Fears of harsh treatment, including internment, and tough border legislations under the Donald Trump administration seem to have brought down illegal immigration from India to the United States by almost 69 per cent from the peak recorded in 2023, according to the latest data released by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The figures indicate a significant decline in irregular migration through the US land borders.

Trump and his Make America Great Again (MAGA) support base have advocated tougher measures against illegal immigrants such as roving Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel who have picked up immigrants and detain them in camps. ICE personnel have killed several Americans too in the mindless drive against immigrants.

CBP data, which follows the US fiscal year (October to September), shows authorities recorded 20,614 encounters with Indian migrants between October 2025 and May 2026. During the corresponding period in FY2023, when illegal migration from India reached its highest level, the number of encounters stood at 67,212. The latest figures are also lower than the nearly 29,000 encounters recorded during the same period in FY2025.

The sharpest decline has been recorded along the US-Mexico border, where encounters involving Indian migrants fell by nearly 99 per cent, from 30,109 during the October-May period of FY2023 to 417 in FY2026. At the US-Canada border, encounters dropped to 2,250, marking a 91 per cent decline from the comparable period in FY2024.

Migration experts said the decline comes amid tighter US immigration measures, stricter border enforcement and reduced expectations of securing asylum through illegal entry routes. Experts also noted that the high financial cost and risks associated with irregular migration have discouraged many prospective migrants from attempting the journey.

Despite the decline, Indian nationals continue to account for a significant share of migrants intercepted at US land borders, says CBP. Officials from both India and the United States have repeatedly urged people to avoid illegal migration routes and instead use authorised visa and immigration channels.

India’s banking services will remain partially affected on Thursday, July 16, as banks in select states are closed to observe regional festivals, according to the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) holiday calendar for the financial year 2026-27.

Customers in most parts of the country can continue to access banking services as usual, while branches in Odisha, Uttarakhand and Manipur will remain shut for local celebrations.

Banks closed today in these states

Banks will remain closed on July 16 in the following states:

• Odisha – Rath Yatra
• Uttarakhand – Harela
• Manipur – Kang festival

Apart from these states, bank branches across the rest of India are expected to function normally.

How does RBI decide bank holidays?

The Reserve Bank of India prepares a state-wise holiday calendar covering national, religious and regional occasions. Since several festivals are celebrated only in specific states, bank holidays may differ from one region to another.

In addition to these notified holidays, banks across the country remain closed on the second and fourth Saturdays of every month, as well as on all Sundays.

When is the next bank holiday?

According to the RBI’s holiday schedule, the next notified bank holiday falls on July 17, 2026, in Sikkim to mark the Death Anniversary of U Tirot Singh.

Customers are advised to check the holiday schedule applicable to their respective state before planning a visit to a bank branch.

Will online banking services remain available?

Although physical bank branches may remain closed in the affected states, customers can continue using digital banking services. Mobile banking, internet banking, UPI transactions, ATM withdrawals and other online banking facilities are expected to remain available, enabling uninterrupted access to essential financial services.

The Union Cabinet has approved two major elevated corridor projects worth nearly Rs 25,000 crore in Varanasi, marking a major infrastructure initiatives for the holy city in recent years. The Ganga Corridor and Varuna Corridor are expected to improve urban mobility, reduce congestion and support the growing number of tourists and pilgrims visiting the city every year.

The projects are aimed at creating faster road connectivity while also strengthening tourism infrastructure in one of India’s oldest and most significant spiritual destinations.

Ganga Elevated Corridor to reduce travel time

The larger project, the 46-km six-lane Ganga Elevated Corridor, will connect NH-19 with the Varanasi Ring Road through an alignment along the Ganga river.

Developed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), the elevated corridor is designed to divert traffic away from congested city roads while minimising disruption to existing settlements.

According to the project plan, the corridor is expected to increase average travel speeds to nearly 100 kmph, significantly reducing travel time on the route from around 60 minutes to approximately 20 minutes.

Apart from improving connectivity, the project also focuses on tourism. Plans include a cable-stayed bridge that could become a new landmark for Varanasi, along with dedicated viewpoints and visitor spaces overlooking the Ganga and its ghats.

The project covers several villages, including Samne, Domri, Sirgovardhanpur, Chhitupur, Kila Kohna, Korauta, Ramnagar, Bhagwanpur, Sujabad, Nagwa, Nadesar and Varidpur. Authorities have halted land sale and purchase activities in these villages as part of the project process.

Varuna Corridor to improve access from neighbouring districts

The Cabinet has also approved the 43.2-km Varuna Elevated Corridor, estimated to cost around Rs 11,000 crore.

The project will connect NH-31 with the Varanasi Ring Road along the Varuna river through a network of elevated roads, flyovers, ramps, loops and link roads to improve movement across the city.

A key feature is a 21-km elevated section extending from near Harahua to the confluence of the Varuna and Ganga rivers near Namo Ghat.

The four-lane corridor is expected to provide direct access for travellers arriving from Lucknow, Jaunpur and Prayagraj, allowing them to reach Namo Ghat without entering congested city roads. Pilgrims will then be able to travel by boat to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, helping reduce traffic pressure in central Varanasi.

Part of the project will pass through approximately 2.56 acres of land under the Cantonment Board, for which approval from the Ministry of Defence was required.

The Varuna Corridor alignment includes villages such as Kuduhana, Rustampur, Parshurampur, Sarai, Piran, Baragaon Pratham, Chhapri, Loharapur, Raniyapur, Chhitauni, Korauta, Kila Kohna, Inderpur, Sirista, Chauka, Jetupur, Kazi Sarsaulpur, Atharpur, Makdoompur, Bhatke, Karanjapur and Katesar in Sadar tehsil.

Projects planned as tourist numbers continue to rise

The approval comes as Varanasi continues to witness a sharp increase in tourist and pilgrim arrivals. According to the information shared, the city now receives nearly 15 crore visitors annually, increasing the need for stronger transport infrastructure to manage traffic efficiently.

The government expects the two corridor projects to improve accessibility while supporting the city’s long-term urban development and tourism growth.

Industry experts see wider economic benefits

Industry representatives have welcomed the projects, saying their impact could extend beyond transport improvements.

Aman Gupta, Director of RPS Group, said the Ganga and Varuna Corridor projects represent an integrated approach to urban development by combining connectivity, tourism and public infrastructure. He said better connectivity often encourages investment, employment generation and real estate development.

Gupta also noted that infrastructure-led development has produced similar outcomes in the National Capital Region, citing projects such as the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, Metro expansion, Jewar International Airport and the proposed Faridabad-Noida-Ghaziabad Expressway.

Meanwhile, Manoj Kumar Garg, Chairman of NorthWind Estates, said the corridors could strengthen Varanasi’s position as a global spiritual, cultural and tourism destination while supporting economic growth through sectors such as hospitality, retail, commercial real estate and employment.

He added that Uttar Pradesh’s ambition of becoming a $1 trillion economy would receive support from continued investments in infrastructure, including expressways, airports and urban development projects that encourage private investment and improve ease of doing business.