The anti-lock braking system is designed to prevent wheel lock-up during sudden braking, reducing the likelihood of skidding and crashing.

The Transport Ministry has made the anti-lock braking system mandatory for all new two-wheelers manufactured after January next year, irrespective of engine capacity, to enhance riders’ safety.

The Ministry, in a notification, said that at the time of purchase of a two-wheeler, the manufacturer will supply two protective headgear, conforming to specifications prescribed by the Bureau of Indian Standards.

“Provided further that vehicles of category L2 manufactured on and after 1st January 2026, in case of all models, shall be fitted with Anti-lock Braking System conforming to the IS14664:2010,” a notification said.

What is the anti-lock braking system?

The anti-lock braking system is designed to prevent wheel lock-up during sudden braking, reducing the likelihood of skidding and crashing.

According to the government’s latest data, two-wheelers were involved in nearly 20% of India’s 1,51,997 road accidents in 2022.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacted with Group Captain and Axiom-4 mission pilot Shubhanshu Shukla, who scripted history by becoming the first Indian on the International Space Station.

The slogan ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ echoed aboard the International Space Station (ISS) as Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, calling his journey the first step towards India’s ambitious Gaganyaan mission.

Speaking from space, Shukla, the first Indian to board the ISS, told the Prime Minister on Saturday that India looks “grander and bigger from space than it does on a map.” Shukla is currently serving as the mission pilot of Axiom Space’s fourth commercial mission, Ax-4.

Describing his perspective from orbit, Shukla said, “You can truly feel a sense of oneness. There are no borders, no lines. It feels as if this entire Earth is our home and we are all its citizens.”

In a video interaction, Prime Minister Modi hailed Shukla’s achievement, saying, “Though you are far away from the motherland, you are the closest to the hearts of all Indians.” The Prime Minister also drew a personal connection, noting, “Aapke naam mein bhi shubh hai aur aapki yatra naye yug ka shubharambh bhi hai (your name itself means auspicious, and your journey marks the beginning of a new era).”

Shukla made history on Wednesday by becoming the first Indian in 41 years to travel to space, following in the footsteps of Rakesh Sharma, who flew aboard a Russian spacecraft in 1984. His journey marks India’s return to human spaceflight after nearly four decades.

The Ax-4 mission, launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, successfully docked at the ISS’s Harmony module after a 28-hour journey aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. Shukla is joined on the mission by commander Peggy Whitson from the United States, mission specialist Sawosz Uznanski from Poland, and Tibor Kapu from Hungary.

Shukla, now officially astronaut number 634 after receiving his Space Station pin, described his initial moments aboard the ISS as both thrilling and slightly challenging. “It may look easy on camera, but my head feels a little heavy,” he admitted, adding, “The next 14 days are going to be exciting and great.”

In a heartfelt message before docking, Shukla had greeted the nation with a simple but powerful “Namaskar from space,” saying he was proud to carry the dreams of 1.4 billion Indians into orbit.

The Ax-4 crew is set to spend approximately two weeks aboard the ISS, collaborating with the Expedition 73 crew. Their mission includes more than 60 scientific experiments and outreach activities, covering fields such as cancer research, DNA repair, and advanced manufacturing — the most ambitious scientific programme yet for an Axiom mission.

The Ax-4 flight also highlights the growing importance of international cooperation and commercial partnerships in the future of space exploration.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

These 3300 HP diesel locomotives feature many special facilities for the loco pilot or the driver such as refrigerator, hot plate, mobile holder, aesthetic cab design, toilet etc., in accordance with international standards.

Amid the Indian Railways’ push for export of rail equipment, the Banaras Locomotive Works (BLW) has exported two locomotives to Mozambique. Officials said that the export was done as per the major contract awarded by Mozambique Railways (CFM) for manufacturing and supply of 10 diesel locomotives.

BLW, a flagship production unit of Indian Railways, will dispatch the remaining eight locomotives by December 2025, said the officials. “The global contract for 10 locomotives was awarded to RITES, a public sector undertaking (PSU) of Ministry of Railways, who further got the locomotives manufactured at BLW. These are advanced diesel locomotives of 3300 horse power. It is capable of running at a maximum speed of 100 kmph on Cape Gauge (1067 mm). BLW has exported locomotives to Mozambique earlier as well,” said a senior official of the Ministry of Railways.

These 3300 HP diesel locomotives feature many special facilities for the loco pilot or the driver such as refrigerator, hot plate, mobile holder, aesthetic cab design, toilet etc., in accordance with international standards.

The data available with the BLW shows that it has supplied a total of 10 Cape Gauge diesel locomotives (3000 HP, AC-AC) to Mozambique’s state-owned rail company CFM so far, with the oldest locomotive being sent in 2008-09. During 2021-22 and 2022-23, it supplied a total of five locomotives, which are currently in successful operation in Mozambique.

Apart from BLW, other production units such Marhowra Plant in Bihar has also started exporting locomotives. On June 20, Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off a state-of-the-art locomotive built at the Marhowra Plant, for export to the Republic of Guinea. This is the first export locomotive manufactured in this factory.

Officials said that since the establishment of Banaras Locomotive Works (formerly Diesel Locomotive Works) on 23 April 1956, it has manufactured more than 10,000 locomotives for Indian Railways, steel plants, mines, ports and export.

In January 1976, the first exported locomotive went to Tanzania. After this, the locomotive manufactured here were sent to countries like Vietnam, Mali, Senegal, Angola, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Mozambique, Sudan etc. In all, a total of 174 locomotives have been exported by the BLW so far.

source/content: indianexpress.com (headline edited)

Aboard the Dragon spacecraft, Shukla said: ‘Namaskar, my dear countrymen! What a ride! We are back in space once again after 41 years’.

“We are orbiting the Earth. This is the start of India’s human space program. Jai Hind, Jai Bharat.”

With these words, 39-year-old Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla became the voice of a new era in Indian spaceflight.

The Indian Air Force pilot, now the second Indian to travel to space after Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma’s Soviet-backed mission in 1984, delivered this message shortly after the Axiom-4 mission entered Earth orbit.

His voice, relayed from the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft after separation from the Falcon 9 upper stage at 12:01 pm IST (2:31 am EDT), marked a historic milestone , not just for India’s space ambitions, but for every household watching back home, most of all one in Lucknow.

Tears roll down mother’s cheeks

Back in Uttar Pradesh, his mother Asha Shukla sat frozen in front of a large screen, hands folded, eyes full. Her son was now in orbit.

Minutes after liftoff from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, she said to ANI, “We are delighted, we are very proud… We cannot describe this in words…We are not scared for Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla at all.”

The launch was carried live across national broadcasters and projected in schools and public venues.

“Namaskar, My dear countrymen!”

Aboard the Dragon spacecraft, Shukla said…. “Namaskar, my dear countrymen! What a ride! We are back in space once again after 41 years,” he said. “We are revolving around the Earth at a speed of 7.5 kilometres per second. The Tiranga embossed on my shoulders tells me that I am with all of you.”

“This journey,” he added, “is not just to the International Space Station (ISS), but the beginning of India’s Human Space Programme.”

As he spoke, his message beamed not only to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) but to his family, his friends, and his hometown, where students at City Montessori School (CMS) in Lucknow erupted in spontaneous chants of “Hip Hip Hurray!”

Posters congratulating Shukla lined the streets of Lucknow.

CMS, where he studied from Montessori through Class 12, organised an event dubbed Vyomotsav, a watch-party that transformed its Kanpur Road campus into a replica of a mission control centre. From telescope viewings to a mock ISS Cupola module, the entire school community rallied behind its alumnus.

As the rocket soared through the Florida sky, CMS students broke into bhangra while some teachers cried quietly. “It’s a great moment not just for us but for our country,” said Shambhu Dayal Shukla, Shubhanshu’s father. “What can we say at this moment, I am struggling for words now. My blessings are always there with my son,” he told PTI.

“I know he will be successful,” Asha Shukla added. “Though I am eagerly looking forward to his return after a successful mission, I also know that even after returning back on Earth, it will take a while before he actually gets to be back amongst us.”

On launch morning, his mother performed a traditional ritual via video call, offering him dahi-cheeni...a customary mix of curd and sugar believed to bring good luck.

Prime Minister Modi also took to X to extend his wishes to Shukla. “We welcome the successful launch of the Space Mission carrying astronauts from India, Hungary, Poland and the US. He carries with him the wishes, hopes and aspirations of 1.4 billion Indians.”, he wrote.

Right now, the nation and one family in particular holds its breath, its pride swelling with the weight of 41 years.

source/content: telegraphindia.com (headline edited)

India ranks 99th on the 2025 SDG Index with a score of 67, while China ranks 49th with 74.4 and the US 44th with 75.2 points.

India has for the first time secured a place among the top 100 out of 193 countries ranked for their progress in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), according to a report published on Tuesday (June 24, 2025).

According to the U.N. Sustainable Development Solutions Network’s 10th and latest Sustainable Development Report (SDR), India ranks 99th on the 2025 SDG Index with a score of 67, while China ranks 49th with 74.4 and the US 44th with 75.2 points.

Among India’s neighbours, Bhutan takes 74th place with 70.5 points, Nepal ranks 85th with 68.6, Bangladesh 114th with 63.9 and Pakistan 140th with 57 points.

India’s maritime neighbours, Maldives and Sri Lanka, stood at 53rd and 93rd places, respectively.

The report’s authors said that SDG progress has stalled at the global level, with only 17 per cent of the 17 targets adopted by the U.N. member countries in 2015 projected to be achieved by 2030.

“Conflicts, structural vulnerabilities and limited fiscal space impede SDG progress in many parts of the world,” the report, with world-renowned economist Jeffrey Sachs as its lead author, said.

European countries, especially the Nordic nations, continue to top the SDG Index, with Finland ranking first, Sweden second and Denmark third.

A total of 19 out of the top 20 countries are in Europe.

Yet even these countries face significant challenges in achieving at least two goals, including those related to climate and biodiversity, largely due to unsustainable consumption, the authors said.

East and South Asia have outperformed all other global regions in terms of SDG progress since 2015 largely due to rapid socioeconomic development.

The countries in East and South Asia that have demonstrated the fastest progress since 2015 (in points) include Nepal (+11.1), Cambodia (+10), the Philippines (+8.6), Bangladesh (+8.3) and Mongolia (+7.7).

The other countries showing rapid progress among their peers include Benin (+14.5), Peru (+8.7), the United Arab Emirates (+9.9), Uzbekistan (+12.1), Costa Rica (+7) and Saudi Arabia (+8.1).

Though only 17% of the targets are on track to be achieved worldwide, most UN member states have made strong progress on targets related to access to basic services and infrastructure, including mobile broadband use (SDG 9), access to electricity (SDG 7), internet use (SDG 9), under-five mortality rate (SDG 3) and neonatal mortality (SDG 3).

Five targets show significant reversals in progress since 2015. These are obesity rate (SDG 2), press freedom (SDG 16), sustainable nitrogen management (SDG 2), the Red List Index (SDG 15) and the Corruption Perceptions Index (SDG 16).

The report said the top three countries most committed to the UN multilateralism are Barbados (1), Jamaica (2) and Trinidad and Tobago (3).

Among G20 nations, Brazil (25) ranks highest, while Chile (7) leads among OECD countries.

The United States, which recently withdrew from the Paris Climate Agreement and the World Health Organization (WHO) and formally declared its opposition to the SDGs and the 2030 Agenda, ranks last (193rd) for the second year in a row.

The report, which comes ahead of the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4) in Seville, Spain, (June 30-July 3) noted the global financial architecture (GFA) is broken.

“Money flows readily to rich countries and not to the emerging and developing economies (EMDEs) that offer higher growth potential and rates of return. At the top of the agenda at FfD4 is the need to reform the GFA so that capital flows in far larger sums to the EMDEs,” it said.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

The ship has 26% indigenous components, including the BrahMos long-range cruise missile for targeting both at sea and land, say officials.

Indian Navy’s Russian-manufactured guided missile frigate INS Tamal will be commissioned into the force at Russia’s coastal city of Kaliningrad on July 1.

The ship has 26 per cent indigenous components, including the BrahMos long-range cruise missile for targeting both at sea and land, officials said.

INS Tamal would be the eighth Krivak class frigates to be inducted from Russia over the past two decades.

The warship has been built at Yantar shipyard in Kaliningrad, and is the last such platform to be inducted from a foreign source, the officials said.

The commissioning ceremony will be presided over by Vice Admiral Sanjay J Singh, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Naval Command. Several high-ranking Indian and Russian defence officials will attend the event.

INS Tamal is the second ship of the Tushil Class, which are the upgraded versions of their predecessors, Talwar and Teg classes.

India, as part of the broader contract for Tushil class, is also building two similar frigates called the INS Triput class at Goa Shipyard Ltd with transfer of technology and design assistance from the Russian side.

By the conclusion of this series of ships, Indian Navy will be operating 10 ships with similar capabilities and commonality in equipment, weapon and sensor fit over four different classes, the officials said.

Tamal’s construction was closely overseen by an Indian team of specialists from the Warship Overseeing Team stationed at Kaliningrad.

At the Naval headquarters, the project was steered by the Directorate of Ship Production under the Controller of Warship Production and Acquisition.

The ship has significant upgrades in its arsenal in comparison to its predecessors, such as vertical launched surface-to-air missiles, improved 100 MM gun, heavyweight torpedoes, urgent-attack anti-submarine rockets, and a host of surveillance and fire control radars and systems.

The combat capability of the ship is augmented by a host of network-centric warfare capabilities and advanced electronic warfare suite, Navy Spokesperson Commander Vivek Madhwal said.

“Tamal punches well above its weight with a very high tonnage to firepower ratio, extended endurance, and a top speed in excess of 30 knots,” he said.

The crew, comprising over 250 personnel, has undergone rigorous ashore as well as afloat training in extremely challenging winter conditions of St.Petersburg and Kaliningrad, he said.

Tamal has successively completed extensive sea trials undertaken over three months.

The ship’s name, Tamal, symbolises the mythical sword used for combat by Indra, the king of the gods.

The ship’s mascot is inspired by the congruence of the ‘Jambavant’ — the immortal bear king of Indian mythology and the Russian national animal, the Eurasian brown bear.

Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by The Telegraph Online staff and has been published from a syndicated feed.

source/content: telegraphindia.com (headline edited)

What began as an ancient Indian discipline has now evolved into a global ritual, with each country putting its own spin to the practice.

From New York to Tokyo, people across the globe united on June 21 to mark the 11th International Yoga Day. What began as an ancient Indian discipline has now evolved into a global ritual, with each country putting its own spin to the practice.

India hosted themed events and celebrations in 1,300 cities worldwide to commemorate the yoga on Saturday, highlighting the country’s ancient heritage and cultural influence. 

Times Square in New York turned into a giant open-air studio as thousands gathered to practice yoga together, celebrating unity and wellness on International Yoga Day. The event was organised by the Consulate General of India in New York in collaboration with Times Square. 

Actor Anupam Kher took the stage to speak, bringing a strong sense of Indian cultural pride to the gathering.

The theme for the 2025 International Day of Yoga, ‘Yoga for One Earth, One Health’, underscores the deep connection between individual well-being, environmental sustainability, and global health. 

The Yoga Day festivities in Tokyo were impressive as more than 2000 people participated in various yoga sessions. Japanese Prime Minister’s spouse and the spouse of the country’s foreign minister attended the event. Indian envoy Sibi George addressed the enthusiastic gathering of yoga practitioners.

Hundreds gathered at the famous Strand square in London to participate in expert-led yoga poses and breathing exercises, hosted by the High Commission of India in London. 

In a message from Buckingham Palace, the King said, “The theme of this year’s day, Yoga for One Earth, One Health, reminds us how vitally important it is that the world comes together to secure a happy and healthy future for present and future generations.”

The High Commission of India in Malaysia celebrated the 11th International Yoga Day at the iconic Batu Caves Complex in Kuala Lumpur. About 1200 yoga enthusiasts attended the event including High Commissioners, Ambassadors and members of diplomatic corps, senior Government officials and NGOs.

Individuals from diverse community, cultural, and yoga groups, members of the Indian diaspora, schoolchildren, and people of all ages and backgrounds attended the event. 

It was a morning of unity, wellness, and harmony as the vibrant Indian and Australian communities joined the High Commission of India for yoga celebration at the iconic Old Parliament House in Canberra, embracing the spirit of mindfulness and collective well-being. 

In Shanghai and cities across Eastern China, people celebrated Yoga Day with spirited participation from local communities. The events featured group yoga sessions, including a striking “Circle of Life” formation, symbolising collective strength, balance, and the deepening cultural bonds between India and the region.  

The Consulate General of India in Russia’s Vladivostok held Yoga sessions at prominent city landmarks, including the Mariinsky Theatre with views of the iconic Golden Bridge and the scenic Nagornyy Park.

International Yoga Day has become a global movement highlighting yoga’s benefits for mind, body, and spirit. Promoting physical health, mental clarity, and emotional calm, yoga also teaches respect for ourselves and the environment. India has been instrumental in spreading this ancient practice worldwide. 

source/content: telegraphindia.com (headline edited)

PM Modi lauded the Indian education sector’s performance in the rankings, saying the “government is committed to furthering research and innovation ecosystems for the benefit of India’s youth”.

 Prime Minister Narendra Modi has lauded the performance of Indian educational institutions in the World University 2026 Rankings, which were made public on Thursday.

In a post on X, the PM said, “The QS World University Rankings bring great news for our education sector. Our government is committed to furthering research and innovation ecosystems for the benefit of India’s youth.”

India is the fourth most represented in the list with only the United States, United Kingdom and China surpassing it, said an official release from the PIB. A total of 54 Higher Educational Institutes (HEIs) from India featured in the rankings with IIT Delhi emerging as the country’s top-ranked institute by securing the 123rd position. Twelve IITs have made it to the ranking list.

Compiled by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), the internationally recognised ranking system compares HEIs worldwide on an annual basis.

Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan in a statement said, “From just 11 universities in 2014 to 54 in the latest rankings, this five-fold jump is a testament to the transformative educational reforms ushered by PM Narendra Modiji’s government in the last decade. National Education Policy 2020 is not just changing our educational landscape, it is revolutionising it.

IIT Delhi, which stands at the 123rd position now, was ranked 150th in 2025. The rankings of other IITs which made it to the list in sequential order are IIT Bombay (129), IIT Madras (180) IIT Kharagpur (215), IIT Kanpur (222), IIT Guwahati (334), IIT Roorkee (339), IIT Indore (556), IIT Varanasi (566), IIT Hyderabad (664), IIT Gandhinagar (801-850) and IIT Bhubaneswar (951-1000).

Other top Indian institutions on the list include Indian Institute of Science Bangalore (219), University of Delhi (328), Anna University (465), Jawaharlal Nehru University (558), Savitribai Phule Pune University (556), University of Mumbai (664), Vellore Institute of Technology (691) and Symbiosis International University (696).

An official release from the PIB said eight universities are making their debut in the rankings from India – IIT Gandhinagar, Lovely Professional University, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, Ashoka University, Galgotias University, Shiv Nadar University, Christ (Deemed to be University) Bengaluru and Manav Rachna International Institute of Research and Studies.

48 percent of India’s ranked universities have improved their positions compared to the previous year, the release said.

QS 2026 is based on data from over 16 million academic papers and insights from 1,51,000 academics and one lakh employers. A broad mix of factors like faculty qualifications, research strength, partnerships and student outcomes are considered for the rankings. A new indicator called International Student Diversity has been introduced in this year’s assessment.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

At the inaugural event, Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that the Indian Railways has witnessed an unprecedented transformation in the last 11 years under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw inaugurated the country’s largest automobile cargo terminal, the Gati Shakti Multi-Modal Cargo Terminal at Maruti Suzuki’s Manesar facility in Haryana.

The terminal is expected to significantly enhance freight capacity and industrial logistics.

It is connected to Patli railway station via a ten-kilometre dedicated rail corridor, a component of the 121.7-kilometre Haryana Orbital Rail Corridor developed by the Haryana Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation (HRIDC).

Vaishnaw noted that 108 Multimodal Cargo terminals are now ready and will soon be in service.

Spread over 46 acres inside the MSIL Manesar facility, the railway siding features a fully electrified corridor having four full-length tracks for rakes and one track for engine escape, totalling 8.2 kilometres of track length.

The siding also includes a two-floor station building, a dedicated pathway for guards and drivers along the tracks, advanced electronic train interlocking and many more.

Models manufactured at MSIL’s Gurugram and Manesar facilities will be dispatched to 17 hubs from this railway siding serving 380 cities across India.

Port locations of Mundra and Pipavav, used by the company for exports, will also be served. The railway siding will have a dispatch capability of 450,000 vehicles at full capacity.

Speaking at the inauguration of the railway siding facility at Maruti Plant in Manesar, Haryana, Ashwini Vaishnav said that to upgrade passenger trains, 16 and 20-coach Main Line EMU trains will be manufactured.

Till now, MEMUs were manufactured with 8 or 12 coaches. This project will be implemented in a new factory being started in Kazipet, Telangana. This will provide great relief for short-distance travel.

“The number of Amrit Bharat Express trains will soon increase by six more as 50 more trains are under making. Also, Vande Bharat trains are being extended to new routes,’’ he said.

Vaishnav said, “NaMo Bharat trains have received a great response from the passengers. Now, 50 new AC passenger trains will be added. Earlier, two trains started between Ahmedabad-Bhuj and Patna-Jaynagar. In total, 150 new passenger trains will come into service. So far, the work of 1300 Amrit Bharat stations has been approved. Out of these, 103 stations have been completed recently, and the Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated them from Bikaner. Now, 100 more such stations will be completed by December 2025, and 500 more stations will be constructed by 2026.’’

Vaishnaw said that to prevent misuse of bots in Tatkal ticket booking, only KYC-verified passengers will get the facility of online booking from July 1 and an ID will also be mandatory on window booking. He added that India now ranks second in the world in both freight and passenger traffic.

“Last year, 7.2 billion passengers travelled by rail and 1617 million tonnes of goods were carried. The freight corridor is now fully operational and about 400 freight trains are running on it every day,’’ he said.

Vaishnaw further said that the Bikaner Division has started publishing the chart 24 hours in advance (it was four hours in advance, earlier) as an innovative initiative.

It reduced uncertainty among the passengers and facilitated them in making better plans.

He said that the Indian Railways has witnessed an unprecedented transformation in the last 11 years under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

He added that before 2014, Railways remained a victim of neglect for decades, with an annual investment of only Rs 25,000 to 30,000 crores.

However, now the investment has increased to Rs 2.5 lakh crores, which is accelerating the development of railway infrastructure and facilities.

Vaishnaw said, “Legacy problems prevailing in Railways over the years are now being eliminated one by one. Stations, trains, toilets, tracks, cleanliness, technology — every sector has been improved comprehensively. New facilities are being provided to passengers and integrated development is being given priority in collaboration with the industry.’’

Haryana Chief Minister Nayan Singh Saini highlighted that today, Haryana has become one of India’s leading automobile manufacturing hubs, producing nearly 50 per cent of all cars made in the country.

The development of an internal railway yard by the Haryana Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation at Maruti underscores the State’s commitment to ‘Ease of Doing Business’ and infrastructure development, he said.

Reaffirming the vision to emerge as a logistics hub, the State has partnered with various industry bodies and educational institutions to enhance workforce skills across Haryana, he added.

Saini said that the project is an outstanding example of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visionary Gati Shakti initiative — more than a scheme, it represents a revolution and a commitment to transform India’s approach to infrastructure development.

He further shared that the PM Gati Shakti platform brings together key sectors such as railways, roads, ports, airports, waterways, and logistics under one integrated vision.

The railway siding at Maruti Suzuki is an example of it, allowing cars manufactured at the plant to be directly loaded onto cargo trains and shipped to destinations across India.

Speaking on the occasion, Hisashi Takeuchi, MD and CEO, Maruti Suzuki India Limited, said, “The project underscores our strong commitment to India’s Net Zero emissions target 2070. It will contribute to avoiding 175,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions, saving 60 million litres of fuel annually at full capacity, and reducing road congestion. Lowering carbon emissions remains a top priority at Maruti Suzuki, and we aim to achieve this by increasing the share of vehicle dispatches through railways to 35 per cent by FY 2030-31.”

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

The incident marks the first fatal crash involving a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner and the deadliest aviation accident globally in a decade.

India’s non-life insurance major, General Insurance Corporation of India (GIC Re), estimates that total insurance claims related to the June 12 crash of Air India Flight AI 171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, could reach up to $475 million (approximately ₹39.4 billion), making it one of the country’s costliest insurance claims.

The Ahmedabad-to-London flight, carrying 242 individuals—230 passengers and 12 crew members—tragically crashed shortly after taking off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad.

Total claims for the Air India crash could reach $475 million, driven primarily by liability payouts, which are expected to exceed the aircraft’s value by more than 2.5 times, GIC Re stated on Tuesday. In rupee terms, this translates to approximately ₹4,091 crore (based on current exchange rates).

“The way we see it, the hull (the aircraft) will be around $125 million, and liability claims—on account of passenger liability, third-party liability, and other personal accident and travel policies—should amount to approximately $350 million,” said GIC Re Chairman and Managing Director Ramaswami Narayanan.

Only one passenger, British national Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, survived the crash. Additionally, at least 38 people on the ground were killed when the aircraft struck a medical college hostel in the Meghani Nagar area.

The incident marks the first fatal crash involving a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner and the deadliest aviation accident globally in a decade, according to aviation industry portal AviationA2Z.

Insurance Coverage and Claims

Reports indicate that in April 2025, Air India increased insurance coverage for its Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner from ₹750 crore to ₹850 crore following an engine replacement.

While the cause of the crash is still under investigation by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB)—with support from the United Kingdom’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch and the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)—preliminary findings suggest engine failure as a potential cause.

A high-level multidisciplinary committee led by the Government of India has already deliberated on various theories surrounding the country’s worst air disaster in decades.

Chaired by Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, the committee met on Monday to review expert opinions on possible causes of the crash. It also discussed the formulation of Standard Operating Procedures to prevent similar incidents in the future.

In response to the tragedy, the Tata Group, which owns Air India, announced compensation for the families of the victims and pledged support for rebuilding the destroyed medical college building.

Responding to a query from The New Indian Express, a senior aviation industry consultant said the estimated $475 million claim highlights the scale of the tragedy—one of the most devastating events in the history of Indian aviation.

“It will have far-reaching implications for the airline industry. As investigations continue, the focus remains on determining the cause of the crash and providing support to affected families and communities,” the consultant added.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)