In Focus

Akshay Kumar cast his vote early in the BMC elections and urged citizens to participate in the democratic process. Polling is underway across 29 municipal corporations in Maharashtra, with results to be announced on January 16

Mock voting is a preparatory process in which control units are connected to ballot units and two test votes are cast on each ballot unit in the presence of polling officials assigned to the respective booths

In the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), which has an annual budget exceeding Rs 74,400 crore, around 1,700 candidates are contesting 227 seats. The elections are being held after a nine-year gap, following a four-year delay

In a previous advisory issued on January 5, the MEA had urged its nationals to avoid non-essential travel to Iran. It had also asked Indian citizens and PIOs (Persons of Indian Origin) residing in Iran to exercise due caution and avoid visiting areas of protests