The persistent heatwave gripping Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) is expected to ease down as changing weather conditions promise sudden relief. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast a drop in temperatures alongside incoming thunderstorms and rain across the northern plains.

Thunderstorms and rain predicted for Delhi NCR

According to the weather department, Delhi’s maximum temperature is expected to settle around 43 degrees Celsius, while the minimum is likely to hover near 29 degrees Celsius. The afternoon and evening hours are expected to witness light to very light rainfall, accompanied by strong winds and squalls moving at speeds of 50-60 kmph.

A more drastic change in weather conditions is anticipated on May 29, when maximum temperatures could drop sharply to around 36 degrees Celsius, with minimums decreasing to about 26 degrees Celsius. The region is likely to witness thunderstorms, lightning, rain, and squalls with wind speeds ranging between 40-50 kmph. This cooler trend is predicted to continue through May 30 and 31, keeping the maximum temperatures locked around 35-36 degrees Celsius.

Scorching temperatures persist across northern and central India

Before the arrival of these rains, severe heatwave conditions continued to scorch several parts of the country. Media reports indicate that Banda in Uttar Pradesh recorded a maximum temperature of 47.8 degrees Celsius, followed closely by Prayagraj at 46.4 degrees Celsius and Jhansi at 46 degrees Celsius. The states of Haryana, Chandigarh, and Delhi also registered daytime temperatures ranging between 45 and 46 degrees Celsius.

In Rajasthan, cities like Pilani saw temperatures touch 47 degrees Celsius, while Sri Ganganagar recorded readings 5.5 degrees above normal. Meanwhile, Maharashtra’s Vidarbha region experienced marginal relief, though temperatures remained high around 45 to 46 degrees Celsius. In Nagpur, the intense heatwave conditions led to 11 suspected heatstroke deaths within a 24-hour period.

Southwest monsoon advancement and safety advisories

On a national level, the IMD stated that environmental conditions are turning favorable for the further advance of the southwest monsoon into parts of the Arabian Sea, Lakshadweep, and the Bay of Bengal. Since India relies heavily on the monsoon for its annual rainfall, farming, and drinking water, its timely progression remains critical.

Amidst these soaring temperatures, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged the public to take necessary precautions. In a statement shared on social media, he advised citizens to stay hydrated, carry water when stepping out, and offer assistance to those working under the sun to combat the harsh summer heat.

The political landscape in Karnataka is witnessing intense developments as Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has reportedly expressed his unwillingness to accept a Rajya Sabha berth or transition into a national role in New Delhi. According to sources familiar with the discussions, the veteran leader prefers to remain active within state politics and continue his tenure as an MLA rather than shifting his focus to the national capital.

High command pushes for transition

This revelation comes on the heels of marathon high-level meetings convened by the Congress leadership in Delhi to address the ongoing leadership discussions in Karnataka. Insiders state that the party central leadership has backed Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar to take over the top post, in line with internal understandings following the 2023 assembly elections.

To facilitate a smooth leadership transition in the state, the high command offered Siddaramaiah a parliamentary seat in the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections alongside a prominent national role. However, sources indicate that the Chief Minister has rejected this proposal and requested more time to deliberate on his next steps.

Official stance downplays leadership shift

Publicly, senior party leaders have sought to quell rumors regarding an immediate change of guard. Following a lengthy deliberation at the party headquarters, General Secretary K.C. Venugopal stated to the media that the discussions were exclusively centered around selecting candidates for the upcoming Rajya Sabha and Legislative Council seats in Karnataka. He dismissed reports of an imminent chief ministerial swap as mere speculation.

Siddaramaiah also echoed this sentiment when questioned by journalists, emphatically denying that any leadership changes were debated during the official meeting. Despite these denials, political circles remain abuzz, as the Chief Minister has reportedly met with cabinet ministers and loyalists to discuss the evolving situation before returning to Bengaluru.

The West Bengal government has officially notified the rollout of the ‘Annapurna Yojana,’ a welfare initiative aimed at providing assured monthly financial assistance of Rs 3,000 to women across the state. Introduced by the Department of Women and Child Development and Social Welfare, the scheme is structured to foster the socio-economic upliftment of women and will officially come into effect on June 1, 2026.

Under this new initiative, financial benefits will be transferred directly into the Aadhaar-linked bank accounts of qualified beneficiaries using the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system.

Strict eligibility criteria outlined

According to the official government notification, specific guidelines have been established to determine eligibility for the monthly cash assistance:

• Target Age Group: Eligible women must be between 25 and 60 years of age.
• Employment Status: Applicants must not hold permanent government employment or receive a regular salary or pension from the central government, state government, statutory bodies, panchayats, municipalities, local bodies, or government-aided educational institutions.
• Tax Criteria: Women who are income tax payers are excluded from the scheme.

Automatic migration and scrutiny rules

The new order clarifies that all current beneficiaries of the erstwhile Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme will be automatically migrated to the Annapurna Yojana. However, the transition involves a rigorous filtering process. Individuals identified as deceased, shifted, deleted, or recorded as absentee electors during the SIR-2026 exercise or voter slip distribution will be systematically excluded from the beneficiary list.

On the other hand, individuals who have filed appeals before the SIR Tribunal or submitted applications under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act will continue to receive financial assistance until their applications are legally resolved by authorities.

Application process for new beneficiaries

For fresh applicants, a dedicated online portal for the Annapurna Yojana will be launched on June 1, 2026. To ensure transparency, all new applications will undergo a strict multi-tier verification process by designated local administrative officials:

• Rural Areas: Block Development Officers (BDOs) will manage the verification and inquiries.
• Urban Areas: Sub-Divisional Officers (SDOs) will oversee the process.
• Kolkata: Officials of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) will handle applications within their jurisdiction.

Following field inquiries, verified reports will be uploaded directly to the digital portal. The respective District Magistrates and the KMC Commissioner will serve as the final sanctioning authorities in their corresponding jurisdictions to approve the disbursement of funds.