Vande Bharat Sleeper Train Launch: VIPs, Students to Ride First, Not General Public

• India's first Vande Bharat Sleeper train is set to launch soon, likely on January 17 or 18, inaugurated by the Prime Minister.
• The train will operate on the Gauhati–Kolkata route, connecting Northeast India to major cities.
• On the inaugural day, general passengers cannot book tickets; only specially invited guests, including MPs, MLAs, women, schoolchildren, and media, will travel.
• Public representatives will board and alight at stations within their constituencies, allowing more VIPs to experience the journey.
• Schoolchildren will be selected through an essay competition to promote interest in national development and technology.

Why It Matters: Vande Bharat Sleeper train's inaugural journey is reserved for invited guests, not general passengers.