DELHI (national capital territory)

New Delhi: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the 2026-27 budget on Sunday, but the allocation for air pollution control has raised concerns among environmental experts. The government has allocated ₹1,091 crore for pollution control in 2026-27, ₹209 crore less than the revised estimate of ₹1,300 crore in 2025-26. Funding Cuts for Delhi and NCRThe allocation falls under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), which funds pollution boards, committees, and initiatives to reduce particulate matter in non-attainment cities. NCAP monitors air quality in 82 cities across India. Experts have criticized the budget for not providing targeted allocations for the regions most affected by severe air pollution, particularly Delhi-NCR and Northern India. Expert Opinions Sunil...

New Delhi: In the Union Budget 2026-27, the Delhi government’s premier medical institute, AIIMS, has seen a budget increase of over ₹300 crore compared to last year. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the budget on Sunday, allocating ₹5,500.92 crore for AIIMS Delhi. However, other major hospitals in the capital, including Safdarjung Hospital, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital, Lady Hardinge Medical College, and Kalawati Saran Children’s Hospital, have faced budget cuts. Budget Details for AIIMSAIIMS’s budget has increased in line with the growing patient load at the institute: 2024-25: ₹4,909.33 crore 2025-26: ₹5,200 crore 2026-27: ₹5,500.92 crore Other Hospitals See ReductionsMeanwhile, several other key hospitals have experienced slight reductions in their ...

New Delhi: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented her ninth budget on Sunday, announcing a significant increase in the allocation for Delhi Police. For the financial year 2026-27, Delhi Police has been allocated ₹12,846.15 crore, marking a 4.57% rise compared to the previous year’s allocation of ₹12,259.16 crore. Why the Budget Increase?The enhanced funding aims to equip Delhi Police with advanced technology and improve infrastructure across the National Capital Territory. Over the past few years, the force has focused on strengthening security through widespread CCTV deployment, artificial intelligence integration, and upgrading its infrastructure to meet the demands of a fast-growing metropolis. Planned ExpenditureThe funds will be utilized for daily operational costs ...

New Delhi: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman unveiled the Union Budget 2026-27 on Sunday, announcing the creation of seven new high-speed rail corridors across the country. Among these is the much-anticipated Delhi–Varanasi route, which aims to dramatically cut travel time between the national capital and the cultural hub of Varanasi. Bullet-Train Speeds for the CapitalThe proposed trains on this corridor are expected to run at speeds of up to 320 kilometers per hour, similar to bullet trains. This will allow passengers to cover the roughly 874-kilometer journey from Delhi to Varanasi in just 2.5 hours. The corridor will also connect key cities such as Lucknow and Prayagraj, with plans to extend connectivity to Ayodhya. Survey and Planning CompletedRailway sources revealed th...

New Delhi: Following the tragic death of Delhi Police SWAT commando Kajal Chaudhary, her one-and-a-half-year-old son has been placed in the custody of his maternal grandparents. Initially, the child was with his paternal grandparents in a village in Haryana. On January 20, when Kajal and her husband Ankur visited Mohan Garden in Delhi, they had left the child with his paternal grandparents. Allegations of Dowry HarassmentAccording to sources, the police had registered an attempt-to-murder case on January 22, which was later upgraded to a murder case on January 27. Sections related to dowry harassment and dowry death have also been added. The FIR alleges that Kajal was allegedly harassed by Ankur and his family over dowry demands. Kajal’s parents and brother provided similar statement...

New Delhi: In a shocking road rage incident near Mukherjee Nagar, North-West Delhi, a lawyer practicing at Delhi High Court was allegedly attacked and beaten with sticks by a group of five to six men, police said on Sunday. Both the lawyer and his companion sustained injuries and are reported to be in shock. Authorities have begun examining CCTV footage and are searching for the accused. Road Rage EscalatesThe victim, a 29-year-old resident of Noida Extension, told police that the confrontation began on a narrow lane when his car was stopped by a black Thar vehicle. According to the lawyer, the Thar blocked his car completely, and after waiting for nearly five minutes, he managed to maneuver his vehicle to the side. The Thar driver then allegedly verbally abused him. “When I stepped ...

New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has warmly welcomed the Union Budget 2026, calling it a comprehensive blueprint for a “Developed India” and a step forward in realizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for 2047. Budget Praised for Inclusive VisionSpeaking on the budget presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday, CM Gupta congratulated the finance minister, noting that the allocation of ₹1.4 lakh crore for capital expenditure will significantly help states accelerate their development. She highlighted that the budget addresses every segment of society and includes initiatives particularly beneficial for youth, education, and healthcare. Focus on Cultural Heritage and TourismCM Gupta lauded the budget’s emphasis on India’s cultural heritage, noting its p...

New Delhi: Delhi Police is becoming increasingly digital and high-tech, bringing a significant transformation to traditional policing methods. What once involved towering stacks of files, manually written FIRs, and registers full of entries is now being replaced by apps, databases, and CCTV-driven monitoring. From Manual Registers to Digital EfficiencyBeat Constable Mahavir Singh, who joined the force in 1982, recalls the old days when every beat change required transferring extensive records to a new officer. Establishing connections with informants and the local community would start from scratch each time. By 2025, however, Delhi’s beat policing has evolved dramatically. The introduction of digital tools and applications has fundamentally changed the daily workflow, turning hours of ...

New Delhi: A decade-old case involving the deportation of a Kerala-based nurse from Belgium has finally seen a significant legal development. A Delhi court has acquitted the nurse of all charges related to fraud and passport forgery, citing lack of evidence. Court RulingAdditional Sessions Judge Pranav Joshi observed that the prosecution had failed to establish that the accused, Leena Maria Susai, had misled Indian immigration authorities. The charges, initially filed by the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO), included alleged fraud, forgery under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, and possession of a counterfeit passport under the Passport Act. The court noted multiple procedural lapses during the investigation, including broken custody chains, absence of origina...

Delhi: In a shocking incident from Shastri Park, Delhi, a father has been arrested for allegedly murdering his 12-year-old stepson. The accused, 36-year-old Wajid Khan, fled the scene after attacking the boy, identified as Altamash, but was later apprehended by the police. During questioning, Wajid reportedly revealed that he was unhappy with his relationship with his second wife. In a fit of anger, he took Altamash to a secluded area with bushes and killed him using a sharp weapon. Further investigation is underway. The North East District DCP, Ashish Mishra, stated that the police received a tip-off about the boy’s death on Friday morning around 9:50 AM. Officers immediately reached Shastri Park Chowk Loop, where Altamash was found unconscious. He was rushed to JPC Hospital, where ...