Author: Sharad Natani
As the festive and wedding season gains pace, the excise department has witnessed a sharp surge in demand for occasional party licences, issuing 176 permits within a short span. Officials say the trend reflects a growing preference among citizens to serve alcohol legally and responsibly at private events, rather than risking penalties and legal complications. What Are Occasional Party Licences? Occasional party licences are mandatory permissions required to serve liquor at private gatherings such as: ●Weddings and receptions ●Birthday and anniversary celebrations ●Corporate parties ●Social and private events These licences allow alcohol to be served for a limited duration and…
In a major step towards tackling the long-standing waste problem near the Noida–Greater Noida Expressway, the Noida Authority has invited fresh applications from agencies to clear the massive garbage dump located in Sector-145. The waste disposal work is expected to begin from February 2026, officials said. According to authority officials, a new tender has been issued, and interested agencies can submit their applications till January 8. The selected company will be required to set up a waste processing plant within one month of selection. 300 Tonnes of Waste to Be Processed Daily Under the project, the agency will install a…
In a significant administrative action, an FIR has been registered against a resident of Ahmedpur Choroli village for allegedly carrying out illegal construction on notified land earmarked for the expansion of Noida International Airport. The land falls under the jurisdiction of the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) and is part of the airport’s second-phase expansion plan. According to officials, the construction activity was being carried out after the government had already issued a formal land acquisition notification, making any form of buying, selling, or construction strictly illegal without prior approval from the authority. Despite repeated warnings, the accused allegedly…
Air pollution has once again tightened its grip on Delhi-NCR, with Noida and Ghaziabad slipping into the ‘severe’ air quality category on Saturday, triggering fresh health concerns for residents. A thick blanket of smog, coupled with dense fog and sluggish winds, pushed pollution levels sharply higher within just 24 hours. According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Noida recorded the worst air quality in the country, with its Air Quality Index (AQI) soaring to 409, up from 376 on Friday. This sudden deterioration came after a brief spell of relief earlier in the week, when air quality…
An 8×8-foot prison cell. Iron bars instead of windows. Lights switched off sharply at 11 PM. No hostel room, no peaceful study environment, no financial support. Yet, from behind prison walls, a teenager dared to dream of the Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT)—and made the nation stop and stare. While lakhs of students prepared for the IIT-JEE in air-conditioned hostels and coaching hubs, Piyush Goyal, an 18-year-old from Rajasthan, studied under extreme hardship inside Kota’s open jail, where his father was serving a life-changing sentence. A Childhood Marked by Struggle Piyush’s father, Phool Chand Goyal, a former schoolteacher, was convicted…
In 2025, India’s startup ecosystem faced one of its toughest regulatory years as the Enforcement Directorate (ED) stepped up scrutiny, moving beyond sector-specific probes to deep operational intervention. What began with action against online gaming platforms soon widened to fintech, e-commerce, and cross-border trading startups—sending a strong message on compliance, governance, and financial transparency. At least eight prominent startup-origin companies came under ED action during the year. In several cases, enforcement went far beyond inquiries, leading to account freezes, arrests, court battles, operational paralysis, and even business shutdowns. Gaming Startups Under the Scanner Online gaming firm WinZO faced one of…