logo
Indian Railways Round Trip Scheme starts, get 20% off on train ticket – here's how to book on IRCTC

Indian Railways Round Trip Scheme starts, get 20% off on train ticket – here's how to book on IRCTC

Indian Express2 days ago
Indian Railways Round Trip Scheme: Good news for rail passengers. Indian Railways' round trip scheme kicks off today. This new scheme aims to ensure hassle free booking as well as to facilitate passengers. It will also redistribute the peak traffic for larger range during peak festival seasons including Diwali, Chhath, etc, and ensure both side utilisation of trains including special trains.
Under the 'Round Trip Package,' total rebates of 20 per cent rebates shall be applicable on the base fare of of return journey only. In a statement, the Ministry of Railways said: 'Booking start date shall be 14.08.2025 for the ARP date 13th October 2025.
Onward ticket shall be booked first for the train start date between 13th October 2025 and 26th October 2025 and subsequently return journey ticket shall be booked by using connecting journey feature for the train start date between 17th November and 1st December 2025. Advance reservation period will not be applicable for booking of return journey.'
Onward journey dates: 13 Oct – 26 Oct 2025 (for trains originating from source station)
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Want GST 2.0 to be Good and Simple Tax not Growth Suppressing Tax: Congress
Want GST 2.0 to be Good and Simple Tax not Growth Suppressing Tax: Congress

The Hindu

time32 minutes ago

  • The Hindu

Want GST 2.0 to be Good and Simple Tax not Growth Suppressing Tax: Congress

The Congress on Saturday (August 16, 2025) demanded an official discussion paper on GST 2.0 soon for a wider debate on it and said the reform should be towards a "Good and Simple Tax" in letter, spirit, and compliance, and not the "Growth Suppressing Tax" it has become. The Opposition party's assertion came a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that GST rates will be lowered by Diwali, bringing down prices of everyday use items, as his government looks to reform the eight-year-old regime that has been plagued by litigation and evasion. Independence Day highlights Congress general secretary in-charge of communications, Jairam Ramesh, said that for well over a year and a half at least, the party has been calling for a radically transformed GST 2.0. Noting that a transformed GST 2.0 was a key pledge in the Congress manifesto for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Mr. Ramesh on Friday (August 15, 2025) said the Prime Minister seems to have finally woken up to the fact that economic growth will simply not accelerate unless this transformation takes place and increases private consumption and private investment. "Over the last seven years, the spirit of GST has been vitiated by an increased number of rates and the granting of multiple exemptions. The structure also seems to have facilitated evasion. There must be a drastic reduction in the number of rates," he said in a statement. The Congress leader said simplification of the rate structure is essential, but must be done in a manner that minimises revenue uncertainty to states and also eliminates the classification disputes that have become so common. "The GST compensation cess expires on March 31, 2026. This must be extended to offset any revenue uncertainty from the rationalisation of the rate structure." Mr. Ramesh said the widespread concerns of MSMEs — the major employment generators in the economy — must be addressed meaningfully, he said, adding that apart from major procedural changes in GST, this will involve further increasing the thresholds that must apply to interstate supplies as well. Sectoral issues that have surfaced, for instance, in textiles, tourism, exporters, handicrafts and agricultural inputs, must be tackled, he said. In addition, States should be incentivised to move towards the introduction of State-level GST to cover electricity, alcohol, petroleum, and real estate as well, the Congress leader opined. "The Indian National Congress demands an official discussion paper on GST 2.0 very soon so that there can be an informed and wider debate on this vital and pressing national issue. "GST 2.0 should be truly a Good and Simple Tax (GST) in letter, spirit, and compliance, not like the Growth Suppressing Tax (GST) it has become," Mr. Ramesh said. Soon after the Prime Minister's announcement from the ramparts of the Red Fort on the 79th Independence Day, the Union Finance Ministry said it has proposed that most goods and services be taxed in two slabs — standard and merit — and a select few items be charged special rates. This is to replace the current goods and services tax (GST) structure, where sale of goods and rendering of services are taxed in four different brackets — 5%, 12%, 18% and 28% — with luxury and sin goods attracting a levy on top of the highest rate of 28 per cent. "This Diwali, I am going to make it a double Diwali for you," Modi had said in his address to the nation. Stating that over the past eight years, his government has undertaken major GST reforms, the prime minister said, "We have discussed with states and we are bringing next-generation GST reforms that will reduce the tax burden across the country." "Tax on items for the common man will be reduced substantially. Our MSMEs will benefit hugely. Daily use items will become cheaper, which will also strengthen our economy," he had said. GST, which subsumed a host of taxes and local levies, was rolled out on July 1, 2017.

GST reforms as ‘Diwali gift' major step towards improving tax efficiency
GST reforms as ‘Diwali gift' major step towards improving tax efficiency

Hans India

timean hour ago

  • Hans India

GST reforms as ‘Diwali gift' major step towards improving tax efficiency

New Delhi: The announcement of next-generation GST reforms as a 'Diwali gift' is a major step towards improving tax efficiency, enhancing compliance, and simplifying processes, according to industry chambers. These reforms will not only reduce the tax burden on citizens and businesses but also boost the ease of doing business, stimulate domestic consumption, and attract greater investments. 'Equally noteworthy are the government's continuing efforts to modernise regulations and streamline approvals, creating a truly enabling environment for enterprise growth,' said Rajiv Memani, President, CII. The decision to present a bill in Parliament on decriminalising minor offences, along with the constitution of a dedicated taskforce for next-generation reforms to align existing laws with the needs of the 21st century, will give a major boost to industry by reducing compliance costs, removing operational bottlenecks, and fostering a climate of trust, innovation, and competitiveness, he mentioned. CII also applauded the heightened focus on strategic sectors — the push for Made-in-India semiconductor chips by year-end underscores India's emergence in global tech manufacturing, while the Sudarshan Chakra Mission, energy self-reliance, and space capabilities, including the plan for an indigenous space station, signal a transformative leap in indigenous innovation. 'CII stands ready to work closely with the government and stakeholders to advance these reforms, facilitate industry participation, and ensure that India's growth story remains robust, inclusive, and globally competitive,' said Memani. The apex industry chamber commended the Prime Minister's bold and forward-looking roadmap towards achieving Viksit Bharat by 2047, anchored in sustained reforms and a resilient Atmanirbhar philosophy. With emphasis on self-reliance, innovation, and citizen empowerment, the Prime Minister underscored India's evolution from dependence on others to becoming a confident, technologically advanced, and economically robust nation, said CII. MSMEs, as the backbone of India's economy, stand to gain significantly from these measures. Increased access to talent, targeted incentives, and a stronger domestic manufacturing ecosystem will enable them to scale, innovate, and integrate more deeply into global value chains.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store