World’s Fastest Train: Social media is buzzing with stories of the world’s fastest rail networks, but one line stands out for its sheer speed and efficiency. Recently inaugurated, China’s Xi’an–Yan’an high-speed railway is changing rail travel and showing how advanced infrastructure can be.

The new line connects northern Shaanxi province with lightning-fast convenience, reducing travel times and transforming daily commutes. A viral video shows the sleek trains gliding along the tracks, capturing the excitement of locals witnessing the future of rail transport.

In practical terms, imagine a journey in India: this high-speed line could cover the distance between Delhi and Rishikesh in only 45 minutes.

According to AFP, the Xi’an–Yan’an route is part of the world’s largest high-speed rail network, stretching to nearly one-fifth of the earth’s circumference. The C9309 train on this line runs at an astonishing 350 kilometres per hour (217 miles per hour), surpassing Japan’s Shinkansen, whose maximum speed is 320 kilometres per hour (200 miles per hour).

Operations officially began on December 26, and the launch day saw locals lining up to experience the speed for themselves. For many passengers, the biggest benefit is time saved.

Journeys that once felt exhausting are now fast, smooth and far more accessible, giving travellers a glimpse of what modern and efficient rail travel can achieve.

With this network, China not only demonstrates its engineering prowess but also sets a new global benchmark in speed, efficiency and passenger convenience.

New Delhi: The government of India on Monday announced the sale (re-issue) of “6.48 per cent Government Security 2035” for a notified amount of Rs 32,000 crore through price-based auction using the multiple price method. The auction will be conducted by the Reserve Bank of India’s Mumbai Office on January 2.

The Government will have the option to retain additional subscription up to Rs 2,000 crore against the security, according to a Finance Ministry statement. Up to 5 per cent of the notified amount of the sale of the security will be allotted to eligible individuals and institutions as per the Scheme for Non-Competitive Bidding Facility in the Auction of Government Securities, the statement said.

Both competitive and non-competitive bids for the auction should be submitted in electronic format on the Reserve Bank of India Core Banking Solution (E-Kuber system) on January 2, 2026. The non-competitive bids should be submitted between 10:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m., and the competitive bids should be submitted between 10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., the statement explained.

The result of the auction will be announced on January 2, and payment by successful bidders will be on January 5. The Security will be eligible for “When Issued” trading in accordance with the guidelines on ‘When Issued transactions in Central government Securities’ issued by the Reserve Bank of India vide circular dated July 24, 2018, as amended from time to time.

Governments sell bonds to borrow money from investors, essentially taking loans to fund public spending like infrastructure, social programs, and to cover budget deficits, acting as a low-risk way for citizens or institutions to lend to the government in exchange for regular interest and principal repayment, thus financing national needs without immediately raising taxes.

These bonds are considered low-risk investments since they are backed by the government and are considered safe because of their relatively low risk. Government bonds typically pay low interest rates.