States

Delhi High Court has asked the Union government to explore temporary GST relief on air purifiers amid rising pollution, observing that if citizens cannot be provided clean air, reducing taxes on these essential devices is the least the State can do

After a 20-year political split, Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT) and Raj Thackeray’s MNS have joined forces for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections. The alliance aims to consolidate Marathi voters, while the BJP dismisses it as a power-driven move

Unnao rape case survivor called the Delhi High Court’s decision to suspend Kuldeep Singh Sengar’s sentence “death” for her family and plans to move the Supreme Court. Activists and family members protested, citing fears for personal safety and justice

A 10-year-old girl was allegedly raped and killed in Odisha's Bhadrak district. An accused was arrested from Jagatsinghpur district in connection with the case

In Anantnag, Jammu and Kashmir, a CRPF jawan was injured when a leopard entered a camp in Kapran during breakfast. The animal attacked him before fleeing into the forest. The jawan is receiving treatment at a nearby hospital

In Uttar Pradesh, junior clerk Ashish Singh was arrested for allegedly raping a minor under the pretext of marriage and defrauding her of ₹7 lakh. The victim complained after discovering he had married another woman

Three blackbucks, including two females and one male under two years, were found dead with suspected gunshot injuries in Kadur taluk, Chikkamagaluru. Forest officials registered a case and are investigating possible poaching near the Basur Amrit Mahal Kaval reserve

A six-year-old girl in Thane, Maharashtra, died over a month after being bitten by a street dog, despite receiving timely anti-rabies treatment. Her condition worsened suddenly, and she passed away at a Mumbai hospital, officials confirmed

The Jammu & Kashmir High Court dismissed PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti’s PIL seeking transfer of prisoners to local jails, stating it appeared politically motivated. The court emphasized that PILs cannot be used for partisan gains or electoral advantage

The Bombay High Court quashed a 12-year-old FIR against Star Pravah programming heads over an allegedly objectionable dialogue in the serial *Laxmi versus Saraswati*, ruling they had no role in its creation and noting procedural lapses in prosecuting under the Atrocities Act 

A Junior Commissioned Officer of the Indian Army died after sustaining a gunshot wound in a firing incident inside a military camp in Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir. Authorities have ruled out a terror angle and ordered an investigation

Scientists of the Zoological Survey of India discovered a new soil-dwelling micro-arthropod species, *Neelus sikkimensis*, in Sikkim. The finding marks the first Indian record of the genus Neelus, highlighting the Eastern Himalayas as a key biodiversity hotspot

An NCP leader in Maharashtra’s Nanded was allegedly kidnapped and assaulted over a Rs 2 crore dispute. Seven people were arrested, while the victim accused a sitting MLA of masterminding the attack, a charge the legislator denied, calling it political conspiracy

Security forces recovered multiple balloons carrying Pakistani symbols near the Line of Control in north Kashmir, prompting heightened vigilance. Army seized the objects in Baramulla and Kupwara districts as part of ongoing surveillance to counter infiltration and cross-border activities

Hundreds of VHP and Bajrang Dal supporters clashed with police near the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi, protesting the lynching of 25-year-old Dipu Chandra Das in Mymensingh, Bangladesh, demanding justice and action against the perpetrators

BJP leader Akshay Garg was hacked to death by three masked assailants at a road construction site in Korba, Chhattisgarh. Police are investigating the incident, have set up checkpoints, and the motive behind the attack remains unknown

A passenger at Delhi airport, Ankit Dewan, alleged assault by off-duty Air India Express pilot Virender Sejwal, resulting in a displaced nasal bone. Police have registered a case under BNS 2023, and an investigation, including CCTV review, is underway

The Delhi High Court dismissed pleas by Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin’s sons challenging the framing of charges in a terror funding case. The case involves hawala transfers from Pakistan to fund separatist and terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir

Fog and low visibility at Delhi’s IGIA disrupted air traffic on Tuesday, causing cancellation of 10 flights and delays for over 270 others. Average departure delays were 29 minutes, though visibility is gradually improving, the airport operator said

Kerala’s Animal Husbandry Department confirmed avian flu outbreaks in Alappuzha and Kottayam districts. Officials are assessing the situation and taking precautionary measures, while no consumption restrictions are imposed yet. Expert teams are monitoring, with potential culling and compensation for affected poultry farmers

A Delhi court ordered framing of charges against Congress MP Karti P Chidambaram and six others in the Chinese visa scam case. The CBI case relates to alleged criminal conspiracy and bribery linked to facilitating visas for Chinese nationals in 2011

The Congress accused the Modi government of undermining the ecological integrity of the Aravallis by redefining the mountain range. Jairam Ramesh questioned the move’s intent, warned of increased mining and real estate pressure, and alleged that expert recommendations were being ignored

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath urged citizens to help protect vulnerable people from the cold wave by ensuring warmth and shelter. He said the government has activated night shelters, distributed blankets, arranged bonfires, and taken special measures for safety amid fog

Rajasthan recorded minimum temperatures above eight degrees Celsius in most areas, while dense fog affected visibility in several districts. The Meteorological Department forecast a two to four degree Celsius drop in night temperatures across parts of the state between December 23 and 25