Top news of the day: Supreme Court allows bursting of green firecrackers in Delhi-NCR for Deepavali; Andhra Pradesh on high alert as Cyclone Murasu nears landfall; and more

Several parts of Chennai witnessed continuous drizzle on Monday, November 2, as Cyclone Murasu intensifies over the Bay of Bengal. | Photo Credit: V. UMESH KUMAR Supreme Court lifts firecracker ban for Deepavali in Delhi-NCRThe Supreme Court on Monday (November 2, 2026) permitted the bursting of certified green firecrackers in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR). The court allowed bursting of these crackers between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m. and between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. on November 7 and November 8, 2026 during Deepavali.Heavy rain lashes Konaseema as cyclone Murasu nears Andhra coastCyclone Murasu is expected to cross south Andhra Pradesh overnight, bringing winds up to 120 kmph. Extremely heavy rain is forecast for coastal Andhra Pradesh, Yanam and Rayalaseema on November 2–3, and Telangana on November 3. The Odisha government on Monday (November 2, 2026) expedited the evacuation of people from vulnerable areas after Murasu intensified into a severe cyclonic storm in the Bay of Bengal, officials said. A total of eleven flights arriving and departing from Chennai airport and Ten IndiGo flights scheduled from Gannavaram Airport today (November 2, 2026) have been cancelled due to Cyclone Murasu on Monday (November 2, 2026). Kashmir issue will be resolved by talks that heal, not experiments or UAPA: Mehbooba MuftiAsking the Centre “to stop experimenting with J&K”, former J&K Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Monday (November 2, 2026) said the Kashmir issue “will not be resolved by jailing people under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) [and the] Public Safety Act (PSA), and [by] terminating [jobs of government] employees (under special provisions, citing security) or jailing people, but by initiating talks to heal the wounds and opening roads”. Don’t travel by air, says Supreme Court; refuses urgent listing of plea alleging 700% hike in airfaresDon’t travel by air, the Supreme Court told a petitioner on Monday (November 2, 2026) while refusing urgent listing of a plea alleging nearly 700% increase in airfares. An advocate mentioned the matter for urgent listing before a Bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and Aparesh Kumar Singh.Government notifies grievance redressal rules under VB-G RAM G Act; fixes 15-day deadlineThe Centre has notified rules for grievance redressal under the VB-G RAM G Act, 2025, mandating that complaints related to the implementation of the rural employment scheme be resolved within 15 days and providing for their escalation if they remain pending beyond the prescribed period.Madras High Court permits Vaiko to oppose Vedanta’s plea for ‘green copper’ plant at Thoothukudi Sterlite premisesThe Madras High Court has permitted Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) general secretary Vaiko to implead as one of the respondents to a writ petition filed by Vedanta Limited challenging Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board’s (TNPCB) refusal to grant permission for a ‘green copper’ plant on the defunct Sterlite copper plant premises in Thoothukudi.SC disposes of Ram Temple embezzlement petitions after Uttar Pradesh says charge sheet filedThe Supreme Court on Monday (November 2, 2026) closed multiple pleas seeking Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the Ram Temple donations’ embezzlement case after the State of Uttar Pradesh informed it that a charge sheet has already been filed by its Special Investigation Team (SIT).BMC takes down actor Dia Mirza’s pollution-free Deepavali video after BJP leader’s objectionA civic campaign on eco-friendly Diwali has sparked a controversy after the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) selectively pulled down a video message by actor Dia Mirza from its social media handles following objections from BJP Mumbai chief Ameet Satam.Ramlila Maidan rally: FIR registered over graffiti on police vehiclePolice have registered an FIR in connection with alleged graffiti on a police vehicle during the INDIA bloc’s November 1 rally at the Ramlila Maidan in Delhi, an official said on Monday (November 2, 2026).The FIR was registered at Kamla Market police station under sections of the Delhi Prevention of Defacement of Property Act, they said. Published - November 02, 2026 06:02 pm IST