DELHI (national capital territory)

Historical monuments in Delhi, particularly the Red Fort and Qutub Minar, continue to be top choices for domestic tourists in 2023-24 and 2024-25. However, some other heritage sites are struggling to maintain visitor numbers, while a few newer attractions have gained popularity. Tourist Trends at Delhi MonumentsOverall, ticketed monuments under central protection in Delhi saw a 3% year-on-year increase in visitors, surpassing 8.4 million in 2024-25. Red Fort: Remained the most visited monument, attracting approximately 2.88 million domestic tourists in 2024-25, marking a 3.2% rise. However, international tourist visits declined by 5.8%. A retired ASI officer suggested that frequent events at the Red Fort, sometimes leading to partial or full closures, could be discouraging foreign v...

Residents of Delhi who have been waiting for a ration card have reason to celebrate. Following an extensive verification process, around 8.27 lakh new vacancies for ration card beneficiaries have been created in the capital. The government removed millions of names from the beneficiary list after careful scrutiny, and the process to issue new ration cards to eligible residents will begin soon. Verification ResultsThe verification, initiated by the BJP government after assuming office, found that over 8.27 lakh individuals were not eligible for ration cards. Among them, 6.46 lakh had sufficient income yet were availing free ration. Additionally: 95,682 individuals had not collected ration for over a year. 23,394 duplicate ration cards were identified. 6,185 beneficiaries had pa...

A combination of courage and quick thinking helped a Delhi woman catch a phone snatcher, providing a lesson for those who surrender to thieves without a fight. Incident DetailsOn 19 January, 60-year-old Anganwadi worker Geeta, while returning from a meeting toward Barafkhana, had her mobile phone snatched in a busy market area in North Delhi. Instead of panicking, she immediately took action that would lead to the thief’s capture. When the snatcher grabbed her phone around 11:40 AM and fled toward Karol Bagh on a scooter, Geeta returned to her office and borrowed a colleague’s phone to call her stolen device. Surprisingly, the thief answered and demanded Rs 2,000–3,000 for its return. Geeta used the conversation to gather crucial information about his location. She informed her co...

Residents of Delhi are facing a severe water shortage as 66 neighborhoods across the city are experiencing disrupted supply. The crisis has emerged due to a combination of rising ammonia levels in the Yamuna River and ongoing repairs at the Munak Canal in Haryana, which supplies raw water to five major water treatment plants in Delhi. Production Halved at Key Water PlantsThe high ammonia concentration in the Yamuna, now at 6 ppm, has already affected water production at the Wazirabad and Chandrawal water treatment plants. Meanwhile, repairs at the Munak Canal have reduced water inflow by half, leading to a significant drop in production at the Haiderpur, Dwarka, Nangloi, Okhla, and Bawana treatment plants. Currently, only the Bhagirathi and Sonia Vihar plants are operating at full capac...

New Delhi: This Republic Day, Rajpath will come alive with the vibrant colors and rich heritage of India. From terracotta and brass crafts to Gar dance and horse dances, from Sea Samadhi to Water Metro, and from Operation Sindoor to the “Vande Mataram” tableau, artists from across the country will showcase their unique cultural traditions. Ahead of the grand parade, full dress rehearsals are underway at the National Rangshala Camp in Delhi Cantonment, where artists and craftsmen are putting final touches to their tableaus. Rajalakshmi, an MA student from Tamil Nadu participating in her state’s tableau, said, “Our group arrived in Delhi on January 11. We are getting a chance to learn about the culture of different states and have made friends with many fellow artists. We practice morn...

New Delhi: The weather in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) has taken a turn, bringing respite from unseasonal warmth but a rise in winter chill. Early Friday, light showers accompanied by gusty winds were reported across Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, and surrounding areas. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), dense cloud cover is expected throughout the day, reducing the likelihood of sunlight and keeping daytime temperatures low. Current Temperature and ForecastIMD’s local weather report predicts a maximum temperature of around 19°C and a minimum of 12°C in Delhi on 23 January. On 24 January, the maximum temperature is expected to drop to 17°C with a minimum of 7°C, while 25 January may see light to moderate fog in the morning, with temperatures ranging between...

New Delhi: The issue of waterlogging in Sharma Colony, Kirari, has triggered a blame game between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Both parties have launched allegations against each other regarding the deteriorating living conditions in the area. BJP Points Finger at AAPDelhi government minister Pravesh Sahib Singh accused AAP leaders of exploiting unauthorized colonies for personal gain during their 11 years in power. He claimed that in colonies like Sharma Colony and 114 other areas in Outer Delhi, AAP legislators bought land at low prices, secured minimal government funding to lay partial sewer lines, and falsely marketed it as infrastructure development to inflate land value. Singh highlighted that Sharma Colony, being a low-lying area, has faced w...

New Delhi: A shocking incident has come to light in Samaypur Badli, where a 17-year-old boy was stabbed to death on Wednesday night. The victim was sitting with his friends near a bonfire when a group of armed youths suddenly attacked them. According to DCP Hareswar V. Swami of Outer North District, the incident occurred around 7:30 PM at the Chhath Ghat Park near Rana Park. A group of six to seven youths approached the victim and his friends without any provocation and launched a violent attack. Three of the attackers wielded knives, escalating the confrontation. Details of the AttackThe accused stabbed the boy forcefully in the left side of his chest between the ribs, causing severe injuries and heavy bleeding. Witnessing the attack, the assailants fled the scene. The victim’s frie...

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has ruled that not every personal relationship must culminate in marriage, and the breakup of a consensual relationship between adults cannot be treated as a criminal act. Justice Swarn Kanta Sharma made this observation in a judgment delivered on 12 January, emphasizing that such matters should be handled with sensitivity, restraint, and respect for individual freedom. Key Observations of the CourtThe court noted that a responsible adult entering a voluntary romantic relationship must be aware of the uncertainties involved. “It is neither necessary nor guaranteed that every romantic relationship will result in marriage,” the court stated. Many relationships may end for personal, practical, or circumstantial reasons, including incompatibility or a change ...

New Delhi: The Delhi Police have registered an FIR against Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannu, who runs the pro-Khalistan group “Sikhs for Justice,” for allegedly attempting to create unrest in the capital ahead of Republic Day (26 January). Pannu had released a video on social media claiming that his sleeper cells had put up pro-Khalistan posters in the Rohini and Dabri areas of Delhi. However, the Special Cell of Delhi Police reported that no such posters were found, and the claim was entirely false. Following this, a formal complaint has been lodged against him. Previous Threats and Terrorist DesignationThe Indian government had declared Gurpatwant Singh Pannu a terrorist under the amended Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) on 1 July 2020. Earlier, the Punjab Pol...