DELHI (national capital territory)

New Delhi: The backbone of Delhi’s fire safety system—the Fire Brigade—is currently facing a severe manpower crisis. Sources reveal that out of 90 Station Officer posts in the Delhi Fire Service, nearly 65 have been vacant for years, leaving just 25 officers to manage 68 fire stations across the city. Vacancies Since 2012Of the 65 vacant posts, 45 are direct recruitment positions, which have remained unfilled for over a decade. These posts are to be filled through UPSC examinations, but no recruitment has taken place since 2012. Even in 2014, a vacancy notice was issued but was canceled immediately. The reasons for this prolonged delay remain unclear. The remaining 20 posts are promotion-based, but no eligible officers are available for promotion, leaving these positions vacant as we...

New Delhi: In a bid to control the growing stray dog population, the Dog Committee has recommended the establishment of sterilization centers and feeding zones in every ward. Ward-Level Centers and Feeding ZonesDuring the meeting, committee members, along with Education Committee Chair Yogesh Verma, expressed concern over the rapid increase in stray dogs despite ongoing sterilization efforts. They emphasized the need for a system-wide approach to effectively manage the population. The six-member committee proposed that: Each ward should have a sterilization center. Designated feeding zones should be established in every ward. Veterinary officers and sanitary inspectors should be empowered to penalize individuals who feed dogs outside authorized zones, violate MCD guidelines...

New Delhi: In the sexual abuse case involving 17 students of Shri Sharada Institute of Indian Management, located in Vasant Kunj, the police have filed a 1,077-page chargesheet at the Patiala House Court. Chaitanyanand Saraswati and four others have been named as accused. The chargesheet lists 43 witnesses. The court has scheduled the next hearing for Thursday. Accused and ChargesBased on the investigation, the accused—Chaitanyanand Saraswati, Bhavana Kapil, Shweta, and Kajal—face multiple charges, including: Sexual harassment (BNS 75-2) Causing injury to dignity (BNS 79) Intimidation for giving false statement (BNS 232) Threats to cause death or grievous injury (BNS 351-3) Destroying evidence in a life imprisonment case (BNS 238-b) Prisoner’s Safety MeasuresEarlier,...

New Delhi: Residents of East Delhi can look forward to 24-hour water supply from the Ganga starting June or July next year. The Delhi Jal Board (DJB) is laying a new 20-kilometer, 1500 mm pipeline from the Bhagirathi Water Treatment Plant to Shahdara, Greater Kailash, and Lajpat Nagar’s water supply zones. About 60% of the work has already been completed, with the remaining expected to finish by next June. Project Cost and UpgradesThe total estimated cost of the project is around ₹272 crore, of which approximately ₹147.8 crore has already been spent. The new pipeline replaces the old 1200 mm lines that were 35–40 years old, prone to leaks, and insufficient to meet the growing water demand of Delhi’s population. The upgraded pipeline will ensure reduced wastage and reliable supply to mil...

New Delhi: The stubble-burning season is almost over, bringing a notable drop in pollution levels across northern India. This year, incidents of crop residue burning have declined in Punjab and Haryana, while Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh witnessed an increase compared to previous years. Stubble Pollution Shows DeclineIn Madhya Pradesh, stubble-burning patterns remained largely unchanged. According to the Decision Support System (DSS), stubble-related pollution peaked at 22.4% on 12 November, the highest this season. By Wednesday, the figure had dropped sharply to just 0.8%, marking a consistent decline since 18 November. Government Steps to Curb PollutionKurinji Kamath, Program Lead at the Council on Energy, Environment, and Water (CEEW), noted that northern state governments have bee...

New Delhi: Delhi is all set to get a 53-kilometer cycling corridor along the Yamuna River, a project aimed at promoting green mobility, tourism, and public health. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta recently reviewed the progress of the Yamuna Cycling Corridor project in a meeting with senior officials from DDA and the state government. Three-Phase ProjectThe corridor will be constructed in three phases over three years. The first phase will stretch from the old Yamuna railway bridge to NH-24, the second phase from NH-24 to Kalindi Kunj Yamuna Biodiversity Park, and the third phase from Wazirabad Yamuna Barrage back to the old railway bridge. The corridor will run along both banks of the Yamuna, offering cyclists a scenic and eco-friendly route. Clearances and ApprovalsOfficials confirmed th...

New Delhi: In a dramatic early morning operation, Delhi Police conducted an encounter resulting in the arrest of Ankit, a notorious gangster associated with the Bhau gang. The incident unfolded on a city street, and visuals from the scene show over ten police personnel present, highlighting the seriousness of the operation. Encounter DetailsAnkit, who sustained injuries during the encounter, was taken into police custody. Authorities believe that his interrogation could reveal crucial information about gang activities. Videos from the scene show a motorcycle lying on the road, with Delhi Police and FSL teams nearby, underlining the intensity of the operation. Bhau Gang’s BackgroundThe Bhau gang traces its roots to Himanshu Bhau, a resident of Ritouli village in Rohtak district, Harya...

New Delhi: Artificial Intelligence (AI) is set to play a significant role in India’s Parliament, potentially transforming the way members communicate across languages. Sources have revealed to Maharashtra Times that many MPs in the Lok Sabha now deliver spontaneous speeches rather than reading prepared statements. This shift had earlier delayed the introduction of AI-assisted translation in the Rajya Sabha. However, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has now given the green light for using AI in the Simultaneous Interpretation Service (SIS). AI to Support Real-Time TranslationCurrently, every seat in the Parliament galleries is equipped with small earpieces, allowing MPs to hear speeches in Hindi, English, and multiple regional languages through simultaneous interpretation. The plan now is to i...

New Delhi: The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) is facing an unprecedented challenge as the city’s daily waste generation has surged dramatically over the past few months. Until April 2025, Delhi produced around 11,300 tons of waste per day. However, starting May 2025, this figure has skyrocketed, and by October 2025, daily garbage output had crossed a staggering 136,550 tons. MCD Zones Under StrainThe increase is being observed across all 12 MCD zones and 250 wards. Currently, the MCD can effectively manage only 11,300 tons of daily waste. Of the total waste, approximately 7,000 metric tons are being processed or disposed of using various methods. The remainder is being sent to landfill sites, as the corporation has no alternative disposal options. Among the 12 zones, eight a...

New Delhi: The United Nations (UN) has revealed in its latest report that the world has become predominantly urban, with 81% of the global population now residing in cities. This marks a significant rise from 2018, when only 55% of people lived in urban areas, highlighting the rapid pace of urbanization. Urban Population Set to Rise Further by 2050According to the UN’s World Urbanization Prospects 2025 report, 45% of the urban population now lives in large cities, while 36% resides in towns. Consequently, the population living exclusively in villages has dwindled to just 19%. Projections indicate that by 2050, around 83% of the world’s population will live in urban areas. Key Drivers of UrbanizationThe report identifies two main reasons behind this urban shift: Mass Migration: Mi...