Vinod Bhat

New Delhi: The Informal Group of Ministers (IGoM) on West Asia, headed by Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh, reviewed the evolving situation in the conflict and assessed India’s preparedness & response measures during its sixth meeting at Kartavya Bhawan-2, New Delhi on May 27, 2026. Minister of Chemicals & Fertilizers Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda; Minister of Power Shri Manohar Lal; Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Shri Hardeep Singh Puri; Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution Shri Prahlad Joshi; Minister of Railways, Information & Broadcasting, Electronics & Information Technology Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw; Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Shri Kiren Rijiju; Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Shri Sarbananda Sonowal; Minister of Labour and Employment, Youth Affairs & Sports Dr Mansukh Mandaviya; and Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Science & Technology Dr Jitendra Singh attended the meeting.

The IGoM took stock of the availability of essential commodities and the resilience of the supply chains of the country. In a post on X, Raksha Mantri stated that the supply situation in the country today is normal, adding that the citizens should avoid panic purchases of petrol, diesel and LPG as the Government is leaving no stone unturned to ensure the availability of all essential items. The IGoM expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for his farsighted vision and providing outstanding leadership during difficult times, ensuring that the impact of global disruptions remains minimal on the people.

The IGoM was apprised that supplies of petrol and diesel across the country remain fully adequate. India is the world’s fourth largest refiner, with installed capacity of 258.1 MTPA against domestic consumption of 243.2 MT in the last completed financial year, and exports approximately 61.5 MT of petroleum products annually. There is no supply gap.

During the present disruption, the Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies have refrained from passing the full international price into retail, absorbing approximately Rs 550 crore per day as losses. This cushion is intended for retail consumption alone; industrial and commercial diesel tracks international prices as a matter of standing policy. A pattern has emerged of industrial users substituting their entitled industrial procurement with retail purchases to capture the protected price, alongside instances of black marketing by certain dealers. The Ministry, the OMCs and the State Governments have intensified field enforcement, and the industry associations are being engaged to remind members of the conduct expected.

The IGoM was informed that the overall stock position of fertilizers in the country is comfortable. For Kharif 2026, the fertiliser requirement has been assessed by the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare at 390.54 LMT, and as on today, it is around 200.47 LMT (more than 51%), significantly higher than the usual level of about 33%. This reflects improved planning, advance stocking, and efficient logistics management by the Government.

Approximately 122.4 LMT fertilizers through imports and domestic production have been added in the availability after the crisis situation. India has secured approx. 15 LMT DAP (Including TSP) and 10 LMT NPKs including AS from out of SOH to be arrived on Indian ports in May and June. These will help to ensure adequate availability during the peak season. Availability of inputs for production of fertilizers i.e. Urea and P&K fertilizers are being regularly reviewed by the Department of Fertilizers. It is regularly paying all the subsidy bills raised by the companies on a weekly basis.

Ten (10) meetings of the Empowered Group of Secretaries (EGoS) have been held till date to ensure the adequate availability of the fertilizers. Most of the challenges in the availability have been addressed by EGoS. India’s fertiliser security remains strong, stable, and well-managed, with availability consistently exceeding requirement across all major fertilisers. Raksha Mantri stressed that fertilisers and other essential agricultural inputs should remain adequately available to farmers to ensure that food prices in the country continue to remain stable.

The IGoM was also apprised that the industry, particularly MSMEs have expressed appreciation to the Government for the Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme 5.0 which is helping alleviate working capital stress among MSMEs.

VINOD BHAT

DELHI, May 28: India has moved a major step closer to launching eco-friendly rail transport, with the Ministry of Railways granting approval for the introduction of a 10-coach hydrogen fuel cell-powered DEMU train on the Northern Railway network. The ambitious project, seen as a landmark initiative in India’s green mobility mission, will initially operate on the Jind–Sonipat section in Haryana at a maximum speed of 75 kmph.

The approval was formally communicated by the Railway Board through an official sanction order issued to Northern Railway and the Research Designs & Standards Organisation (RDSO). The train, described as a “Hydrogen Fuel Cell based DPRS 1200 KW DEMU,” is expected to become one of the country’s most significant experiments in clean-energy rail transportation.

According to the order, the hydrogen-powered train consists of a 10-car formation, including a Driving Power Car (DPC) based on hydrogen fuel cell technology and passenger trailer coaches manufactured as per approved designs by Medha and the Integral Coach Factory (ICF). The project has been sanctioned specifically for operations on the dedicated Jind–Sonipat section under Northern Railway.

The Railway Board stated that the approval follows recommendations and certifications from RDSO and the Chief Commissioner of Railway Safety (CCRS). RDSO had earlier issued a Final Speed Certificate for the hydrogen trainset in March 2026 after technical assessments and safety evaluations.

The hydrogen train initiative is being viewed as a crucial part of Indian Railways’ broader sustainability roadmap aimed at reducing carbon emissions and transitioning toward cleaner fuel alternatives. Hydrogen fuel cell technology generates electricity through a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen, producing only water vapour as a by-product. This makes the technology significantly cleaner compared to conventional diesel-powered trains.
Officials have imposed a series of strict operational and safety conditions before full-scale commercial deployment. The Railway Board directed Northern Railway to comply with all stipulations mentioned in RDSO’s Final Speed Certificate and other safety requirements before beginning actual operations.

The order also noted that the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) has already granted a licence for the storage and dispensing of compressed hydrogen gas at Jind in Haryana, where the hydrogen refuelling facility has been established. Authorities have been instructed to ensure strict compliance with all safety protocols related to hydrogen storage and handling.

Special emphasis has been laid on safety infrastructure and operational preparedness. Independent Safety Assessors, including TÜV SÜD, identified several observations and pending compliance points related to the hydrogen production plant, refuelling systems, and onboard traction battery systems. Railways have been directed to resolve these issues and submit final compliance reports before expansion of operations.

The Railway Board also highlighted concerns regarding the availability of only a single compressor unit for hydrogen fuel compression without backup redundancy. To ensure uninterrupted and fail-safe operations, Northern Railway has been instructed to maintain adequate spare parts and install a standby compressor unit within six months.

In another significant condition, the Railways mandated comprehensive training and certification for personnel associated with hydrogen operations, including refuelling station staff and onboard crew members. Authorities have also been asked to establish a 24×7 manned control room with full access to hydrogen refuelling data logs for constant monitoring.

The sanction order further underlined the need for high-level security arrangements around the hydrogen generation and refuelling facilities to prevent unauthorized access. Regular audits and maintenance checks have also been mandated for the trainset and associated infrastructure.

As part of operational planning, the Railway Board clarified that while the train will operate on the Jind–Sonipat route, maintenance activities are proposed at Shakurbasti. Therefore, permissions for movement of the trainset in hauled condition between the two locations must be obtained in accordance with railway rules.

Several technical modifications have also been ordered before large-scale deployment. These include installation of a Failure Indication cum Brake Application (FIBA) system, improved emergency access mechanisms, better locking systems, protective covers for emergency stop buttons, and larger display units for monitoring refuelling parameters.

The Railway Board additionally directed officials to explore alternate sources of green hydrogen fuel, signalling Indian Railways’ intention to gradually develop a broader ecosystem for sustainable fuel supply in the future.

For the first three months of operation, the hydrogen train will also be accompanied by specially trained technical staff to handle any en-route technical challenges and ensure safe functioning during the initial deployment phase.

The project is expected to place India among a growing list of countries experimenting with hydrogen-powered rail systems as an alternative to diesel traction. Railway officials believe that successful implementation on the Jind–Sonipat route could pave the way for wider deployment of hydrogen-powered trains across non-electrified and environmentally sensitive sections of the railway network in the coming years.

Vinod Bhat

New Delhi: The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu presented   Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri Awards for the year 2026 at the Civil Investiture Ceremony-I held at Rashtrapati Bhavan today (May 25, 2026).

Among the dignitaries present on the occasion were Vice President of India, Prime Minister of India and Union Minister for Home Affairs.

Vinod Bhat

New Delhi: The 1^st BRICS 2026 Tourism Working Group (TWG) Meeting was successfully convened in virtual mode on 25 May 2026, under India’s BRICS 2026 Chairship. The meeting was chaired by the Joint Secretary (Tourism), Ministry of Tourism, Government of India.

The meeting served as an introductory and preparatory platform for advancing this year’s tourism cooperation agenda under the overarching theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.”

It provided BRICS member states an opportunity to present their introductory remarks and engage with India’s thematic priorities for tourism cooperation. The key thematic priorities under India’s Chairship include Artificial Intelligence and Tourism, Sustainability and Responsible Tourism, Tourism Skilling and Capacity Building, and Tourism Exchanges and Seamless Travel Facilitation.

Building on the momentum generated by this inaugural virtual meeting, the tourism cooperation process will continue with the 2^nd Tourism Working Group (TWG) Meeting scheduled to be held on 19–20 August 2026 in Jaipur, Rajasthan. This will be followed by the BRICS Tourism Ministers’ Meeting (TMM) on 21–22 August 2026, also in Jaipur.

Both these in-person meetings will provide a substantive platform for BRICS nations to strengthen their collaboration and advance the shared tourism agenda.

India looks forward to further deepening tourism partnerships among BRICS nations through these engagements during the course of 2026.