Education Minister Ashish Sood said on Sunday that the Delhi government will set up medical rooms in all 1,086 government schools at a cost of ₹48.87 crore to provide immediate first aid and care to students during school hours.

The medical rooms will provide basic first aid, including wound dressing, administration of ORS and temporary rest under trained supervision. However, diagnostic services and prescription medicines will not be provided in schools.

Mr. Sood said a trained health worker, such as an Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM) or a multipurpose health worker, will be engaged in each school to address immediate health needs and provide adolescent health support.

“Every child in our government schools deserves a safe and caring environment. When a student falls sick or gets hurt during school hours, parents and teachers should have peace of mind knowing that immediate first aid and proper care are readily available right inside the school campus,” he said.

He said the scheme, aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, aimed to make schools safe, inclusive and supportive spaces.

Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) on Saturday shifted all classes online and said the campus gates, libraries and canteens would remain closed until further notice to ensure “student safety” amid an ongoing protest demanding the restoration of student union elections. The decision followed a failed attempt by the administration to “persuade” the protesters to call off their agitation, the university said in a statement.

The protesting students and the All India Students’ Association (AISA) alleged that the university staff tried to forcibly remove them from the protest site on Saturday afternoon while police deployment outside the campus increased.

The university said the decision to move classes online with immediate effect was a precautionary measure taken in view of the prevailing situation and to ensure the safety and security of students. In a notice issued on Saturday, the office of the Dean of Students’ Welfare directed students to follow their online class schedules and avoid visiting the campus until further notice.

Several students have been on a hunger strike since October 12, demanding the restoration of student union elections, which were last held in 2006 before the union was dissolved following campus violence. JMI had constituted a high-level committee on October 18 to engage with the protesting students and look into their demands.

Mantasha, an AISA member, alleged that university staff attempted to forcibly remove the protesters while faculty members watched without intervening. “None of the professors intervened when students were being dragged. Girls were being dragged by their clothes and treated badly by the Jamia administration and its staff. They were all present there and watching. We will remember this day. The Jamia administration, staff and professors should all be ashamed,” the AISA member said.

Nausheen Farooq, a student associated with the Fraternity Movement, a youth organisation, alleged that the administration’s crackdown began around 12.30 p.m., with non-teaching staff, guards and other university personnel attempting to dismantle the protest site and remove the tents.

‘Students manhandled’

“Students were being manhandled by the staff. They were attempting to clear our protest site and remove the tents. All gates were closed and students were not being allowed to enter,” Ms. Farooq said.

The students also alleged that police deployment outside the university gates has increased and several who gathered outside the campus were detained. They said they resisted the attempts to clear the protest site and would continue their agitation until their demands are met.

“We will not leave until all our demands are met and the student union is restored,” Ms. Farooq said.

In its statement, the university expressed dismay over incidents of “vandalism and the defacement” of campus walls with what it described as “highly objectionable slogans”.

The university said a gathering of faculty members and staff unanimously adopted two resolutions in a meeting held earlier in the day, including an appeal to the protesting students to vacate the Ghalib statue lawns and call off their agitation. It mentioned that Gate No. 18 was the designated site for protests and alleged that the students had occupied the Ghalib statue lawns illegally.

‘Negotiation attempts’

The university also pointed to its October 21 notification stating that disciplinary action taken or initiated against students in connection with protests over issues arising from October 12 up to 5.30 p.m. on October 21 would be reviewed. However, the administration said the move had “failed to bring the protesters to the negotiating table”.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah reached the Delhi Police headquarters on Saturday (October 24, 2026) afternoon to take stock of the law and order situation in the national capital, officials said.

The recent protests by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), the fight against drugs, action against gangsters operating from abroad and crimes against women are likely to figure in Shah’s discussions with senior officers, police sources said.

Mr. Shah reached the police headquarters on Jai Singh Road around 3 p.m., where senior officers will brief him on the force’s performance, ongoing investigations and key law enforcement challenges, they said.

The visit comes amid heightened scrutiny of the Delhi Police over allegations of using excessive force against protesters during the CJP’s ‘Sansad Chalo’ march in July.

The meeting is expected to review the circumstances surrounding the protest, the police response and measures taken to prevent similar incidents in the future, the sources said.

The Home Minister’s visit is also expected to boost the morale of the force, which has been under fire of late over its handling of protests, they said.

The meeting will also provide an opportunity for the senior leadership to discuss operational challenges and outline the steps taken to maintain law and order in the capital.

Mr. Shah’s visit marks his return to the Delhi Police headquarters after more than four years. He last visited the police headquarters on August 30, 2022.

The meeting is also expected to focus on the government’s key priorities, including curbing drug trafficking, dismantling criminal networks of gangsters based overseas, and strengthening action against crimes targeting women, the sources said.

The Delhi Police have busted a cyber fraud network involving 37 suspected mule bank accounts that received ₹7.36 crore in connection with 99 complaints registered across India. Six people, including five bankers, have been arrested, officials said on Friday.

The arrested bankers included Shobhit Aggarwal, branch manager of Catholic Syrian Bank (CSB Bank) in Saraswati Vihar, and four members of the bank’s sales team. The branch manager of the Tri Nagar branch, Sushant Kumar, has not yet been apprehended.

The sixth accused, Mayank Kapoor, 35, allegedly used forged signatures and KYC documents obtained from unsuspecting daily-wage labourers to facilitate the opening of fraudulent bank accounts. A portion of the proceeds was allegedly converted into cryptocurrency, officials said.

The investigation uncovered 17 suspected mule accounts at the Saraswati Vihar branch and 20 at the Tri Nagar branch of CSB Bank.

According to the police, the investigation began after scrutiny of mule account data identified the Tri Nagar branch as a suspected centre for opening such accounts.

“A preliminary inquiry revealed that the purported holder of one account had neither visited the branch nor applied to open it. The addresses linked to two other suspected mule accounts at the branch could not be verified,” a police officer said.

“A technical analysis of registered mobile numbers, email IDs, linked devices and email connections led investigators to Kapoor, who was arrested from Baba Haridas Nagar in Delhi,” the officer added.

During interrogation, Kapoor allegedly told the police that he had contacted daily-wage labourers over the phone on the pretext of loan approval and obtained their KYC documents and photographs through WhatsApp. He also arranged SIM cards in their names and used the documents, photographs and SIM cards to facilitate the opening of mule accounts, the police said.

The police said Kapoor came into contact with Aggarwal, who allegedly helped process the account applications. Aggarwal later introduced him to Sushant Kumar, the Tri Nagar branch manager.

The accounts were allegedly opened without the purported account holders being physically present, and forged signatures were used on the applications. The applications were processed by four members of the bank’s sales team — Manoj, Ankur Kumar, Fatma and Pankaj Pandey — and subsequently approved by the branch managers.

Aggarwal, Manoj, Ankur Kumar, Fatma and Pankaj Pandey were arrested on October 18. Kapoor had been arrested earlier during the investigation.

The police recovered 63 Aadhaar cards, 60 PAN cards, 55 passport-size photographs and 11 SIM cards allegedly intended for use in opening bank accounts. They also seized seven mobile phones, seven cheque books, seven debit cards, a laptop, ₹60,000 in cash and approximately 150 grams of gold jewellery.

Investigators also found that Kapoor used the Trust Wallet application to receive and transfer Tether (USDT), a cryptocurrency allegedly linked to the proceeds of crime.

The case has been registered under Sections 317(2), 317(5), 338, 336(3), 340 and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Further investigation is under way to identify others involved in the racket and trace the proceeds of crime.

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has approved a proposal to provide CT scan and MRI services at rates 20% below Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) rates at three of its hospitals, Standing Committee chairperson Satya Sharma said on Tuesday.

The facilities will be introduced at Hindu Rao Hospital, Swami Dayanand Hospital and Rajan Babu Institute of Pulmonary Medicine and Tuberculosis under a public-private partnership (PPP) model, with a private agency investing an estimated ₹120 crore over a 10-year concession period, as per a press release.

“The aim is to provide modern healthcare facilities at affordable rates to the common citizens of Delhi, particularly patients from economically weaker sections,” Ms. Sharma said.

Under the project, each of the three hospitals will be equipped with a minimum of three 128-slice CT scan machines and three 1.5 Tesla MRI machines across the facilities. The hospitals will also have a Radiology Information System/Picture Archiving and Communication System (RIS/PACS) to enable digital reporting and management of diagnostic records.

The estimated investment of ₹120 crore includes around ₹40 crore towards capital expenditure, including the installation of machines and other infrastructure, and approximately ₹80 crore in operational expenses over the concession period. The entire expenditure will be borne by the private agency, while the MCD will provide the required space and retain ownership of the premises.

Ms. Sharma said the initiative would help residents access essential medical investigations at more affordable rates and improve the availability of modern diagnostic facilities in the corporation-run hospitals.

Students on hunger strike demanding the restoration of Jamia Millia Islamia’s students’ union elections alleged they were “forcibly removed” from the protest site around 5.30 a.m. on Saturday, triggering further protests. The administration, however, denied using force and said the students were asked to vacate the spot as they were protesting outside the designated area.

Several students have been staging a hunger strike since October 12 demanding the restoration of student union elections that were last held in 2006.

The university authorities initiated disciplinary action against two students, who initiated the strike. On Saturday, Ebin Basil, the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) unit general secretary at JMI, said he received a one-year rustication notice while Jasim Ali, a postgraduate student, got a six-month campus ban order.

The Jamia unit of the NSUI, in a statement, said, “Approximately 60 security guards, accompanied by the chief proctor and security advisor, arrived at the protest site and forcibly dragged away the students.”

Students ‘detained’

Students also alleged that at least 12 protesters were detained by the police while staging a demonstration against their forcible removal.

However, a senior police officer said they were “removed” from the campus gate for “destroying public property” and released in the evening without any charges.

The administration announced that the campus will remain closed for five days to celebrate the upcoming festivals.

‘Supressing dissent’

The action comes amid growing concern among Delhi students over a shrinking space for dissent. Activists have highlighted the recent denotification of Jantar Mantar as a protest site, daily detentions, and the imposition of Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) across parts of the capital.

JMI has not held student union elections since 2006, when they were dissolved following campus violence. A university spokesperson said, “We have received no written representation regarding the matter. Over the years, elections have evolved and we conduct department-centric student elections, which have served the campus well.”

Last year, a controversy erupted in February when 14 students were detained by the police from inside the campus for allegedly vandalising public property and disturbing law and order. The students were protesting against administrative clampdowns on democracy and freedom of speech inside the campus.

Since then, the university has doubled down on protests on campus. In October last year, the university earmarked one spot near gate number 18 as the designated protest site, leaving the rest of campus “out of bounds” for protests. 

(With inputs from Lavpreet Kaur)

The Delhi government has approved the setting up of the Go-Delhi Foundation, an initiative aimed at promoting startups, innovation and entrepreneurship in the capital. The foundation will provide young people, researchers and entrepreneurs with integrated support to turn their ideas into practical products and successful enterprises, the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) said in a statement on Sunday. It will have an initial budgetary outlay of ₹50 crore.

The Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, recently approved the foundation and sanctioned funds to help turn ideas into products and bring them to market.

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the initiative is an important step towards bringing together Delhi’s existing entrepreneurial capabilities, educational institutions and research facilities. “Delhi has nearly 21,000 start-ups recognised by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT). Through the Go-Delhi Foundation, these resources will be brought together on a common platform, with a focus on developing new enterprises, attracting investment and creating employment opportunities,” she said.

The foundation will help startups and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) access product engineering, prototyping, laboratory and testing facilities. It will also offer mentorship and support entrepreneurs at different stages, from product development and testing to certification preparation and market access, Ms. Gupta said.

The foundation will be established as a not-for-profit company under Section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013, and function under the Delhi government’s Department of Industries.

Real-world solutions

Government departments will be able to bring their real-world challenges to Delhi’s innovators through the foundation, Ms. Gupta said. Products and technologies developed to address these challenges could be tested through pilot projects, with successful solutions taken forward for adoption.

“This would give government departments an opportunity to access new technologies and practical solutions, while allowing startups to demonstrate the usefulness of their products. The initiative would seek to strengthen collaboration among the government, industry, educational institutions and innovators,” the CMO statement said.

Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav, on Saturday interacted with representatives of start-ups and innovation companies working on air pollution mitigation, with a focus on developing practical, scalable and technology-driven solutions to address the air pollution challenge in Delhi-NCR.

Innovative approaches for low-cost mechanised road sweeping, monitoring road-dust resuspension, portable pothole repair and modular dust-containment systems were also discussed.

The Minister informed that the main focus of the interaction was on using artificial intelligence, sensors, remote sensing, satellite and drone-based technologies and data analytics to move towards real-time understanding of air pollution. He said that solutions presented by the innovators include hyperlocal air-quality monitoring, city-wide pollution mapping, hotspot identification and forecasting, AI-based source apportionment, real-time identification of pollution sources and predictive traffic-congestion management.

Technologies were displayed for 24×7 detection of stubble and open biomass burning, as well as automated identification of vehicles without valid PUC (Pollution Under Control) certificates and over-aged vehicles, which could further strengthen timely enforcement and intervention, he added.

Some of these companies are already working with different government bodies and more are expected to work with the government in different levels in the coming months, an official said.

The Delhi High Court on Thursday questioned the jail authorities over delays in implementing the Supreme Court’s directions to provide open and semi-open prison facilities in the Capital.

Open and semi-open prisons are less restrictive correctional facilities available to eligible inmates.

A Bench of Acting Chief Justice Nitin Wasudeo Sambre and Justice Sanjay Sharma referred to the Supreme Court’s February 26, 2026, order, noting that it had prescribed a timeline for implementing its directions.

In its February 26, 2026, order, the Supreme Court directed States and Union Territories to address prison overcrowding, assess existing open correctional facilities, frame time-bound plans to fill vacancies and constitute monitoring committees within three months.

“Not only is the calendar not adhered to, but even substantial time, or double the time prescribed in the order has expired. There are no positive developments in the matter,” the Bench remarked.

The Bench directed the authorities to submit a flow chart detailing the progress made since the Supreme Court’s order. It said it would consider proceeding against the Director-General of Prisons if the explanation is unsatisfactory.

“If not satisfied, we will proceed against your DG (Prisons),” the court said, directing the authorities to submit the flow chart by October 27. The matter has been listed for October 28.

During the hearing, the Special Secretary (Home), who was present in court, said the Delhi government and prison authorities had held meetings on the issue.

He said the existing capacity of open prisons was 10 inmates, while semi-open prison facilities could accommodate around 76 inmates. Of the latter, Tihar Jail had a capacity of 40, with 24 inmates occupying the facilities, while Mandoli Jail had a capacity of 36, with 26 inmates.

Referring to the Supreme Court’s observation that occupancy in Delhi’s open and semi-open prison facilities had been as low as 6%, the officer said it had now increased to more than 50%.

The court, however, raised concerns over the functioning of the prison administration and how privileges were granted to certain prisoners.

“On the administrative side, under orders of the Supreme Court, we have a committee headed by a senior judge here. And all was not well during our last visit,” it said.

The court observed that some barracks housed only six prisoners enjoying such privileges, while others housed 300 or more.

“Your DG (Prison) is a mute spectator to all this. And nobody is answerable to this…,” the court remarked.