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PCS ParikshanWest Bengal Switch to Hindi
India’s First Vande Bharat Sleeper Train to Debut in West Bengal
Why in News?
India’s first-ever Vande Bharat Sleeper train is set to debut in West Bengal, marking a major step in modernising long-distance overnight rail travel with enhanced comfort and speed.
Key Points
- Route: The train will operate between Guwahati (Kamakhya) in Assam and Howrah in West Bengal, connecting eastern and northeastern India.
- Modern Amenities: Unlike the existing Vande Bharat trains that are daytime chair-car services, this version is fully air-conditioned with sleeping berths.
- Speed & Technology: This train has successfully completed high-speed trials achieving speeds of up to 180 km/h and is equipped with advanced safety features including the KAVACH anti-collision system.
- Manufacturing: The sleeper trainsets are being manufactured in India by BEML Ltd using technology from the Integral Coach Factory (ICF).
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New Production Line: A special production line was also established in Uttarpara (West Bengal) by a consortium of Titagarh Rail Systems Ltd (TRSL) and BHEL to build multiple sleeper sets.
- Significance: The train combines semi-high-speed travel with sleeper comfort, reducing journey time and improving connectivity between eastern and northeastern India.
Do You Know?
Vande Bharat Train:
- First Launch: 2019 on the New Delhi–Varanasi route
- Initially named Train-18
Indian Railways:
- First Launch: 1853 from Bombay–Thane
- Lord Dalhousie is known as the Father of Indian Railway
- Railway Board established: 1905.
- First Indian Railway budget: 1924
Read More: KAVACH anti-collision system
National Current Affairs Switch to Hindi
Sacred Piprahwa Relics Exposition Inaugurated
Why in News?
India inaugurated the Grand International Exposition of Sacred Piprahwa Relics of Bhagwan Buddha in New Delhi, showcasing the country’s Buddhist heritage and spiritual legacy.
Key Points
- Title: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the exposition titled “The Light & the Lotus: Relics of the Awakened One”.
- Significance of Relics: The sacred relics, repatriated from the United Kingdom after 125 years.
- Venue: Organized at the historic Rai Pithora Cultural Complex, New Delhi.
- Discovery: The Piprahwa relics were excavated in 1898 from a Buddhist stupa in Piprahwa village, Uttar Pradesh.
- Buddhist Linkages: India’s efforts to preserve Buddhist heritage globally strengthen cultural ties with countries like Thailand, Vietnam, Mongolia, and Russia, attracting international devotees.
- Classical Language: Buddha’s teachings were originally in Pali, and India is promoting Pali globally, recognizing it as a classical language in 2024.
- Significance: The exposition reinforces India’s position as a custodian of Buddhist heritage, promoting peace, harmony, and global cultural unity.
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