After his brief stint in the PMO where he contributed to creating the public-private-partnership framework in infrastructure projects, Vaishnaw was appointed as Vajpayee's private secretary after the BJP-led NDA lost the election in 2004.

[17][18] In 2019, Vaishnaw stated in Parliament that the economic slowdown India was experiencing at the time was cyclical, rather than structural, and that it was expected to bottom out by March 2020, with growth to follow.

[25][26][27] On February 15, 2025, a tragic stampede at New Delhi Railway Station resulted in the deaths of at least 18 individuals, including women and children.

The incident occurred when an unexpected platform change announcement triggered panic among thousands of passengers, most of whom were trying to board trains to Prayagraj for the Maha Kumbh festival.

By the time he formally addressed the media hours later, reports from hospital authorities and emergency responders had already confirmed multiple deaths.

Critics argue that Vaishnaw’s delay in disclosing the number of casualties reflects poor crisis management and an attempt to control the narrative rather than prioritizing public accountability.

Public and Political Backlash Opposition leaders and civil rights groups condemned the government’s failure to handle crowd management effectively and accused the Railways Ministry of negligence.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal criticized the delay, stating, “At a time when families were desperately looking for their loved ones, the government should have provided timely and accurate information instead of withholding details.”[28] Negligence in Crowd Management Experts have long warned about poor crowd control measures at railway stations during peak travel seasons, especially for religious gatherings like the Maha Kumbh.