Month: December 2025

Dhaka continues to simmer as Protestors loyal to slain nqilab Moncho leader Sharif Osman Hadi protest. On Friday, a fresh wave of protests broke out as the activists Dhaka’s Shahbagh intersection to call for justice for the slain leader.

Some Anti-India slogans were also heard from the protestors who called for the interim government to make way for a “revolutionary government”, reported bdnews24.

After a night of violent unrest where offices of Media house’s like Daily Star and Prothom Alo were targeted, protestors vented their ire at the partially demolished home of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

As unrest erupted across the country following Osman Hadi’s death, Inqilab Moncho urged the public to avoid violence, vandalism, and arson that have erupted across the country.

In a late-night Facebook post on Thursday, the organisation said: “Through destruction and fire, certain groups aim to render Bangladesh an ineffective state. They seek to undermine the independence and sovereignty of our country. You must understand — 32 and 36 are not the same.”

The post continued, “As the February elections approach, consider who truly benefits if unrest is created in the country. To maintain stability in Bangladesh, fully cooperate with the government and refrain from violence.”

Meanwhile, the Bangladesh interim government led by Muhammad Yunus on Friday issued its first response to the ongoing unrest in the country, urging people to resist acts of mob violence.

It said it “strongly and unequivocally” condemns all forms of violence, intimidation, arson and destruction of property, warning that such actions threaten to derail the country’s democratic process.The government urges all citizens of Bangladesh to resist all forms of mob violence which it said was committed by a few fringe elements.

“We strongly and unequivocally condemn all acts of violence, intimidation, arson, and destruction of properties”, the interim government said in a statement on Friday.

Highlighting the nation’s ongoing democratic transition, the statement said, “This is a critical moment in our country’s history. We cannot and must not allow it to be derailed by those few who thrive on chaos and reject peace.”

The government also stressed the significance of the upcoming elections and referendum, calling them “not merely political exercises, but a solemn national commitment.”

It added, “This promise is inseparable from the dream for which Shaheed Sharif Osman Hadi gave his life. Honouring his sacrifice demands restraint, responsibility, and a firm commitment to reject hatred.”

Expressing support for journalists, the government said, “To the journalists of The Daily Star, Prothom Alo, and New Age: we stand with you. We are deeply sorry for the terror and violence you have endured. The nation has witnessed your courage and tolerance in the face of terror. Attacks on journalists are attacks on truth itself. We promise you full justice.”

The statement also condemned a recent lynching of a Hindu man in Mymensingh, saying, “There is no space for such violence in the new Bangladesh. The perpetrators of this heinous crime will not be spared.”

“We wholeheartedly condemn the lynching of a Hindu man in Mymensingh. There is no space for such violence in the new Bangladesh. The perpetrators of this heinous crime will not be spared”, the statement said.

“At this critical hour, we call upon every citizen to honour Saheed Hadi by rejecting and resisting violence, incitement and hatred”, it added. (ANI)

The 269th Session of the Rajya Sabha concluded on Friday with the Chairman and Vice-President of India extending his valedictory remarks, highlighting the productivity and constructive debates during the winter session, RS Chairman CP Radhakrishnan said.

Addressing the House, the Chairman said the session held special significance as it was his first time presiding over the House since assuming office. He expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister, Ministers, J.P. Nadda, Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge, and all Members for their felicitations, calling their encouragement a source of great motivation.

The Chairman noted that Members had cooperated fully with the Chair, completing a significant amount of business and agreeing to sit late or skip lunch recess on five occasions. “This session witnessed an unprecedented number of Zero Hour Notices, averaging over 84 per day, a 31% increase compared to previous sessions,” he said.

Matters raised during Zero Hour averaged more than 15 per day, nearly a 50% increase over preceding sessions.

“We must keep up the good work, keeping in mind that the people of this great nation look up to us as custodians of democracy,” he noted.

High-quality debates marked the session, including a two-day commemorative discussion on the 150th anniversary of the National Song Vande Mataram, which saw 82 Members participate, and a three-day debate on Election Reforms with inputs from 57 Members.

“You have all positively responded to my call to spend every day, every hour, every minute, every second of our time in the House to strengthen our democracy by meaningful debates and discussions,” RS Chairman added.

The House transacted eight key legislative and financial business, passing or returning eight Bills and adopting a Statutory Resolution regarding the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Amendment Act, 2024, with participation of 212 Members. The Private Members’ Business remained vibrant, with 59 Bills introduced and active discussion on one Bill and one Resolution involving 22 Members.

Overall, the House functioned for about 92 hours, achieving a productivity of 121%, during which 58 Starred Questions, 208 Zero Hour Submissions, and 87 Special Mentions were addressed. The Chairman acknowledged the support of the Deputy Chairman, the Panel of Vice-Chairpersons, and the Secretary-General and his staff, as well as the media for coverage.

However, he condemned the unruly behaviour by some opposition Members during the previous day’s sitting, including shouting slogans, displaying placards, and throwing papers in the well of the House, urging Members to uphold parliamentary decorum in the future.

Concluding his remarks, the Chairman extended greetings to all Members and their families for Christmas, New Year, and upcoming harvest festivals including Lohri, Makar Sankranti, Pongal, Magh Bihu, and others.

Meanwhile, Om Birla, Speaker of the Lok Sabha, also concluded the ongoing session of the 18th Lok Sabha, highlighting the productive debates, legislative business, and active participation of Members. The Speaker adjourned the House sine die after 15 sittings, marking the formal end of the session.

The Speaker expressed gratitude to all Members for their cooperation, emphasizing the importance of meaningful discussions in strengthening India’s parliamentary democracy. The productivity of the House during this session stood at 111 percent, reflecting the commitment of Members to legislative and public work. (ANI)

The Opposition continues its vocal protest over the passage of the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Bill in Parliament.

On Friday, an united Opposition staged protest outside Parliament against the passage of the bills while the members of the Trinamool Congress continued their protest on the footsteps of the entry to the House.

Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi, who is currently in Germany, joined the chorus of voices against the bill and claimed that it was “anti-state” and “anti-village” by design.

“Last night, the Modi government demolished twenty years of MGNREGA in one day. VB-G RAM G isn’t a “revamp” of MGNREGA. It demolishes the rights-based, demand-driven guarantee and turns it into a rationed scheme which is controlled from Delhi. It is anti-state and anti-village by design. MGNREGA gave the rural worker bargaining power. With real options, exploitation and distress migration fell, wages increased, working conditions improved, all while building and reviving rural infrastructure. That leverage is precisely what this government wants to break. By capping work and building in more ways to deny it, VB-G RAM G weakens the one instrument which the rural poor had,” The Congress leader wrote in a post on X.

“We saw what MGNREGA meant during COVID. When the economy shut down and livelihoods collapsed, it kept crores from falling into hunger and debt. And it helped women the most – year after year, women have contributed more than half the person-days. When you ration a jobs programme, it is women, Dalits, Adivasis, landless workers and the poorest OBC communities who get pushed out first. To top it all, this law was bulldozed through Parliament without proper scrutiny. The opposition demand to send the bill to a Standing Committee was rejected. A law that rewires the rural social contract, affecting crores of workers should never be rammed through without serious committee scrutiny, expert consultation, and public hearings. PM Modi’s targets are clear: weaken labour, weaken the leverage of rural India, especially Dalits, OBCs and Adivasis, centralise power, and then sell slogans as “reform”,” he added.

“MGNREGA is among the most successful poverty alleviation and empowerment programmes in the world. We will not let this government destroy the rural poor’s last line of defence. We will stand with workers, panchayats, and states to defeat this move and build a nationwide front to ensure this law is withdrawn,” he further stated.

Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi also took on the government saying that the scheme would now die and that would be harmful.

“This Bill is going to be very harmful for the poorest of the poor because the original MGNREGA scheme, the way it was structured – where the Centre paid 90% of the funds for it, was the backbone of the rural economy and the greatest support for the people who are very poor and had difficulty getting employment. For 20 years, this has been one of the good schemes which has run and helped poor people, especially those who have nothing. Now, in this new form of the Bill, when you cut down so much of the allocation from the funds from the Centre, the States are not going to be able to afford it. It means that the scheme will die and that is going to be very harmful,” she said.

On December 18, the penultimate day of its Winter Session 2025, the Parliament passed the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Bill, with the Rajya Sabha approving the legislation after it received the Lok Sabha’s nod.

The Bill guarantees 125 days of wage employment per rural household, up from the existing 100 days, for adult members willing to undertake unskilled manual work.

As per Section 22 of the Bill, the fund-sharing pattern between the Central Government and the State Governments will be 60:40, while for the North Eastern States, Himalayan States, and Union Territories (Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir), it will be 90:10. (ANI)

Samajwadi Party MP Awadhesh Prasad on Friday slammed the central government, stating that the bill was passed only because they had a majority in the House. He further claimed that sooner or later, the government will remove Mahatma Gandhi’s photograph from the currency notes.

“The bill was passed because they hold a majority in the House, but removing Mahatma Gandhi’s name is an insult and a dishonour… Sooner or later, they will also remove Mahatma Gandhi’s picture from the currency notes, as they seem to have nothing left to do other than changing names…” he said.

The remark follows the passing of the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB–G RAM G) Bill in both Houses on Friday.

Moreover, Samajwadi Party MP Sudhakar Singh said that the scheme has collapsed due to the increase in states’ share, and the weaker states would fail to benefit from the scheme.

“There were demands to increase the 100-day employment provision to 200 days and to include farmers within this scheme. However, the entire law has now been changed. The scheme has collapsed due to an increase in the states’ share. States with low budgets will now be unable to benefit from this scheme…” he stated.

Meanwhile, members of the opposition staged a protest against the passing of the VB–G RAM G Bill in the Parliament premises today.

Earlier, members of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) also held a 12-hour dharna (sit-in protest) against the passing of the VB-G RAM G Bill. It started at 12 am and concluded at 12 noon today.

The dharna was held outside Samvidhan Sadan in the Parliament complex against the Bill. The Bill was passed in the Lok Sabha on December 18, 2025, and was later cleared by the Rajya Sabha in the early hours of December 19 amid strong opposition.

Earlier, the Parliament on Friday passed the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB–G RAM G) Bill, with Rajya Sabha approving the legislation after it got the nod of the Lok Sabha.

The opposition members staged a walkout from the Rajya Sabha before the bill seeking to replace MGNREGA was passed, and demanded that the bill be sent to the Select Committee.

The Bill guarantees 125 days of wage employment per rural household, up from the existing 100 days, for adult members willing to undertake unskilled manual work. (ANI)

Actor Bhagyashree has reflected on the growing trend of Artificial Intelligence, especially with its impact on the celebrity culture and social media.

Speaking to ANI, the actor opened up on how both celebrities and the common people easily become targets of AI.

“There are some things that we don’t say, but AI can make that happen by bringing modulations to lip-syncs. It is fine as far as AI is being used for marketing and for the betterment, but this thing is very harmful. It is very difficult to differentiate between right and wrong,” Bhagyashree said.

The actor highlighted how people are often misguided by the AI-generated content on the internet.

“How can a common man detect it? We are in this field, and we are aware that such things are enhanced by AI or digitally. We are still not able to detect it,” she added.

Bhagyashree has voiced her concerns at a time when a number of celebrities have been subjected to deepfake content and misuse of Artificial Intelligence.

Actress Sreeleela also spoke out against the same, calling on social media users to act responsibly and not support AI-generated material that violates personal dignity.

On Instagram, the actress shared a strong message raising awareness, “I put my hands together and request every social media user not to support AI-generated nonsense. There is a difference between using and abusing technology. Advancements in technology are meant to simplify life, not complicate it, in my opinion,” she wrote.

Highlighting the broader impact of such misuse, Sreeleela emphasised the importance of respect and safety for women across professions.

On the other hand, several celebrities have also come forward to seek legal protection to their personality rights, including the likes of Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, Nagarjuna and Karan Johar. (ANI)

India’s trade deficit with China is expected to widen further, even as exports to the neighbouring country have shown sharp but volatile spikes this year, according to a study by the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI).

The report notes that India’s exports to China surged nearly 90 per cent year-on-year in November 2025 to USD 2.2 billion, largely driven by a narrow set of products rather than broad-based growth. For April-November 2025, exports rose 33 per cent to USD 12.2 billion. However, the gains were concentrated mainly in naphtha and a few atypical electronics items, underscoring the fragility of India’s export performance.

Naphtha emerged as the single largest contributor, with exports jumping more than five-fold in October and rising 172 per cent during April-October to USD 1.4 billion, reflecting strong Chinese demand for petrochemical feed-stocks. The study also highlighted extraordinary spikes in electronics exports, including printed circuit boards and mobile phone components, even as India remains a large net importer of these items from China.

In contrast, traditional exports such as iron ore and shrimp remained volatile or weak. Iron ore exports fell 30 per cent during April-October, while shrimp exports recorded only modest growth. GTRI said the top three Indian exports to China, naphtha, iron ore and shrimp, show sharp year-to-year swings, driven more by Chinese demand cycles than by any stable or diversified export strategy.

GTRI said that despite the recent export rebound, India’s imports from China have continued to rise sharply. Imports are estimated to reach USD 123.5 billion in 2025, pushing the bilateral trade deficit to a record USD 106 billion on Indian data. Chinese customs data suggest an even wider gap, with the 2025 deficit estimated at over USD 115 billion.

Nearly 80 per cent of India’s imports from China are concentrated in electronics, machinery, organic chemicals and plastics. Electronics imports alone touched USD 38 billion in the first ten months of 2025, reinforcing India’s supply-chain dependence on China, the report said.

The study, however, also pointed to persistent discrepancies between Indian and Chinese trade data, noting that India reports lower imports from China than China reports as exports, an unusual pattern that may indicate under-invoicing and warrants closer scrutiny by customs authorities.

GTRI noted that without a sustained push to expand competitive manufacturing, reduce import dependence in critical sectors and strengthen trade monitoring, short-term export spikes will do little to correct the structurally imbalanced nature of India-China trade. (ANI)

The Indian team squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 and the T20I series against New Zealand in January will be announced by skipper Suryakumar Yadav and chief selector Ajit Agarkar in Mumbai at the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) headquarters on Saturday.

India is placed in Group A alongside Namibia, the Netherlands, Pakistan, and the United States and will start its campaign against the USA on February 7 in Mumbai.

The star opener Abhishek Sharma looks to be a guaranteed starter in the tournament, having a dream run in T20 cricket this year, be it franchise cricket or the Indian team. This year, he has scored 825 runs in 20 matches at an average of 43.42 at an SR of above 195, with a century and five fifties and a best score of 135.

The leadership group of captain Suryakumar Yadav and Shubman Gill is also expected to be there despite their poor run of form this year. In 20 matches and 18 innings this year, Suryakumar has scored just 213 runs at a shambolic average of 14.20, with a strike rate of just over 125 and no fifties. Gill, currently set to miss the final T20I against South Africa due to a foot injury, has fared better, but it is not saying much, as he is yet to score a fifty in 15 innings since his T20I return and has scored just 291 runs at an average of 24.25 and an SR of over 137, missing out on some promising starts.

Tilak Varma, who showcased his big-match potential during the Asia Cup final against Pakistan and has a stupendous record in run-chases and at number three, is also another expected easy pick in the squad. This year in T20Is, he has made 494 runs at an average of 44.90 and a SR of above 124, with three fifties. While his strike rate is a concern, there is no doubt about his big game capabilities in the sample size of games he has played for India and the Mumbai Indians (MI) in the IPL and could emulate the style that legendary Virat Kohli once used to play with during his peak, switching between anchoring and attacking gears at will.

Opener Sanju Samson and Jitesh Sharma could be the wicketkeeping options, but it is upto management who gets to play depending on team combination, form and how much the team decides to persist with Gill despite his poor form. If recency bias is a thing, even Ishan Kishan could be an option, having just won the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) for Jharkhand for the first time ever. He also emerged as the leading run-getter in the tournament, with 517 runs in 10 innings at an average of 57.44, with an SR of above 195, two centuries and two fifties, including one century in the final against Haryana.

All-rounders Hardik Pandya, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel and Washington Sundar could provide the team with unmatched depth and batting/bowling strength.

Kuldeep Yadav, who has been on fire all this year, could very well be the sole specialist spinner, with Sundar and Axar giving him assists. Leading the pace department could be Jasprit Bumrah, a proven match-winner and a man of big moments, with youngsters Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana being other options.

Also, it would be interesting to see if fan favourites like Rinku Singh and Yashasvi Jaiswal, currently not in the scheme of things in T20Is could be picked our not.

The five-match T20I series against New Zealand would start from January 21 onwards after three ODIs between the Champions Trophy 2025 finalists, which would also feature ODI-exclusive stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. (ANI)

One of Bangladesh’s oldest heritage-rich cultural organizations, Chhayanaut became the target of violent attackers who had gone on a riot after the death of Inquilab Moncho Leader Osman Hadi.

The Chhayanaut office in Dhanmondi was vandalized and set on fire on fire by protestors. Inside the office remains of destroyed furniture and musical instruments bear testament to a night of extreme violence.

According to the organization many rare items like books, musical instruments, and other cultural artefacts were completely destroyed. Many students who were there during the violent attack were left in tears.

Chhayanaut’s general secretary, Laisa Ahmed condemned the attack and called for an investigation.

“We condemn this incident and demand a thorough investigation. It’s not possible to say much right now, in such a short time; there has been considerable damage. You have witnessed it yourselves. It’s not possible to state that in financial terms. Some rare books may have been lost. However, we are so distressed that we are not providing any details at this time. But we demand a proper investigation into this matter,” she said.

Chhayanaut was established in 1961. The organization was founded after hosting the birth centenary celebrations of Rabindranath Tagore. Chhayanaut nurtures Bengali culture with the study of Tagore as its central focus. Chhayanaut is an open forum for people to stand in solidarity with the oppressed and the distressed.

During the Bangladesh liberation war, Chhayanaut singers organised performances to inspire freedom fighters and refugees. After independence, Chhayanaut has been involved in seeking creative ways to broaden and intensify the practice of music and, more broadly, the celebration of Bangla culture.

Meanwhile, protests over the death of Inqilab Moncho leader Sharif Osman bin Hadi continues to spiral. After a night of violent unrest where offices of Media house’s like Daily Star and Prothom Alo were targeted, protestors vented their ire at the partially demolished home of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Protestors were seen attempting to tear down the remaining portion of the house and setting fire to a poster of former PM Sheikh Hasina there.

As unrest erupted across the country following Osman Hadi’s death, Inqilab Moncho urged the public to avoid violence, vandalism, and arson that have erupted across the country.

In a late-night Facebook post on Thursday, the organization said: “Through destruction and fire, certain groups aim to render Bangladesh an ineffective state. They seek to undermine the independence and sovereignty of our country. You must understand — 32 and 36 are not the same.”

The post continued, “As the February elections approach, consider who truly benefits if unrest is created in the country. To maintain stability in Bangladesh, fully cooperate with the government and refrain from violence.”

Earlier, after vandalism at the English-language daily The Daily Star office, a journalist who was trapped on the rooftop recounted the harrowing ordeal. The journalist said they were alerted by a phone call from outside as a section of the rampaging crowd, after attacking the Prothom Alo office, began moving towards The Daily Star building, reported bdnews24.

Upon receiving the warning, the newsroom staff attempted to evacuate. By then, however, the mob had reached the ground floor, launching vandalism before setting the building on fire. Amid thick smoke, a group of journalists abandoned attempts to get downstairs and instead fled to the rooftop on the 10th floor.

Fire Service crews later arrived and extinguished the blaze on the lower floors. Four firefighters climbed to the rooftop to evacuate those trapped.

Following the attacks, Prothom Alo and The Daily Star will not be published on Friday. (ANI)

Bollywood actor Alia Bhatt has officially kick-started her Christmas festivities, starting off with an intimate yet glittering celebration with her family.

The actor’s sister, Shaheen Bhatt, shared pictures from the family’s annual Christmas gathering, capturing cute decorations, bright lights, a furry friend, and, of course, a Christmas tree decked up for the occasion.

Shaheen also shared pictures from the celebrations, showing her posing with Alia and their mother Soni Razdan.

Pics Here

Alia Bhatt looked stunning in an off-the-shoulder black dress, which she paired with a pair of stockings and heels. The actress tied her hair in a half-up style and wore minimal makeup.

“‘Tis the season, etc etc,” Shaheen wrote in the caption, to which Soni Razdan responded with, “This season is a special one!”

Alia Bhatt and her mother-in-law, veteran actor Neetu Kapoor, hosted the Christmas bash for the family, which was attended by many others, including Rima Jain and Alekha Advani Jain.

Regulars at family gatherings like Ranbir Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor Khan, and Karisma Kapoor were absent from the pictures.

The ‘Alpha’ star hosted the party days after she offered glimpses from what appeared to be the “griha pravesh” or house-warming ceremony of her new home.

In her November throwback post, the photos featured Alia along with her husband and actor Ranbir Kapoor entering their new home while following the necessary rituals.

The ‘Dear Zindagi’ actress was also seen hugging her mother-in-law, Neetu Kapoor, in one of the snaps. Ranbir was also seen paying respects to his late father and actor, Rishi Kapoor.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DR3mA7cjKmT

On the work front, ‘Alia’ will be seen in ‘Alpha’. Directed by Shiv Rawail, ‘Alpha’ is set to be a notable addition to Yash Raj Films’ acclaimed spy universe and is scheduled for release in 2026.

As per the studio, more time is needed to complete the film’s VFX.

“Alpha is an extremely special film for us, and we want to present the film in its most cinematic self. We have realised that the VFX will take a little longer than what we had initially assumed. We want to leave no stone unturned to make Alpha into a theatrical experience for everyone to cherish. Thus, we will now release the film on April 17, 2026,” a YRF spokesperson said.

Shiv Rawail’s ‘Alpha’ marks the sixth entry in the YRF Spy Universe, which includes blockbusters like ‘Ek Tha Tiger’, ‘Tiger Zinda Hai’, ‘War’, and ‘Pathaan’. (ANI)

The national capital, Delhi, woke up to poor air quality on Friday morning, with the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at 387 at around 8 am, placing it in the ‘very poor’ category, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

Air quality in the city deteriorated further compared to Thursday, when the AQI stood at 373 at 4 pm. Large parts of the city remained enveloped in toxic smog.

Anand Vihar was shrouded in thick smog, with an AQI of 437, placing it in the ‘severe category. A thick layer of smog also engulfed areas around ITO, Ghazipur, Palam and Greater Noida.

According to CPCB data, several areas, including Vivek Vihar (436), Punjabi Bagh (412), R.K. Puram (436) and Nehru Nagar (425), saw further deterioration in air quality and fell into the ‘severe’ category. Wazirpur also recorded ‘severe’ air quality with an AQI of 406.

However, several parts of Delhi showed slight variations in air quality this morning. For instance, Dilshad Garden recorded an AQI of 356, which was better than at other locations but was poor in air quality. Other areas, such as Mandir Marg (342), Rohini (396), and North Campus (349), also saw marginal improvement, but air quality remained in the ‘very poor’ range.

According to AQI categorisation, 0-50 is ‘good’, 51-100 ‘satisfactory’, 101-200 ‘moderate’, 201-300 ‘poor’, 301-400 ‘very poor’, and 401-500 ‘severe’.

Earlier, Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa conducted surprise inspections at several petrol pumps, including those at the Delhi-Gurugram border and Janpath, to review compliance with the ‘No PUC, No Fuel’ directive.

He interacted with pump staff and instructed them to enforce the rules while remaining calm and courteous.

He said, “You are the first point of contact in this campaign. Cooperate with people and explain to them that this rule is for their health and the health of their children.”

The Minister also directed that clear signboards, announcements, and better queue management be ensured.

Speaking to vehicle owners on the spot, he said, “This is not a matter of issuing challans; it is a question of clean air. Every valid PUCC issued today is a small victory in our fight against pollution.”

On December 17, 29,938 PUCCs were issued in Delhi. On December 18, up to 5.20 pm, 31,974 new certificates were issued. Thus, the total crossed 61,000 in nearly one day. The government expects the number of people obtaining PUCCs before refuelling petrol or diesel to increase further.

The Minister said, “More than 60,000 people getting their PUCCs in a single day shows that when citizens trust that steps are being taken in the public interest, they extend full cooperation.” (ANI)