Editorial

The Ministry of Railways’ announcement on December 21, 2025, of a passenger fare “rationalisation” effective December 26 marks the second such increase this year, following the July revision. While officials tout it as a modest adjustment—1 paise per km for ordinary class journeys beyond 215 km and 2 paise per km for mail/express non-AC and all AC classes—the move raises serious questions about transparency, equity, and the long-term sustainability of India’s lifeline transport system.

At first glance, the hike appears negligible: a mere Rs 10 extra for a 500 km non-AC trip. Suburban services, monthly season tickets, and ordinary travel up to 215 km remain untouched, ostensibly shielding daily commuters and low-income groups. Yet, this exemption feels like a calculated concession, masking the broader impact on middle-class families reliant on long-distance trains for festivals, migrations, and emergencies. With inflation already straining household budgets, even small increments compound over time, pushing more travellers towards overcrowded buses or costlier flights.

Critically, the timing reeks of opportunism. Coming just days before the Christmas-New Year rush, it ensures maximum revenue capture from peak-season bookings, expected to yield Rs 600 crore by March 2026—on top of Rs 700 crore from the July hike. The Railways cites escalating costs: manpower at Rs 1.15 lakh crore, pensions at Rs 60,000 crore, and total operations at Rs 2.63 lakh crore. Fair enough—expansion demands funding. But where is the accountability for inefficiencies? Delays in project execution, persistent safety lapses (despite claims of improvement), and underutilised premium services like Vande Bharat suggest mismanagement. Why not prioritise freight optimisation—already making India the second-largest cargo carrier—or aggressive non-fare revenue streams like station redevelopment and advertising?

This piecemeal approach erodes public trust. Passenger fares have been politically sensitive, subsidised to maintain affordability, yet repeated “rationalisations” signal a shift towards commercialisation without corresponding service upgrades. Cleanliness, punctuality, and overcrowding remain perennial complaints, even as capex soars. Exempting short-haul while targeting long-distance disproportionately affects migrants and rural travellers, exacerbating regional inequalities.

Ultimately, this hike is less about necessity and more about plugging fiscal gaps quietly. True reform demands holistic measures: dynamic pricing transparency, enhanced passenger amenities, and independent audits. Without these, Indian Railways risks alienating its core users, turning a public service into a profit-driven entity at the expense of the common citizen.

President Droupadi Murmu’s assent to the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Bill on December 20, 2025, marks a historic pivot in India’s energy policy. This legislation repeals the outdated Atomic Energy Act of 1962 and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act of 2010, replacing them with a unified framework that opens the civil nuclear sector to private participation while easing liability norms for operators. For the first time since Independence, private Indian companies, joint ventures, and regulated entities can build, own, and operate nuclear power plants, subject to stringent safety authorisations from the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB). The SHANTI Bill is a pragmatic response to India’s escalating energy demands and climate commitments. With nuclear power currently contributing a mere 3% to electricity generation (around 8.8 GW capacity), the government aims to scale this to 100 GW by 2047. Renewables like solar and wind are booming, but their intermittency necessitates reliable baseload sources. Nuclear energy, being low-carbon and dispatchable, perfectly complements this mix, supporting net-zero goals by 2070 and powering data centres, AI infrastructure, and green hydrogen production.

By easing liability—capping operator responsibility at graded levels (up to 300 million SDRs, aligned with international conventions) and diluting supplier recourse—the Bill removes long-standing barriers that deterred foreign investment post the 2008 Indo-US nuclear deal. This harmonisation with global norms, such as the Convention on Supplementary Compensation, is expected to attract technology partnerships from the US, France, and others, accelerating deployment of advanced reactors, including Small Modular Reactors (SMRs).

Critics, including opposition parties and trade unions, raise valid concerns about safety risks in a privatised model, potential dilution of accountability, and the AERB’s continued oversight under government influence. Memories of Chernobyl and Fukushima underscore that nuclear incidents, though rare, have catastrophic consequences. However, the Bill strengthens regulatory powers, mandates comprehensive insurance for private operators, and reserves sensitive activities like fuel reprocessing for the state, maintaining robust safeguards.

Ultimately, the SHANTI Bill represents calculated progress over paralysis. India’s indigenous three-stage programme and expertise in thorium-based systems provide a strong foundation. Private capital and innovation can expedite capacity addition without compromising security. If implemented with transparent rules, independent regulation, and public consultation, this reform could usher in a new era of energy independence, economic growth, and sustainable development. The acronym “SHANTI”—evoking peace—aptly symbolises the calm assurance of clean, reliable power for a Viksit Bharat.

• SAS Kirmani