IMD Issues Yellow Alert As Cold Wave, Dense Fog Grip Multiple States- Check Full Forecast

As bone-chilling temperatures grip northern and central India, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert for several states, warning of intensifying cold wave conditions across Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, North Interior Karnataka, North Interior Odisha, Telangana and West Madhya Pradesh on Thursday, December 11.

The Supreme Court has ruled that Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, OBC, and EWS candidates are eligible for general category posts if they meet the general cutoff marks. This decision, inspired by the Indra Sawhney case, allows reserved category candidates to be considered on merit for unreserved posts, preventing them from being barred despite higher scores.

Dense fog over Lucknow caused significant disruption for Air India Express flights on January 2 and 4. One Boeing 737 MAX 8 circled the city 28 times across two mornings, ultimately returning to Delhi without landing due to poor visibility. Other flights also faced substantial delays.

A 7-km twin-tube tunnel is planned to connect Chaumasi to Sonprayag, improving connectivity and safety for Kedarnath pilgrims. This project aims to reduce travel time and provide an emergency escape route, complementing the upcoming Sonprayag-Kedarnath ropeway. The government is prioritizing detailed geological studies for the tunnel construction.

A Bihar youth, duped by cybercriminals, arrived at the prestigious LBSNAA in Mussoorie for IAS training, only to be stopped at the gate.He had paid Rs 30,000 after receiving forged UPSC results and a fake selection letter.Police are investigating this elaborate scam targeting aspiring civil servants.

Official audits for years warned of public health risks from contaminated drinking water in Madhya Pradesh, citing over 5.45 lakh water-borne disease cases in Bhopal and Indore between 2013-2018. Despite these alerts, systemic lapses in monitoring and testing by urban local bodies persisted, leading to faecal coliform detection in water supplies and potential health impacts for lakhs of residents.

Indore health officials declared a waterborne disease outbreak in Bhagirathpura an epidemic after 10 deaths. Specialized national and state teams are investigating the contamination source. Narmada water supply remains suspended, with residents instructed on borewell and tank chlorination. Clean water is being supplied via tankers, and affected patients receive free treatment.

A groundbreaking oral treatment for thalassemia, Mitapivat, has received US FDA approval, offering hope for adults with this genetic blood disorder. This novel therapy targets the disease's root cause, potentially reducing the lifelong burden of blood transfusions and iron chelation.

NHAI has identified 424 "telecom black spots" totaling 1,750 km on highways and expressways, urging TRAI to direct operators to improve mobile network coverage. This lack of connectivity hinders emergency communication and highway operations. NHAI also proposed free, proactive SMS alerts for accident-prone zones, including those with stray cattle, to enhance road user safety.

Around 30,000 Goans surrendered Indian passports in a decade for foreign nationality, primarily Portuguese. Now, their parents, who registered births in Portugal, face scrutiny from the Election Commission. This action aims to verify electoral roll entries of individuals who acquired foreign passports and citizenship.

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan unveiled 184 new crop varieties, including 122 cereals and 22 Bt cotton, aimed at boosting productivity and climate resilience. These advancements, developed by ICAR, universities, and private firms, will be available to farmers within three years. Chouhan highlighted India's significant rice production, surpassing China, solidifying its global food supplier status.

Congress plans a long-term sensitization campaign for MGNREGA workers, drawing inspiration from the farm laws stir. Unlike the farmer protests, the current agitation faces challenges mobilizing the poor working class for prolonged struggle. The party aims to educate workers about potential impacts of new policies, acknowledging the battle will be prolonged.

Two months into Bengal's electoral roll revision, citizens face confusion and difficulties regaining their voting rights due to document discrepancies and unclear directives. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has criticized the "unplanned, arbitrary" process, highlighting instances of elderly and infirm voters being summoned for hearings, leading to widespread public outcry.

Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has labeled Congress's 'MGNREGA Bachao Sangram' as 'Bhrashtachaar Bachao Sangram,' accusing the opposition of spreading misinformation about the new 'Viksit Bharat- Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act.

A Class 10 student, investigated for rape of a pregnant minor, was found dead in a field in UP's Kaushambi district. The boy's family claims he was distressed after an FIR was filed against him. Police are investigating the circumstances of his death.

An accused student in a Himachal Pradesh college ragging and sexual harassment case, where a classmate died, denied all charges in a social media video. She claimed innocence for herself and two other accused students, asserting they were all classmates and belonged to the same Scheduled Caste community.

A 47-year-old GRP constable, Dinesh Kumar, sustained a shoulder injury from an accidental discharge of his service weapon while on duty at Kathua railway station Saturday night. He has been admitted to the Government Medical College and Hospital in Jammu for treatment following the incident.

Jammu and Kashmir's legislative assembly will convene on February 2nd in Jammu, with Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha delivering the inaugural address. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, also finance minister, is slated to present the budget for 2026-27 later in the session. This marks Sinha's third address and Abdullah's second budget presentation.

Police in Jammu and Reasi districts have booked multiple property owners for renting to unverified tenants, intensifying checks ahead of Republic Day. In Reasi's Katra, a group of unverified tenants from outside the state were found residing in jhuggis after a violent quarrel.

Nandigram is the assembly constituency of West Bengal Leader of the Opposition and BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, from where he won in the 2021 Assembly polls. 

Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar reviews NHPC hydroelectric projects across Reasi, Ramban, and Kishtwar dsitricts in Jammu & Kashmir during a two-day visit to the state. He inspected Salal Power Station on the Chenab River amid Indus Waters Treaty suspension. 

Nigerian authorities apprehended 22 Indian sailors aboard the MV Aruna Hulya at Lagos port after discovering 31.5 kilograms of cocaine. This incident follows previous drug seizures at the same port, including the arrest of Filipino sailors with cocaine from Brazil and an ongoing investigation into a large cocaine importation.

West Bengal SIR: In a letter to CEC Gyanesh Kumar, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee alleged that critical instructions related to the SIR process are being communicated informally through messages on WhatsApp and text messages. 

Marking 25 years of the LCA Tejas fighter program, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal AP Singh inaugurated the two-day ‘Aeronautics 2047’ national seminar at Bengaluru’s Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS) organised by Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) on Sunday.

North India's dense winter fog has led to a viral video showcasing an ingenious solution for navigating zero visibility. A man perched on a car's bonnet guides the driver with hand signals, turning a perilous drive into an improvised navigation exercise. This creative approach, dubbed 'ADAS Level 4,' has amused netizens and highlighted the resourcefulness of Indian youth.

Republic Day 2026: The Ministry of Defence said the tickets can be purchased directly from the Aamantran website. The information related to the Republic Day Celebration 2026 may be viewed on the official website. 

European Union leaders to attend India's Republic Day 2026 celebrations as chief guests on January 26, coinciding with an India-EU Summit amid the ongoing Free Trade Agreement negotiations. 

EAM S Jaishankar will be visiting France and Luxemborg from 4th to 9th January announced Ministry of External Affairs on Sunday.

Nepal’s interim Prime Minister’s husband, Subedi, will travel to Delhi for medical treatment after showing no improvement in his condition. Doctors have so far been unable to identify any specific illness despite ongoing observation.

Former Nepali Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' is scheduled to visit New Delhi to participate in an event organised by the Nepali diaspora community.