The opposition INDIA bloc held a massive rally in Delhi, accusing the BJP of 'vote chori' and electoral irregularities, with Rahul Gandhi asserting that CEC Gyanesh Kumar will be jailed for treason and legal action will be taken against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.
The BJP staged a protest march in Delhi, demanding an apology from the Congress and Rahul Gandhi for the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. The party accused the Congress of deliberately holding the INDIA bloc rally on November 1, the anniversary of the riots, thereby insulting the Sikh community's sentiments. Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri described the 1984 violence as a "well-planned massacre" and a "genocide."
Despite recent foreign portfolio outflows, India's long-term investment prospects remain strong, but the return of capital hinges on global financial conditions, relative valuations, and the country's ability to attract sustained foreign investment, according to foreign bankers at the Business Standard BFSI Insight Summit.
Five-time champions India secured their third consecutive win at the men's Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament, defeating Japan 4-1. Striker Abhishek Nain scored two field goals, while captain Harmanpreet Singh and Vishnukant Singh also found the net. Japan's lone goal came from Shota Yamada via a penalty stroke. India will next face Malaysia on Sunday.
Abhishek Sharma took his tally to 11 centuries in T20 cricket -- the most by an Indian batter in the shortest format of the game overtaking the great Virat Kohli.
India's men's and women's kabaddi teams delivered impressive performances at the inaugural Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship in Ahmedabad on Saturday. The men's team defeated Uganda 44-30, while the women's team secured a dominating 32-16 victory over Singapore. Both teams showcased strong raiding and defensive skills, setting the stage for upcoming matches.
India has voted in favour of a UN General Assembly resolution urging the US to end its economic, commercial, and financial embargo against Cuba. The resolution, adopted on Wednesday, saw 130 countries support the call to lift restrictions that have severely impacted Cuba's economy, healthcare, and food production. The article also details a heated exchange between US and Cuban diplomats during the UNGA session.
Oracle NetSuite identifies India as one of its highest-priority markets, noting that small businesses, particularly outside major metros, are increasingly leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud technologies to expand domestically and internationally. This adoption is driven by India's young, tech-native population, which is less burdened by legacy systems, allowing smaller firms to compete more effectively with larger enterprises.
Two-thirds of India's 160 airports, approximately 120, have very low utilisation rates, with only 40 operating at 70-80 per cent capacity.
New Zealand pacer Adam Milne's impressive four-wicket haul for just 19 runs helped restrict India to a below-par total of 191 for eight in the fifth and final T20I, despite well-paced fifties from Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan.
India's premier education leadership conference, EGN ConnectX India 2026, will be held in Mumbai from November 3. The event will bring together school and university leaders, policymakers, and edtech innovators to discuss the integration of AI in classrooms, future-ready curricula, and skilling initiatives. The conference aims to provide actionable solutions for implementing AI in education, addressing challenges faced by educators.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his Gujarat visit, pledged to serve India until his last breath. He criticised the Opposition for allegedly spreading panic regarding fertiliser and cooking gas availability amidst the West Asia conflict, accusing them of rejoicing in national crises. Modi also highlighted government efforts to shield farmers from rising global prices and inaugurated 'Bharat Parv 2026' at Ekta Nagar.
'The political leadership is very clear that we have to move towards the integration of the three services into theatre commands.'
Indian AI startup Sarvam has signed a five-year agreement with the Ministry of Defence to develop and deploy artificial intelligence applications for the armed forces. This Memorandum of Understanding with Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff aims to enhance operational capabilities, decision support, and training across the Army, Navy, and Air Force, focusing on building an indigenous AI layer on sovereign infrastructure.
New Zealand batter Finn Allen discussed the team's recent T20 International loss to India, highlighting the valuable lessons learned from India's dominant batting performance. He acknowledged the difficulty in stopping players like Abhishek Sharma and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi once they got going. Allen emphasised that despite the series defeat, every game is important for building towards the T20 World Cup in a couple of years.
Centurion Glenn Phillips (107 off 49 balls) and Michael Bracewell (65 off 25 balls) forged a blistering 115-run partnership off just 41 balls, propelling New Zealand to a massive 259 for seven, their highest-ever T20 International total against India, in the fourth T20I in Auckland.
The Esports Federation of India (ESFI) and the New Zealand Esports Federation (NZ Esports) have drafted a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance cooperation and exchange knowledge in the esports sector. This initiative coincides with the 100 Years of Unity Through Sport celebrations, featuring Indian gamers competing in eFootball and Clash Royale in Auckland.
RBI Deputy Governor Poonam Gupta stated that India's economic growth momentum remains strong despite various global and domestic shocks, attributing this resilience to a diversified growth base and improved policy responses. She highlighted the economy's 7.8 per cent growth in Q1 and continued momentum into Q2, suggesting potential upgrades to growth forecasts.
Head coach Amol Muzumdar believes the Indian women's cricket team is poised to dominate white-ball formats within two years, citing a strong talent pipeline from age-group cricket. He emphasizes a coaching philosophy focused on winning, discipline, and intense practice, drawing parallels to his Mumbai cricket upbringing. Muzumdar also highlights team unity and a positive dressing room atmosphere as crucial for success, similar to factors behind India's ODI World Cup win last November.
Devdutt Padikkal's exceptional form and the inclusion of pacer Mohammed Siraj are set to bolster India A as they face New Zealand A in the second unofficial four-day Test starting on Saturday. The series serves as crucial preparation for India's upcoming Test series against New Zealand, with several players vying to make an impression. India A will look for more consistency from their batting unit after a mixed performance in the first match, which ended in a draw despite their strong comeback.
A 14-member Indian boxing contingent, including Commonwealth Games gold medallists Jaismine and Arundhati Choudhary, will participate in the 46th International Tammer Tournament in Tampere, Finland. The tournament, running from October 28 to November 2, aims to provide international exposure and build depth in Olympic weight categories for Indian pugilists.
India defeated New Zealand by four wickets in the second T20I at Hagley Oval, marking their 200th victory in men's T20 Internationals. Tilak Varma and Nitish Kumar Reddy's unbeaten 69-run partnership secured the win, giving India a 2-0 series lead.
'Pyre is a very small story about two people. But I hope that through their lives, we can see a much larger story -- of migration, ageing, loneliness, belonging and a changing India.'
Former India hockey captain Sardar Singh has highlighted the need for greater discipline and sharper man-marking for the Indian team to bridge the gap with top European sides and Australia. He acknowledged India's progress in ball possession and overall fitness but stressed the importance of disciplined play. Singh also commented on Pakistan's withdrawal from the Asian Champions Trophy and expressed confidence in India's chances as hosts.
India has stated that the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) is disturbed by Chinese forces diverging from established patrolling patterns, emphasising that maintaining peace and tranquillity is essential for bilateral relations. This statement follows remarks by the ITBP Director General about ongoing confrontations. Both nations are utilising diplomatic and military mechanisms to resolve issues and improve LAC understanding. Recent high-level talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping have focused on rebuilding trust and respect after the 2020 Galwan clashes, including a disengagement pact for Depsang and Demchok.
Devdutt Padikkal made a strong case for the No. 3 spot in India's Test team with a superb 199 as India A fought back from a disastrous start to post 488 for 8 in their second innings against New Zealand A in the first unofficial Test on Monday.
India A were denied a sensational come-from-behind victory against New Zealand A in the first unofficial 'Test' due to bad light, despite pacer Auqib Nabi's incisive spell and Devdutt Padikkal's near double-century setting up a thrilling chase.
New Zealand all-rounder Michael Bracewell has attributed India's 2-0 lead in the ongoing T20I series to their exceptional death bowling. Bracewell noted that the Indian bowlers effectively built pressure in the final overs, preventing the Black Caps from posting higher totals despite high-scoring games. He acknowledged the challenge posed by India's in-form openers and highlighted the need for New Zealand to deliver a complete performance to turn the tide.
India's para-athletes concluded their Asian Para Games campaign with an unprecedented 114 medals, including 30 gold, marking their best performance to date. The final day was particularly successful, yielding nine gold medals across various disciplines. Notable achievements included world records set by Mona Agarwal in shooting, and Sandeep and Haney in athletics. Shuttlers Nitesh Kumar and Naveen Sivakumar secured individual golds, while archer Harvinder Singh also contributed to the gold tally. The swimming contingent also exceeded expectations with 11 medals.
Five-time champions India began their Asian Champions Trophy hockey campaign with a dominant 13-0 victory over Bangladesh. Mandeep Singh scored a hat-trick, while Harmanpreet Singh, Dilpreet Singh, and Hardik Singh each netted a brace, showcasing India's strong title defence.
India, five-time champions and recent Asian Games gold medallists, are strong favourites to win the six-nation Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament kicking off in Jalandhar. The tournament marks the return of international hockey to Punjab after 17 years, with many Indian players set to play in front of their home crowd. India will open their campaign against Bangladesh on Tuesday, with the semifinals and final scheduled for November 4 and 5 in Mohali. Four senior players are reportedly playing their final assignment for the national team.
India's women's cricket team, having already secured an unassailable 2-0 lead, will play the third and final ODI against Zimbabwe on Wednesday, aiming for a clean sweep. Key performances from Pratika Rawal, Harmanpreet Kaur, Deepti Sharma, Shree Charani, and Vaishnavi Sharma have ensured comprehensive victories for India, while Zimbabwe seeks to put up a stronger fight.
India's bowling coach Morne Morkel has offered a unique piece of advice to the Test specialists preparing to face the challenging wind conditions at Wellington's Basin Reserve: 'Stand near a powerful fan to counter the speedy wind.' This unconventional preparation aims to help players adapt to the 120 kmph winds prevalent in 'Windy Wellington,' which can significantly impact batting and bowling.
India has issued an advisory to its nationals in Saudi Arabia, urging them to abide by local rules and regulations, particularly regarding filming or publishing information about missile and drone interceptions. This comes amidst escalating regional tensions and recent drone and missile attacks. The advisory also includes updates on flight suspensions by Air India and Air India Express to Riyadh, Dammam, and Jeddah, with some suspensions extending until 2026. Indian missions are providing assistance to affected nationals and liaising with Saudi authorities.
Indian hockey captain Harmanpreet Singh has emphasised the team's focus on improving its defensive performance ahead of the Asian Champions Trophy. India, chasing a record sixth title, will face Bangladesh in their opener on Tuesday. Harmanpreet stated that despite being favourites, the team will not underestimate any opponent and views the tournament as a crucial platform for both experienced players and youngsters, as well as preparation for the 2028 Olympics.
Former India captain Ajinkya Rahane has opened up about the immense pressure he felt after taking over captaincy from Virat Kohli following India's humiliating 36 all-out in Adelaide. Rahane revealed he used a "bluff" strategy against Australia and the media, while also inspiring his severely depleted team to a historic 2-1 series victory Down Under in 2020-21. He emphasised the importance of putting on a brave face and playing for the nation despite injuries and challenging COVID-19 quarantine conditions.
Delhi Police has announced elaborate security and traffic arrangements for the INDIA bloc rally at Ramlila Maidan on Sunday. Over 4,000 police personnel, along with CAPF companies, will be deployed, with the venue divided into 14 zones and monitored by over 200 CCTV cameras and drones. Traffic diversions are planned, and organisers have been instructed on crowd management and conduct, while local traders express concerns about business disruption.
India's men's and women's kabaddi teams both secured dominant victories in their opening matches at the Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship in Ahmedabad. The women's team defeated Malaysia 73-13, while the men's team beat England 46-26, showcasing strong performances in both raiding and tackling.
India has issued a fresh advisory for its nationals, particularly Umrah pilgrims, in Saudi Arabia due to ongoing flight cancellations and regional tensions. The Indian Consulate in Jeddah is providing assistance, coordinating with Saudi authorities, and helping facilitate the early return of affected individuals amidst disruptions caused by drone and missile attacks.
The third and final edition of the Chennai Open WTA 250 tournament begins, offering Indian wild card entrants Vaishnavi Adkar, Sahaja Yamalapalli, and Maaya Rajeshwaran Revathi a crucial last opportunity to earn ranking points on home soil. The tournament marks India's exit from the WTA main Tour calendar, making it a significant event for the local players to test their skills against an international field, despite a depleted draw due to withdrawals.
