On Diwali eve, Ayodhya surpassed its own record by lighting over 22 lakh diyas across 51 ghats during the 'Deepotsav' celebration. The tradition, initiated in 2017 under the Yogi Adityanath government, started with 51,000 diyas and has since grown exponentially, setting Guinness World Records. This year, UP CM Yogi Adityanath and Governor Anandiben Patel participated in symbolic rituals, including pulling a chariot to signify Lord Ram's return. The seventh Deepotsav in Ayodhya witnessed a spectacular display, with the previous record of 15.76 lakh lit diyas in 2022 now exceeded.          

On Diwali morning, Delhi's air quality experienced a slight decline, registering in the 'poor' category, reports the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Anand Vihar recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 266, RK Puram at 241, Punjabi Bagh at 233, and ITO at 227. Despite Friday's rain providing relief, Sunday is forecasted without rain, with temperatures ranging from 14 to 28 degrees Celsius. Saturday's overall AQI in the national capital was 220, with pollution levels dropping after rain but rising again at night, particularly in Jahangirpuri. The Delhi health department advises precautions due to elevated pollution levels. [ photo courtesy: screengrab from ANI/X ]

A minor earthquake of magnitude 2.6 struck Delhi on Saturday afternoon. The quake occurred at 3:36 pm and was centered 10 km below the surface in the North district, according to the National Centre for Seismology. No casualties or property damage were reported. Delhi falls in a high seismic risk zone and tremors were also felt earlier this week from an earthquake in Nepal.

After enduring its longest stretch of hazardous air quality this year, Delhi's air quality improved significantly on Friday following overnight rainfall and strong winds. The city's 24-hour average Air Quality Index dipped over 150 points from Thursday's 'severe' levels to 279 ('poor' category), as per Central Pollution Control Board data. The rain starting late Thursday washed away pollutants, with real-time PM2.5 levels plunging from 398 micrograms per cubic meter at 1 AM to as low as 37 by morning, well within national standards. The rainfall provided respite after Delhi gasped under toxic air quality for days. The meteorological factors helped dissipate the pollution accumulation, leading to clearer skies.

The celebratory song "Abundance in Millets" featuring Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been nominated for a 2024 Grammy Award. Created by musician Falu and producer Gaurav Shah, the track aims to raise awareness of millets, an ancient nutritious grain cultivated in India. It was produced in support of the UN's "International Year of Millets" initiative promoted by the Indian government and 72 other countries. This surprise nomination recognizes the song's global appeal and social impact in highlighting millets as a solution for food security. If it wins, it would mark a historic achievement for India.

Bombay High Court Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya, expressing concerns over critical air pollution, slashes Diwali cracker time from 3 to 2 hours, urging Mumbai to avoid becoming like Delhi. The bench cites the city's pollution situation, amending the initial 7 pm to 10 pm timeframe to 8 pm to 10 pm. While acknowledging AQI improvement after recent rains, the court bans debris transport till November 19 and tasks municipal corporations to decide post that based on AQI. An expert committee is formed to address pollution sources. Further hearings on rising air pollution are scheduled for December 11. [ Representative Image ]

Students at IIT Bombay have filed a police complaint against a professor and guest speaker for allegedly glorifying Palestinian terrorists during a virtual lecture. The November 6th talk was part of a course by Prof. Sharmistha Saha who had invited speaker Sudhanva Deshpande. In their complaint, students claimed Deshpande defended armed rebellion and glorified terrorists Zakaria Zubeidi and Ghassan Kanafani. Zubeidi is linked to a group designated a terror entity by many governments. Students expressed concern about impressions on young minds and security risks from advocating terror-linked ideologies. They appealed for a police probe into the matter. The lecture has sparked controversy amid accusations of supporting figures associated with violent attacks.

The Delhi government informed the Supreme Court on Friday that they are planning to induce artificial rain to combat air pollution, but need permissions from Union ministries which is difficult. The court asked Delhi to approach the Centre for approval. In an affidavit, Delhi's Chief Secretary submitted a proposal for cloud seeding this month. The court is hearing petitions on rising pollution in Delhi. Earlier Delhi's Environment Minister met IIT scientists on artificial rain and proposed a first phase by November 20 if the Centre cooperates. Delhi will bear the ₹13 crore cost. The court criticized Delhi's pollution response, saying solutions only come after court intervention each year. It said authorities know pollution sources but await court orders, while the court itself wants results, not being experts.

IndiGo's parent InterGlobe Enterprises has partnered with US electric aircraft startup Archer Aviation to launch an all-electric air taxi service in India in 2026. The companies signed an MoU to provide the revolutionary urban transportation solution using Archer's sustainable, low-noise Midnight eVTOL aircraft. The partnership aims to purchase up to 200 eVTOLs for India and build infrastructure. Flights could take just 7 minutes versus 60-90 minutes by car. Prominent uses would include urban air mobility, cargo, medical services and more. Subject to approvals, it marks a major step toward electric aviation in India's urban centers.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met in New Delhi ahead of the fifth India-US 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue. The discussions, set to include Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin, aim to comprehensively review the expanding strategic ties between the two nations. Blinken expressed the strength of the bilateral partnership and regional collaboration, highlighting the shared focus on the Indo-Pacific. The dialogue will delve into defense cooperation, Indo-Pacific strategies, people-to-people ties, and more, further cementing the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership.