The Union Railway Minister, in a written reply during the Winter Session of Parliament, informed the Lok Sabha that the indigenously developed Kavach system has been fully commissioned on more than 2,000 km of the Indian Rail network. The rollout of this safety system is progressing at a rapid pace across various railway zones.

What is the Kavach System?

Kavach is an indigenous Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system developed to enhance operational safety on Indian Railways. Its primary objective is to prevent train accidents by automatically intervening in unsafe situations.

Development and Collaboration

The system has been developed by the Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) under Indian Railways, in collaboration with:

• Medha Servo Drives Pvt. Ltd.

• HBL Power Systems Ltd.

• Kernex Microsystems

This reflects a strong example of public–private collaboration in critical railway safety technology.

Key Features of the Kavach System

Kavach is a highly complex digital safety ecosystem comprising five integrated components. A crucial element is the continuous Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) laid along railway tracks and supported by telecom towers to ensure uninterrupted communication.

The system uses:

• Electronic devices and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) units installed on locomotives, signalling equipment, and tracks.

• Ultra-high radio frequency communication for real-time data exchange.

How Kavach Works

Based on pre-programmed safety logic, the Kavach system:

• Alerts loco pilots in case of unsafe conditions.

• Automatically applies brakes when necessary.

• Prevents collisions, signal passing at danger (SPAD), and overspeeding.

This automation significantly reduces dependence on manual intervention.

Testing and Deployment

• Field trials of Kavach began in 2016 on passenger trains.

• Following successful trials, the system has been gradually scaled up for large-scale deployment across the railway network.

Current Status (As of December 2025)

Indian Railways has achieved the following milestones:

• 7,129 km of Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) laid.

• 860 telecom towers installed.

• 767 railway stations connected to data centres.

• Trackside equipment deployed along 3,413 km.

• 4,154 locomotives equipped with Kavach.

• Around 40,000 technicians and operators trained, reflecting the system’s technological sophistication.

Impact on Railway Safety

The introduction of Kavach has led to a dramatic improvement in railway safety. Consequential railway accidents have reduced by nearly 90%, declining from 135 incidents in 2014 to about 11 incidents currently. This demonstrates the system’s tangible and measurable impact.

Significance of the Kavach System

• Enhances passenger safety and operational reliability.

• Reduces human error in train operations.

• Strengthens India’s capability in indigenous railway safety technologies.

• Aligns with the vision of modernising Indian Railways.

Conclusion

The Kavach system represents a major milestone in India’s railway safety framework. With rapid expansion, strong indigenous development, and proven accident reduction, Kavach is set to become the backbone of automated safety operations on Indian Railways, ensuring safer and more reliable train travel across the country.

In response to a question raised in the Rajya Sabha, the Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying informed that loans amounting to ₹10,320 crore have been sanctioned under the Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF) so far, indicating strong uptake of the scheme.

About the Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF)

The Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF) is a ₹15,000 crore Central Sector Scheme launched under the Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan stimulus package. The scheme aims to boost investment in animal husbandry infrastructure and strengthen the livestock value chain.

Implementing Ministry and Agency

The scheme is implemented by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India.

Objectives of AHIDF

The key objectives of the AHIDF are:

• To expand milk and meat processing capacity and link small rural producers with organised markets.

• To ensure better price realisation for livestock farmers for milk, meat, and other animal products.

• To improve availability of quality milk and meat products across the country.

• To meet the rising demand for protein-rich food and help reduce malnutrition, especially among children.

• To promote entrepreneurship and generate employment opportunities in the livestock sector.

• To encourage exports and enhance export contribution in the milk and meat sector.

• To ensure availability of quality concentrated animal feed.

Infrastructure Supported Under AHIDF

The scheme incentivises investment in the following areas:

• Dairy processing and value addition infrastructure

• Meat processing and value addition infrastructure

• Animal feed plants

• Breed multiplication farms

• Animal Waste to Wealth Management (agri-waste management)

• Veterinary vaccine and drug production facilities

Eligible Beneficiaries

The following entities are eligible to avail benefits under AHIDF:

• Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs)

• Private companies

• Individual entrepreneurs

• Section 8 companies

• Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs)

Financial Assistance and Benefits

• Beneficiaries must contribute a minimum of 10% margin money.

• The remaining 90% of the project cost is provided as a loan by scheduled banks.

• The Government of India provides 3% interest subvention on eligible loans.

• Repayment period is up to 8 years, including a moratorium of 2 years.

Credit Guarantee Support

• Projects covered under MSME-defined ceilings are eligible for credit guarantee support.

• Guarantee coverage is available up to 25% of the credit facility.

• The Credit Guarantee Fund is set up and managed by NABARD.

• The total size of the fund is ₹750 crore.

Significance of AHIDF

AHIDF plays a crucial role in:

• Strengthening rural infrastructure and income

• Modernising the livestock and dairy sector

• Supporting Atma Nirbhar Bharat objectives

• Enhancing nutritional security and export potential

Conclusion

The Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF) is a flagship initiative aimed at transforming India’s livestock sector through infrastructure development, financial support, and private participation. The sanction of over ₹10,320 crore in loans reflects the scheme’s growing impact in improving farmer incomes, rural employment, and food security.

Recently, the Union Minister informed the Rajya Sabha about the SabhaSaar initiative, an innovative digital tool introduced to improve the efficiency, transparency, and documentation of local governance meetings.

About the SabhaSaar Initiative

SabhaSaar is an AI-enabled voice-to-text meeting summarisation tool launched by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj. It has been made available to all States and Union Territories, and Gram Panchayats are gradually adopting it for routine Gram Sabha and Panchayat meetings.

Technological Framework

The AI model powering SabhaSaar operates on AI and cloud infrastructure provisioned through the India AI Compute Portal under the India AI Mission of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). This ensures scalability, reliability, and secure data processing.

Key Features of SabhaSaar

SabhaSaar uses artificial intelligence to automatically generate structured minutes of meetings from video and audio recordings of Gram Sabha proceedings. The initiative brings uniformity in documentation of Gram Sabha minutes across the country.

Panchayat officials can upload meeting recordings using their e-GramSwaraj login credentials, making the system seamlessly integrated with existing digital governance platforms.

Language and Translation Capabilities

The tool is built on BHASHINI, the government’s AI-powered language translation platform designed to bridge language, literacy, and digital divides. SabhaSaar can:

• Transcribe audio and video recordings.

• Translate content into a chosen output language.

• Generate a concise and structured summary.

It supports transcription in all major Indian languages, including Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, Gujarati, and English.

Significance of the SabhaSaar Initiative

SabhaSaar is especially beneficial for panchayats, administrative bodies, and rural development projects. It streamlines record-keeping, improves transparency, and empowers stakeholders with quick and accurate access to meeting insights. The initiative also strengthens digital governance at the grassroots level.

Conclusion

The SabhaSaar initiative represents a major step towards AI-driven governance in rural India. By combining artificial intelligence, cloud infrastructure, and multilingual capabilities, it enhances efficiency, inclusiveness, and accountability in Gram Panchayat functioning, supporting the broader vision of Digital India and inclusive governanc

Recently, the Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting informed the Lok Sabha about the Development Communication and Information Dissemination Scheme, a key initiative aimed at strengthening government outreach and public awareness.

About the Development Communication and Information Dissemination Scheme

The Development Communication and Information Dissemination Scheme is a Central Sector Scheme of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. The scheme is designed to support information dissemination and citizen outreach for various government programmes, schemes, and initiatives.

Objectives of the Scheme

The main objective of the scheme is to create awareness and ensure effective communication of government policies and welfare programmes. It places special emphasis on reaching rural, tribal, remote, and urban populations across the country, ensuring inclusive and widespread outreach.

Implementation Mechanism

The scheme is implemented by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting through its dedicated media units, namely:

• Central Bureau of Communication (CBC)

• Press Information Bureau (PIB)

• New Media Wing (NMW)

These agencies work together to disseminate accurate and timely information through both traditional and digital media platforms.

Role of the Central Bureau of Communication (CBC)

The Central Bureau of Communication (CBC) is a key implementing agency under the scheme and functions as a unit of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

Mandate of CBC

CBC provides 360-degree communication solutions to ministries, departments, public sector undertakings (PSUs), and autonomous bodies of the Government of India.

Background of CBC

The CBC was established on 8 December 2017 through the integration of three earlier organisations:

• Directorate of Advertising and Visual Publicity (DAVP)

• Directorate of Field Publicity (DFP)

• Song and Drama Division (S&DD)

This integration aimed to create a unified and efficient government communication body.

Functions of CBC

CBC is actively involved in educating citizens, both in rural and urban areas, about government policies and programmes. It conducts public multimedia campaigns to promote major flagship schemes such as:

• Swachh Bharat Mission

• Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Rural and Urban)

• Jal Jeevan Mission

These campaigns aim to encourage public participation in developmental activities.

Significance of the Scheme

The Development Communication and Information Dissemination Scheme plays a crucial role in:

• Enhancing public awareness of government initiatives.

• Promoting transparency and accountability.

• Strengthening citizen engagement in governance.

• Ensuring last-mile information delivery, especially in remote and underserved areas.

Conclusion

The Development Communication and Information Dissemination Scheme serves as a vital instrument for effective governance by ensuring that information about government programmes reaches every section of society. Through agencies like the Central Bureau of Communication, the scheme strengthens participatory development and supports the vision of inclusive and informed nation-building.

Recently, the National Council of Science Museums (NCSM) received two prestigious PRSI National Awards 2025 from the Public Relations Society of India (PRSI), recognising its outstanding efforts in science communication and public outreach.

About the National Council of Science Museums (NCSM)

The National Council of Science Museums (NCSM) is an autonomous society functioning under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. It was established on 4 April 1978 and has its headquarters in Kolkata.

Organisational Structure and Network

NCSM manages a vast network of 26 science museums and science centres spread across India. It also operates the Central Research and Training Laboratory (CRTL) in Kolkata, which serves as the Council’s central hub for professional training, research, and development in museum sciences and science communication.

National-Level Science Centres under NCSM

The major national-level institutions under NCSM include:

• Science City, Kolkata

• Birla Industrial and Technological Museum (BITM), Kolkata

• Nehru Science Centre, Mumbai

• Visvesvaraya Industrial and Technological Museum (VITM), Bengaluru

• National Science Centre, Delhi

• National Science Centre, Guwahati

Except for Science City, Kolkata, all these centres have regional, sub-regional, or district-level science centres, known as Satellite Units (SUs), to ensure wider outreach.

Expansion and Collaborative Role

Beyond its own network, NCSM also develops science centres and museums for various States and Union Territories. It has created specialised centres and galleries for several government organisations such as ONGC, BEL, and ICAR.

At the international level, NCSM has collaborated on projects like the Rajiv Gandhi Science Centre in Mauritius and the ‘India’ Gallery on Buddhism at the International Buddhist Museum in Kandy, Sri Lanka.

Science Communication and Public Outreach

A core objective of NCSM is to communicate science for societal empowerment. It conducts:

• Mobile Science Exhibitions

• Scientific lectures and demonstrations

• Training programmes and workshops

• Publications and educational activities

These initiatives aim to promote scientific temper and make science accessible to people of all age groups.

Global Significance

Today, the National Council of Science Museums constitutes the largest network of science centres and museums in the world operating under a single administrative umbrella, making it a globally significant institution in science education and outreach.

Conclusion

The recent PRSI National Awards 2025 highlight NCSM’s pivotal role in science communication and public engagement. Through its extensive network, innovative outreach programmes, and national and international collaborations, NCSM continues to strengthen India’s scientific culture and awareness