8:40 pm: PM Modi thanks people of Varanasi, posts on Twitter saying that he had a wonderful day.

बनारस के भाइयों और बहनों का बहुत बहुत धन्यवाद! A wonderful day in Varanasi. A big thanks to the people. pic.twitter.com/QUWNDZzU25 — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 25, 2014

4:07 pm: The PM concludes his address.

4:06 pm: Railways has shaped my life, nobody can love it more than me: PM Narendra Modi in Varanasi

4:04 pm: With the help of railways, thousands of skill development centre can be developed, says Modi.

4:00 pm: What we want to do is to put more money for development of railways. This will help. How many years will we be putting the poor's money in railways, we should invest if we are getting money from the rich: PM Modi

3:55 pm: Those who are saying that railways is being privatised, they are spreading lies. This is not our thought or intention: PM

3:52 pm: The government will open four new railway universities for the children of railway employees: PM

3:50 pm: We don't see railways only as a means to travel. We see it as the backbone of India's development. We have to take the railways ahead and through the railways we have to take the nation ahead: PM

3:49 pm: Engines made at Varanasi factory have 96% Indian parts, make it 100 percent. We have called upon the youth of the nation through our Make in India program: PM Narendra Modi

3:48 pm: Since becoming PM, most of the time I end up talking about railways: PM

3:47 pm: The PM begins addressing the gathering.

3:44 pm: PM Narendra Modi inaugurates expansion of Diesel Locomotive Works (DLW) in Varanasi.

2:33 pm: PM Modi apologises for arriving late in the programme at BHU.

2:28 pm: PM Modi concludes his address.

2:27 pm: After six months in office, I can surely say that the world is looking at India with great expectations, but we are not prepared, says PM Modi.

2:21 pm: A tourist will come here drawn to the beautiful past but he or she will stay when we create systems that make them stay here: PM

2:19 pm: Every school can develop a mastery on any one aspect of Varanasi and this can be a great way to showcase Kashi, says the PM.

2:18 pm: PM Modi says the proposal at UN to celebrate 'World Yoga Day' was passed in just 100 days and 177 nations co-sponsored it.

2:17 pm: Our culture is our strength, be it our songs, dance, art...these are very precious: PM Modi

2:16 pm: A student who wants to become a teacher will never only study for exams. He or she will closely observe the teachers and get inspired: PM

2:15 pm: Through training a lot can be done. And if we can train such teachers, we can give good teachers to the world, says Modi.

2:14 pm: Good education is linked with good teachers. We need to think how we can create an environment where children want to become good teachers: PM Modi

2:13 pm: Today the entire world requires good teachers. Everyone wants good education for their children. If you ask your driver what he wants, he'll say he wants good education for his children: PM Modi

2:12 pm: We should encourage initiatives that will help our future generations: PM Modi in BHU

2:11 pm: Our education apparatus can't be one that produces robots. That can happen in laboratory. There has to be overall personality development, emphasises PM Modi.

2:10 pm: India has a tremendous responsibility towards the world in the 21st century, which has been called the century of knowledge: PM

2:07 pm: The PM pays tributes to Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya and Atal Bihari Vajpayee during his speech in BHU.

2:06 pm: I extend my heartiest greetings to all on the occasion of Christmas: PM

2:05 pm: PM Narendra Modi begins addressing the gathering.

2:02 pm: The PM felicitates BHU staff.

1:59 pm: PM Narendra Modi lays foundation stone of Inter-University Centre for Teachers` Education inside the BHU premises.​ He also launches a Rs 900-crore scheme "Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya National Mission on Teachers and Teaching", named after the BHU founder, whom the Modi government has decided to posthumously confer the Bharat Ratna.

1:53 pm: Smriti Irani pays tributes to Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya and underlines his emphasis on education. She concludes her address.

1:49 pm: Union Minister Smriti Irani is speaking at the programme in Varanasi.

1:29 pm: Narendra Modi is in Swatantrata Bhavan​, an auditorium within the Banaras Hindu University campus​.

1:25 pm: Anticipating protests against the government over several issues, police today detained more than 23 people from different areas as they were planning to stage demonstrations during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit in Varanasi.

1:20 pm: The PM is going back to the BHU to inaugurate an Inter-University Centre for Teachers` Education inside the BHU premises.

1:18 pm: Prime Minister Narendra Modi wields a broom in a bylane leading to the Jagannath Temple in Assi ghat area.

1:16 pm: I also extend my heartiest greetings to people across the country and world on the occasion of Christmas: PM Modi

1:14 pm: The PM nominates nine personalities/organisations - Nagaland Governor Padmanabha Balakrishna Acharya, Social activist Kiran Bedi​, Odissi dancer Sonal Mansingh​, Comedy Nights With Kapil fame, Kapil Sharma, former India skipper Sourav Ganguly, AP's Ramoji Group chairman Ramoji Rao​​ and Eenadu Group, Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, Mumbai's famed dabbawalas​ - to participate in Clean India campaign.

1:13 pm: ​I am again nominating people for my cleanliness project. Everyone needs to ensure Varanasi is clean: PM

1:12 pm: The entire nation has responded positively to Clean India drive: PM Modi in Varanasi

1:11 pm: The Prime Minister pays tribute to former Kashi Naresh (King of Varanasi) Vibhuti Narayan Singh, who had died on this day, and praises him for his immense contribution to the city.

1:10 pm: I extend heartiest greetings to people of Varansai, says Modi. He also thanked the citizens of Varanasi, NGOs and private organisations, Varanasi Municipal Corporation for cleaning the Assi ghat here where filth had accumulated on the banks of the river.

1:08 pm: The PM is being briefed about the initiatives taken to take his cleanliness drive forward.

1:05 pm: PM Modi reaches Assi ghat.

12:59 pm: Waving at his supporters outside Banaras Hindu University, the PM is now going to Assi Ghat to inspect the progress of cleanliness drive launched by him last month.

12:57 pm: PM Modi garlands the statue of freedom fighter Madan Mohan Malaviya, who was named to be conferred with Bharat Ratna yesterday. Significantly, today is also the 153rd birth anniversary of the renowned educationist.

12:55 pm: PM Narendra Modi arrives at Banaras Hindu University

12:15 pm: Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives in Varanasi. The PM was received by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and state minister Ahmed Hasan at the Babatpur airport on the outskirts of the city.

8:00 am: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Thursday visit his Lok Sabha constituency Varanasi to mark the 'Good Governance Day'.

During his visit, the Prime Minister will attend a number of programmes on the occasion of the birthday of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

He will visit Assi Ghat to inspect the progress of cleanliness drive launched by him last month, sources said.

On November 08, Modi had wielded a spade to remove silt deposited at the Assi Ghat along the banks of the Ganga as part of his 'Swachh Bharat' campaign.

The Prime Minister had worked through an uneven muddy track to reach a makeshift stage where five priests were waiting for him to assist him in a special Ganga puja.

Modi will also visit Banaras Hindu University (BHU) where he will lay the foundation stone for an inter-university centre for teachers' education to be named after Madan Mohan Malviya.

The centre is expected to function as an autonomous body, the details of which will be spelt out during the Prime Minister's visit to the campus.

At the BHU, Modi is also expected to launch Varanasi Mahotsav.

While in Varanasi, the Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone for expansion of the Diesel Locomotive Works factory.

Foundation stone for expansion of a stadium in the holy city will also be laid.