Vadodara, also known as Baroda, is the second-largest city in the Indian state of Gujarat. The city is prominent for landmarks such as the Laxmi Vilas Palace, which served as the residence of the Maratha royal Gaekwad dynasty, that ruled over Baroda State. Vadodara is located at 22.30°N 73.19°E in western India at an elevation of 39 metres. The city is located on the fertile plain between the Mahi and Narmada Rivers. The most followed religion in the city is Hinduism, practiced by 85 percent of the population. The city is named for its abundance of Banyan (Vad) plants. It is situated on the banks of the Vishwamitri River. It is believed that early man lived on the banks of the Mahi River, which formed the floodplain during that age. The movements of these hunter-gatherers, living on the banks of the river, grubbing the roots and killing animals with crude stone tools made out of the cobbles and pebbles available on the river bank, were necessarily controlled by the availability of convenient raw materials for their tools.
The city in one period was called Chandanavati after the rule of Chanda of the Dodiya Rajputs. The capital was also known as Virakshetra or Viravati (Land of Warriors).
Vadodara features a borderline tropical savanna climate. Gujarati, Marathi, Hindi, and English are the languages spoken in the city.
An India Today special investigation reveals that registered unrecognised political parties in Gujarat collected over two thousand crore rupees in donations between 2019 and 2024, based on data analyzed by the Association for Democratic Reforms. Ground checks across Gujarat, Delhi, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh showed that several of these parties exist primarily on paper. The Bharatiya National Janata Dal received 957.44 crore rupees, while The New India United Party secured over 600 crore rupees, though its registered Ahmedabad office was locked without any signboard. The Satyavadi Rakshak Party, which collected over 330 crore rupees in 2023-24, fielded just one candidate in Vadodara who finished last, operating from a locked flat in Anand. Similarly, the Aam Janmat Party collected over 220 crore rupees while its registered office remained shut, and Saurashtra Janata Paksha received over 200 crore rupees. ADR noted that 90 percent of donations come from individuals and large donors despite poor electoral participation and minimal vote shares.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched development projects worth over 35,000 crore rupees in Vadodara, Gujarat, including key sections of the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor.
A multi-storey building collapse in south Delhi's Satya Niketan has resulted in seven fatalities, prompting the arrest of the building owners under charges of culpable homicide and negligence.
Over 2,800 kilometres of the Dedicated Freight Corridor project have been completed, establishing a key backbone for trade and transport across eastern and western India. Daily operations now see over 430 freight trains running on these dedicated tracks, significantly reducing travel time and operational costs while expanding connectivity for farmers and industries. Key infrastructure advancements include double-stack container operations from JNPT to Vadodara and the introduction of new rail routes connecting tribal regions across Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra. Alongside transport infrastructure, manufacturing capabilities have expanded with indigenous military transport aircraft production, over 50,000 modern rail coaches built since 2014, and floating solar projects boosting domestic renewable capacity. To support youth empowerment and future industrial demands, new initiatives focus on free online coaching for competitive exams and skill development in artificial intelligence and emerging technologies.
An address at the University ground highlighted the critical period for India's youth and reaffirmed the priority of achieving the Viksit Bharat target by 2047. The address called upon the people of Vadodara to maintain cleanliness following recent sanitation efforts, urging residents to pledge against littering ahead of Diwali, Navratri, and Ganeshotsav festivities. The address also drew attention to development in railway logistics and dedicated freight corridor projects. It was noted that while a dedicated company was formed in 2006, project files remained stalled across tables until 2014, resulting in less than a single kilometre of freight corridor completion over seven to eight years. Contrast was drawn with past practices of limited annual train announcements versus current continuous railway network expansion. The address highlighted that 2,800 kilometres of the dedicated freight corridor have now been completed to transform India's logistics ecosystem.
Dedicated Freight Corridors are operating over 430 goods trains daily, reducing freight transit times by more than half compared to road transport while cutting logistics costs, fuel consumption, and emissions. The enhanced corridor network enables farmers across eastern and western India to deliver perishable produce, including fruits, vegetables, and flowers, rapidly to major wholesale markets. The operation of double-stack container trains from Mumbai's Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust to Vadodara carries cargo equivalent to over 250 trucks in a single trip. Rail connectivity has expanded into previously underserved tribal regions across Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra, backed by a record annual railway budget exceeding 2.75 lakh crore rupees. Large-scale investments in rail, roads, metro systems, and airports continue to generate substantial employment and stimulate regional enterprise. Vadodara has advanced into a prominent manufacturing and industrial hub, progressing from textiles, petrochemicals, and small enterprises to producing the nation's first domestic C-295 military transport aircraft.
Development projects worth thousands of crores of rupees were unveiled in Vadodara, Gujarat, marking a major milestone in national infrastructure. The Dedicated Freight Corridor project, spanning over 2,800 kilometres across Eastern and Western routes, has been completed to transform the country's logistics ecosystem and accelerate transportation. The initiative, conceived in 2004 with a dedicated company formed in 2006, faced prolonged delays before work was expedited post-2014. The operational corridor separates passenger trains from goods trains, significantly improving speed, travel efficiency, and business connectivity. Additionally, civic participation and cleanliness drives across Vadodara ahead of upcoming Ganeshotsav and Navratri festivals were highlighted alongside the focus on the Gati Shakti connectivity framework.
Thousands of young professionals gathered at a major event in Gujarat, marking a significant outreach initiative targeted at Generation Z. Attendees documented the proceedings across social media platforms while awaiting an address highlighting national development initiatives spanning Gandhinagar, Vadodara, and Varanasi. The event witnessed substantial public interest, with passes on BookMyShow selling out within an hour and over forty-two thousand people remaining on the waiting list.
Multiple development projects worth over Rs 35,000 crore have been inaugurated and initiated to accelerate progress towards the Viksit Bharat 2047 roadmap. The initiatives encompass environmental and civic programmes, including extensive urban cleanliness drives and tree plantation efforts across Vadodara. The vision focuses on robust economic expansion to establish the nation as the third largest global economy, alongside key technological strides such as private orbital launch vehicle manufacturing.
The Dedicated Freight Corridor from Dadri to JNPT has been completed and dedicated to the nation. The modern transformation of the railway network includes widespread upgrades across tracks, stations, overhead equipment, signalling, and operating systems. Key milestones achieved include the complete redevelopment of 280 stations, the construction of 36,000 kilometres of new tracks, and the nationwide rollout of the Kavach safety system. In addition, seven major railway corridors across the country are undergoing four-lining expansion to boost capacity and allow more trains to operate. Modern train services such as Vande Bharat, Amrit Bharat, and Namo Bharat are actively expanding, alongside the development of cargo variants. Furthermore, the construction of the high-speed rail corridor between Surat and Vapi is scheduled for completion this year, with initial testing of the bullet train set to commence next year.
A ceremonial gathering in Vadodara marked the launch of development projects worth crores of rupees alongside key state and central dignitaries. During the event, sanitation workers representing thousands of municipal staff and youth volunteers presented symbolic gifts celebrating local heritage, including a banyan bonsai plant. In addition, representatives working on the conservation of historic stepwells and water structures gifted an eco-friendly cow dung Ganesha idol. Rural sanitation workers, community health workers, and child-care staff also presented traditional heritage tokens to honour public service and cultural preservation.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Vadodara for a major youth outreach event to interact with Gen Z at the university ground. Passes for the event on BookMyShow sold out within an hour, with over 42,000 people on the waiting list. The youth-focused initiative comes following the Prime Minister's address at SRCC in Delhi during the college centenary celebrations, where he launched a sharp critique of the opposition. The outreach in Vadodara forms part of a wider strategy focused on engaging young citizens as the Prime Minister dedicates multiple development projects during his visit to Gujarat.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is visiting Vadodara, Gujarat, to launch rail and road infrastructure projects worth approximately 35,000 crore rupees and inaugurate three new sections of the dedicated freight corridor. The visit includes inaugurations and project launches spanning national highways and the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, as well as an address to youth and young professionals at MSU University. The public event saw significant response after free online registrations opened on BookMyShow, with all initial seats fully booked within an hour and around 42,000 people placed on the waiting list. Organisers subsequently worked to expand capacity to accommodate the high volume of incoming requests. The Bharatiya Janata Party highlighted the rapid registration numbers as a demonstration of public enthusiasm, contrasting it with a recent Pune event held by Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi.
A major public event in Vadodara, Gujarat, is scheduled to feature the launch of road and rail projects worth 35,000 crore rupees, including three new sections of the dedicated freight corridor, alongside an address to youth. Free public registrations opened online booked out completely within an hour, placing over 42,000 people on a waiting list. The rapid booking prompted political comparisons regarding public reception and attendance at recent political events.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is visiting Gujarat to attend a major public event in Vadodara, where he will launch rail and road infrastructure projects worth 35,000 crore rupees, inaugurate three sections of the dedicated freight corridor, and address the youth. Free registrations opened on BookMyShow filled within an hour, placing approximately 42,000 people on the waiting list. The Bharatiya Janata Party highlighted the rapid registrations as proof of genuine public support, contrasting it with Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi's Pune event and alleging paid influencers were hired there.
A major road cave-in has been reported in Gujarat's Vadodara, where a large sinkhole developed at the main entrance to Lalpura village in the Navayard area, severely disrupting traffic. The affected stretch is a key arterial road connecting Vadodara Railway Station with the city's main bus terminal, causing significant inconvenience to commuters and motorists.
The latest edition of Statecraft covers major geopolitical shifts as US President Donald Trump arrives in Beijing to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping. The visit, occurring amid the ongoing West Asia conflict and the Strait of Hormuz blockade, focusses on trade, tariffs, and the Iran war.
On this special broadcast, Air Marshal Sanjeev Kapoor (Retd) provides expert insights into the Republic Day flypast, highlighting the integration of the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force. He notes, 'The cameras from the aircraft are bringing the live coverage to your TV sets and this is what the new warfare is all about.' Air Marshal Kapoor discusses the induction of the C-295 transport aircraft, with 40 units being manufactured in the Vadodara factory to replace the ageing Avro fleet. The program also features Admiral Sinha discussing the P-8I maritime patrol aircraft's role as a game-changer in the Indian Ocean and its intelligence contributions during the Galwan crisis. The flypast involved 29 aircraft operating from five different bases, culminating in a high-speed vertical charlie maneuver at 1,000 km/hr. The display showcased India's aerial prowess and the seamless coordination required to fly at precise intervals over Kartavya Path, embodying the IAF motto 'Nabha Sprisham Deeptam'.
A video showing the killing of a crocodile has gone viral from Chorbhuj village in Karjan taluka of Gujarat’s Vadodara district. The incident took place at night when two locals allegedly beat the crocodile with sticks after it strayed out of a nearby pond, killing it and later throwing the body back into the lake.
In a special report, India Today's Consulting Editor, Nikhil Naz, breaks down India's tense four-wicket victory over New Zealand in the first ODI at Baroda. Naz points out that while India appeared to be cruising towards an easy win, the match became a '50-50 sort of an encounter' following the dismissal of Virat Kohli for 93. He states, 'While he was there on the crease, it looked like India are in cruise control, driver's seat, cruising to an easy win.' Naz also highlights that dropped catches by an otherwise proficient New Zealand side proved critical. He notes that the visiting team was not at full strength, with several key players missing, yet they still managed to give India a tough fight before KL Rahul finished the match.
