Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday inaugurated a 13-km segment of the Rapid Rail Transit System (RRTS) that connects New Ashok Nagar in Delhi to Sahibabad in Uttar Pradesh, thus establishing a connection between the National Capital and Meerut. Before this, the Namo Bharat Train operated exclusively between Sahibabad and Meerut.

During the inauguration, the Prime Minister rode the Namo Bharat Train from Sahibabad RRTS Station to New Ashok Nagar RRTS Station, engaging with passengers including children. Commuters can now reach Meerut South from New Ashok Nagar in less than 40 minutes, a substantial decrease in travel time by approximately one-third, as reported by the government.

Starting from 5 p.m. that same day, Namo Bharat trains are scheduled to operate for the public every 15 minutes. The fare for traveling from New Ashok Nagar Station, the first operational station towards Meerut, is set at ₹150 for a standard coach and ₹225 for a premium coach.

This inauguration brings two RRTS stations in Delhi — New Ashok Nagar and Anand Vihar — into operation, with two additional stations, Sarai Kale Khan and Jangpura, expected to begin operations by April and May 2025, respectively. The foundation stone for the Delhi-Meerut RRTS corridor was laid by Mr. Modi in March 2019, as part of a ₹30,000-crore initiative.

With the new section operational, Meerut is now directly linked to Delhi, allowing commuters to travel from New Ashok Nagar to Meerut South in approximately 40 minutes. Anand Vihar underground station stands out as one of the largest stations on the Namo Bharat corridor, enabling a journey to Meerut South in as little as 35 minutes.

To facilitate vehicle and pedestrian movement at the Anand Vihar station, three bridges have been constructed over the Ghazipur drain; two bridges will accommodate vehicle traffic while one is designated solely for pedestrians.

New Ashok Nagar is distinguished as the first elevated Namo Bharat station within the Delhi section, as the corridor crosses over the New Ashok Nagar metro station at a height of 20 meters. The station also features plans for a commercial center to serve commuters and includes a 90-meter-long foot over bridge connecting to the Blue Line of Delhi Metro.

Since the inception of the Namo Bharat train services, over 5 million commuters have utilized this transit option. Ongoing construction continues in other segments, including the New Ashok Nagar-Sarai Kale Khan and Meerut South-Modipuram sections.

Once fully operational, the entire Delhi-Meerut Namo Bharat Corridor is anticipated to eliminate over 100,000 private vehicles from the roads, contributing to a reduction of approximately 250,000 tonnes in carbon emissions annually. Spanning 82 km, the Namo Bharat corridor begins at Sarai Kale Khan in New Delhi and concludes at Modipuram in Meerut, comprising 16 Namo Bharat stations and an additional nine stations intended for the Meerut Metro, creating a comprehensive and transformative regional transit solution.

Three crew members were killed on Sunday as an Indian Coast Guard helicopter crashed in Gujarat’s Porbandar, according to police.

According to reports, an Indian Coast Guard Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv crashed during a routine training sortie at the Coast Guard Air Enclave in Porbandar. Officials indicated that the crash was due to technical difficulties encountered by the helicopter.

The ALH Dhruv is a multi-role, twin-engine utility helicopter developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). Since its introduction in 2002, it has been designed to cater to both military and civilian needs, serving as a versatile platform for various missions, including transport, search and rescue, medical evacuation, reconnaissance, and anti-submarine warfare.

The Indian Armed Forces, encompassing the Army, Navy, and Air Force, have widely deployed the Dhruv helicopter in diverse roles. It has also been exported to multiple countries, including Nepal, Mauritius, and the Maldives. Its robust design, reliability, and capability to operate under extreme weather conditions render it an essential asset for India’s defense and emergency response services.

In September 2024, a Dhruv ALH Mk-III crashed into the Arabian Sea near Porbandar while on a medical evacuation mission. Following this incident, the Coast Guard mandated a one-time safety inspection of its entire ALH fleet, particularly examining the flying controls and transmission systems, leading to a temporary grounding of the fleet. The Coast Guard operates 16 ALH helicopters, which were successfully designed and manufactured by HAL in Bengaluru.

The ill-fated helicopter had recently participated in rescue operations during flooding in Gujarat. It notably saved 67 lives amid the adverse weather conditions. On September 2, 2024, around 11:00 PM, it was launched for a medical evacuation mission involving a seriously injured crew member aboard the Indian-flagged motor tanker Hari Leela, located approximately 45 km from Porbandar, in response to a request from the vessel’s master. The helicopter crashed approximately 15 minutes into the flight, around 11:15 PM, after performing its critical duties; this incident is commonly referred to as “ditching,” which involves an aircraft making an emergency landing in water.

India has introduced two special visa categories for international students wishing to pursue higher education in its academic institutions: the ‘e-student visa’ and the ‘e-student-x visa.’ These visas were launched by the Ministry of Home Affairs, and all applicants are required to utilise the ‘Study in India’ (SII) portal established by the government.

Eligible foreign students registered on the SII portal can avail themselves of the e-student visa, while the e-student-x visa is designed for the dependents of those holding e-student visas. The SII portal is a key resource that streamlines the admission process for international students interested in both long-term and short-term courses in India.

To apply for a visa, students must submit their applications through the portal at indianvisaonline.gov.in. The authenticity of their visa applications will be verified using their SII ID. Therefore, it is mandatory for students to apply to Indian higher education institutions via the SII website, as officials emphasized.

Students are eligible to apply for the visa after receiving an admission offer letter from any SII partner institution. The e-student visa will be granted to foreign nationals who gain admission for regular, full-time undergraduate, postgraduate, Ph.D., or other formal programs at educational institutions recognized by statutory and regulatory bodies in India. Student visas can be issued for up to five years, depending on the course duration, and they can also be extended while in India.

Additionally, individuals holding valid e-student visas may enter India through any immigration check post of their choice. The SII initiative is a flagship project of the Ministry of Education, hosting international students across more than 600 partner institutes, which collectively offer over 8,000 diverse courses in fields such as engineering and technology, management, agriculture, sciences, arts and humanities, language studies, commerce, law, and paramedical sciences, covering pharmacy, nursing, and specialized areas like Buddhist Studies and Yoga.

The SII offers courses at various academic levels, including undergraduate (Bachelor’s), postgraduate (Master’s), doctoral (Ph.D.), and certification-based programs. The wide range of coursework available allows students the flexibility to select programs that align with their interests while studying at reputable Indian institutions.

The application process for the SII is straightforward and can be completed online. Students can begin by registering through the ‘Register Now’ tab on the portal. The registration requires basic details such as name, country, date of birth, mobile number, and email ID.

Every student aiming to pursue higher education in India must obtain a unique SII ID. This ID is crucial as it enables access to a personal dashboard where students can track their college applications, visa status, and other processes related to higher education in India. Without an SII ID, students will not be able to study or relocate to India, officials noted.