Which parts of urban India have the highest proportion of households owning gold jewellery or bullion?
The family of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota, shot dead in Mansa, Punjab, has refused to perform his last rites, demanding justice and a CBI probe. The murder has triggered a political controversy, with opposition leaders criticising the state government's handling of the drug menace and law and order.
The conversations on July 22 and 23, 1962, meetings in Geneva between V K Krishna Menon, India's defence minister at the time, and Chinese vice premier Chen Yi are important because, had they been followed up, the subsequent border war may perhaps have been avoided, notes former foreign secretary Shyam Saran.
A contempt petition has been filed in the Supreme Court against Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar, and DMRC chairperson D Thara. The plea alleges that authorities violated the apex court's October 9 order by imposing a "blanket shutdown" on metro and train services in Delhi on October 10, despite the court's directive for only regulated movement during a protest by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). The petitioner claims personal experience of metro station closures and seeks immediate revocation of prohibitory orders.
'We are open to all countries around the world as long as we get a fair deal, as long as we are ensured continuity in the engagement.'
China has voiced strong opposition to India's recent decision to standardise names for 28 strategic locations and geographical features in Ladakh.
Delhi Police has registered an FIR against Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka, and other members for allegedly trespassing into the Jantar Mantar area, which was recently denotified as a protest site. CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke has condemned the detentions as 'kidnapping' and questioned the legality of preventing lawyers from meeting the detained members.
Jio Platforms Limited (JPL) believes satellite broadband services are unlikely to achieve significant scale or compete effectively on price in India's highly connected and affordable market, despite developing its own satellite constellation solutions and flagging it as a potential disruptor.
Bollywood actor Imran Khan, an American national, has been issued a notice by Mumbai Police directing him to leave India by October 28 for allegedly violating immigration laws by participating in a political protest.
The Supreme Court has declared that children have a fundamental right to access and use the internet, directing the Centre to establish a national database for detecting and removing child sexually explicit visual content. The ruling, stemming from a plea by NGO Just Rights for Children Alliance, emphasises the internet's value for learning and expression while acknowledging the need for safeguards like parental consent and a "child mode" for accounts, rather than blanket restrictions.
Major opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, have filed a petition in the Supreme Court challenging alleged large-scale voter deletions and irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. This action follows a "March for Democracy" and a declined request to meet the Chief Justice of India regarding "vote chori" allegations.
President Droupadi Murmu has announced a major gubernatorial reshuffle, appointing new governors for Tamil Nadu, Keralam, Sikkim, Karnataka, Uttarakhand, and Odisha. Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar moves from Keralam to Tamil Nadu, while Om Prakash Mathur becomes the new Keralam Governor. Dushyant Gautam, Sudha Yadav, Dhal Singh Bisen, and Braj Mohan Ram are among the new appointees, bringing diverse political experience to their roles.
The Sports Authority of India (SAI) and Indian Oil Corporation have signed an MoU for Rs 40 crore over two years to bolster boxing in India. This partnership, leveraging CSR funds and SAI's expertise, aims to enhance talent identification, athlete development, coaching, and international exposure for boxers, aligning with the revamped Khelo India Scheme.
Nandan Nilekani, head of the task force on exam reforms, stated on Tuesday that technology and a systematic approach can solve the issue of question paper leaks. He suggested generating exam papers from a large question bank at the last minute to remove economic incentives for leaks and also proposed moving towards computer-based testing.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will host US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Mumbai on October 20 for talks aimed at strengthening the Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership. Discussions will cover energy, trade, defence, and critical technologies. The visit also includes celebrations for the 250th anniversary of US Independence. This meeting follows earlier confusion regarding Rubio's visit and will also touch upon the India-US bilateral trade agreement, which both sides are close to concluding. The MEA clarified that hosting foreign dignitaries outside Delhi is a common practice.
Jio Platforms (JPL) is preparing a capex-light strategy to commercially launch 6G services in the early 2030s through software upgrades, rather than fresh infrastructure investments, according to Akash Ambani, managing director of JPL.
The GST Council has approved significant reforms including removing the arrest power of tax officials, raising the prosecution threshold fivefold to Rs 5 crore, and introducing faster, largely automated refunds for taxpayers. These changes, aimed at fostering trust and easing business, will be implemented from April 1, 2027.
CPI(M) state secretary M V Govindan clarified the party's position on Malappuram district, stating they criticise the influence of communalism on parties like IUML, not the district itself. This comes after former MLA P Nandakumar allegedly made communal remarks about Malappuram, leading to complaints and criticism from Minister K M Shaji.
Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and the opposition amidst ongoing protests for the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar and scrapping of SIR. Shah predicted a "crushing defeat" for the Congress in the 2029 general elections, citing the BJP's and NDA's strong public support and the Congress's dismal performance in recent bypolls and local body elections across several states, including West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Tripura. He urged the Congress to introspect instead of engaging in "negative politics" and "fabricated media events."
CPI(M) leader John Brittas was allegedly manhandled and injured by Delhi Police personnel during a protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The Rajya Sabha MP was taken to RML Hospital for examination. Brittas has written to the President, Rajya Sabha chairman, and CJI seeking an independent investigation into the alleged assault, claiming he was dragged, assaulted, and abandoned. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor condemned the incident, and other political leaders like M A Baby and Manoj Jha visited Brittas, criticising the police action and alleging brutality against protesters. The protest was organised to demand Kumar's resignation over alleged electoral roll irregularities.
Online video games are emerging that recreate scenes from the Jantar Mantar protests in Delhi. Games like 'Jantar Mantar Chalo', 'Bhaag Neha Bhaag', and 'Jantar Mantar to Jail' allow players to experience elements of the demonstrations, from gathering crowds and dodging police to collecting 'Accountability' and 'Democracy' coins. Creators, inspired by news and real-life events, developed these games rapidly using AI and coding, gaining significant traction online.
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, YouTuber Dhruv Rathee, and actor-activist Prakash Raj joined a protest in Bengaluru, demanding the scrapping of the electoral roll revision exercise and the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, alleging widespread voter deletion aimed at disenfranchising specific groups.
Delhi Police have taken stringent measures to prevent the Cockroach Janta Party's 'Lehra Do Tiranga' march in Connaught Place, deploying thousands of personnel and citing prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the BNSS due to risks of traffic disruption, stampede, and threats to public safety.
Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke and other CJP leaders were detained at Delhi's Indira Gandhi international airport ahead of a planned protest at Jantar Mantar.
Chief Justice of India (CJI) Justice Surya Kant has rejected the INDIA bloc leaders' request for a meeting to submit a representation over alleged electoral irregularities, stating that they should approach the court by filing a petition as the matter is already sub judice.
Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya will inaugurate the BRICS Traditional and Indigenous Demonstration Games 2026 in Ahmedabad on Monday. Organised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in collaboration with the Gujarat government, the event on 12 October 2026, under India's BRICS Chairmanship, will feature traditional sports like Mallakhamb, Yogasana, and Kalaripayattu from India. The non-competitive Games aim to foster cultural exchange and knowledge-sharing among BRICS and partner countries including Belarus, Bolivia, Brazil, China, Ethiopia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, South Africa, and the UAE.
Union Minister Piyush Goyal has filed a police complaint after an AI-generated deepfake video, maliciously altering his remarks, surfaced on social media. The video falsely depicted him making threatening statements against students protesting the NEET examination. Government sources confirm many related links have been taken down, and Goyal has warned of strict legal action against those involved in its creation and dissemination.
Barcelona continued their formidable LaLiga campaign with a commanding triumph over Real Betis with Lamine Yamal delivering another standout performance.
Avinash Arun's Prahaar: The Untold Story of Ujjwal Nikam emerges as a rare honest film in contemporary Bollywood, skillfully navigating the sensitive narrative of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks and the prosecution of Ajmal Kasab without succumbing to propaganda, observes Prasanna D Zore.
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday sought a report from jail authorities regarding the non-appearance of separatist leader Yasin Malik for a virtual hearing in a terror funding case. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is seeking the death penalty for Malik, who is currently serving a life term, arguing that his guilty plea should not preclude capital punishment for a terrorist. Malik had previously expressed a desire to argue in-person against the NIA's plea.
The Supreme Court has sought responses from the Election Commission and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar regarding a plea filed by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and 12 other opposition leaders concerning alleged large-scale voter deletions and Special Intensive Revision (SIR) irregularities.
Delhi Police has denied permission for a protest at Jantar Mantar against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, leading to the closure of 11 metro stations and heightened security. Various political parties and student unions are demanding Kumar's resignation over alleged irregularities in electoral rolls and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.
Navigating this geopolitical minefield requires a cold-blooded blend of immediate tactical pleading, structural domestic diversification, and aggressive collective resistance, suggests Ambassador Rajasekhar.
Bangladesh's Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed will skip the first-ever BIMSTEC home ministers' meeting in New Delhi, with a senior bureaucrat leading the delegation. This absence underscores strained India-Bangladesh ties, particularly following the ouster of the Sheikh Hasina government in August 2024 and Dhaka's request for her extradition from India.
The Delhi High Court is set to hear a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) on October 16 concerning the right to peaceful protest at Jantar Mantar. The plea seeks directions to authorities to permit demonstrations and declare peaceful protest as part of free speech, following recent protests and alleged police actions. Another PIL regarding assaults on protesters was adjourned to November.
The Supreme Court of India has sought proposals for establishing a permanent financial corpus to support patients suffering from Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), a rare genetic disorder requiring expensive treatment. This initiative follows an earlier case involving comedian Samay Raina, which led the court to examine broader systemic concerns for SMA patients.
Veteran actor Nana Patekar was laid to rest at his farmhouse in Donje village, Pune, late on Thursday night. Thousands, including prominent personalities and state officials, attended the funeral, which was performed with full state honours. Patekar, 75, passed away in Goa earlier on Thursday due to a suspected heart attack.
A Gurugram resident, Akhil Maurya, was arrested for allegedly defrauding an Italian woman, Paola Bertolini, of 900 euros (approximately Rs 98,000) under the guise of marriage. Maurya, who posed as an AI film creator, convinced Bertolini to transfer money for a project before cutting off contact. The Gurugram Cyber Crime police traced and apprehended him after the victim filed a complaint.
The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear a plea on Sunday seeking contempt proceedings against authorities for allegedly violating its directive against a complete prohibition on metro and train services in Delhi during the CJP protest. The plea argues that the blanket shutdown and lack of transparent advisories constitute a deliberate disregard for the court's October 9 order, which had called for regulation rather than outright prohibition of public transport.
Citizens in Delhi faced significant restrictions and detentions on Saturday while attempting to protest alleged irregularities in voter rolls. Despite barricades, metro closures, and vehicle diversions, individuals found various ways to reach central Delhi, determined to voice their concerns about the electoral process and fundamental rights.
