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Covid-19 lockdown: Uttar Pradesh government issues fresh guidelines, only 25 people allowed in weddings, other functions

In a letter to district officials, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Awanish Awasthi said permission will be given for participation of maximum 25 invitees at a time for wedding and other functions, both in open and enclosed places, news agency PTI reported.

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The Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday issued new guidelines, restricting the number people in weddings and other events during the ongoing lockdown. According to the new directives, a minimum of 25 people will be permitted in weddings and other functions. The government has imposed lockdown in the state to curb the spread of the Covid-19 infection.

In a letter to district officials, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Awanish Awasthi said permission will be given for participation of maximum 25 invitees at a time for wedding and other functions, both in open and enclosed places, news agency PTI reported. 

The directive read that the organisers have to make sure that attendees follow Covid-19 appropriate behaviour, while strict social distancing has to be complied with while making seating arrangements. Proper arrangements have to be made for sanitation and cleanliness of toilets at the venue where the function is being organised.

In an earlier order issued by the government on April 20, a maximum of 50 people were allowed in enclosed places and 100 in open places for weddings. 

The government has extended the partial curfew till may 24.

As per the official order, all shops and establishments are required to remain closed in containment zones. However, all essential services will be exempted from the Covid-19 restrictions and the vaccination drive will continue.

Outside containment zones, grocery shops, and shops selling daily essentials such as milk and vegetables can function. Pharmacies and shops selling surgical instruments will not come under the purview of the order.

Read Also: Arvind Kejriwal urges Centre to scrap flights to and from Singapore, says Covid strain dangerous for children

Though the government has said those searching for medicines and oxygen will not be stopped, it has already introduced an e-pass system.

However, Uttar Pradesh reported 8,737 fresh cases of Covid-19 infections on Tuesday, taking the caseload of the state to 16,37,663. The death toll stands at 18,072 after reporting 255 deaths yesterday, Additional Chief Secretary (Health) Amit Mohan Prasad said. 

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Ram Temple donation theft case chargesheet filed, trustees not named

A chargesheet has been filed in the Ram Temple donation-theft case in Ayodhya. The temple trust’s trustees have not been named as accused.

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A chargesheet has been filed in the case involving alleged theft of donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. The chargesheet, however, does not name the trustees of the temple trust as accused.

The development comes after an investigation into several instances of alleged theft of donations at the temple complex. The probe had examined CCTV footage and other evidence related to the incidents.

Chargesheet filed in donation theft case

The chargesheet has been submitted against those accused in connection with the alleged theft of donations at the Ram Temple.

Importantly, the trustees of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust have not been named as accused in the chargesheet.

The investigation had focused on incidents in which donations were allegedly stolen from the temple premises. CCTV footage was examined as part of the probe into the reported thefts.

Investigation into 105 theft incidents

An earlier investigation had identified 105 instances of alleged donation theft through CCTV footage. The probe examined the incidents and the people allegedly involved in them.

The case had also led to arrests of accused persons named in the FIR. The investigation subsequently examined the role of individuals connected with the incidents.

The filing of the chargesheet marks a further step in the criminal proceedings related to the alleged theft of donations at the Ram Temple.

Trustees not named as accused

The chargesheet does not name the temple trust’s trustees as accused. This distinction is significant because the filing concerns the individuals against whom the investigating agency has proceeded in the case.

The chargesheet will now form part of the legal proceedings, while the matter will be dealt with through the appropriate judicial process.

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9 Killed, several injured as tourist bus catches fire in Greater Noida

Nine people were killed and several others injured after a sleeper tourist bus travelling from Delhi to Mahoba caught fire on the Yamuna Expressway in Greater Noida.

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Nine people were killed and several others injured after a sleeper tourist bus caught fire on the Yamuna Expressway in Greater Noida on Thursday, according to reports.

The bus was travelling from Delhi to Mahoba in Uttar Pradesh when the fire broke out. It was carrying around 30 to 35 passengers at the time of the incident.

Bus catches fire on Yamuna Expressway

The incident took place near Dayanatpur village on the Yamuna Expressway in Greater Noida. The blaze engulfed the sleeper bus, prompting passengers to try to escape as the fire spread.

Several passengers reportedly jumped through the windows to get out of the burning vehicle. Nine people died in the incident, while several others sustained injuries and were taken to hospitals for treatment.

The exact cause of the fire had not been established at the time of reporting.

Bus was travelling from Delhi to Mahoba

The sleeper bus was travelling from Delhi towards Mahoba in Uttar Pradesh and had approximately 30 to 35 passengers onboard.

The incident occurred late Wednesday night, with the fire breaking out while the bus was on the Yamuna Expressway in the Greater Noida area.

Authorities are looking into the circumstances surrounding the fire. Further details about the cause of the blaze and the injured passengers are awaited.

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LPG Aadhaar authentication mandatory for subsidy from October 1

Biometric Aadhaar authentication will be required for subsidised domestic LPG refills from October 1. Here is what changes for consumers who have and have not completed the process.

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Biometric Aadhaar authentication will become a requirement for domestic LPG consumers seeking to book refills at the regulated retail selling price with applicable subsidy from October 1, 2026.

The government has said the measure is aimed at ensuring that subsidised LPG reaches eligible households and at preventing the diversion of subsidised domestic cylinders for commercial and industrial use.

What changes from October 1

Consumers who have already completed biometric Aadhaar authentication will not have to repeat the process. Their LPG refills will continue as before.

For consumers who have not completed the authentication, refill booking at the regulated price with subsidy will be enabled after the authentication is completed.

As of September 19, 2026, 27.43 crore active domestic LPG consumers, or 89.9 per cent of the total, had completed biometric Aadhaar authentication, according to the Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry.

How to complete Aadhaar authentication

Consumers who have not yet completed the process can do so through several channels.

Authentication can be completed during LPG delivery, at the distributor’s showroom or through the mobile applications of the three state-owned oil marketing companies.

Indane customers can use IndianOil ONE, Bharatgas customers can use HelloBPCL, while HP Gas customers can use HP PAY.

What if consumers do not complete authentication

The government has clarified that consumers who are unwilling or unable to complete biometric Aadhaar authentication can still receive LPG.

However, they will have to register their choice through the available digital channels of their oil marketing company, such as its consumer portal, mobile app, WhatsApp chatbot or IVRS.

Such consumers will be supplied LPG at the applicable market price without subsidy, in 5-kg or 10-kg cylinders, subject to local availability.

Why the government is introducing the requirement

According to the Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry, linking each LPG connection to an Aadhaar-authenticated consumer is intended to prevent diversion of subsidised domestic cylinders and remove duplicate or ineligible connections.

The government has also said the measure is intended to make subsidy delivery more targeted and transparent.

Authentication deadline and progress

Consumers were initially asked to complete biometric Aadhaar authentication by June 30, 2026. The deadline was subsequently extended several times, with September 14 being the final extended deadline mentioned by the ministry.

The nationwide authentication drive has been underway since October 2023. The government said more than 12 crore SMS and WhatsApp messages had been sent as part of the outreach campaign.

The government has urged consumers who have not yet completed the process to do so before October 1.

LPG Aadhaar authentication becomes mandatory for subsidised domestic LPG refills from October 1. Consumers who have already completed biometric authentication need not do it again. Those who haven’t can still get LPG, but at the applicable market price without subsidy.

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