Month: February 2026

The air quality in the national capital remained in the ‘very poor category’ on Sunday morning, with the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at 318 around 8 am, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert for the national capital, warning that isolated areas may experience thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds of 30-40 kmph. Similar conditions are expected across neighbouring Haryana and Chandigarh. In Haryana, Karnal experienced a hailstorm early in the day.

The IMD stated that the rainfall signalled the beginning of an active weather phase, with thunderstorms, lightning, gusty winds, and hail likely to affect several states during the day. Light rain lashed several parts of the city and adjoining NCR areas in the early morning hours.

The maximum temperature is likely to range between 17-19°C, while the minimum temperature may remain around 10-12°C.

Thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds (30-40 kmph) are likely to continue through the afternoon and night.

Residents woke up to wet weather and light to moderate fog. Despite the rain, the Air Quality Index (AQI) remained in the ‘Very Poor’ category.

Air quality levels in major cities across India remain varied, with Ahmedabad recording an AQI of 171, followed by Pune at 161 and Lucknow at 156. Patna (121) and Jaipur (118) also reported moderate air quality levels. Meanwhile, Mumbai registered an AQI of 104, while Bengaluru (96), Chennai (92), and Hyderabad (95) remained in the satisfactory range, according to the CPCB.

On Saturday, the air quality in the national capital remained in the ‘poor category’, with the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) at 271 around 7 am, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

Several monitoring stations across the city reported AQI levels in the poor-to-very poor range. Ashok Vihar stood at 309. Bawana reported an AQI of 271, Burari 246, and Chandni Chowk 285. Dwarka Sector 8 registered 329 and ITO 279, while Mundka and Wazirpur recorded 331 each. Okhla Phase-2 logged an AQI of 323, Rohini 312, Punjabi Bagh 318, and RK Puram 322. Lower readings were recorded in Narela (232) and Alipur (227), according to the CPCB.

As per AQI classification, a reading between 0 and 50 is ‘good’, 51 to 100 ‘satisfactory’, 101 to 200 ‘moderate’, 201 to 300 ‘poor’, 301 to 400 ‘very poor’ and 401 to 500 ‘severe’.Meanwhile, several airports across north and central India witnessed varying fog conditions today, with very dense to shallow fog reported between 0600 hrs and 0630 hrs IST, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

The IMD data showed very dense fog, with visibility dropping below 50 metres, at multiple locations. Ambala in Haryana and Agra, Bareilly, Saifai and Hindon in Uttar Pradesh, along with Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh, reported zero visibility, categorising them under very dense fog conditions.

In the dense fog category, where visibility ranged from 50 metres to 200 metres, Varanasi and Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh recorded 50 metres, while Prayagraj reported 100 metres.

Moderate fog was observed at Jorhat in Assam, with visibility at 200 metres, and at Bagdogra in West Bengal, with visibility at 400 metres.

Meanwhile, several airports reported shallow fog, with visibility between 500 metres and 1,000 metres. Adampur in Punjab recorded visibility of 500 metres; Bhatinda reported 600 metres; and Halwara in Punjab and Gaya in Bihar registered 800 metres each. (ANI)

Amid heavy hearts and chants of ‘Ajit dada amar rahe’, the widow of late Ajit Pawar, Sunetra Pawar, stepped into fill the vacant post of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister as she took oath of office at Lok Bhavan in Mumbai.

Maharashtra Governor Acharya Devvrat administered the oath of office to Sunetra Pawar in the presence of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy CM Eknath Shinde.

The newly appointed Deputy CM has been allocated the portfolios of State Excise Duty, Sports and Youth Affairs and Minorities Development and Aukaf.

Notably, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis will now hold the portfolios of Planning and Finance, which were previously assigned to the late Ajit Pawar, former Deputy CM of Maharashtra.

Following the swearing-in ceremony, Sunita Pawar remembered her late husband, Ajit Pawar, and promised to carry forward his vision while taking on her new responsibilities in the state government.

In a post shared on X, Sunetra Pawar said Ajit Pawar’s life offered guiding principles for farmers, workers, women, youth and marginalised communities. She described her oath as Deputy Chief Minister as a moment filled with duty, emotion and commitment to Maharashtra’s social ideals.

“Respected Ajit Dada gave a guiding principle of life for farmers, workers, women, youth, and the marginalised throughout his life. Today, while taking on the responsibility of the Deputy Chief Minister with a sense of duty, staying committed to the ideals of ‘Shiv-Shahu-Phule-Ambedkar’ and carrying forward his legacy of thoughts, my heart is truly overwhelmed,” she wrote.

Sunetra Pawar also acknowledged the personal loss she continues to face after Ajit Pawar’s untimely demise, calling it a “mountain of sorrow”, but said the values he instilled in her remain her strength in public life.

“Although Dada’s untimely departure has brought a mountain of sorrow upon my mind, the sense of duty, strength of struggle, and commitment to the people that he taught me remain my true support. I will continue to work with unwavering honesty to build the just, equal, and developed Maharashtra that he dreamed of,” Sunetra Pawar further wrote.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed confidence that she will work tirelessly for the welfare of the state’s people and fulfil Ajit Pawar’s vision.

Best wishes to Sunetra Pawar Ji as she begins her tenure as Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, the first woman to hold this responsibility. I am confident she will work tirelessly for the welfare of the people of the state and fulfil the vision of the late Ajitdada Pawar,” PM Modi said.

Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis also expressed confidence that Sunetra Pawar will carry forward Ajit Pawar’s legacy.

“The context is difficult… But, the decision taken by Smt. Sunetra Pawar in the interest of Maharashtra with such boldness and grace is commendable, daring, and underscores her commitment. This is not an occasion to extend congratulations,” he said in a post on X.

“But, I am confident that she will ably carry forward Ajitdada’s legacy. The state has gained its first woman Deputy Chief Minister, and I am sure her tenure will be successful. As the BJP and Mahayuti government, in this difficult time, we stand firmly with the family of Ajitdada Pawar,” he added.

Deputy CM Eknath Shinde said, “I am fully confident that Sunetat’ai will carry forward the legacy of public welfare of the late Ajitdada with the same strength.”

Senior NCP leader and state Minister Chhagan Bhujbal expressed hope that a woman would one day also become the Chief Minister of Maharashtra.

Speaking to ANI, Bhujbal said, “Sunetra Pawar has taken oath as the first woman Deputy CM of the state. I also wish that a woman should become the CM of the state.”

Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchand Pawar) MLA Rohit Pawar said, “I am delighted that Hon. Sunetrabai has taken the oath as the state’s first female Deputy Chief Minister. Truth be told, no one can truly take Hon. Ajitdada’s place, but at least in the form of Sunetrabai, we can see Ajitdada there somehow!” “

BJP National Spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said, “We are confident that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Devendra Fadnavis, and Eknath Shinde, she will perform exceptionally well and carry forward Ajit Pawar’s legacy. We commend her for putting the people of Maharashtra above her personal sorrow.”

Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav, Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami, Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath and many others also congratulated Sunetra Pawar.

She was also elected as NCP Legislative Party Leader earlier today.

Sunetra Pawar is known for her work in sustainable development, environmental conservation, and rural empowerment. A Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha, she has emerged as a driving force behind several initiatives that promote inclusive and sustainable progress.

In 2010, she founded the Environmental Forum of India (EFOI), a non-governmental organisation dedicated to raising environmental awareness and fostering eco-conscious communities. She has led extensive grassroots campaigns focusing on biodiversity conservation, protection of endangered species, water resource management, and drought mitigation.

Ajit Pawar passed away on Wednesday when a chartered plane carrying him crashed-landed in Baramati. Among the deceased were his personal security officer, a flight attendant, and two pilots. (ANI)

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday extended greetings on the occasion of the 50th Raising Day of the Indian Coast Guard.

In a post on X, the Coast Guard thanked the Defence Minister for his wishes and shared the Minister’s official message.

“The Hon’ble Raksha Mantri of #India Shri Rajnath Singh extended his warm wishes to @IndiaCoastGuard on the occasion of 50th raising day. #IndianCoastGuardDay2026 #WeProtect @rajnathsingh @DefenceMinIndia” the Indian Coast Guard wrote.

The Defence Minister in the message noted the efforts by the Coast Guard in “safeguarding our coasts, thwarting illicit activities, responding to natural disasters”, underscoring their contribution to “national security and maritime sustainability.”

“On the occasion of 50th Raising Day of Indian Coast Guard on 01 Feb, 2026, I extend my heartiest greetings and congratulations to all the ranks of Indian Coast Guard and their families. Indian Coast Guard has consistently taken proactive action in safeguarding our coasts, thwarting illicit activities, responding to natural disasters and has significantly contributed to national security and maritime sustainability,” the Defence Minister wrote in the message.

Extending wishes on the Coast Guard’s Golden Jubilee, he expressed hope that the forces will “continue to spearhead maritime surveillance.”

“As the Indian Coast Guard enters into its Golden Jubilee year, 2026-27, I believe that it will continue to spearhead maritime surveillance with cutting-edge capabilities, innovation, and operational excellence. I extend my best wishes to all the personnel of the Coast Guard for their continued success in protecting our seas and serving the nation in fulfilment of its motto “vym rkssaa- we protect”,” the message concluded.

Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also extended greetings on the 50th Rising Day.

In his letter to the Coast Guard, the PM expressed “immense pride” on the occasion and underscored their role as “a vigilant protector” of the nation’s maritime interests, describing the forces as the “cornerstone of safety in Indian waters.” He noted that the Coast Guard’s efforts go beyond securing borders to sustaining the lives and livelihoods of sea-dependent communities. (ANI)

The Mumbai Crime Branch has formed 12 special teams to nab the suspects involved in the firing incident outside the residence of Bollywood director and producer Rohit Shetty, Mumbai Police said on Monday.

On Sunday, assailants fired four rounds outside the residence of the Bollywood film director, police officials said. Soon after the firing, heavy police security was deployed around Shetty’s residential tower in the Juhu area. Police and forensic teams reached the spot and secured the premises to carry out a detailed examination. Officials said an investigation is underway and all possible angles are being explored to identify those responsible for the firing. No injuries were reported in the incident.

Rohit Shetty is a well-known filmmaker in the Indian film industry and is known for hit films such as Golmaal and Singham. (ANI)

It’s a double celebration for actor Ram Charan and his wife, entrepreneur Upasana Konidela, as the couple have welcomed twins, a baby boy and a baby girl.

With the arrival of the twins, Ram Charan and Upasana are now parents to three children. Wishes and blessings have been pouring in from fans and well-wishers across the country.

The happy news was shared by Ram Charan’s father, megastar Chiranjeevi, on social media. The actor took to his X account to inform everyone about the new arrivals and also shared how the family is feeling after becoming grandparents again.

Thanking everyone for their love and prayers, the megastar wrote, “With immense joy and a heart full of gratitude, we are happy to share that @AlwaysRamCharan and @upasanakonidela have been blessed with twins – a baby boy and a baby girl. Both the babies and the mother are healthy and doing well. Welcoming these little ones into our family is a moment of pure joy and divine blessing for us as grandparents. We sincerely thank everyone for their prayers, love, blessings and good wishes.”

Soon after the post went live, congratulatory messages began flooding social media. Fans, friends and members of the film industry welcomed the newest members of the Konidela family with warm wishes.

Ram Charan and Upasana had welcomed their first child, a daughter named Klin Kaara, in 2023. The couple has so far kept her away from the public eye and has not revealed her face.

On the work front, Ram Charan will next be seen in the film Peddi. The movie also stars Janhvi Kapoor, Shiva Rajkumar, Jagapathi Babu and Divyenndu in key roles. The film is produced by Venkata Satish Kilaru under the banner of Vriddhi Cinemas, with Mythri Movie Makers and Sukumar Writings as presenters. Directed by Uppena fame Buchi Babu Sana, Peddi is set for a global release on March 27, 2026. (ANI)