India News
Big Stories Today: Petrol, diesel prices to be cut by Rs 5, 10 from tomorrow, WHO okays Covaxin, Pakistan refuses airspace for Srinagar-Sharjah flights

Central government on Wednesday announced the reduction of excise duty on petrol and diesel. from tomorrow onwards the prices of petrol and diesel will be reduced by Rs 5 and 10, respevtively.
Afghanistan win toss, opt to field first against India in Abu Dhabi
In the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 between India and Afghanistan, Afghanistan win toss and opt to field first.
The India vs Afghanistan T20 WC 2021 match is taking place at Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi from 7.30 pm IST. Its a must-win game for team India, who are yet to win their first match in the tournament. Afghanistan has registered two wins so far. India, to keep their hopes alive of reaching the semi-finals, will have to register a win against Afghanistan tonight.
PM Modi to spend Diwali with Army jawans in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri
Sticking to the tradition, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to visit the border outposts area of Nowshera sector in Jammu & Kashmir’s Rajouri.
WHO approves Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin for emergency use
Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin has got WHO approval on Wednesday as the technical advisory team has recommended the India-made vaccine for emergency use listing for 18 years and above. This marks a major victory for India’s journey in vaccination against Covid-19.
Centre releases Rs 17,000 crores GST compensation to states
The Central Government has released GST Compensation of Rs. 17,000 crore to States today.
The total amount of compensation released to the States/UTs so far including the aforesaid amount during the year 2021-22 is Rs. 60,000 crore.
Delhi’s air quality turns very poor day ahead of Diwali
The air quality in Delhi deteriorated as it entered the very poor category for the first time this season. The Air Quality Index (AQI) of the city was reported 316 on Wednesday afternoon.
Delhi’s neighbouring cities — Faridabad (310), Ghaziabad (334) and Noida (316) — also recorded very poor air quality. Before this, the highest AQI of the season recorded in Delhi was 298 in the poor category on October 17.
Sensex ends Samvat 2077 on weak note, slips 257 points to settle below 60,000
The benchmark indices on the Bombay Stock Exchange and National Stock Exchange (NSE) ended the last day of Samvat 2077 year on a negative note, slipping over a quarter per cent on Wednesday weighed by weakness in banking and automobile stocks amid a negative trend in global markets ahead of the policy outcome of the US Federal Reserve.
Pakistan’s Babar Azam becomes No. 1 batsman in ICC T20 rankings
Pakistan captain Babar Azam’s two successive half-centuries in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 have helped him overtake England’s Dawid Malan and grab the top position for batters in the ICC Men’s T20I Player Rankings.
Delhi High Court restrains heads of nine institutes of Jawaharlal Nehru University from taking major decisions
The Delhi High Court has restrained the heads of nine JNU centres from taking any major decisions and said that their appointment by the university’s Vice-Chancellor was prima facie without any authority.
High court stated that the Vice-Chancellor is not vested with the power to appoint Chairpersons of Centres or Special Centres as the JNU statute confers the power of appointment on the Executive Council.
Delhi’s air quality a day before Diwali best in 5 years, says Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai
Environment Minister Gopal Rai said on Wednesday that the air quality in the national capital a day before Diwali is the best in 5 years.
Earlier he said, Delhi Police and sub-divisional magistrates have been asked by the Delhi Government to keep a round-the-clock vigil to prevent the sale, purchase, and bursting of firecrackers on Diwali, with a special focus on border areas.
Pakistan refuses use of its airspace for Srinagar-Sharjah flights
Pakistan has once again declined the use of its airspace for flights from Jammu and Kashmir’s Srinagar to Sharjah.
Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah called the move very unfortunate and tweeted: “Pakistan did the same thing with the Air India Express flight from Srinagar to Dubai in 2009-2010. I had hoped that Go First being permitted to overfly Pak airspace was indicative of a thaw in relations, but alas, that wasn’t to be.”
Tamil Nadu government declares holiday for schools in 15 districts
Tamil Nadu government has declared a holiday for schools in 20 districts on Wednesday to avoid accidents caused by water stagnation amid the prediction of heavy rainfall by the Indian Meteorological Department.
Schools in Chengalpet, Kancheepuram, Thiruvallur, Villupuram, Kallakurichi, Ranipet, Trichy, Ariyalur, Namakkal Cuddalore, Mayiladuthurai, Vellore, and Karur will be closed today.
PM Modi holds meeting with districts having low Covid vaccination coverage
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday held a review meeting with district magistrates of over 40 districts having low Covid-19 vaccination coverage.
The meeting, being held via video conferencing, includes districts with less than 50 per cent coverage of the first dose and low coverage of the second dose of vaccine.
Delhi CM Kejriwal urges people to follow Covid-19 protocols ahead of Diwali
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal extended his greetings for Diwali to all the citizens of Delhi, and on this occasion announced a new web portal to take local business globally.
Kejriwal said that last year, the Covid-19 virus spread rapidly during the festival season, and asked people to be extra cautious this year.
Delhi Police arrest 2 with heroin worth Rs 18 crore
Delhi Police on Wednesday arrested two drug smugglers with 6 kg of heroin worth Rs 18 crores from Delhi.
Delhi Police had launched a special anti-drug enforcement drive under Operation Spider. The two accused–Asim and Varun–were arrested in this operation after the officials received information related to a drug mafia.
The police said that the accused had found a new way to produce drugs. Drug plants were set up in the house itself. These drugs were then supplied all over India, including Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi and Punjab.
Tripura police file five criminal cases against 71 persons for alleged fake and provocative posts on vandalism of a mosque
The Tripura Police on Wednesday morning registered five criminal cases against 71 people for allegedly posting provocative and fake posts on social media.
Tripura Police in a Facebook post Appealed to people to stay away from spreading fake news and rumours, the police have also warned that strict action would be taken against those trying to create hatred in the society.
10,000 EV charging stations in the next three years, says OIL chairperson SM Vaidya
Oil India Limited chairperson SM Vaidya said that 10,000 electric vehicles charging stations will be set up in next three years.
2000 electric vehicle charging stations will be established in the next 12 months and another 8000 in the next two years to achieve target of 10,000 EV charging stations in the next three years, h3e said.
India News
Gorakhnath temple attack convict sentenced to death by NIA court
Gorakhnath temple attack convict Ahmad Murtaza Abbasi was sentenced to death, Monday, by a special anti-terror court.

Gorakhnath temple attack convict Ahmad Murtaza Abbasi was sentenced to death, Monday, by a special anti-terror court.
A report quoting Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order), Prashan Kumar, said that Abbasi was awarded the death penalty under Section 121 of the Indian Penal Code by a special NIA court for attacking security personnel stationed at Gorakhnath temple in Uttar Pradesh’s Gorakhpur in April last year.
Abbasi, a chemical engineer, was arrested following an attack with a sharp-edged weapon on Uttar Pradesh Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) personnel posted at the Gorakhnath temple.
Read Also: David Warner congratulates Shah Rukh Khan for success of Pathaan, shares hilarious clip | WATCH
Police said that after interrogation, Abbasi revealed he was in cahoots with the Islamic State and had taken an oath to fight for the global terrorist group. They said that Abbasi was also providing financial aid to the terror group’s sympathizers and supporters.
Ahmad Murtaza Abbasi, a resident of Civil Lines area in UP’s Gorakhpur, is an IIT-ian with a degree in chemical engineering from IIT-Mumbai.
According to the police, Abbasi suffered from mental health issues for which he underwent treatment from several doctors and ultimately led to him separating from his wife in 2017.
On April 3 last year, Abbasi tried to force his way inside the Gorakhnath temple, when stopped, he proceeded to attack the security men deployed there with a sickle in which two constables were injured. However, he was overpowered and arrested.
The ATS investigation revealed that the Abbasi’s attack was part of a “deep conspiracy.” The UP Home Department had said the attack could be termed as a terror incident.
Mughal Garden: Opening date, timing, entry price and how to book Amrit Udyan tickets online
India News
Mughal Garden: Opening date, timing, entry price and how to book Amrit Udyan tickets online
Mughal Garden, now renamed Amrit Udyan, at Rashtrapati Bhavan is all set to open for the public from January 31. President Droupadi Murmu on Sunday graced the opening of the gardens of Rashtrapati Bhavan, Udyan Utsav 2023.

Mughal Garden, now renamed Amrit Udyan, at Rashtrapati Bhavan is all set to open for the public from January 31. President Droupadi Murmu on Sunday graced the opening of the gardens of Rashtrapati Bhavan, Udyan Utsav 2023.
Mughal Garden has been renamed to commemorate the 75 years of independence. In keeping with the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav celebration’s theme, the garden has also been given a new name, Amrit Udyan.
Amrit Udyan’s opening and closing date
Amrit Udyan opens once a year to the public. This year, it will remain open for the general public from January 31 to March 26. However, it will be closed on all Mondays and on March 1 and 2 due to G20 meetings and March 8 on the occasion of Holi.
The garden will be accessible to special groups from March 28 to March 31. Amrit Udyan will open for farmers on March 28, people with disabilities on March 29, members of the armed forces, paramilitary groups, and police on March 30, and self-organized groups of tribal women on March 31.
Entry and exit for all visitors will be from gate number 35 of the President’s Estate, close to where North Avenue meets Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Read Also: 32 dead, 147 wounded in suicide bombing at Peshawar mosque
Amrit Udyan timings
People can visit Amrit Udyan during the time period between 10 am and 4 pm.
How to book Amrit Udyan tickets online?
- Go to the official website of Rashtrapati Bhavan at https://rashtrapatisachivalaya.gov.in or https://rb.nic.in/rbvisit/visit_plan.aspx.
- On the homepage, select the option that reads Mughal Garden Visit.
- Enter the required details such as name, date of visit, etc.
- After that, you are required to submit your photo ID.
- Click on the register button.
People can also buy Amrit Udyan tickets offline. Walk-in visitors have to register themselves at the facilitation counters as well as at the self-service kiosk near Gate 12 of Rashtrapati Bhavan. The visitors will have 6 slots to choose from, so it is advised to make prior bookings to avoid rushing at the gate.
The number of guests that can be reserved at once is 30. However, schools and colleges reserve a maximum of 50 at a time.
Amrit Udyan entry/ticket price
There is no fee for the booking of slots or entry to the Gardens of Rashtrapati Bhavan during Udyan Utsav. Visitors must, however, pay Rs 50 to enter Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Rashtrapati Bhavan will be open five days a week from Wednesday to Sunday and the Rashtrapati Bhavan Museum six days a week from Tuesday to Sunday. People can also witness the change of guard ceremony every Saturday, except on gazetted holidays.
Devotees brawl inside Ajmer Sharif shrine, video viral | WATCH
India News
Bank holidays February 2023: Banks to remain shut for 10 days, check dates here
Apart from festivals, banks will also remain shut on the second and fourth Saturdays.

Every month banks across the country remain shut due to festivals and other public and private holidays. In February 2023, both private and public banks will not function for 10 days. However, the holidays differ from state to state.
Festivals like Guru Ravidas Jayanti, Hazrat Ali Jayanti, Maha Shivaratri, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, and others will be celebrated in February which might affect the functioning of banks in several states.
Full list of bank holidays in February 2023
DATE | DAY | HOLIDAY | STATES |
5 February 2023 | Sunday | Hazrat Ali Jayanti | Uttar Pradesh |
5 February 2023 | Sunday | Guru Ravidas Jayanti | Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana & Punjab |
15 February 2023 | Wednesday | Lui-Ngai-Ni | Manipur |
18 February 2023 | Saturday | Maha Shivaratri | Several states of India |
19 February 2023 | Sunday | Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti | Maharashtra |
20 February 2023 | Monday | State Day | Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram |
21 February 2023 | Tuesday | Losar | Sikkim |
Apart from this, banks will also remain shut on the second and fourth Saturdays.
DATE | DAY | HOLIDAY | STATES |
12 February 2023 | Saturday | Second Saturday | All States |
15 February 2023 | Tuesday | Lui-Ngai-Ni | Manipur |
19 February 2023 | Sunday | Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti | Maharashtra |
25 February 2023 | Saturday | Fourth Saturday | All States |
For those unversed, the Reserve Bank of India categorises holidays into three categories-Holiday under the Negotiable Instruments Act and Real-Time Gross Settlement Holidays, Holidays under the Negotiable Instruments Act, and Banks’ Closing of Accounts.
In January 2023, banks across the country will remain shut for 14 days.
Date | Day | Holiday | State |
---|---|---|---|
January 1, 2023 | Sunday | New Year Bank Holiday & Weekend Bank Holiday | All over India |
January 2, 2023 | Monday | New Year Bank Celebration | Mizoram |
January 5, 2023 | Thursday | Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti | Haryana and Rajasthan |
January 8, 2023 | Sunday | Weekend Bank Holiday | All over India |
January 11, 2023 | Wednesday | Missionary Day | Mizoram |
January 14, 2023 | Saturday | Second Saturday Bank Holiday | All over India |
January 15, 2023 | Sunday | Weekend Bank Holiday | All over India |
January 22, 2023 | Sunday | Weekend Bank Holiday | All over India |
January 23, 2023 | Monday | Netaji Subash Chandra Bose Jayanti | Tripura and West Bangal |
January 25, 2023 | Wednesday | State Day | Himachal Pradesh |
January 26, 2023 | Thursday | Republic Day | All over India |
January 28, 2023 | Sunday | Fourth Saturday Bank Holiday | All over India |
January 29, 2023 | Sunday | Weekend Bank Holiday | All over India |
January 31, 2023 | Monday | Me-Dam-Me-Phi | Assam |
IMD predicts more rainfall as mercury dips across Delhi-NCR
-
India News14 hours ago
Bank holidays February 2023: Banks to remain shut for 10 days, check dates here
-
Cricket news15 hours ago
ICC Womens’s U-19 World Cup: Women in Blue celebrate with Kala Chashma dance | WATCH
-
India News16 hours ago
IMD predicts more rainfall as mercury dips across Delhi-NCR
-
India News15 hours ago
Bottle hurled at Kailash Kher during Hampi Utsav concert for not singing Kannada song, two held | WATCH
-
Latest business news15 hours ago
Adani Group holding back India’s future, draped in tricolour while systematically looting nation: Hindenburg
-
LATEST SPORTS NEWS15 hours ago
PM Modi, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and others congratulate Indian Women’s team for winning Under 19 T20 World Cup
-
Trending12 hours ago
Uttar Pradesh: Video of men flaunting weapon in moving car goes viral, internet users demand strict action | WATCH
-
LATEST SPORTS NEWS9 hours ago
Murali Vijay announces retirement from all forms of international cricket