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Weekend curfew in Delhi, cinema halls to operate with only 30 per cent occupancy
New Delhi : After witnessing the highest ever single-day spike in the number of Covid2019 cases, the Delhi government has decided to impose a strict weekend curfew in the national capital, starting 10 pm on Friday.
The AAP government has also ordered all the malls, auditoriums and spas to shut shop from 16 April till further orders. Cinema halls, however, have been allowed to remain open during the weekdays, but can function with only 30 per cent occupancy.
"I had a meeting with the L-G. We have decided to impose weekend curfew in Delhi. This is because people generally go out for work on weekdays and entertainment on weekends. In order to break the chain we are imposing a weekend curfew, exempting essential services," said Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday.
According to the new restrictions, no dine-in options will be allowed in restaurants and eateries and only home deliveries will be permitted. The weekend curfew will start at 10 pm on Friday to 6 am on Monday. However, all essential services will remain functional.
A night curfew has also been imposed in Noida and Ghaziabad Friday onwards.
The decision comes two days after the Maharashtra government announced strict restrictions for the next two weeks in wake of the alarming surge in the number of infections. However, unlike Delhi, Maharashtra has also closed all movie theatres as well. All television and film shoots have been shut down till 1 May.
The country is reeling under a severe second wave of the novel Coronavirus, with the number of caseloads surpassing last year's records. On Thursday, India recorded a record two lakh cases during the last 24 hours and over 1,038 deaths.
The national capital too reported 17,282 fresh cases in the last 24 hours, its highest spike so far. The number of daily Covid deaths has also been increasing, with 104 deaths recorded on Wednesday alone.
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Kamlesh Singh receives Haldi Ghati Award from MMCF
India Today Group editor honoured for three decades of journalism at Udaipur ceremony.
MUMBAI- Kamlesh Singh just turned a lifetime of sharp words into a shiny shield because when journalism wakes up a society, even the Maharana of Mewar wants to pin a medal on it.
The Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation (MMCF) conferred its prestigious Haldi Ghati Award on Kamlesh Singh, a senior editor at the India Today Group, during a ceremony in Udaipur on 15 March 2026. The national award, instituted in 1981-82, recognises “work of permanent value that initiates an awakening in society through the medium of journalism.”
Singh, who leads several editorial initiatives including Aaj Tak Radio, the Teen Taal community and The Lallantop, was presented the honour by Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar, Managing Trustee of MMCF. The citation highlighted his three decades of contributions to Indian media, innovations in digital journalism, mentoring young reporters, and his popular podcast persona “Tau” on Teen Taal, which fosters thoughtful public discourse.
The Haldi Ghati Award, named after the historic Battle of Haldighati symbolising valour and resilience, is one of four national awards given annually by MMCF. Past recipients include Tavleen Singh, Piyush Pandey and Raj Chengappa.
Other honourees this year included Padma Vibhushan Pt Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Vedamurti Devvrat Rekhe, Treeman of India Marimuthu Yoganathan, Vir Chakra Capt Rizwan Malik, and US-based researcher Molly Emma Aitken, who received the Colonel James Tod Award for contributions to understanding Mewar’s spirit and values.
In an era where headlines often shout louder than substance, the MMCF quietly reminded everyone that real journalism isn’t about noise, it’s about the quiet, persistent work that stirs society awake, one thoughtful story at a time.
