A Ramlila committee in Pitampura, Delhi, will burn a 30-foot-tall "cockroach" effigy this year, alongside those of Ravan, Kumbhkaran, and Meghnad. The committee states this symbolises "filth and dirt" and supports the "Swachh Bharat" and "Swachh Delhi" campaigns. This decision comes amidst protests by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) in the capital.
The University of Melbourne and the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Tirupati have launched a new 2+2 Bachelor of Science Integrated (Honours) dual degree. This programme offers Indian students a globally connected, research-intensive science education, allowing them to study two years at IISER-Tirupati and two years in Melbourne, graduating with two honours degrees.
The BJP in Keralam has demanded a CBI probe into alleged irregularities in the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB) during the previous LDF regime. Senior BJP leader P K Krishnadas accused the current UDF government of attempting to sabotage corruption cases and expressed a lack of faith in state-level investigations. The demand follows an expert panel report highlighting financial irregularities in KIIFB.
A local court in Bahraich has acquitted Ankita Jaiswal and Dilip Kumar Patel in a 2021 poisoning case that led to the death of a two-year-old and illness of four others. The court found circumstantial evidence insufficient. Ankita had been jailed since August 2021 and received free legal aid.
Investors are set to monitor quarterly earnings, crude oil prices, the Jio Platforms initial public offering, and foreign investor activity in the upcoming holiday-shortened week, according to market analysts.
India has announced its squads for the upcoming two-Test and five-ODI series against New Zealand. Wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has been named in the Test squad, subject to fitness clearance, while pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah returns for the Test leg. Shubman Gill will captain the Test side and the first three ODIs, with Shreyas Iyer leading the final two ODIs.
Indian benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty saw a rebound in early trade, primarily driven by a more than 4 per cent surge in Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) shares following its robust Q2 net profit announcement. Track Sensex, nifty on October 9.
When it pretends to be deaf, a situation can snowball into something it cannot contain. The government cannot dismiss public anger merely because protests are inconvenient or politically embarrassing, asserts Ramesh Menon.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has initiated an investigation into the role of temporary home guards following a stampede at a Kolkata Durga Puja pandal that killed 19 people. Adhikari criticised the previous administration and highlighted issues with crowd management and the conduct of home guards during the incident. The probe will also include puja organisers and licensing authorities, while a Special Investigation Team (SIT) will be formed. Seven people, including organisers, have been arrested.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah visited Punjab to meet families of individuals who died in incidents linked to the state's drug menace. He assured justice to the families of Gulzar Singh, Bikramjit Singh, and anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota, who were victims of drug-related issues. The visit comes amidst a political slugfest ahead of upcoming Assembly elections, with opposition parties criticising the AAP government over the drug problem.
Sri Lankan cricket legend Mahela Jayawardene has concluded his second tenure as head coach of the Mumbai Indians, a role he returned to ahead of the 2025 season. Jayawardene, who previously led the team to three IPL titles, expressed gratitude to the franchise and its owners, while MI owner Nita Ambani acknowledged his significant contributions.
Mumbai Police conducted a two-day anti-narcotics operation, seizing drugs worth Rs 15.87 crore, arresting 21 absconding accused, and registering 72 cases. The drive, part of the 'Drug-Free Mumbai' and 'Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan' campaigns, also saw the invocation of MCOCA against a drug syndicate and the demolition of illegal structures.
Following the murder of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota in Mansa, police have suspended a station house officer and arrested the alleged shooter's wife. The shooter, Ashwani Kumar, and an associate are in police remand. Investigations are ongoing into Kumar's arms licence and drug network, while Jhota's family and activists demand further action and a CBI probe, leading to a 'Punjab bandh' on Thursday.
Dedicated Ayush dispensaries increased from 26,130 in 2013-2014 to 37,804 in 2024-2025, while hospitals rose much more slowly, from 3,605 to 3,885.
Ajinkya Shinde, a native of Latur, Maharashtra, has taken charge of the Cockroach Janta Party's (CJP) "Jantar Mantar 2.0" protest in Delhi. This follows the detention of CJP's top leaders, including Dipke, Saurav Das, and Ashutosh Ranka, by Delhi Police on Saturday. Shinde, a former computer engineer and AAP activist, is leading the agitation against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged voter-list manipulation. The national capital saw a significant crackdown on Saturday, with nearly 500 protesters and leaders detained.
A fast-track court in Nashik, Maharashtra, has sentenced Vijay Sanjay Khairnar to death for the rape and murder of a four-year-old girl. The court described the crime as "rarest of the rare," stating that leniency would undermine public confidence in justice. The judge highlighted the extreme depravity of the act, committed on November 16, 2025, and ruled out life imprisonment, also directing Rs 10 lakh compensation to the victim's parents.
The first five matches of the Indian Super League 2026-27 season have garnered significant viewership on YouTube, with 65 million views and 52 million viewers. The opening week also saw high concurrent viewership, particularly for the Inter Kashi versus Kerala Blasters FC match, and strong engagement across both English and Hindi feeds, underscoring the league's growing digital presence and the importance of multilingual content.
Dhananjaya de Silva has resigned as Sri Lanka's Test captain with immediate effect on Thursday, citing a desire to pass the leadership to the next generation. He will continue to be available for selection as a player. De Silva led Sri Lanka in 18 Tests, winning seven, and took over the captaincy in January 2024.
The Indian government, through the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), has issued an advisory to Meta, urging the social media giant to prevent its recommendation systems from disproportionately exposing users to limited narratives and to enhance checks on content that could incite public disorder or unlawful activity. The advisory, dated October 10, also calls for Meta to provide adequate context for content related to ongoing public events and to review its content-ranking mechanisms to avoid amplifying misleading information.
Mona Agarwal staged a remarkable comeback to win the gold medal in the women's 10m air rifle (SH1) event at the Asian Para Games, narrowly defeating compatriot Avani Lekhara who secured silver. This one-two finish marked India's opening medal account and secured a second quota for the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics.
The Indian women's cricket team is set to complete a 3-0 T20I series sweep against Zimbabwe in the final match in Raipur, buoyed by strong performances from captain Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, and debutant Niki Prasad.
A Crisil report indicates that India is the world's fastest-growing polymer compound market, contributing 13% to the global industry. Driven by increased manufacturing in automotive, electronics, and infrastructure, the domestic sector is projected to reach USD 16.5 billion by FY2031, with significant demand from various pipeline and cable segments.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday met the families of individuals who lost their lives due to drug-related issues in Punjab, saying he had never felt so deeply saddened in life as he did while meeting them and also called out the AAP government for failing to curb the menace.
Fast bowler Tushar Deshpande's impressive five-wicket haul led Mumbai to bowl out Chandigarh for a mere 78 runs in their first innings, forcing a follow-on on the second day of their Ranji Trophy Group D match.
On the third day of the Ranji Trophy Elite Group C matches, Delhi trailed Bengal by 88 runs, with Bengal having posted 429. Kerala faced a significant deficit against Jharkhand, while Gujarat took a first-innings lead against Odisha, who now hold a slender four-run lead in their second innings. Maharashtra led Services by 172 runs despite a shaky start to their second innings.
A Meerut court has sentenced a woman and her lover to death for strangling her husband and staging his death as a snakebite. The elaborate plot involved placing a live snake next to the victim's body to mislead investigators. This is the second death penalty awarded by a Meerut court this week for a murder case.
A state-wide bandh was observed across Punjab on Thursday following the murder of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota in Mansa. Markets and educational institutions remained shut, and roads were blocked by protesters, disrupting traffic. Jhota was shot on Tuesday for questioning the illegal sale of addictive drugs. His family, supported by various political parties and farmer unions, has refused to perform his last rites until justice is delivered, demanding resignations of top officials and a CBI probe. The incident has intensified the political debate on drug menace and law and order in Punjab.
The Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon has announced a revised route for this year's edition, scheduled for Sunday. The change is due to ongoing protests near Rail Bhawan, Sansad Marg, and Patel Chowk, which were part of the traditional course. Organisers have communicated the new route to participants, while elite race timings and other run categories remain largely unaffected.
Delhi Police have arrested two taxi drivers and a Nigerian national for alleged drug trafficking. The accused were found with commercial quantities of cocaine, heroin, and MDMA. The taxi drivers reportedly coordinated deliveries, while the Nigerian national, who overstayed his medical visa, is believed to be a key supplier.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut stated on Friday that he is prepared to apologise to the Supreme Court if his remarks were deemed inappropriate, emphasising his party's respect for the judiciary. His comments followed observations by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant regarding attempts to browbeat the judiciary. Raut also linked his apology to demands for justice concerning alleged electoral roll irregularities and the delayed hearing on the Shiv Sena name and symbol dispute.
A 73-year-old man in Kota has been arrested for allegedly murdering his 70-year-old wife in July. He initially fabricated a story of an intruder attack, even self-inflicting minor wounds, but forensic evidence and police investigation, including call detail records and neighbour testimonies, exposed his deception and led to his arrest.
The Supreme Court has agreed to hear an application alleging that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi pushed a pregnant journalist during a march to the apex court on October 12. The matter was mentioned by senior advocate Gaurav Bhatia, who stated the journalist was three months pregnant and required hospitalisation. The court will hear the application on October 26 or October 27, alongside other pleas related to the October 12 march and electoral roll irregularities.
Militants ambushed 14 Meitei men in Manipur on Monday, killing three and injuring three others. The attack, which occurred in the Sunurok hills, sparked widespread protests in Imphal, with locals placing bodies outside the Chief Minister's residence. Police used tear gas to disperse protesters. Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh condemned the killings and held security review meetings, while the opposition Congress demanded his resignation, citing the state's ongoing ethnic violence since May 2023. Security forces have launched a combing operation with drones and sniffer dogs.
Pat Cummins and Matt Renshaw led Australia's fightback against South Africa, adding an unbeaten 63-run stand before bad light ended the opening day at 187/6.
Police in Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh, have arrested a married couple for allegedly murdering the wife's lover, stuffing his body in a plastic sack, and dumping it in a canal. The victim, Akash Gupta, was lured to their home, and the woman's father and brother are also implicated and currently absconding.
Delhi Police seized over 2,260 kg of illegal firecrackers from two vehicles in Alipur and arrested four individuals involved in transporting the consignment from Punjab for delivery in Delhi, where firecrackers are banned.
A 'Punjab Bandh' was observed on Thursday, leading to widespread closures of shops and private schools and road blockades across several districts, following the murder of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota in Mansa on Tuesday. Jhota was shot by a chemist owner for questioning the sale of addictive drugs. The incident has triggered significant political backlash against the Aam Aadmi Party government, with various organisations and opposition parties demanding accountability and a CBI probe.
Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police Rajeev Krishna revealed that the murder of Haryanvi singer Ankit Balyan was a pre-planned conspiracy involving a network linked to the Gogi gang, with attackers tracking his movements and procuring weapons in advance.
An Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) in Haryana's Nuh district was arrested on Monday by the State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 20,000. The ASI, identified as Ashok, had reportedly demanded the money to remove a complainant and his wife's names from an ongoing case.
Chola Chiefs ended their five-match losing streak by defeating Prithviraaj Yodhas in a thrilling Archery Premier League Season 2 match decided by a shoot-off. The victory, secured by Alejandra Usquiano and Yuktha Sri Kondapavuluri, keeps their top-four playoff hopes alive.
