Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge was on Monday formally reappointed as the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Rajya Sabha after taking oath as a member of the Upper House following his re-election.

Kharge’s previous term as a Rajya Sabha member ended on June 25. Following his re-election to the Upper House from Karnataka, Rajya Sabha Chairman C P Radhakrishnan accorded recognition to him as the Leader of Opposition with effect from June 26.

The Congress veteran took oath as a Rajya Sabha member in the Chairman’s chamber on Monday. The oath ceremony marked the beginning of his fresh term in the Upper House.

Recognition effective from June 26

According to a bulletin issued by Rajya Sabha Secretary-General P C Mody, Kharge ceased to hold the office of Leader of Opposition after the expiry of his earlier Rajya Sabha term on June 25. Following his re-election, he was once again recognised as the Leader of Opposition under the provisions of the Salary and Allowances of Leaders of Opposition in Parliament Act, 1977.

Kharge had earlier been elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha from Karnataka during the recent biennial elections to the Upper House.

As June comes to an end, many customers are wondering whether banks across the country are open on June 29, 2026. According to the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) holiday calendar, bank operations will not be affected nationwide, but branches in some states will remain closed due to local holidays.

Banks closed in these states on June 29

Banks will remain shut in Himachal Pradesh on Monday, June 29, on account of Sant Guru Kabir Jayanti. In addition, bank branches in Mizoram will remain closed to observe Remna Ni, a regional public holiday.

However, bank branches in most other states and Union Territories are expected to function normally as June 29 is not a nationwide banking holiday.

Will online banking services remain available?

Even when physical branches remain closed, customers can continue using digital banking facilities. Services such as internet banking, mobile banking, UPI transactions, ATM withdrawals and cash deposits at ATMs will remain operational.

Customers planning to visit a bank branch are advised to check with their local branch beforehand, as holiday schedules may vary depending on the state and local observances.

A second cloudburst within a week has triggered widespread flooding and landslides in parts of Arunachal Pradesh, prompting district authorities to issue travel advisories and urge residents to avoid non-essential journeys.

Torrential monsoon rains accompanied by cloudbursts have severely affected the East Siang and Leparada districts, damaging road infrastructure and disrupting connectivity in several areas. According to local authorities, multiple key road links in East Siang district have either been blocked or washed away due to incessant rainfall.

Several road links damaged

The worst damage has been reported on the Pasighat-Runne-Takilalug Road, where sections of the route have been extensively affected. Landslides and overflowing streams have also rendered several other roads unsafe for vehicular movement. Authorities have deployed heavy machinery and emergency teams to clear debris and restore connectivity at the earliest.

Officials have advised people to undertake travel only if absolutely necessary and to remain alert, particularly in landslide-prone stretches. Residents have also been asked to closely follow official weather updates and district advisories.

The latest weather-related disruption comes days after flash floods and landslides caused extensive damage in Keyi Panyor district, where rescue and relief operations are still underway following heavy rainfall earlier this week.

Meteorological forecasts indicate the possibility of continued heavy rainfall across parts of Arunachal Pradesh, raising concerns over further flooding and landslides in vulnerable regions.