The Delhi government, led by the BJP, is considering a ban on car-wash soaps and detergents as part of its broader initiative to clean the Yamuna River, a key election promise made earlier this year. The move, aimed at reducing the toxic load in untreated wastewater entering the river, could come into effect in the coming months.

Before implementing the ban, the government will launch a citywide awareness campaign to educate citizens about the environmental impact of washing cars on paved surfaces. Soapy water mixed with dirt, grease, and oil from car washing typically runs into storm drains that often lead directly to the Yamuna or its tributaries without any treatment, worsening the river’s condition.

Delhi Water Minister Parvesh Verma stated, “Cleaning the Yamuna is our prime responsibility, and we will deliver on the promise we made to the people of Delhi. For Yamuna Maiyaa, we will take every step, big or small. Banning car-wash products is one of the plans we are deliberating and will implement in the city.”

Ban to reduce river toxicity

Banning car-wash chemicals would cut down pollutants that contribute to eutrophication and harm aquatic life in the Yamuna. Since a major portion of the capital’s wastewater merges into the river, reducing chemical runoff is expected to bring about noticeable improvement in water quality.

New car-wash centres with treatment facilities

To provide alternatives and ensure the public’s cooperation, the government plans to open dedicated car wash centres in selected areas, equipped with sewage treatment plants (STPs). These centres will offer car washing services at nominal rates, and the wastewater will be treated before release.

The plan involves using land owned by the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) to construct multi-level setups — with car wash services on the upper floors and STPs on the ground level. The aim is to reduce direct pollution while maintaining convenience for vehicle owners.

Outreach and enforcement

The government will produce documentaries on Yamuna’s historical significance and past purity, to be shown to the public as part of the outreach effort. Later phases of the plan include deploying CCTV cameras and enforcement teams to monitor violations and ensure compliance.

The Assam State Board has announced the cancellation of all Class 11 examinations scheduled from March 24 to 29. This decision affects 36 subjects and comes in light of multiple reports of question paper leaks, as stated by Education Minister Ranoj Pegu.

Previously, a leak of the Higher Secondary first-year Mathematics paper, which was set for March 21, prompted officials to cancel that exam and file a police report. The Class 11 examinations had commenced on March 6 and were originally slated to conclude on March 29.

Minister Pegu confirmed via a post on X that due to allegations of question paper leaks and breaches of protocol, the remaining exams for the Higher Secondary First Year Examination 2025 have been cancelled. He indicated that a board meeting on Monday, March 24, would determine the future course of action regarding the exam schedule.

In a follow-up post, Pegu detailed that the Mathematics paper leak was traced back to 18 schools—three of which were government institutions—that improperly opened the security seal a day prior to the exam. As a consequence, the Assam State School Education Board (ASSEB) has suspended the affiliations of 15 private schools across 10 districts for this violation, with further action pending against three more institutions for similar infractions.

Additionally, the state government intends to press charges against the implicated schools, which have been barred from enrolling Class 11 students for the 2025-26 academic year. Pegu noted that police complaints will be filed, following the ASSEB’s directives issued by Ranjan Kumar Das, the Controller of Examinations (in-charge). Reports indicated that some institutions unsealed the Mathematics exam packets on March 20, despite the exam scheduled for the afternoon of March 21.

The ASSEB order also raised concerns that the potential for leaks might extend to the remaining subjects, as these question papers remain in custody at various examination centers across the state. Consequently, the remaining exams from March 24 to March 29 have been officially cancelled.

Das further informed PTI that an FIR has been lodged at the CID Headquarters in Guwahati, with additional cases expected to be filed at local police stations regarding the involved educational institutions.

While acknowledging that not all centers may have contributed to the leaks, he assured that a thorough investigation would pinpoint the culprits responsible for the dissemination of leaked papers on social media. Previously, a similar incident led to the cancellation of the Class 9 English annual exam in Barpeta district after the question paper surfaced online.

A 20-year-old Dalit man, Sangam Lal Gautam, was allegedly attacked, abused with casteist slurs, and held hostage after his bike collided with another two-wheeler in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, earlier this month, police confirmed on Sunday.

The incident occurred on March 10 when Sangam Lal was riding his bike home to Handia and met with an accident near Berwa Paharpur, where Rishabh Pandey, who was reportedly driving in the wrong direction, collided with him, causing injuries.

Superintendent of Police Abhimanyu Manglik said that once the group came to know of Sangam Lal’s caste, Rishabh Pandey, his father Pawan Pandey, and 10 unidentified men began verbally abusing him with casteist slurs. They allegedly accused him of riding under the influence and physically assaulted him.

Following the attack, Sangam Lal was allegedly held hostage, with the accused demanding ₹20,000 for damage to their bike. He was able to inform his father, Narayan Das Gautam, after several hours, who then contacted the emergency services.

Police rescued the victim and admitted him to a community health centre for treatment. Acting on a complaint filed on March 22, a case has been registered at Koirauna police station under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

The SP confirmed that an investigation is currently underway to identify and apprehend all those involved.