Our AI futures cannot be things we merely inherit. They must be things we collectively make (PTI Photo)Happy New Year 2026 Celebrations Live Updates: Happy New Year! The clock struck 12 in India, and celebrations for the New Year swept across the country late evening. Early on January 1, 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his greetings to citizens and prayed for peace and happiness in the society. Kiribati, an island country, was the first to ring in the new year last evening, followed by New Zealand.
Happy New Year 2026 Wishes Images, Quotes, Photos, Greetings, Messages
How did India welcome New Year?: Devotees across India took to temples, shrines and holy rivers to mark the beginning of the year. From devotees reaching famous temples in New Delhi, including Jhandewalan Temple and the Sai Baba Temple at Lodhi Road, to offer prayers for peace, prosperity and good health, crowds gathered to take a holy dip in the Ganga river in Uttar Pradesh, ANI reported.
Weather on Jan 1, 2026: While dense fog and low visibility conditions prevailed over parts of India Thursday morning, leading to flight disruptions, Mumbai ushered in the New Year with drizzles as unseasonal showers swept pockets of the city and its neighbouring districts, bringing respite from the haze and suspended dust particles, as the Air Quality Index (AQI) dipped to 116.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta prayed at the Marghat Wale Hanuman temple on the first day of new year for prosperity and happiness of the people.
She extended her wishes to the people of the city for 2026 and said, "May the new year bring development and prosperity for Delhi".
"All of us together will endeavour with full dedication to make a better, Viksit Delhi," she said.
(PTI)
Devotees gathered in large numbers at the Omkareshwar temple in Gujarat to offer prayers on the first day of 2026.
The temple premises witnessed a festive atmosphere as people ushered in the New Year with devotion.
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsVIDEO | Gujarat: Devotees gather at Omkareshwar temple, in large numbers, to offer prayer on the beginning of the year 2026. #newyear2026 #gujarat
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 1, 2026
(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/gbqsYw7Dif
(PTI)
Thousands of devotees on Thursday thronged the pilgrim city of Puri and made a beeline for the 12th-century shrine to have darshan of sibling deities - Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra and Lord Jagannath - on New Year's Day.
The gates of the temple opened at 1.55 am as announced by the administration.
The devotees consider that seeking the Lord's blessings on the first day of the year would bring success to them. Very few elderly people were seen in the queue before the temple, an official said, adding that it was a craze among the young people to offer prayers at the temple on the occasion.
(PTI)
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla Thursday greeted people on New Year 2026, urging them to move forward with new motivation and confidence, happiness in life, and collective resolve to make the country better and progress further.
He said the New Year marks a new beginning and renewed belief to achieve our goals, news agency PTI reported.
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsVIDEO | Delhi: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla greets people on New Year 2026, urging them to move forward with new motivation and confidence, happiness in life, and collective resolve to make the country better and progress further. He said the New Year marks a new beginning and… pic.twitter.com/mwwN66O56H
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 1, 2026
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta Thursday offered prayers at Marghatwale Hanuman Mandir on the occasion of New Year.
Speaking to reporters, Gupta said, "I wish everyone happy new year 2026. May the coming year bring development, prosperity for Delhi. I prayed for happiness and prosperity for people of Delhi."
Earlier in the day, Gupta also congratulated the citizens on the occasion of the New Year, wishing them a year that's "auspicious, joyful, and filled with achievements."
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsVIDEO | Delhi CM Rekha Gupta (@gupta_rekha) offers prayers at Marghatwale Hanuman Mandir on the occasion of New Year, says, "I wish everyone happy new year 2026. May the coming year bring development, prosperity for Delhi. I prayed for happiness and prosperity for people of… pic.twitter.com/rtpfTS5bWB
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 1, 2026
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsआप सभी को आंग्ल नववर्ष की हार्दिक बधाई एवं शुभकामनाएँ।
— Rekha Gupta (@gupta_rekha) January 1, 2026
नववर्ष का यह शुभ अवसर दिल्ली के प्रत्येक नागरिक के जीवन में नई आशा, सकारात्मक ऊर्जा और सतत प्रगति का संदेश लेकर आए। ईश्वर से प्रार्थना है कि आने वाला समय आपके प्रयासों को सफल बनाए तथा आपका जीवन सुख, समृद्धि और उत्तम… pic.twitter.com/5DG9pmAcde
Tourists welcomed the first sunrise of 2026 at Jabalpur’s Dhuandhar Waterfall, as mist enveloped the skies in Madhya Pradesh, PTI shared visuals.
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsVIDEO | Madhya Pradesh: Tourists welcome the first sunrise of 2026 at Jabalpur’s Dhuandhar Waterfall, as misty cascades shimmer in the morning light.#dhuandharwaterfall #jabalpur #firstsunrise2026
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 1, 2026
(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/PSfSJxFg3e
Devotees across India chose faith and prayer to mark the beginning of the year 2026, with temples, shrines and holy rivers witnessing massive footfalls early Thursday, news agency PTI reported sharing visuals from different parts of the country.
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsVIDEO | New Year 2026: Devotees throng Varanasi's Kashi Vishwanath Temple to seek blessings on the first day of the year amid tight security. pic.twitter.com/joJjWBuSFs
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 1, 2026
Devotees at Varanasi's Kashi Vishwanath Temple.
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsVIDEO | Maharashtra: Devotees visit the Ganesh Tekdi Temple in Nagpur on New Year, offering prayers to mark the beginning of 2026.#ganeshtekdi #nagpur #newyear2026
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 1, 2026
(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/746zD1PIHj
Devotees at Ganesh Tekdi Temple in Nagpur.
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsVIDEO | Uttar Pradesh: Devotees gather at Mirzapur’s Vindhyachal Temple on the first day of 2026 to seek blessings from Maa Vindhyavasini.#vindhyachaltemple #mirzapur #newyear2026
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 1, 2026
(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/pil6lBv70N
Devotees gather at Mirzapur’s Vindhyachal Temple (UP).
Devotees thronged Patna’s Mahavir Mandir on the first day of 2026, offering prayers and seeking blessings, as per visuals shared by PTI.
Down South, in Chennai, devotees visited the Vadapalani Murugan Temple to offer prayers.
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsVIDEO | Bihar: Devotees throng Patna’s Mahavir Mandir, offering prayers and seeking blessings on the first day of 2026.#newyear2026
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 1, 2026
(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/ZgngyF2g28
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsVIDEO | Chennai: New Year 2026 sees a steady stream of devotees at the Vadapalani Murugan Temple, as worshippers gather in large numbers to offer prayers.#vadapalanimurugantemple #chennai #newyear2026
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 1, 2026
(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/5JctoFr8Sj
Residents gathered at Tamil Nadu's Mukkadal Sangamam in Kanyakumari to witness the first sunrise of 2026, welcoming the New Year by the sea, PTI reported sharing visuals.
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsVIDEO | Tamil Nadu: People gather at Mukkadal Sangamam in Kanniyakumari to witness the first sunrise of 2026, welcoming the New Year by the sea.#firstsunrise2026 #kanniyakumari #tamilnadu
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 1, 2026
(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/D37CKMgWcb
Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Thursday said that his government was working to build a prosperous, just and sustainable Jharkhand by 2050.
Extending New Year greetings, Soren stated, "The arrival of New Year 2026 is not merely the beginning of a new year, but also a significant step towards the construction of a golden Jharkhand as envisioned by our valiant ancestors."
"Jharkhand has traversed a long journey of struggle, determination, and possibilities in the past years. In this journey, the role of the state's citizens, especially the tribal, indigenous, farmers, labourers, women, and youth communities, has been extremely crucial. We have taken several important steps towards social justice, public welfare, and inclusive development," he wrote over a post on X.
"Now, the goal of 'Yuva Jharkhand' is even clearer - to build a prosperous, just, and sustainable Jharkhand by 2050," he underlined.
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsनव वर्ष 2026 की सभी को हार्दिक बधाई, शुभकामनाएं और जोहार।
— Hemant Soren (@HemantSorenJMM) December 31, 2025
नव वर्ष 2026 का आगमन केवल एक नए वर्ष की शुरुआत नहीं है, बल्कि यह हमारे वीर पुरुखों के सपनों के सोना झारखण्ड के निर्माण की तरफ एक महत्वपूर्ण कदम भी है।
वर्ष 2025 में झारखण्ड राज्य निर्माता दिशाेम गुरुजी आदरणीय शिबू सोरेन… pic.twitter.com/GtMoZx6Oax
Andhra Pradesh Governor S Abdul Nazeer, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and opposition leader YS Jagan Mohan Reddy Thursday extended New Year greetings to the people of the state.
The Governor noted that the New Year offers hope for a bright future, fresh opportunities and inspiration to achieve new goals.
"I wish the New Year brings cheer, happiness, peace and prosperity to all," said Nazeer in a Lok Bhavan press release.
Extending heartfelt wishes, Naidu said the year 2025 delivered unforgettable successes under the NDA coalition government and marked a major turning point for Andhra Pradesh's journey from "destruction towards development".
"I sincerely wish that the New Year 2026, beginning as per the English calendar, fills everyone's lives with new light. I promise to work towards delivering double happiness, welfare, and development to the people this year," the ruling TDP supremo said in a social media post.
Here's a video of the first sunrise of New Year in Andhra:
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsThe first sunrise of 2026, from the Sunrise State! (Araku valley, Andhra Pradesh). pic.twitter.com/4WkXqicJQP
— N Chandrababu Naidu (@ncbn) January 1, 2026
Mumbai ushered in the New Year with drizzles as unseasonal showers swept pockets of the city and its neighbouring districts Thursday morning, bringing respite from the haze and suspended dust particles, as the Air Quality Index (AQI) dipped to 116.
Several pockets of Mumbai, including Mulund, Andheri, Bandra, Dadar, Lower Parel, and the eastern suburbs, woke up to drizzle.
Meanwhile, parts of South and Central Mumbai witnessed heavy showers for nearly 30 minutes. In the neighbouring districts, areas like Thane experienced light rain.
Vice President C P Radhakrishnan on Thursday extended new year greetings, expressing hope that 2026 strengthens the resolve to make India a stronger nation.
Over a post on X, he hoped that the year ahead brings peace, good health, happiness and prosperity to all.
He also prayed that it would strengthen people's collective resolve to build a stronger and developed India.
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsWarm greetings and best wishes to everyone on the New Year 2026. May the year ahead bring peace, good health, happiness, and prosperity to all, and strengthen our collective resolve to build a stronger and developed India.
— Vice-President of India (@VPIndia) January 1, 2026
Happy New Year! The clock struck 12 in India, and celebrations for the New Year swept across the country late evening.
Early on January 1, 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his greetings to citizens and prayed for peace and happiness in the society.
Kiribati, an island country, was the first to ring in the new year last evening, followed by New Zealand.
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsWishing everyone a wonderful 2026!
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 1, 2026
May the year ahead bring good health and prosperity, with success in your efforts and fulfilment in all that you do. Praying for peace and happiness in our society.
An aerial view of tourists and locals gathering at the Ridge during New Year celebration in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh. (PTI Photo)
Amid the winter chill, fireworks and music, as the clock struck 12, India welcomed the New Year, 2024.
Drones light up the night sky to celebrate the New Year in Busan, South Korea. (Photo: AP)
Kochi Police Commissioner Putta Vimaladitya on Wednesday said around two lakh people are expected to gather in Fort Kochi for New Year celebrations, adding that detailed security, crowd management and traffic arrangements have been put in place.
Pope Leo XIV leaves after a moment of prayer in front of the nativity scene that adorns St.Peter's Square at the Vatican. Photo: AP)
Pope Leo XIV closed out 2025 on Wednesday with a prayer that the city of Rome might be a welcoming place for foreigners and fragile people, young and old.
Leo presided over a New Year’s Eve vespers service in St. Peter’s Basilica, giving thanks for the 2025 Holy Year that brought millions of pilgrims to Rome in the once-every-quarter-century celebration of Christianity.
“What can we wish for Rome? That it may be worthy of its little ones. Of children, of lonely and fragile elderly people, of families who struggle to get by, of men and women who have come from afar hoping for a dignified life,” he said.
Fireworks are launched above the My Dinh national stadium in Hanoi, Vietnam. (AP Photo)
The countdown clocks are projected on the buildings as people gather in the Central district to celebrate the start of 2026, in Hong Kong (Photo: AP)
People strike a giant bell to celebrate the New Year at the Zojoji Buddhist temple, minutes after midnight in Tokyo. (AP Photo)
The illuminated Golden Temple on New Year’s eve, in Amritsar (Photo: PTI)
China, Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines have become the latest countries to enter 2026.
After Kiribati, New Zealand and Australia, it was the turn of three Asian countries, Japan, South Korea and North Korea to welcome 2026.
Extending New Year greetings, Lt Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah wished the people of Jammu and Kashmir peace, good health and prosperity, expressing hope that the coming year would bring renewed opportunities, progress and collective well-being for the region.
In a message, LG Sinha said, "On the occasion of the New Year, I extend my greetings and best wishes to all the citizens. The New Year festivity brings new hopes and opportunities in our life.
In his separate message, Abdullah expressed hope that the New Year would usher in renewed optimism, harmony and opportunities for progress across Jammu and Kashmir.
He said the occasion offers a moment to reflect on shared aspirations and to reaffirm collective commitment towards building a more inclusive, resilient and prosperous Jammu and Kashmir.
As West Bengal rings in the New Year, the hills of north Bengal are likely to witness a wintry start, with the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC), Kolkata, forecasting light snowfall and rain in Darjeeling district on January 1 and 2.
According to the IMD, light rain is also likely at isolated places in Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar districts during the first two days of January.
Security in Sydney – and across Australia – has been massively stepped up in the wake of the terror attack at Bondi Beach Hanukkah event on December 14, in which 15 people were killed and dozens more were injured when gunmen opened fire on the celebration attended by more than 1,000 people, The Guardian reported.
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns has urged the people of Sydney to “square your shoulders, puff out your chest and walk out” to celebrate tonight as a show of defiance after the attack, Australia’s deadliest mass shooting since 1996.
Puducherry Lieutenant-Governor K Kailashnathan, Chief Minister N Rangasamy, ministers, and leaders of various political parties extended New Year greetings to the people of the union territory in separate messages.
In his message, the governor said the dawn of a New Year always brings fresh hopes and new beginnings.
He noted that Puducherry recorded significant progress in the outgoing year and highlighted developments in the education and health sectors, as well as infrastructure improvements.
Chief Minister Rangasamy, in his message, said he was pleased with the cooperation extended by the people during 2025 and expressed hope that the same support would continue in the New Year.
Auckland rang in 2026 with a downtown fireworks display launched from New Zealand’s tallest structure, Sky Tower, making it the first major city to greet the new year at a celebration dampened by rain. Clocks struck midnight in Auckland, a population of 1.7 million, 18 hours before the ball drops in New York’s Times Square.
The five-minute display involved 3,500 fireworks launched from various floors of the 240-metre (787-foot) Sky Tower
Soon, celebrations will sweep across much of Australia’s east coast and move through East Asia, with North Korea, South Korea and Japan all set to welcome the new year, followed by China, Hong Kong and Taiwan.
Ahead of New Year’s Eve celebrations on Wednesday, the Hotel and Restaurant Association (Western India) (HRAWI) issued a detailed advisory to hotels, restaurants and bars, mandating strict prohibition on serving alcohol to minors, curbing over-serving of liquor and promoting responsible drinking and safe driving, amid heightened footfalls and late-night festivities across the city.
The advisory calls on hotels, restaurants and bars to immediately implement a set of mandatory measures aimed at ensuring celebrations remain safe, orderly and enjoyable for guests, staff and the wider public.
New Zealand will ring in the new year in 40 minutes.
Kiribati becomes the first country to welcome in the new year.
Police Commissioner V C Sajjanar, on New Year's Eve, using Deccani humour, issued a strong message to revellers, cautioning them against drunk driving.
In a series of posts on 'X', Sajjanar urged people to avoid getting behind the wheel after consuming alcohol.
"Miyaa, drink kiya? Toh steering ko salaam bolke cab pakdo. (If you are drunk, stay away from the steering wheel and take a cab.) Google ‘cab', not ‘lawyer'. Don't drink and drive, Hyderabad," he said.
In another post, he asserted that Hyderabad police have zero tolerance for drunk driving.
Emphasising responsible behaviour, Sajjanar also posted in Telugu, stating, "New Year ki best resolution: taagi drive cheyyakudadhu."(the best New Year's resolution is not to drink and drive).
-PTI
New Year 2026 Celebrations Live Updates: On security arrangements for New Year celebrations, SSP Dehradun Ajay Singh said, "In view of the New Year, police arrangements have been made in Dehradun and Rishikesh. Traffic management has been done so that passengers do not face any problems...The entire city has been divided into 22 sectors, zones...Barriers have been set up at 22 points where complaints will be addressed...All preparations have been completed..."
New Year 2026 Celebrations Live Updates: A group of Peruvian shamans gathered on a beach in southern Lima to perform their annual New Year ritual, delivering predictions for 2026 that included the fall of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and a serious illness for US President Donald Trump.
A group of Peruvian shamans gathered on a beach in southern Lima to perform their annual New Year ritual, delivering predictions for 2026 that included the fall of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and a serious illness for US President Donald Trump https://t.co/3k94IDkmgj pic.twitter.com/oVioJ3KWkn
— Reuters (@Reuters) December 30, 2025
New Year 2026 Celebrations Live Updates: On security arrangements ahead of New Year celebrations, Mandya SP Mallikarjun Baladandi said, "Strict action will be taken against those involved in drinking and driving during the New Year. We have also advised people to obtain prior permission before holding New Year celebrations at homestays, resorts, and other venues on December 31 and January 1. Additionally, 200 security personnel have been deployed."
VIDEO | Karnataka: On security arrangements ahead of New Year celebrations, Mandya SP Mallikarjun Baladandi says, "Strict action will be taken against those involved in drinking and driving during the New Year. We have also advised people to obtain prior permission before holding… pic.twitter.com/J3eIydqdZ8
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 31, 2025
New Year 2026 Celebrations Live Updates: An overwhelming surge of crowd witnessed at the Banke Bihari temple in Vrindavan of Mathura district, as devotees throng to offer prayers on the last day of the new year.
Yesterday, Mathura DM Chandra Prakash Singh said, "... I refute this rumour that people can't come to the temple... However, there is indeed a lot of footfall in Vrindavan right now."
#watch | Uttar Pradesh | An overwhelming surge of crowd witnessed at the Banke Bihari temple in Vrindavan of Mathura district, as devotees throng to offer prayers on the last day of the new year.
— ANI (@ANI) December 31, 2025
Yesterday, Mathura DM Chandra Prakash Singh said, "... I refute this rumour that… pic.twitter.com/GMNOiAb4LM
New Year 2026 Celebrations Live Updates: Banks across India will be closed today, Wednesday, December 31, on account of New Year’s Eve/Imoinu Iratpa, as per the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) 2025 holiday calendar, which is designated under the Negotiable Instruments Act, that has both RTGS holidays and other regional and national holidays.
Imoinu Iratpa is a regional religious observance primarily celebrated in the northeastern part of India, especially in Manipur, is dedicated to the goddess Imoinu (also spelt Emoinu), who is revered as the deity of wealth, prosperity and household well-being by the Meitei community.
In addition to Imoinu Iratpa, December 31 is also observed as New Year’s Eve in various parts of India and globally.
As we approach the end of 2025 and the start of the new year, 2026, December had a total of 18 official bank holidays scheduled, which included the mandatory weekly days off on the second Saturday and Sunday of each month.
New Year 2026 Celebrations Live Updates: As the sun sets on New Year’s Eve, Kolkata’s Park Street will begin to glow with festive lights, expected to swell with thousands of revellers. For Park Street and adjoining areas on New Year’s Eve, Metro Railway has announced extended services and a comprehensive security plan, intended to ensure smooth movement and public safety across Kolkata’s busiest corridors.
A massive security deployment will be in place at key stations, including Park Street, Esplanade, Maidan, Rabindra Sadan, Dum Dum and Dakshineswar. The Metro has also deployed additional women Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel to assist women and children amid the anticipated rush.
Quick Response Teams (QRTs) and standby emergency teams will be stationed at Park Street, Esplanade and Maidan to deal with any medical or security emergencies. The Central Control Room will monitor operations through round-the-clock CCTV surveillance, while ropes, loud hailers and queue managers will be used to prevent overcrowding on platforms.
New Year 2026 Celebrations Live Updates: Eating 12 Grapes at Midnight (Spain): In Spain, people eat 12 grapes as the clock strikes midnight, one grape for each chime. Each grape represents good luck for one month of the coming year. Finishing all twelve on time is believed to ensure a year filled with prosperity and happiness.
First-Footing Tradition (Scotland): In Scotland’s Hogmanay celebration, the first person to enter a home after midnight is believed to bring luck for the year. Ideally, the “first footer” carries gifts like coal, bread, or whiskey, symbols of warmth, food, and prosperity.
Jumping Off Chairs at Midnight (Denmark): In Denmark, people stand on chairs and jump off right as the clock strikes midnight. The act symbolizes “leaping” into the new year and is believed to chase away bad luck while welcoming positive beginnings.
Ringing Bells 108 Times (Japan): In Japan, Buddhist temples ring bells 108 times during Joya no Kane on New Year’s Eve. Each bell toll represents one of the 108 earthly desires believed to cause human suffering. Ringing them helps people enter the new year with a purified spirit.
Smashing Plates for Good Luck (Germany): In Germany, people take part in Polterabend, where plates and porcelain are smashed outside homes. The loud noise is believed to ward off evil spirits, and cleaning up the broken pieces together symbolizes cooperation and good fortune for the year ahead.
Wearing Colourful Underwear for Luck (Latin America): In countries like Mexico, Brazil, and Peru, people wear specific colours of underwear on New Year’s Eve. Red symbolizes love and passion, while yellow represents wealth and happiness, each colour chosen based on what one hopes to attract in the new year.
New Year 2026 Celebrations Live Updates: The Gig and Platform Service Workers Union (GIPSWU) has called for a nationwide strike on December 31, demanding better pay and working conditions and the discontinuation of 10-minute delivery guarantees for app-based delivery workers. The strike is likely to affect food delivery services, like Swiggy and Zomato, on New Year’s Eve.
Following a strike held on December 25, the union has urged gig workers across the country to participate in the protest. A list of 15 demands has been submitted to Union Minister of Labour and Employment Mansukh Mandaviya through a letter by the union’s president Seema Singh and national coordinator Nirmal Gorana.
The GIPSWU claims to be India’s first women-led national trade union representing gig and platform workers. Among the key demands are the discontinuation of 10- and 20-minute delivery service mandates; a minimum per-kilometre rate of Rs 20 for workers associated with platforms such as Zomato, Swiggy, Blinkit, Zepto, Flipkart and BigBasket; emergency leave and comprehensive maternity protection for women service workers; and an end to arbitrary ID blocking and punitive rating systems.
New Year 2026 Celebrations Live Updates: PUNE CITY Traffic Police have announced traffic changes including road closures in Pune Camp and Deccan Gymkhana area for the New Years Eve as large number of people gather in these areas for the celebrations. A concerted action will be taken against drunk drivers with check points to be set up at key locations in the city
Police have also notified ‘No Vehicle Zones’ on Fergusson College Road and Mahatma Gandhi (MG) Road. These traffic changes will be applicable from 5 pm on December 31 and will remain in force till the time crowds disperse in these areas in the early hours of January 1. An order in this regard was issued by Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Himmat Jadhav on Tuesday.
No Vehicle Zones will be notified on following arterial roads: From Good Luck Hotel Chowk to Fergusson College Main Gate on Fergusson College road. From the 15 August Chowk to Aurora Towers on the MG Road.
Traffic changes for Pune Camp area will be as follows: The traffic coming from Y Junction to MG Road will be stopped at the 15 August Chowk and will be diverted via Qureshi Masjid and Sujata Mastani Chowk.
New Year 2026 Celebrations Live Updates: As Bengaluru gets ready to welcome the New Year, the city police have chalked out a thorough plan to keep everyone secure during the celebrations, targeting busy spots and putting extra focus on women and young adults.
A press note from the commissioner of police outlined steps to handle large crowds safely, with popular zones like areas near MG Road, Koramangala, Indiranagar, Whitefield, Neeladri Road, Electronic City, and malls expected to see heavy crowds on New Year’s Eve.
The security measures include watch tower stands at key spots for better monitoring from above, umbrellas that mark safe zones, help with weather issues, and women’s help desks that offer quick support.
Drunk driving and reckless stunts will face strict penalties. Venues will have limited entry to match capacity, with controlled doors to stop overcrowding.
Some roads will restrict vehicles for smoother flow. Metro and bus schedules will be adjusted to ease crowd movement and cut delays. New tech tools will be used to boost tracking and safety checks.
New Year 2026 Celebrations Live Updates: The Chandigarh Police has announced special security measures for New Year’s eve celebrations on December 31 with a particular focus on women’s safety. At the forefront of these arrangements is the deployment of a special lady squad comprising 20 women police personnel, equipped with vehicles, to ensure law and order in sensitive areas such as pubs, malls, and busy markets. This will also assist the women in distress on the eve of New Year in Chandigarh.
In addition, lady staff PCR vehicles will be stationed at seven designated locations across the city to provide pick-and-drop assistance to women, offering secure transportation and quick response in case of a need during the festivities.
The police have detailed a comprehensive plan to maintain law and order across Chandigarh. A force of 1,000 personnel, excluding traffic and PCR staff, will be on duty, supported by 12 gazetted officers, 20 inspectors, and 16 SHOs. Security will be reinforced through 18 outer nakas, 44 internal nakas, and 16 joint traffic nakas. To aid visibility and safety, six “Aska lights” will be installed, while fire tenders will be positioned at five locations and three hydraulic ladders kept ready for emergencies.
New Year 2026 Celebrations Live Updates: Heightened vigil along the border, stepped-up search operations, and a ban on the use of VPN services at various places in the hinterland are some of the measures being taken by the Jammu and Kashmir Police and security forces to check terror activity across the Union Territory ahead of the New Year.
Officials said security forces and police have jointly launched cordon and search operations at various locations in the Chenab Valley and Pir Panjal regions. Pointing out that these operations have been going on for the past few days following inputs about the movement of terrorists, sources said that searches have been in progress in over half a dozen places in the adjoining Doda and Kishtwar districts.
These areas include Chatru, Singhpur, Domail, Keshwan, Thackrai, Naidgam and the upper reaches of Doda, bordering Kishtwar, sources said, adding that security forces and police had also established contact with terrorists at some of these places in the recent past.
Two groups of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) men, comprising nearly half a dozen terrorists, are reportedly present in both the districts, apart from the longest surviving Hizbul Mujahideen commander Jahangir Saroori, officials said.
New Year 2026 Celebrations Live Updates: With large crowds expected to usher in the New Year, the Delhi Traffic Police Tuesday issued an advisory announcing traffic restrictions, parking arrangements and alternate routes in and around Connaught Place and nearby areas on December 31.
According to the advisory, special traffic arrangements will come into force from 7 pm onwards on December 31 and will remain effective until the conclusion of New Year celebrations. The restrictions will apply to all private and public transport vehicles unless specifically permitted.
No vehicles will be allowed to proceed towards Connaught Place beyond designated regulation points, including Mandi House, Bengali Market, Patel Chowk, Gole Market, GPO, Windsor Place, the Ranjit Singh Flyover, Minto Road-DDU Marg crossing, Chelmsford Road near New Delhi railway station, R K Ashram Marg-Chitragupta Marg crossing, and key intersections on Kasturba Gandhi Road and Jai Singh Road.
Vehicular traffic will not be permitted in the Inner, Middle or Outer Circle of Connaught Place, except for vehicles carrying valid entry passes.
New Year 2026 Celebrations Live Updates: To ensure hassle-free New Year’s Eve celebrations, the Gurugram Police have deployed 5,400 personnel across the district, officials said on Tuesday, warning of strict action against drunk driving and other violations. Notices have been issued to all pubs, bars, clubs, restaurants and hotels under Section 168 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), directing operators not to allow intoxicated patrons to drive. The responsibility of safely transporting drunk customers home will rest with the establishment concerned, the police said.
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