DELHI (national capital territory)

In a major boost to Delhi’s water management, the Regha Gupta government has announced the construction of a state-of-the-art water treatment plant at Chandrawal, with a capacity of 105 million gallons per day (MGD) and a total investment of ₹599 crore. The plant is expected to become operational later this year, addressing water shortages and reducing wastage across the capital. Chief Minister Regha Gupta, during a high-level review meeting of the Delhi Jal Board on Monday, emphasized that the project will significantly strengthen Delhi’s water supply system, particularly ahead of the summer season. Water Minister Pravesh Sahib Singh and senior officials were also present at the meeting. The new Chandrawal plant will serve an area of approximately 92 square kilometers, covering near...

During the ongoing Budget Session of Parliament, Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal expressed concern over the rampant overcharging by private hospitals under the pretext of medical treatment. She urged the government to implement the Clinical Establishment Act across all states, ensure emergency treatment is provided before billing, and promote transparent billing practices in private healthcare facilities. Speaking in the Upper House on Monday, Maliwal highlighted the financial burden faced by ordinary families when seeking treatment in private hospitals. “Today, when a patient visits a private hospital in an emergency, families often have to mortgage their home and jewelry to afford care,” she said. She added that hospitals first inquire about medical insurance, and once coverage is confir...

New Delhi, Feb 2:Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Monday described the Union Budget 2026–27 as a strong step towards a developed and self-reliant India. Speaking at a press conference at the Delhi Secretariat, she said the budget not only boosts economic stability but also ensures social balance, opening new avenues for India’s capital. CM Gupta expressed her gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for presenting a forward-looking and balanced budget that addresses the needs of the common citizen. She also acknowledged Home Minister Amit Shah for his continued support to Delhi in maintaining law and order and effective administration. Three Pillars of the BudgetThe Chief Minister noted that the budget is based on three key principles: ...

New Delhi: A confrontation between police personnel and a local woman in Geeta Colony, Shahdara, escalated into a physical altercation on Sunday night, leading to injuries and a case being registered against the woman. According to police sources, around 8:15 PM, Head Constable Ankur and Constable Javed, posted at Geeta Colony police station, were patrolling on foot along Pushta Road near Safeda Jhuggi. During their patrol, they noticed a group of suspicious young men near Rupa, the wife of a declared local criminal, Salman alias Kalu. Police had previously received information regarding Rupa’s involvement in drug-related activities. When the officers began questioning the men, Rupa allegedly became aggressive, verbally abusing the police despite repeated attempts to calm her. As Hea...

New Delhi: The Lawrence Bishnoi syndicate has claimed responsibility for an attack targeting alleged ISI operative Shahzad Bhatti in Portugal. In a post on social media, the gang warned that those speaking against the nation will not be spared, no matter where in the world they are. According to the gang, masked shooters on motorcycles carried out the attack at Bhatti’s residence. It remains unclear whether Bhatti was killed or injured. Portuguese authorities have yet to release an official statement regarding the incident. The attack comes two months after India’s Delhi Police Special Cell uncovered Bhatti’s expanding network within India and arrested three of his associates in connection with a grenade attack at a police station in Gurdaspur, Punjab. In a social media post on Su...

New Delhi: Identifying depression may soon go beyond traditional questionnaires and tests. Researchers at AIIMS Delhi have revealed that a person’s voice can provide significant clues about their mental health. A study conducted at the AIIMS Speech Health Lab shows that speech analysis can detect early signs of depression with remarkable accuracy. AI and CSR Support in Mental Health ResearchAccording to Dr. Nand Kumar from the Psychiatry Department, AIIMS developed a state-of-the-art Speech Health Lab with CSR support from Coal India Limited (CIL). Using AI-based analysis, the lab examines linguistic and emotional cues in speech to identify early indicators of depression. Over the past two years, the lab studied 423 participants, analyzing their speech samples alongside mental health as...

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...