Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Thursday announced that government offices in the national capital will observe two work-from-home days every week as part of a broader fuel conservation campaign launched after Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged citizens to reduce fuel consumption amid global economic uncertainty.

The measures, which will take effect from Friday, are part of the Delhi government’s “Mera Bharat Mera Yogdan” campaign aimed at promoting sustainable practices, reducing fuel usage and improving energy efficiency across departments.

Under the new policy, ministers, officers and government employees will also participate in a “Monday Metro” initiative, encouraging the use of public transport instead of private vehicles. Citizens have additionally been urged to observe one “No Vehicle Day” every week.

The Delhi government said no new petrol, diesel or electric vehicles would be purchased for the next six months. Officials also announced a one-year halt on official foreign travel for ministers and officers as part of the austerity measures.

The Chief Minister’s convoy has also been reduced to four vehicles, including two electric vehicles, in a move the government described as an effort to encourage cleaner mobility and lower fuel use.

Additional measures include increasing transport allowance for employees by 10%, installing master switches in government offices to reduce electricity wastage, and fixing air-conditioner temperatures between 24 and 26 degrees Celsius.

The government has also requested universities and educational institutions to conduct non-practical classes online to cut travel-related fuel consumption.

Prime Minister Modi had recently appealed to citizens to conserve fuel, use public transport, adopt carpooling and revive work-from-home arrangements wherever possible due to concerns over global supply disruptions and rising fuel prices linked to tensions in West Asia.

The Congress party has announced that V D Satheesan will be the next Chief Minister of Kerala, ending days of speculation over the leadership choice following the United Democratic Front’s (UDF) recent electoral victory.

The decision was taken by the party leadership after internal discussions and comes amid intense lobbying among senior leaders for the top post.

Leadership decision after prolonged suspense

According to reports, the announcement was made after a series of meetings within the Congress high command, which had been deliberating between multiple contenders for the chief minister’s post.

Satheesan, who currently serves as the Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Legislative Assembly, emerged as the final choice after discussions involving senior party leadership in Delhi.

Who is V D Satheesan

V D Satheesan is a senior Congress leader from Kerala and has been one of the party’s most prominent faces in the state. He has served as Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Assembly since 2021 and has represented the Paravur constituency multiple times.

He is widely seen as a key strategist within the Congress-led UDF in Kerala.

Internal competition within Congress

The selection process had reportedly seen competition among several senior leaders, including K C Venugopal and Ramesh Chennithala, before the party finalized Satheesan’s name.

The delay in announcing the chief minister had led to speculation and political debate within Kerala’s political circles.

UDF returns to power in Kerala

The announcement follows the United Democratic Front’s electoral victory in the state, which ended the Left Democratic Front’s (LDF) tenure in Kerala politics.

The new government formation is expected to take place soon after the formal swearing-in process is completed.

Prateek Yadav, son of late Samajwadi Party founder Mulayam Singh Yadav and half-brother of Akhilesh Yadav, died due to cardiorespiratory collapse caused by a massive pulmonary thromboembolism, according to post-mortem findings reported in Lucknow.

The post-mortem examination also found six antemortem injuries on his body. The injuries were reported on the chest, under the right arm, right forearm, right elbow joint, over the elbow and left wrist. Doctors noted that three of the injuries were around five to seven days old, while the remaining injuries were about a day old.

Medical experts stated that pulmonary thromboembolism is a serious condition in which blood clots block arteries in the lungs, affecting breathing and blood circulation.

The autopsy report further mentioned that samples related to the heart and lungs have been preserved for histopathological examination, while viscera samples were sent for chemical analysis to determine additional medical details.

Earlier reports citing sources had stated that no foul play was detected in the initial post-mortem findings. Prateek Yadav had reportedly been suffering from liver and lung-related complications and had been admitted to a hospital in Lucknow several times in the past.

Prateek Yadav died at the age of 38 in Lucknow after his health deteriorated suddenly at his residence. Political leaders and family members later paid tribute following the news of his death.