridwar. Currently, only the Hemkunt Express (14609/14610) operates on this route, offering limited AC seating capacity. This scarcity of seats has made it nearly impossible for passengers to secure confirmed tickets, with Tatkal bookings often exhausting within minutes. As a result, a significant number of travelers face difficulties in planning their journeys, particularly during peak seasons. The demand for improved connectivity is underscored by the religious and cultural significance of Haridwar for both Hindu and Sikh communities. A large influx of devotees from Jammu and Kashmir travels to Haridwar for the Shri Hemkund Sahib Yatra, a pilgrimage site. The lack of adequate train services creates substantial inconvenience for these pilgrims. Additionally, students studying in Chandigarh, as well as individuals traveling for medical, educational, or business purposes, face persistent challenges due to the absence of reliable and frequent train services.#ashwini_vaishnaw #bjp_mahila_morcha #advocate_neha_mahajan #shri_hemkund_sahib_yatra #jammu_chandigarh_haridwar_route
Vande Bharat Sleeper Train Service Approved Between Bengaluru and Mumbai The Indian government has approved the launch of a new Vande Bharat Sleeper train service between Bengaluru Central and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus in Mumbai. This development was announced by Union Rail Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in a letter dated April 5, 2026, addressed to BJP MP P.C. Mohan, who represents Bengaluru Central. The service is expected to significantly reduce travel time between the two major cities, with the train anticipated to cover the distance in less than 16 hours. The approval comes as part of ongoing efforts to enhance rail connectivity and improve travel options for passengers. The Vande Bharat Sleeper train will operate on the route connecting KSR Bengaluru (KSR Bengaluru) and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), a route that has long been a demand for faster travel options. This new service is expected to complement existing Vande Bharat trains, which already operate on routes such as Bengaluru-Chennai, Bengaluru-Hyderabad, Bengaluru-Belagavi, Bengaluru-Kalburgi, and Bengaluru-Mangalore. The Vande Bharat trains, known for their high-speed capabilities, currently run at an average speed of 160 kilometers per hour. These trains have been widely praised by passengers for their comfort, punctuality, and modern amenities. The introduction of the Sleeper variant on the Bengaluru-Mumbai route is a response to growing demand for affordable yet efficient travel options. The announcement was shared by P.C. Mohan on April 11, 2026, in a letter to his constituents. While the exact schedule for the new service has not been officially released, sources indicate that the train will begin operations shortly after the approval.#ashwini_vaishnaw #vande_bharat_sleeper_train #bengaluru_central #chhatrapati_shivaji_maharaj_terminus #p_c_mohan
Railways revise refund policy Indian Railways has introduced a revised refund policy, extending the no-refund window to eight hours before a train's departure, up from the previous four-hour limit. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced the changes on Tuesday, stating that the new rules will apply from April 1 to 15. Under the updated policy, cancellations made within eight hours of departure will result in no refund. For cancellations between 24 and eight hours before departure, passengers will face a 50% deduction of the ticket cost, compared to the current 12 to four-hour window, which also had a 50% charge. Cancellations between 72 and 24 hours before departure will incur a 25% deduction, while refunds for cancellations made more than 72 hours in advance will be fully processed, excluding a flat cancellation charge per passenger. The reforms aim to curb black marketing and last-minute ticket sales by agents. The changes have already been implemented on Vande Bharat Sleeper and Amrit Bharat II trains launched after January 2026. The ministry first introduced the policy through a notification dated January 16, 2026, which amended the Railway Passengers (Cancellation of Ticket and Refund of Fare) Rules, 2015. Additional changes include allowing travel class upgradation for counter ticket holders up to 30 minutes before departure, instead of the previous restriction to the first chart release. Passengers can also change their boarding point 30 minutes before the train's scheduled departure, provided they hold a confirmed ticket. This flexibility is intended to accommodate last-minute travel adjustments without affecting ticket costs.#indian_railways #ashwini_vaishnaw #vande_bharat_sleeper #amrit_bharat_ii #tatkal_booking
Government Blocks Over 300 Gambling Sites, Total Banned Platforms Now Near 8,400 The Indian government has taken action against approximately 300 websites and applications suspected of facilitating illegal gambling and betting activities, bringing the cumulative number of blocked platforms to nearly 8,400. This move was confirmed by government officials, who cited the need to combat online gambling’s harmful effects while regulating legitimate gaming sectors. The banned platforms include a range of services such as sports betting websites, casino platforms offering slot and roulette games, live dealer tables, peer-to-peer betting exchanges, “satta/matka” gambling networks, and real-money card and casino game apps. A significant portion of these—around 4,900—were blocked after the enforcement of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act in 2025. This law, passed by Parliament on August 21, 2025, aims to protect citizens from the risks of online gambling while promoting and regulating other forms of legal online gaming. The government emphasized that the legislation seeks to address issues like addiction, financial loss, and social harm linked to predatory gaming platforms. It highlighted the World Health Organization’s classification of gaming disorder as a health condition under its International Classification of Diseases, noting that such disorders involve loss of control, neglect of daily responsibilities, and continued engagement despite negative consequences. Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw, previously informed the Rajya Sabha that an estimated 45 crore individuals were negatively impacted by online gambling, with losses exceeding ₹20,000 crore.#world_health_organization #rajya_sabha #information_technology_act #indian_government #ashwini_vaishnaw
Supabase Blocked in India Amid Legal Restrictions A court order issued on February 24 under Section 69A of India’s Information Technology Act has restricted public access to Supabase, a cloud-based database platform. The provision allows the government to block online content deemed harmful or violating laws. Users in India have reported inconsistent access to the service over the past several days, with the company acknowledging the issue in social media posts. While initial reports of the blockage came from Reliance Industries’ JioFiber network, users across multiple internet providers and telecom services have since confirmed similar restrictions. Supabase attempted to address the issue by tagging India’s IT minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw, in a post, but later removed the message and stated the site remained blocked for many users. The company has advised affected customers to explore workarounds, such as changing DNS settings or using a virtual private network (VPN) to bypass local restrictions. However, these solutions are not practical for most end users, according to an anonymous Indian founder who noted a decline in new sign-ups from the country over the past two to three days. A technology consultant working with local startups also reported difficulties accessing Supabase for both development and production tasks. At the time of publication, Supabase.co was inaccessible on ACT Fibernet, JioFiber, and Airtel connections in New Delhi. However, some users on ACT Fibernet in Bengaluru claimed they could still access the service, suggesting the block may not be uniformly enforced. Supabase’s main website remains accessible in India, but its developer infrastructure is blocked, raising concerns about the impact on the country’s tech ecosystem.#india #supabase #ashwini_vaishnaw #act_fibernet #jiofiber
