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The question arises regarding the amount of the government subsidy for tickets costing 500 rupees, and the railway has provided detailed information on the calculations. When purchasing such a ticket, the passenger does not pay the entire amount, as the railway itself covers a significant portion of the travel costs.

During the Lok Sabha session, it was stated that passengers are provided with a subsidy on ticket costs of approximately 43 percent. This means that for a 500 rupee ticket, there is substantial financial support from the railway hidden within.

The railway presented a detailed report on how much money it spends on a 500 rupee ticket and the overall calculation of this subsidy. In the financial year 2024-25, a total subsidy of about 60,239 crore rupees was provided to passengers on fares.

To simplify understanding, consider a hypothetical case: if a passenger paid for a 500 rupee ticket. According to railway data, the passenger fare constitutes about 57 percent of the full cost of the journey, while the remaining 43 percent is covered by the railway as a subsidy. Consequently, if we take 500 rupees as the payment by the passenger, it does not mean that the full cost of the journey was only 500 rupees.

If 500 rupees represents 57 percent of the fare, then the actual cost of providing this journey approaches 877 rupees. Of this amount, the passenger pays about 500 rupees, and the railway compensates approximately 377 rupees as a subsidy.

In other words, on a 500 rupee ticket, the average subsidy amounts to about 377 rupees. However, it is important to understand that this is just an example based on average data. The subsidy amount will not be the same for every journey, route, class, or type of ticket, as the general rule of 43 percent subsidy is applied to the average passenger fare.

The railway clarified that if the cost of transporting one passenger is 100 rupees, only 57 rupees are charged to the passenger for the ticket, and the remaining 43 rupees are covered by the railway as a subsidy. Applying the same formula to a 500 rupee ticket allows for easy understanding of the picture: if the 500 rupees paid by the passenger corresponds to 57 percent of the total cost, then the railway additionally covers about 377 rupees.

Thus, the passenger gets the opportunity to travel by train at a significantly lower price than the actual cost of the journey.

According to the railway, in the financial year 2024-25, a subsidy of approximately 60,239 crore rupees was provided for passenger tickets. The railway emphasized that this subsidy applies to all passengers, not just specific categories.

The railway also mentioned in its response benefits and services provided to passengers from certain categories, such as the elderly and passengers with disabilities, in addition to fare reductions.

Ultimately, if we consider the 500 rupee ticket as an example, according to the 43 percent subsidy, the railway covers about 377 rupees. The actual cost of the passenger's trip may be around 877 rupees, but it should be remembered that this is an example calculated based on average indicators, and the actual subsidy may differ for a specific ticket or train.

According to the Central Bank's data, Uzbekistan's gold and foreign exchange reserves showed a partial recovery after a decrease recorded in June. As of August 1, the total reserve amount increased by $590 million, reaching $64.35 billion from the previous $63.76 billion.

In July, foreign exchange reserves grew by $209 million, rising from $7.44 billion to $7.65 billion. However, for the first time since the introduction of securities, a reduction in the volume of international reserves was noted: the portfolio decreased by approximately $1.1 billion, which accounts for almost 40%, falling from $2.86 billion to $1.76 billion.

Concurrently, the volume of cash currency and deposits increased by $1.31 billion, reaching $5.89 billion from $4.58 billion. The value of gold in the reserves rose by $365 million, increasing from $55.76 billion to $56.12 billion.

Nevertheless, the physical gold stock slightly decreased—from 13.88 million to 13.85 million troy ounces (equivalent to 430.8 tons). The decrease amounted to about 30.2 thousand troy ounces or approximately 0.94 tons. This decline occurred after a record figure recorded on July 1. The rise in global prices helped compensate for this reduction in physical volume, supporting the value of the gold portion of the reserves.

In a note to the statistics, the Central Bank notes that in July, the price of gold rose from $4016.7 to $4052.2 per troy ounce, representing an increase of about 0.9%. The regulator assessed the positive effect of this revaluation at $490 million. This shows that the increase in the value of the gold reserve due to rising quotes partially compensated for the decrease in its physical quantity.

For contrast, on July 1, Uzbekistan's gold and foreign exchange reserves decreased by $6.8 billion, falling from $70.6 billion to $63.8 billion. The main reason for this drop at that time was the decrease in the price of gold: its value fell from $4516.85 to $4016.7 per troy ounce, and the Central Bank estimated the negative effect of the revaluation at approximately $6.9 billion.

Previously, the Central Bank explained the high share of gold in international reserves by applying a conservative approach to asset management. At the same time, the regulator is systematically working on diversifying these reserves, aiming to reduce dependence on fluctuations in precious metal prices. International reserves serve as a tool for the state's financial stability, ensuring the ability to cover external obligations, support the currency market when necessary, and finance vital imports during external shocks.