Union home minister Amit Shah on Friday inaugurated the 3rd International Kite Festival, urging the Delhi government and Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to form a committee to make the city the national hub for kite festivities, expand the event, and encourage public participation for a grand nationwide celebration.
The BJP-led Mahayuti alliance secured a decisive victory in the Maharashtra civic elections 2026, including the BMC polls, across 27 civic bodies. Key takeaways highlight the BJP's dominance under Devendra Fadnavis, the erosion of the Thackeray legacy, and the fizzling out of Ajit Pawar's political maneuvers. The Congress showed a minor resurgence, while AIMIM made notable inroads in urban pockets.
The BJP-led Mahayuti has achieved a significant victory in Maharashtra's municipal elections. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis credited the win to the party's development agenda. The alliance secured a majority in numerous municipal corporations, including the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. This outcome reflects public trust in Prime Minister Modi's leadership and the alliance's focus on governance and infrastructure projects.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated BJP workers and thanked Maharashtra's people for the NDA and Mahayuti's sweeping victory in municipal corporation elections. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis attributed the success to a development-focused agenda, highlighting the alliance's strong performance, particularly in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation.
Maharashtra's civic elections saw a significant political shift as the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance secured a dominant victory, particularly in Mumbai's BMC. Devendra Fadnavis and the BJP celebrated substantial gains, ending Shiv Sena's long-held control. Uddhav Thackeray's Sena and the Congress faced major setbacks, while Raj Thackeray's MNS and Sharad Pawar's NCP also saw diminished influence.
The Nationalist Congress Party, split into factions led by Ajit Pawar and Sharad Pawar, faced a significant setback in the Pimpri-Chinchwad and Pune municipal elections. Despite campaigning together, both factions suffered losses, with the BJP leading in a majority of wards. This performance raises questions about the potential merger of the NCP factions.
India has strongly criticized Pakistan at the UN for misusing the platform and promoting a divisive agenda. Islamabad's envoy raised the issue of Jammu and Kashmir in the General Assembly, prompting India to accuse Pakistan of spreading baseless allegations and falsehoods detached from reality.
Global public health, veterinary and legal experts caution mass sheltering India’s free-living dogs would undermine rabies control, disrupt urban ecosystems, breach the law and raise costs without making cities safer.
European leaders will attend India's Republic Day parade and the 16th India-EU summit, aiming to finalize a free trade agreement and a defense partnership. Discussions will focus on trade, security, and clean energy, building on a new strategic agenda to strengthen bilateral ties amidst global uncertainties.
National highways will now deny No Objection Certificates for vehicle registration, insurance, and ownership transfers if toll fees remain unpaid. This move, coinciding with the upcoming rollout of barrierless tolling, aims to enhance digital toll collection and prevent evasion on key NH stretches.
Exit polls project a significant victory for the Mahayuti alliance in the BMC polls, with projections indicating they will surpass 130 seats. The Shiv Sena (UBT)–MNS alliance is expected to secure just over 60 seats, falling short of expectations. The elections saw nearly 50% voter turnout across Mumbai and 28 other municipal corporations in Maharashtra.
According to the PRO of 'Shri Akal Takht Sahib'Tek Singh at the Secretariat.
Vote counting for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections begins today, determining control of Asia's richest civic body after over six years. Exit polls project a strong performance for the ruling Mahayuti alliance, potentially crossing 130 seats, while the Shiv Sena (UBT)–MNS alliance is expected to trail.
An Indian Coast Guard ship intercepted a Pakistani fishing vessel, Al-Madina, with nine crew members, found operating within Indian waters near the International Maritime Boundary Line. The vessel attempted to flee towards Pakistan when challenged but was successfully intercepted and boarded. The boat is now being towed to Porbandar for further investigation.
