The southwest monsoon is expected to reach Delhi around July 3 or 4, bringing an end to the prolonged spell of hot and humid weather in the national capital, according to weather experts.

Delhi has continued to experience sweltering conditions over the past few days, but meteorologists say atmospheric conditions are becoming increasingly favourable for the monsoon’s arrival across northern India.

According to weather expert Mahesh Palawat, the seasonal monsoon trough currently stretches from Punjab to the north Bay of Bengal. The southwest monsoon has already advanced into many parts of Uttar Pradesh, most areas of Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh, along with additional regions of Madhya Pradesh.

IMD predicts below-normal rainfall during July

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast that the country’s average rainfall during July 2026 is likely to remain below normal.

The weather agency had released its first seasonal forecast for the southwest monsoon covering June to September on April 13 and later updated the outlook on May 29.

Monsoon advances further in Himachal Pradesh

The southwest monsoon continued its advance across Himachal Pradesh, covering the entire Kinnaur district along with most parts of Kullu and Lahaul and Spiti. It has also spread across many areas of Shimla and Mandi districts, besides some parts of Sirmaur and Kangra.

The Shimla Meteorological Centre said conditions remain favourable for the monsoon to cover the remaining parts of the state over the next two to three days.

Between June 1 and June 29, Himachal Pradesh recorded 63.8 mm of rainfall against the normal 95.4 mm, reflecting a rainfall deficit of 33 per cent.

Uttarakhand receives widespread rainfall

The southwest monsoon has also reached most parts of Uttarakhand, bringing widespread rainfall and relief from heat and humidity.

The Dehradun Meteorological Centre said weather conditions are favourable for the monsoon to spread across the remaining parts of the state within the next two to three days.

Among the rainfall recorded on Tuesday, Dehradun received 57.8 mm, Champawat 60 mm, Kalsi 49 mm, and Chakrata 14 mm.

The Gujarat High Court has ruled that registering a marriage alone does not make a Hindu marriage legally valid if the essential customary rites and ceremonies prescribed under Hindu law have not been performed. The court observed that rituals such as saptapadi form the foundation of a valid Hindu marriage and cannot be replaced merely by documentation or registration.

The observation came while deciding an appeal filed by a UK-based man who challenged a family court’s refusal to declare an alleged marriage as void.

Court stresses importance of customary ceremonies

In its order dated June 23, a division bench comprising Justices Ilesh Vora and R.T. Vachhani said Hindu marriage is regarded as a sacrament (samskara) and must be solemnised through the customary rites and ceremonies recognised under the Hindu Marriage Act.

The bench noted that saptapadi—the ritual in which the bride and groom take seven steps together before the sacred fire—is one of the essential ceremonies that gives a Hindu marriage its spiritual, social and legal character.

According to the court, although marriage customs may vary across regions and communities, these ceremonies hold significant religious and cultural value and are believed to spiritually transform the individuals entering the marital union.

Appeal arose from marriage dispute

The appellant, Kaushal Sonar, who resides in the United Kingdom, approached the High Court after a family court dismissed his petition seeking to declare the alleged marriage null and void.

He claimed he became aware of the alleged marriage only after the woman visited his parents and produced a marriage certificate stating that she was his legally wedded wife.

The appellant maintained that no marriage ceremony had ever taken place between them, no Hindu rituals were performed, and the two had never lived together as husband and wife. He further alleged that his signatures on the marriage-related documents had been obtained fraudulently without his free consent.

Family court order set aside

The High Court observed that the woman had admitted before the family court that no marriage rites or ceremonies were performed and that the parties never shared a marital relationship.

In view of this admission, the High Court held that the family court had erred in rejecting the appellant’s plea.

Referring to Section 7 of the Hindu Marriage Act, the bench said a Hindu marriage must be solemnised in accordance with customary rites and ceremonies. Since no such ceremonies had taken place in the present case, the essential legal requirement for a valid Hindu marriage was absent.

Marriage is a sacred institution, says court

The court also made broader observations on the significance of marriage under Hindu law, stating that a wife is regarded as an equal partner and ardhangini while retaining her own independent identity.

It emphasised that marriage is not merely an occasion for celebrations, entertainment or commercial arrangements but a solemn institution that establishes a lifelong, dignified and consensual relationship between two individuals for building a family.

The bench urged young men and women to carefully understand the sanctity and responsibilities associated with marriage before entering into it.

According to the court, customary marriage ceremonies, despite regional and cultural differences, play an important role in giving Hindu marriage its recognised legal, social and spiritual status.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday chaired a high-level meeting with secretaries of various central ministries and departments in New Delhi, bringing together the government’s top bureaucrats for discussions on governance and policy priorities.

According to official sources, the meeting was attended by senior officials from across ministries and departments. While specific details of the discussions were not made public, the deliberations were expected to focus on administrative reforms, policy implementation and measures aimed at improving the ease of doing business.

Such interactions between the Prime Minister and senior bureaucrats are considered important for reviewing the progress of key government initiatives and ensuring coordination among ministries on priority programmes.

The meeting comes at a time when the Centre is continuing to push for faster decision-making, improved governance mechanisms and efficient implementation of flagship schemes across sectors. Senior officials are also expected to align their ministries’ priorities with the government’s broader development agenda.