THE HEADLINES:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi flags off India’s first Vande Bharat Sleeper Train between Howrah and Guwahati from Malda in West Bengal.
Prime Minister to visit Assam this evening; To flag off two new Amrit Bharat Express trains.
Two Maoists killed in an encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district.
US President Donald Trump announces members of a new Board of Peace to lead the second phase of his 20‑Point Peace Plan to end Gaza conflict.
IMD forecasts light rainfall over Punjab and Haryana for next three to four days.
And in ICC Men’s Under-19 Cricket World Cup, match between India and Bangladesh underway in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi today flagged off India’s first Vande Bharat Sleeper Train between Howrah and Guwahati (Kamakhya) at Malda town railway station. Mr Modi also virtually flagged off Guwahati – Howrah Vande Bharat Sleeper train. The fully air-conditioned Vande Bharat Sleeper train is set to offer passengers an airline-like travel experience at economical fares. It will make long-distance journeys faster, safer, and more convenient. The Vande Bharat Sleeper train comprises 16 modern coaches with a total capacity of 823 passengers. Our correspondent reports that the service will be especially beneficial for common passengers, students, professionals, migrant workers, traders and religious pilgrims.
A semi-high-speed train with a speed of up to 180 kilometer per hour, the Vande Bharat Sleeper Train combines modern amenities with faster travel times. The 16-coach Vande Bharat Sleeper has been designed to cater to long-distance passenger travel and is equipped with state-of-the-art passenger amenities. The fare for this Vande Bharat sleeper train will be around two thousand 300 rupees with food for third AC, three thousand rupees for 2nd AC and three thousand 600 rupees for 1st AC. The fully AC train will have the capacity of accommodating around 823 passengers. The train originating from Guwahati will feature authentic Assamese cuisine, while the train starting from Kolkata will serve traditional Bengali delicacies, ensuring a delightful and culturally rich dining experience on board. With Dipendra Kumar from Guwahati, Bhanu Pratap Singh, Akashvani News.
Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnav has said these are new-generation trains with new technology, and they will be manufactured in very large numbers.
Our correspondent spoke to some of the passengers and students who were traveling in the train. They expressed happiness, saying that they were lucky to get the chance to travel in the country’s first Vande Bharat Sleeper Train.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Assam this evening. During his two-day’s visit, the Prime Minister will lay foundation stone of a development project, and flag off two new Amrit Bharat Express trains. More from our Correspondent:
Today evening at around 6 PM Prime Minister will participate in the Bagurumba Dwhou 2026, Traditional Bodo Cultural Programme at Arjun Bhogeswar Baruah Sports Complex in Guwahati. On this occasion, more than 10,000 artists from the Bodo community will perform Bagurumba dance in a single, synchronised presentation. Tomorrow, the Prime Minister will perform Bhoomi Pujan for the Kaziranga Elevated Corridor Project worth over 6,950 crore rupees at Kaliabor in Nagaon district at around 11 am. The elevated wildlife corridor will ensure uninterrupted movement of animals, reduce human-wildlife conflict. It will also enhance road safety, reduce travel time and support growing passenger and freight traffic. The Prime Minister will also flag off 2 New Amrit Bharat Express trains – Kamakhya-Rohtak Amrit Bharat Express and Dibrugarh-Gomti Nagar Amrit Bharat Express. Prime Minister will also address a public meeting at Kaliabor before concluding his Assam visit.
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Amid allegations and counter-allegations traded between TMC and BJP in West Bengal over Form 7, the Election Commission has clarified that any registered voter within a specific constituency could submit any number of the form. The Commission said, there is no limit on how many forms an individual can submit. However, to prevent misuse of the process, if a person files more than five objections it will trigger a mandatory review by the Electoral Registration Officer to ensure the legitimacy of the claims.
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Uttar Pradesh government has reiterated that no idols have been damaged during the ongoing reconstruction and redevelopment work going on at Manikarnika Ghat in Varanasi. Urban Development Minister AK Sharma reiterated that there was lack of basic amenities at Manikarnika Ghat area due to which reconstruction and redevelopment work has been initiated by the government to provide more facilities to the people. District Magistrate Satyendra Kumar also said that no idols have been damaged during the ongoing reconstruction. He said that misleading and baseless claims were being circulated on social media and have no connection with the reality on the ground.
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BJP today accused West Bengal Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee of doing appeasement politics in West Bengal. Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, BJP Spokesperson Sambit Patra alleged that the West Bengal Chief Minister is justifying violence and aiming to isolate the state. He said that the senior TMC leader is trying to stop Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise by adopting unconstitutional and violent means. Mr Patra said, under West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s rule, the governance of the state has taken a troubling turn. He also accused the TMC government of running fake ID rackets and making infiltrators the citizens of India.
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In Chhattisgarh, two Maoists have been killed in an encounter with security forces in Bijapur district today. According to the police, a joint team of security forces was dispatched after receiving intelligence inputs about the presence of Maoists in the jungle of north- west area of the district. The encounter took place during the search operation this morning. Intermittent firing has been continuing from both sides since morning. So far, the bodies of two Maoists have been recovered from the spot.
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The BJP has swept the 2026 civic polls, winning one thousand 425 of 2 thousand 869 seats across 29 municipal corporations across Maharashtra. According to the final tally, the Shiv Sena bagged 399 seats, Congress 324, NCP 167, Shiv Sena (UBT) 155, NCP (SP) 36, MNS 13, and BSP 6 seats. More from our correspondent:
The BJP won 89, and ally Shiv Sena bagged 29 seats in the 227-member Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, while Shiv Sena (UBT) managed 65 and MNS six seats. The Congress, which fought in alliance with Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA), bagged 24 seats, AIMIM 8, NCP 3, Samajwadi Party 2, and NCP (SP) got just one seat. The Mahayuti alliance ended the three-decade-old dominance of the Thackrey family in the cash-rich civic body. With C Prarthana, Madhuri Pange, Aakashwani News, Mumbai.
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The Republic Day Celebrations at Kartavya Path this year will be a unique blend of 150 years of the national song Vande Mataram. India’s military might and cultural diversity. Addressing a press conference in New Delhi yesterday, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh said, the celebrations will mark a unique tribute to the national song alongside the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat.
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Rashtrapati Bhavan (circuit one) will remain closed for the general public from 21st to 29th of this month. According to the President’s Secretariat, the visit of general public will be closed due to the upcoming Republic Day Parade and Beating Retreat Ceremony.
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Delhi Traffic Police have issued a traffic advisory for today and the 19th, the 20th, and the 21st of this month due to Republic Day Parade rehearsals on Kartavya Path. According to the advisory, the traffic restrictions will be in place from 10:15 AM to 12:30 PM to ensure smooth and uninterrupted movement of the parade contingents. Traffic restrictions will apply to major roads connecting to Kartavya Path, including the intersections of Kartavya Path with Rafi Marg, Janpath, Mansingh Road, and C-Hexagon. Commuters are advised to avoid these areas during the restriction window, as delays and diversions are expected.
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A Kerala Court today rejected the bail plea of Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkootathil in the third rape case registered against him. The Thiruvalla Judicial First Class Magistrate Court, passed the order after holding an in-camera hearing. The defence argued that the case was fabricated, while the prosecution informed the court that two other rape cases are pending against the MLA.
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The deadline for completing Hajj pilgrimage procedures has been extended till the 25th of this month. Ministry of Minority Affairs has clarified that no additional time will be granted beyond this date. The Ministry has urged Hajj pilgrims to finalize their Hajj booking and other documentation. Pilgrims have been advised to deposit their valid passports with their chosen Hajj Group Organizer or the relevant office and to enter their registration details on the Nusuk portal.
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The India Meteorological Department has forecast very light rainfall over Punjab and Harayana in the next three to four days. Talking exclusively to Akashvani News, IMD senior scientist Dr R K Jenamani said that at the end of this month there are very high chances of rainfall over northwest India. Dr Jenamani said, the cold wave conditions have improved, and a slight increase in minimum temperature has also been recorded.
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US President Donald Trump has announced the members of a new Board of Peace to lead the second phase of his 20‑Point Peace Plan aimed at ending the Gaza conflict. The board will oversee efforts on governance, regional cooperation, reconstruction, investment, funding, and long-term stability in Gaza. Trump will serve as Chairman of the Board of Peace, while senior advisors Aryeh Lightstone and Josh Gruenbaum will manage daily strategy and operations.
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In the ICC Men’s Under-19 Cricket World Cup 2026, the second game in Group A match between India and Bangladesh is underway at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo, Zimbawe. Put in to bat first, India were 66 for 3 in 13 overs when the report last came in.
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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi flags off India’s first Vande Bharat Sleeper Train between Howrah and Guwahati from Malda in West Bengal.
Prime Minister to visit Assam this evening; To flag off two new Amrit Bharat Express trains.
Two Maoists killed in an encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district.
US President Donald Trump announces members of a new Board of Peace to lead the second phase of his 20‑Point Peace Plan to end Gaza conflict.
IMD forecasts light rainfall over Punjab and Haryana for next three to four days.
And in ICC Men’s Under-19 Cricket World Cup, match between India and Bangladesh underway in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.
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