The government will change the base year to 2017-18 for the calculation of GDP and IIP numbers while for retail inflation the year will be revised to 2018, Union minister DV Sadananda Gowda said on Thursday.

The sources close to BJP chief Amit Shah suggest that the Cabinet re-jig is designed to prepare both government and party for their big test in 2019 general elections.

The Supreme Court has restrained the Delhi High Court from declaring final results of the Delhi Judicial Services Exam 2014 till its further orders.

\"For the bullet train projects, infrastructure upgradation is needed and for this an initial budgetary allowance of Rs 100 crore is proposed,\" Railway Minister Sadananda Gowda said in Parliament.

\"Battery-abled cars will be introduced in the platforms for the differently-abled and senior citizens for easy mobility,\" Railway Minister Sadananda Gowda said while presenting his maiden Rail Budget in Parliament.

Last month, the Railway Minister had listed safety and security of women and the elderly as also passenger amenities like drinking water, waiting areas and rest rooms, as his priority areas.

Besides, the national transporter will also have its presence on YouTube.

The country's creaky and overburdened railway infrastructure desperately needs to be modernised and expanded, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made up his mind to allow FDI in Indian Railways in order to help mobilise the resources needed.

Railways recently implemented a 14.2 per cent hike in passenger fares along with a 6.5 per cent raise in freight charges.

There is widespread anticipation for the first Budget, to be presented by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Thursday, as the BJP will have to balance steps aimed at meeting the expectations of people who voted it to power with some tough decisions to boost the economy.

Railway Minister DV Sadananda Gowda present his maiden Railway Budget in Parliament. 

In its report 'Gearing Indian Railway for a 7 trillion dollar economy by 2030,' Assocham has outlined a series of measures and policy initiatives which can be executed for the coming 15 years.