The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR).

The NFR achieves milestones, boosts connectivity

The Northeast Frontier Railway has achieved significant milestones during the 2025-26 fiscal year, with enhanced connectivity, modernisation, passenger comfort and development across the region.

It introduced 20 pairs of new train services, including premium, semi-premium and conventional trains, strengthening connecttivity.

NFR increased the speed of 35 trains, resulting in a cumulative saving of 675 minutes in travel time. 

Simultaneously, the railway made notable progress with 100% electrification, contributing to Indian Railways' mission of sustainable and energy operations.

Tailpiece.

Got up at 5, sent all the messages, opened up the house for the day, lit up the puja room lamp and switched on the hymns on the home theatre.

Resmi calls up to say that the wedding of Kripa-shankar and Aishwarya ( daughter of a Telugu couple settled now at Ambalamukku, Thiruvananthapuram), sometime next year. Aishwarya is working at Google in the US and is friends with Kripa-shankar. She's a Brahmin girl and they want the wedding to be done as per their rites!

Walked within the house; recited my prayers.

Bath followed by breakfast of appams and chammanthi.

Worked on my laptop.

Lunch, watched "Snehakkoottu" followed by siesta.

The evening chores.

Met the Medical specialist, Jimmy Francis and my friend to show my recent test results at KIMS, Thiruvananthapuram. 

Morning cuppa with Lekha.

9-judge bench to hear pleas...

On Sabarimala verdict review.

The new bench comprises :-

     

     * Chief Justice Surya Kant

     * Justice V Nagarathna

     * Justice MM Sundresh

     * Justice Ahanuddin Amanullah

     * Justice Aravind Kumar

     * Justice Augustine George Masih

     * Justice Prasanna B Varale

     * Justice R Mahadevan

     * Justice Joymalya Bagchi

The time line.

     * 07 Apr            Shall begin hearing the review case

     * 07-09 Apr       The review petitioners shall be heard

     * 16-17 Apr       The parties opposing the review will be heard

     * 21 Apr            The rejoinder submissions will be heard

Tailpiece.

Got up at 5, sent all the messages, opened up the house for the day, lit up the puja room lamp and switched on the hymns on the home theatre.

Morning cuppa with Lekha.

Walked within the house; recited my prayers.

Bath and breakfast.

Worked on my laptop.

Lunch, watched an episode of "Crime Patrol" followed by siesta.

The evening chores.

I'd some jokes on the armed forces....

I had a joke on the Infantry...it's still in the trenches.

I had a joke on the Armoured Corps...but I lost its track.

I had a joke on the Signals...but I couldn't "air" it.

I had a joke on the Artillery....but they couldn't hear me.

I had a joke on the Paras....but it got lost in free fall.

I had a joke on the EME...but it went off-road.

I had a joke on the Air Defence Corps...but they shot it down.

I have got a joke on the Ordnance Corps...but it's not indented yet.

The joke on the ASC...is in short supply.

I had a joke on the Engineers...but it got demolished in between.

I had a joke on the Education Corps...it's still being studied for the content.

And finally,

I also have a joke on the DRDO but I'll tell it 20 years from now!

Tailpiece.

Got up at 5, sent all the messages, opened up the house for the day, lit up the puja room lamp and switched on the hymns on the home theatre.

Morning cuppa with Lekha.

Walked in front of the house; recited my prayers.

Bath followed by breakfast of appams and stew.

Worked on my laptop.

Lunch, watched an episode of Crime Patrol, followed by siesta.

The evening chores.

Blessings and prayers on Good Friday.

   1. May God's mercy fill your heart with peace and comfort today.

   2. May your faith grow stronger and your worries fade away.

   3. May this Good Friday bring healing, hope and endless grace.

   4. May divine love guide every step you take.

   5. May your prayers rise and your blessings fall like gentle rain.

   6. May your heart be calm and your soul be at peace.

   7. May God protect you and your loved ones always.

   8. May forgiveness, kindness and compassion fill your life.

   9. May today renew your spirit and strengthen your trust in God.

 10. May your day be wrapped in peace, love and heavenly light.

Tailpiece.

Got up at 5, sent all the messages, opened up the house for the day, lit up the puja room lamp and switched on the hymns on the home theatre.

Morning cuppa with Lekha.

Walked on the road in front of the house; recited my prayers.

Bath followed by breakfast of appams and egg masala.

Worked on my laptop.

Suresh, from Ribi's Asian Paints team, finished up the last of the jobs remaining. Gave him our first Vishukkaineettam for the year.

Lunch, watched "Snehakkoottu" and siesta.

The evening chores.

We've a guest.

Got up at 5, sent all the messages, opened up the house for the day, lit up the puja room lamp and switched on the hymns on the home theatre.

Morning cuppa with Lekha.

Walked outside the house: recited my prayers.

Bath followed by breakfast of puttum pazhavum.

Worked on my laptop.

Leela Samson drops in by a half past 12.

Lekha had made Fish curry and meals. Leela seemed to enjoy it.

Met Roopika and Layapriya, two of Leela's disciples. Roopika's one of three daughters has been selected for the Sainik School.

They all leave by 3, back to Kochi.

Siesta after watching the serial, "Snehakkoottu".

The evening chores.

A quiet evening.

The FCRA Bill.

Lok Sabha was set to take up the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) for passage today. Owing to pressure from Kerala's BJP, the government decided to take up the amendment on a later date because of the strong opposition from the state's Christian denominations who feel that their contributions are being brought under check!

The amendment allows the Centre to appoint a designated authority, which could control funds and assets if the FCRA certificate of an NGO is cancelled, surrendered or ceased.

Cardinal Baselios Cleemis, head of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, expressed concern over the proposed amendments.

The Catholic Bishops' Conference of India wrote to the Home Minister seeking wider consultation and safeguards against 'excessive state control over civil society'. 

80% of Christian NGOs in Kerala have FCRA licence.

Tailpiece.

Got up at 5, sent all the messages, opened up the house for the day, lit up the puja room lamp and switched on the hymns on the home theatre.

Morning cuppa with Lekha.

Walked within the house; recited my prayers.

Breakfast of dosas and chana before bath.

Worked on my laptop. 

Bath followed by siesta.

Lunch, saw "Snehakkoottu" followed by siesta.

Lekhs went to the temple for the darshan of the good Lord and buys grocery from the Harisree supermarket.

The evening chores.

The first fully-digital census.

India's first fully-digital census to kick off on 01 Apr.

The process starts with self-enumeration in Delhi, Goa. Karnataka, Lakshadweep, Mizoram, Orissa, Sikkim and Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

Second phase from Feb '27

The census 2027 will be done in two phases - house listing or house census and population enumeration. After a 15-day self enumeration period, the 30-day house-listing phase will begin on 16 Apr. Across the country, the first phase will be wrapped up by October. The population enumeration phase will then be conducted in Feb 2027.

No decision taken on NPR updation

* The self-enumeration will begin on 16 Apr in Andhra Pradesh, 26 Apr in Telangana, 16 Jun in Kerala     and 17 Jul in Tamilnadu. The date for West Bngal is yet to be decided.

* The Registrar General has said that no decision has been taken on National Population Register's 

   updation.

31 lakh enumerators to participate in the world's largest census

Tailpiece.

Got up at 5, sent all the messages, opened up the house for the day, lit up the puja room lamp and switched on the hymns on the home theatre.

Morning cuppa with Lekha.

Walked on the road in front of the house; recited my prayers.

Lekha goes to the temple for the darshan of the good Lord and to buy sundries.

Bath and breakfast of dosas and chana.

Worked on my laptop. Sent my March mail by a trifle after 12. The formatting went awry.

Lunch, watched "Snehakkoottu" followed by siesta.

The evening chores.