Northern Railway announces train timings for Katra-Srinagar routeIANS
Northern Railway on Friday announced train timings for the Katra-Srinagar route, which is expected to be inaugurated after January 20.
According to the timing schedule, the Vande Bharat Express train will depart from Katra at 8.10 a.m. and arrive in Srinagar at 11.20 a.m.
Mail Express will run twice every day from Katra — departure at 9.50 a.m. and arrival in Srinagar at 1.10 p.m.; departure at 3.00 p.m. and arrival in Srinagar at 6.20 p.m.
Train timings from Srinagar to Katra for the Mail Express: departure from Srinagar at 8.55 a.m. and arrival in Katra at 12.05 p.m. The second run will be at 3:10 pm and arrival in Katra is at 6:30 pm.
Vande Bharat will depart from Srinagar at 12.45 p.m. and arrive in Katra at 3.55 p.m
The Vande Bharat train will start a 7 p.m. from Delhi and arrive in Srinagar at 8 a.m. The Katra-Srinagar link of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) was the most ambitious and difficult link of this project.
Vande Bharat will depart from Srinagar at 12.45 p.m. and arrive in Katra at 3.55 p.mIANS
Technically, this rail link is seen as a marvel of engineering with very few parallels anywhere else in the world. It involves some of the most challenging portions, including the bridge over the Chenab River in Ramban district, which is higher than the Eiffel Tower of Paris.
The Chenab Rail Bridge is a steel and concrete arch bridge carrying a single-track railway line, located between Bakkal and Kauri in the Reasi district of the Jammu division.
The bridge spans the Chenab River at a height of 359 m (1,178 ft) above the river, making it the World’s highest rail bridge and the World’s highest arch bridge.
The bridge was fully completed and was inaugurated in August 2022. It is built between the Sangaldan and the Reasi Railway stations.
USBRL is a dream come true for millions of people living in the landlocked Valley. It will give a quantum leap to tourism, trade, horticulture, and education and also change the very concept of travel to Kashmir Valley.
Dramatic decline in India’s rural poverty from 25.7 pc to 4.86 pc in last 12 years: SBI reportIANS
India’s rural poverty ratio has registered a dramatic decline to 4.86 per cent in the financial year 2023-24 from 25.7 per cent in 2011-12 while urban poverty has fallen to 4.09 per cent from 4.6 per cent during this period, according to an SBI Research report released on Friday.
“At an aggregate level, we believe poverty rates in India could now be in the range of 4 per cent-4.5 per cent with almost minimal existence of extreme poverty,” the report said.
“The sharp decline in the rural poverty ratio is on account of higher consumption growth in the lowest 0-5 per cent decile with significant Government support and such support is important as we also find that change in food prices has significant impact on not just food expenditures, but overall expenditure in general,” the report states.
Based on 2023-24 fractile distribution, the sample proportion for poverty in rural areas is 4.86 per cent and 4.09 per cent in urban areas in FY24. This is also significantly lower than FY23 estimates of rural poverty at 7.2 per cent and urban poverty at 4.6 per cent, according to the report.
“It is possible that these numbers could undergo minor revisions once the 2021 census is completed and the new Rural-Urban population share is published. We believe Urban poverty could decline even further,” the report said.
One of the reasons for the increasingly shrinking horizontal income gap between rural and urban and the vertical income gap within rural income classes is the enhanced physical infrastructure is scripting a new story in rural mobility, according to the report.
“The difference between rural and urban monthly per capita consumption expenditure (MPCE) is now at 69.7 per cent, a rapid decline from 88.2 per cent in 2009-10. This is mostly due to the initiatives the Government has taken in terms of Direct Benefit Transfers, building rural infrastructure, augmenting farmers’ income and improving rural livelihood significantly,” the SBI report pointed out.
It said that food inflation dampens consumption demand more in lower-income states as compared to higher-income states, reflecting that rural people are comparatively more risk-averse in low-income states than in high-income states.
The report also estimated that November 24 inflation because of the new weights would be 5.0 per cent against 5.5 per cent.
It pointed out that most of the high-income states delineate a savings rate greater than the national average (31 per cent) while Uttar Pradesh and Bihar show low savings rates possibly due to higher outward migration.
Poverty ratio estimates for the year 2023-24 have been arrived based on the new estimated poverty line of Rs 1,632 in rural areas and Rs 1944 in urban areas in 2023-24.
Starting with the 2011-12 (Based on MRP Consumption) poverty line estimate of Rs 816 in rural areas and Rs 1000 in urban areas, the new poverty line was adjusted for decadal inflation and imputation factor derived from the NSSO report.
Rural consumption is fast catching up with urban consumption with the gap declining from 88.2 per cent in 2004-05 to 69.7 per cent in 2023-24., according to the report.
It states that the Rural Average consumption has increased due to Government Initiatives and support to the bottom of the pyramid
Around 30 per cent of the Rural MPCE is due mainly to the initiatives that the Government has taken in terms of direct benefit transfers (DBT) transfers, building rural infrastructures, augmenting farmers’ income and improving the rural livelihood significantly.
Rural Average consumption has increased due to Government Initiatives and support to the bottom of the pyramidIANS
The difference between rural and urban monthly per capita consumption expenditure/MPCE is declining for all states across income categories.
However, an interesting point highlighted by the report is states that were once considered laggards such as Bihar and Rajasthan are showing the maximum improvement in narrowing the rural-urban gap.
Consumption behaviour has also shifted from food to non-food items reflecting a higher standard of living as more manufactured goods such as toiletries and clothes are being bought.
The change in consumer preference has occurred in both rural and urban areas during the last 12 years.
The infrastructure projects that have ushered in prosperity include mostly 4/8 Lane National Highways stretching across a length of 1,50,000 kms. Improved ‘Loops of connectivity’ facilitating real-time two-way access.
The Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) has boosted rural connectivity with 700,000 plus kms of roads built in rural areas. Seamless connectivity with improved transportation means has upended consumption, altering buying & selling patterns deeply, the report highlights, the report highlighted.
Train Time Table: The time of the train going from Bastar of Chhattisgarh to Andhra Pradesh has changed. Let’s know what will be the new time of the Night Express?
Indian Railways has changed the timetable of many trains from January 1. These include a night express going from Bastar in Chhattisgarh to Andhra Pradesh. The time of the night express train going from Kirandul to Visakhapatnam has also changed.
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2 trains run on this route
The train runs from Kirandul in Dantewada district to Visakhapatnam via Dantewada, Jagdalpur, Araku in Odisha. Two trains run on this route every day. One of these trains runs at night while the other runs during the day. The timing of the night express train has changed. Since Bastar and Visakhapatnam are tourist areas, a large number of people come and go here. Not only this, a large number of people travel to Visakhapatnam for medical treatment as well.
This is a new time
The timing of the night express train running from Kirandul to Visakhapatnam has been changed. Now this train will run from Kirandul in Dantewada district at 4:30 pm. It will reach Visakhapatnam the next day at 3:40 am via Jagdalpur. The time table of the train has been changed from the new year. Earlier this train used to run from Kirandul at 3 pm and reach Visakhapatnam at 2:40 pm. According to railway officials, the new time table has also been updated on the IRCTC website and the National Train Inquiry System.
The Indian stock market witnessed an initial public offering (IPO) boom in 2024 as compared to any other global stock exchange, with the National Stock Exchange’s (NSE) Rs 1.67 lakh crore ($19.5 billion) capital raised through them becoming the highest in the world, according to a report by the exchange on Friday.
The 268 successful IPOs across mainboard (90) and SME (178) raised Rs 1.67 lakh crore, and were also the highest number of IPOs within Asia.
The 268 IPOs are also the highest figure of public issues recorded ever in India, demonstrating the growing confidence of investors in the capital markets.
It includes the largest IPO in India and the second largest IPO globally of $3.3 billion of Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL).
IANS
While 90 mainboard companies (excluding REiTS, InVITS, and FPOs) raised over Rs 1.59 lakh crore, 178 SMEs collectively raised around Rs 7,349 crore, the report stated.
“The record number of IPOs during 2024 highlights the resilience and potential of the Indian economy. Companies across various sectors are recognising the value of public markets to support their growth strategies,” said Sriram Krishnan, Chief Business Development Officer (CBDO), NSE.
In fact, the data suggests that NSE has alone done more IPOs than other top exchanges in Asia which includes the IPOs Japan’s (Japan Exchange Group), Hong Kong’s (Hong Kong Stock Exchange), and China’s (Shanghai Stock Exchange) have done cumulatively.
The capital raised by the companies via the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) was $15.9 billion and the Shanghai Stock Exchange was $8.8 billion.
China’s Shangai Stock Exchange recorded 101 public issues while Japan and Hong Kong’s stock exchanges witnessed 93 and 66 IPOs, respectively.
In 2024, there were a total of 1,145 IPOs raised globally compared to 1,271 in the year before.
02 January 2025, Chennai , India – Garuda Aerospace, a leading Indian drone manufacturer and service provider, has signed an agreement with Rajasthan Electronics & Instruments Limited (REIL) to establish a Remote Pilot Training Organisation (RPTO) in Jaipur. This strategic collaboration will address the growing demand for skilled drone operators across diverse sectors by providing comprehensive, DGCA-compliant training programs. The RPTO will offer a robust curriculum encompassing theoretical knowledge, practical flight training, and maintenance procedures, preparing graduates for a wide range of drone applications in industries such as agriculture, infrastructure, surveillance, and logistics. This initiative aims to drive wider adoption of drone technology in Rajasthan, fostering economic growth and innovation by creating new employment opportunities and empowering local talent.
Garuda Aerospace collaboration
The Agreement signifies a strategic collaboration between Garuda Aerospace’s expertise in drone technology and training and REIL’s established infrastructure and reach in Rajasthan. The RPTO will offer comprehensive training programs adhering to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) regulations, By combining Garuda Aerospace’s expertise in drone technology and training with REIL’s established infrastructure and local presence, the RPTO will provide a robust platform for effective training delivery. The collaboration demonstrates Garuda Aerospace’s commitment to empowering individuals and modernising industries, contributing to India’s rise as a global drone powerhouse.
Agnishwar Jayaprakash, Founder and CEO Garuda Aerospace, said, “As we prepare for our IPO, Garuda Aerospace remains deeply committed to building a strong foundation for the Indian drone industry. This partnership with REIL is a crucial investment in that future, focusing on the critical need for skilled drone pilots. By providing high-quality training, we are not only creating job opportunities but also raising awareness about the vast potential of drone technology across various sectors. This is essential for the industry’s sustained growth and our own continued success.”
Shri Dr P N Sharma, Managing Director, REIL added, “We are excited to partner with Garuda Aerospace on this important initiative. By combining our resources and expertise, we can create a world-class training centre that will equip aspiring drone pilots with the skills they need to succeed in this rapidly growing industry. We see significant potential for drone technology to benefit various sectors in Rajasthan, and this partnership will play a key role in unlocking that potential.”
About Garuda Aerospace
Garuda Aerospace, the first company to achieve dual DGCA approvals for both manufacturing and training, now holds six DGCA approvals, further demonstrating its commitment to quality and safety. This RPTO is a significant step towards realising India’s vision of becoming a global drone hub, fostering indigenous drone manufacturing, and generating widespread employment. This partnership with REIL marks the latest collaboration with a Government Body/PSU, following successful partnerships with HAL, BEML, TIDCO, and TNUAV Corporation. This initiative directly supports the national Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative by empowering local talent with crucial skills and certifications, contributing significantly to a robust and self-reliant Indian drone industry. Garuda Aerospace has trained over 1500 drone pilots to date and has established partnerships with international companies like See Tree, Lockheed Martin, Sky Drones, Namra, Delta Quad, SaS Greece, Holcim, Thales, Sapphire Blue, and D-FEND. The company has also secured orders from over 400 clients, including large Government PSUs such as NFL, RCF, IOCL, SAIL, SOI, NDRF, IFFCO, KRIBHCO, OMC, and Coal India, as well as several smart cities. Garuda Aerospace is also actively involved in initiatives like the Namo Drone Didi program.
About Garuda Aerospace
Garuda Aerospace is India’s leading Drone tech start-up focused on disrupting two major multi-billion-dollar sectors, Precision Agri Tech and Industry 4.0 upgradation. Garuda Aerospace is asset-light, recession-proof, and agnostic and focuses on eliminating labourers in the agricultural field with drones focusing on designing, building, and customisation of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). Founded in 2015 with a team of 5, Garuda has scaled to a 200+ member team, having the largest drone fleet in India with over 400 drones and 500 pilots operating in 84 cities. Garuda Aerospace manufactures 30 types of drones and offers 50 types of services. Having served over 750 clients, including TATA, Godrej, Adani, Reliance, Swiggy, Flipkart, Delhivery, L&T, Survey of India, SAIL, NTPC, IOCL, Smart cities, Intel, Amazon, Wipro, IISC, MIT Boston, NHAI for various projects, the company recently partnered with global giants such as Lockheed Martin, Cognizant and Elbit Systems. Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji launched the drone yatra, where 100 drones were flagged off simultaneously across 100 villages in India. Garuda Aerospace is the first drone company to get DGCA approvals for Type Certification and Remote Pilot Training Organisation. Garuda is on a mission to impact 1 billion lives positively using affordable precision Drone Technology. Mahendra Singh Dhoni has invested in the company and is the Brand Ambassador.
After a bumper start to the New Year, the Indian stock market’s upward trend came to a halt on Friday amid mixed global cues as heavy selling was seen in the IT, financial services and pharma sectors.
Sensex ended at 79,223.11, down by 720.60 points or 0.90 per cent and Nifty settled at 24,004.75 down by 183.90 points or 0.76 per cent.
Nifty Bank ended at 50,988.8, down by 616.75 points, or 1.20 per cent. The Nifty Midcap 100 index closed at 57,931.05 after declining 177.15 points, or 0.30 per cent, while the Nifty Smallcap 100 index closed at 19,033.70 after declining 46.65 points, or 0.24 per cent.
According to market experts, the Indian stock market experienced a significant downturn which was primarily driven by losses in key sectors such as IT, pharmaceuticals, healthcare and banking.
“Despite earlier optimism regarding potential earnings growth for the upcoming quarter, recent economic indicators have dampened expectations, contributing to the market’s volatility as investors remain cautious heading into the New Year,” they added.
IANS
On the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), 2,115 shares ended in green and 1,871 shares in red, whereas there was no change in 117 shares.
On the sectoral front, buying was seen in PSU Bank, FMCG, Metal, Media, Energy and Commodities sectors.
In the Sensex pack, Zomato, HDFC Bank, Tech Mahindra, TCS, ICICI Bank, Sun Pharma, HCL Tech, ITC, L&T, M&M and Bharti Airtel were the top losers. Whereas, Tata Motors, Titan, Nestle India, Hindustan Unilever, Maruti Suzuki, NTPC, IndusInd Bank and Tata Steel were the top gainers.
FIIs bought equities worth Rs 1,506.75 crore on January 2 and domestic institutional investors bought equities worth Rs 22.14 crore on the same day.
Rupak De from LKP Securities, Nifty was unable to break above the 50 EMA on the daily timeframe, resulting in a market correction.
“However, sentiment remains positive as the index closed above 24,000. The RSI shows a bullish crossover. On the upside, the index may rise towards 24,200–24,220, with a break above 24,220 potentially pushing it to 24,500. Conversely, a decisive move below 24,000 could lead the index towards 23,700,” he added.
Daughters’ Rights in Father’s Property: Daughters have rights on ancestral property, but the first right on the property created by the father is hers. Therefore, the father can give his property to anyone as per his wish.
In India, girls are often said to be “paraya dhan” because they leave their father’s house and go to their husband’s house after marriage. Therefore, it is believed that they have no rights over their father’s property. But do daughters really have no rights over their father’s property or do they lose their rights over their father’s property after marriage?
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If you want to know the answer to this, then let us tell you that the Government of India passed the Hindu Succession Act in 1956. This act was related to the division of property in India. Under this law, laws related to property division, succession and inheritance among Hindus, Buddhists, Jains and Sikhs have been decided.
According to the Hindu Succession Act of 1956, daughters had no rights over their father’s property.
Property Rights of Daughter
The government amended this act in 2005, which is known as the Hindu Succession Act 2005. According to this, daughters also get equal rights as sons in their father’s property. But what does this act say in the case of married daughters? Do married daughters also have rights over their father’s property?
Daughters also have equal rights in their father’s property
After the amendment in the Hindu Succession Act in 2005, in the case of a married
daughter, the daughter has been considered an equal heir to the property. That
is, before the year 2005, daughters did not get a share in the father's property
after marriage, but after the amendment in the Hindu Succession Act 1956 in the
year 2005, daughters also get equal rights in the father's property.
When do daughters not get rights to their father’s property?
If the father has made a will while he is alive, in which he has left the entire property in the name of the son, then the daughter cannot claim or claim any right on the property. But if there is no will, she can claim her right on the property.
The daughter has a right on the ancestral property, but the father has the first right on the property he has earned himself. Therefore, the father can give his property to anyone as per his wish.
If any criminal case is registered on the father’s property then the daughter or any other member of the family cannot claim rights over it.
Let us tell you that the Bombay High Court had said in a decision last month that if the father died before the Hindu Succession Act came into force in 1956, then the daughters have no right over the father’s property. According to the court, since the person died before the 1956 Act came into force, his property was distributed according to the laws existing at the time of his death, which do not recognize daughters as heirs.
India’s smartphone market to cross $50 billion in value this year: ReportIANS
India’s smartphone market is projected to cross $50 billion in value by 2025, driven by the ongoing trend of premiumisation and thrust on local manufacturing, a report showed on Friday.
The retail average selling price (ASP) of India’s smartphone market is expected to cross the $300 mark for the first time this year, according to latest research from Counterpoint’s ‘India Smartphone Outlook’.
Apple and Samsung are leading this shift by offering competitive options in the premium and ultra-premium segments.
Apple is expected to see strong demand for its Pro models, driven by local manufacturing and recent price reductions across its iPhone lineup.
Meanwhile, Samsung’s value-focused strategy is gaining traction, particularly with its flagship S series. OnePlus, with the launch of its flagship OnePlus 13, is aiming to increase its share in the ultra-premium segment (above Rs 45,000), the report mentioned.
The shift towards premiumisation is also being driven by consumers increasingly opting for offline stores, where they can experience premium smartphones first-hand before making a purchase.
The report stated that growing interest in AI-powered features has further motivated consumers to seek hands-on demonstrations to better understand these innovations and make more informed decisions.
“The Indian smartphone market is evolving rapidly, with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) increasingly focusing on premium launches to strengthen brand equity, showcase technological capabilities and improve profitability,” the report noted.
India’s smartphone market to cross $50 billion in value this year: ReportOnePlus
In the affordable premium category (Rs 30,000-Rs 45,000), brands such as Vivo, OPPO and OnePlus are attracting consumers by offering advanced camera systems and refined CMF designs.
The planned investment of Rs 6,000 crore by OnePlus in local market expansion in a phased manner is expected to accelerate its recovery and growth.
According to the report, the premium segment (Rs 30,000 and above) in the country is projected to exceed 20 per cent market share by 2025.
Premature Withdrawal of Fixed Deposit: According to the new rule of Reserve Bank of India (RBI), you will have the freedom to withdraw money within 3 months of making FD. You can withdraw the entire amount of small deposits (up to Rs 10,000) within 3 months without any interest.
Most people prefer to invest in FD because it is safe. If you are also among such investors then there is good news for you. RBI has issued a new guideline regarding fixed deposits, which you should know about. From January 1, 2025, there will be no penalty on premature withdrawal within 3 months of making FD.
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RBI has implemented new rules for Housing Finance Companies (HFC) and Non-Banking Finance Companies (NBFC) keeping in mind the interests of investors. This includes everything from making a nominee to FD premature withdrawal rules. Let’s know about the new rules of RBI.
RBI’s new rule related to FD
According to the new rule of Reserve Bank of India (RBI), you will have the freedom to withdraw money within 3 months of making an FD. You can withdraw the entire amount of small deposits (up to Rs 10,000) within 3 months without any interest. Whereas for large deposits, partial withdrawal of up to 50% of the principal amount or Rs 5 lakh (whichever is less) can be done within three months without interest.
Not only this, in cases of critical illness, the depositor is allowed to withdraw the entire principal amount prematurely without interest, regardless of the deposit term. Also, for more timely updates, now non-bank financial companies (NBFCs) will be required to inform the depositors about the maturity details at least two weeks before the maturity date.
Other changes to be implemented from January 1, 2025
Nominee update: Non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) have been directed to create a proper system to inform about the receipt of the correctly filled nomination form, cancellation or change of nominee. It will be necessary to give this acknowledgement to all customers, whether they have requested it or not.
Withdrawal rules: As per RBI’s directive, individual depositors holding public deposits will be allowed to request premature withdrawal within three months from the date of deposit. Within three months, the depositor can withdraw a maximum of 50% of the principal amount or Rs 5 lakh (whichever is less) without any interest. In this way, he will continue to get interest on the remaining amount.
In case of critical illness: In case of critical illness, depositors have a right to request withdrawal of their entire original deposit amount within three months from the date of deposit. Note that this rule also applies to existing deposit contracts that previously did not allow the right of premature withdrawal within the first three months.
Deposit maturity information: Earlier, NBFCs were required to inform depositors about the maturity date of their deposits at least two months in advance. But now for more timely updates, NBFCs will have to inform the depositors about the maturity date at least 14 days before the maturity date.
Adani Ports’ cargo volume grows 8 pc in DecemberIANS
The total cargo volume of Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited (APSEZ) grew 8 per cent (year-on-year) to 38.4 million metric tonnes (MMT) in December 2024.
The company’s container volume grew 22 per cent and liquids and gas volume grew 7 per cent on YoY basis in the last month. APSEZ is the country’s largest private port operator.
Adani Ports had handled a total of 36 million metric tonnes of cargo in November, driven by higher container volumes.
On a month-on-month basis, the total cargo volume saw 6.6 per cent growth.
Last week, Adani Ports placed an order for eight state-of-the-art harbour tugs to Cochin Shipyard, with a total estimated contract value of Rs 450 crore.
This order of the Adani Group company is the largest order so far under the ‘Make in India’ scheme.
According to the company, these tugs are expected to be delivered in December 2026 and continue until May 2028, significantly improving the efficiency and safety of vessel operations in Indian ports.
Adani Group company is the largest order so far under the ‘Make in India’ schemeReuters
Ashwani Gupta, Chief Executive Officer and Whole-time Director, Adani Ports, had said we want to contribute to the ‘Make in India’ initiative by leveraging world-class local manufacturing.
“We have also ensured that the safety and efficiency of our operations are in line with international standards,” he mentioned.
Earlier, Adani Ports had ordered two 62-tonne tugs from Cochin Shipyard. Both were delivered ahead of schedule. They have been deployed at Paradip Port and New Mangalore Port.
In late December, Vizhinjam Port, operated by the Adani Group, welcomed the 100th commercial ship ‘MSC Michela’.
This achievement has been achieved by Vizhinjam Port within six months of starting operations.
Vizhinjam port was developed by APSEZ in partnership with the Kerala government. It is the country’s first transhipment port near Kovalam Beach in Kerala.
