Kerala marked Christmas on Thursday with joy and solemn prayers, as churches across the state saw large gatherings of worshippers.

 President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President C P Radhakrishnan and Prime Minister Narendra Modi were among the dignitaries who attended a prayer ceremony at 'Sadaiv Atal', the memorial of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, on Thursday to pay tributes to him on his 101st birth anniversary.

Delhi Police has intensified security arrangements across the national capital, deploying nearly 20,000 personnel to ensure law and order on Christmas and the upcoming New Year celebrations, an official said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday attended a Christmas morning service at the Cathedral Church of the Redemption here along with a large congregation of Christians of Delhi and north India.

The Navi Mumbai International Airport commenced commercial flight operations on Thursday, marking a key milestone for India's civil aviation sector, while expanding air travel capacity for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).

Tension prevailed in the Panigaon area of Nalbari district on December 24 after members of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal allegedly entered the premises of St Mary’s School and vandalised materials prepared for Christmas celebrations.

A 10-year-old girl was allegedly raped and murdered in Odisha's Bhadrak district, triggering a massive outrage with locals demolishing the accused's house, police said on Wednesday.

Free food grains of approximately Rs 22,800 crore were distributed to more than 5.25 crore beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana in Madhya Pradesh in the last two years, a minister said on Wednesday.