Society & Culture

📍 Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Mumbai Police have banned bursting firecrackers on public roads, lanes and thoroughfares, and the use of high-intensity lasers and searchlights in public spaces, from 6 October to 4 December 2026. The order follows a Bombay High Court directive of 22 September and cites environment, explosives and noise-pollution laws (Free Press Journal, 7 Oct 2026).

📍 Maharashtra, India

The Maharashtra Special Public Security Act, 2024, targets unlawful and extremist activities, particularly Left-wing extremist organisations. The Congress, the CPI and activists are challenging its validity in the Bombay High Court, while the state says it needs the law and points to safeguards such as an Advisory Board headed by a High Court judge (Free Press Journal, 7 Oct 2026).

📍 Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

The BMC plans to move about 10,000 stray dogs out of restricted areas, while animal welfare activists question whether shelter capacity exists and argue for sustained sterilisation and vaccination. The report cites an estimated 90,757 stray dogs in Mumbai (2024) and 1,54,017 dog-bite cases in 2025 (Free Press Journal, 7 Oct 2026).

📍 Pune, Maharashtra, India

Students have protested in Pune since 1 October over MPSC exam conduct and leak allegations. Police say permission covered only the first day and issued notices to 51 students and 29 coaching operators. On 7 October the Bombay High Court said the state must hold fair exams and urged students to end the protest; the state accepted three of four demands but not the chairman's resignation (Free Press Journal, 7 Oct 2026).

📍 New Delhi, Delhi, India

On 6 October 2026 about 250 INDIA bloc protesters, including Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, were detained in Delhi while demanding a meeting with the Election Commission over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. The opposition alleges wrongful deletions; the Commission says it received no meeting request (Free Press Journal, 6 Oct 2026).

📍 Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Tribal students who began a long march from Nashik on 28 September demanded better ashram school and hostel facilities and an independent inquiry into alleged student deaths. Mumbai Police denied permission to gather at Azad Maidan and sent them back to Nashik; the Congress said they were forcibly removed from its office, and police denied formal arrests. The students plan to return on 25 October (Free Press Journal, 7 Oct 2026).

📍 Maharashtra, India

Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, who chairs the OBC Cabinet Sub-Committee, directed officials on 7 October 2026 to speed up OBC education and employment schemes. A Rs 1,300 crore proposal for 2026-27 has gone to the Finance Department, and a committee on Vimukta Jatis and Nomadic Tribes has been proposed (Free Press Journal, 7 Oct 2026).

📍 Nashik, Maharashtra, India

Nashik's District Collector reviewed Navratri arrangements on 7 October 2026 for Wani, Saptashrungigad and Chandwad, directing signage, police deployment at congested points, working CCTV, shuttle buses and parking. Officials also stressed coordination with forest and police teams (Free Press Journal, 7 Oct 2026).

📍 New Delhi, Delhi, India

The Delhi government announced 110 collection centres for old, damaged and unwanted idols during the festival season, to stop them being left in unauthorised places or water bodies. The move addresses pollution concerns linked to plaster of Paris and chemical paints. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta is leading the initiative (Free Press Journal, 23 Sep 2026).

📍 Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Jain monk Ajitchandra Sagarji Maharaj, known for a memory feat in Mumbai in May 2024, said peer pressure, parental expectations and competitive exams weigh heavily on students and that learning must go beyond memory. His foundation says about 50,000 children have joined its concentration programme (Free Press Journal, 7 Oct 2026).