India Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill will miss Punjab's opening Ranji Trophy match against Assam. While the official reason for his absence is not stated, he is expected to feature in the team's second game against Chhattisgarh. This aligns with the national selection committee's directive for international players to participate in domestic cricket.
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.
Divyanshu defeated Sharad Kumar 3-2 in a closely contested final to win the East Zone title at the Raja Randhir Singh Memorial 49th Delhi State Senior Snooker (15 Red) Championship. The match saw Divyanshu take an early lead, Sharad stage a comeback, and Divyanshu ultimately secure victory in the deciding fifth frame.
Rahul Gandhi met the parents of Ankita Bhandari, who were protesting at India Gate, demanding justice for their daughter's murder.
India's spin bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule addressed the limited opportunities for Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy in the ongoing T20I series against New Zealand, stating they understand the team's preferred combination. Despite a heavy defeat in the fourth T20I, Bahutule highlighted the spinners' readiness and the team's attacking approach, while also discussing challenges at Eden Park and the potential for changes in the next game.
14-year-old Jensi Kanabar, a wildcard entry, made a significant impact at the WTA 250 Chennai Open, pushing a higher-ranked opponent to three sets. Her inspiring journey is largely due to the unwavering dedication of her father, Dipakbhai Kanabar, who sacrificed his career to support her tennis dreams, building a network of support and even arranging practice facilities. Her achievements have been recognised in her hometown, with a tennis court named in her honour.
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.
The numbers don't settle it. Bumrah has the lower average and is harder to score off. Rabada has the bigger pile, the ten-wicket matches, and a winning team behind him.
The Indian government has revised its windfall tax on fuel exports, increasing the levy on petrol exports to Rs 2.5 per litre while cutting the duty on diesel exports to Rs 8.5 per litre, effective October 16.
The Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) has appealed to Congress leader Sonia Gandhi to postpone the party's November 1 rally at Ramlila Maidan. Traders fear the rally, expected to draw 10 lakh people, could cause significant business disruption and traffic congestion in central and old Delhi during the crucial Diwali festive season, potentially leading to losses of Rs 10,000-12,000 crore. The CTI has suggested either rescheduling the rally or moving it to Burari Ground.
Delhi Police are actively monitoring social media platforms to combat the spread of misinformation during protests in the capital, leading to the removal of approximately 300 posts. This action follows the arrest of a man for creating a fabricated AI video and includes requests to platform X for content removal.
A delegation from the Central Secretariat Service (CSS) officers' association met Cabinet Secretary T V Somanathan to discuss long-pending cadre issues, including promotion anomalies and the delayed fourth cadre review. The meeting also focused on strengthening CSS officers' capabilities and promoting solution-oriented governance, with plans for new training initiatives.
The Supreme Court has overturned the Indian Navy Selection Board's decision to deny Permanent Commission to a woman officer in the Judge Advocate General Branch. The court found that the board failed to properly consider her favourable Annual Confidential Reports and unduly focused on past non-recommendations. The Navy has been directed to reconsider her claim within six weeks.
Air Chief Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, India's new Chief of Air Staff, has outlined his top priorities, focusing on restoring the IAF's fighter squadron strength, accelerating indigenous programmes like Tejas and AMCA, and enhancing tri-services synergy. His vision, encapsulated by the acronym VAYU (Vigilance, Aatmanirbharta, Yukti, Unity), emphasises self-reliance in defence, tactical innovation, and integrated operations with the Army and Navy, alongside a commitment to air warrior welfare and national security.
The BJP criticised Rahul Gandhi's remarks comparing Prime Minister Modi to a "Mughal emperor" and calling the 2024 Lok Sabha elections "illegal" during the INDIA bloc's 'Vote Bachao, Desh Bachao' rally. BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra labelled the rally a "chaotic spectacle" and questioned Gandhi's claims, highlighting the democratic process that allows common people to rise to power.
The Delhi Traffic Police has intensified its enforcement drive under GRAP anti-pollution measures, issuing 433 challans for no-entry violations, checking 7,657 vehicles at city borders, and turning back 609 vehicles for not meeting prescribed emission standards, leading to massive traffic snarls.
Glimpses of our leaders at work on Wednesday: From photography and policy meetings to honours for veterans and high-level consultations.
The Supreme Court has expressed concern over the increasing trend of filing criminal cases, particularly rape charges, after consensual relationships fail. The court clarified that physical intimacy during a functioning relationship cannot be retrospectively branded as rape merely because the association ended. It emphasized the need to distinguish between genuine absence of consent and regret over past consensual acts, warning against the weaponisation of criminal law.
Olympic medallists PV Sindhu and Mirabai Chanu are among 12 prominent sportspersons vying for a spot on the Indian Olympic Association's (IOA) Athletes Commission. The elections, scheduled for November 3, will select 10 members for the 2026-2030 term. The article also details the electoral process, eligibility criteria, and mentions the upcoming election for eight Sportspersons of Merit (SOMs).
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray announced he deleted a documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and industrialist Gautam Adani from his social media, citing a 'request' from the Mumbai Police Commissioner. This move follows legal notices issued to 24 'X' account holders who shared the same documentary. Thackeray also alleged that the Maharashtra government is handing over forest land to industrialist friends and plans to address a rally on this issue.
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.
A former Vadodara corporator has requested land for Indian spinner Radha Yadav to establish a cricket academy, following the Gujarat government's proposal to allocate a civic plot to former cricketer Yusuf Pathan. The request for Yadav aims to promote cricket and develop Vadodara as a sports city, contrasting with Pathan's decade-long dispute over a residential plot.
Several political parties in Tamil Nadu, including the ruling TVK and opposition DMK, walked out of an all-party meeting convened by the Election Commission. They demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, citing alleged irregularities and a lack of transparency in the previous Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, where millions of voters were reportedly removed or flagged. The AIADMK and BJP attended the meeting, with AIADMK also raising concerns about the large number of affected voters.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has ordered a CBI probe into the murder of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota, following intense pressure from his family and supporters after his killing on October 13 in Mansa.
The BJP has launched a new song, "Modi Kahin Nahi Jaayega," as part of its social media campaign against Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's controversial "baap" remark about Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The song asserts Modi's continued presence and criticises the opposition's language, while the Congress has also intensified its social media attacks, accusing the government of "vote chori" ahead of an INDIA bloc rally.
Vaishnavi Adkar, India's top-ranked woman tennis player, has made significant progress, climbing nearly 400 places in world rankings over the past year. Her coaching team, including M Balachandran and Maria Gaidano, is focusing on enhancing her physical strength, endurance, and tactical game to help her consistently compete at higher levels. Adkar aims for a top-250 ranking soon and a long-term goal of reaching the top 100.
'The priority of the government should be to use agricultural production for human beings first, and only after that for biofuel and such things.'
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Monday directed officials to continuously monitor Cyclone Arnab's movement, undertake precautionary measures and ensure there was no loss of life or property.
'Bhuvi should be the first choice with the new ball, based on the conditions, because of the skill he possesses of swinging the ball.'
A British Conservative Party MP, Bob Blackman, has tabled an Early Day Motion in the House of Commons to reaffirm India's sovereignty and territorial integrity over Jammu and Kashmir. The motion, timed for Jammu and Kashmir Accession Day, also expresses concern over terror incidents and targeted killings in the region and calls for constructive dialogue.
Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari has dismissed criticism against blending 20 per cent ethanol in petrol fuel as a 'paid campaign'. He highlighted that millions of vehicles are already running on E19-20 blends without widespread issues. Gadkari also addressed concerns about highway quality, promising improvements within two years and detailing plans for monitoring and penalising contractors. He further elaborated on the economic impact of infrastructure development and the expansion of India's highway network.
The ruling Mahayuti and opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi are set for a significant political contest in the Maharashtra Legislative Council elections. Polling for five seats - three Graduates' and two Teachers' constituencies - will be held on Friday, with 182 candidates in the fray. The results, crucial for both alliances, will be declared on October 27.
Scuffles broke out between protesting students and paramilitary personnel at Jamia Millia Islamia on Monday as the students refused to end their agitation for restoration of students' union elections despite the university issuing an order for the polls earlier in the day.
Nitish Kumar Reddy opens up on managing workload and staying injury-free after helping India beat New Zealand in a thrilling second T20I.
'Retail investors should study IPO prospectuses, business models, financial performance and valuations instead of relying on listing-day hype.'
The prime accused in the Guwahati hotel firing incident, Ghanakanta Gogoi, was killed in a police encounter in Assam's Sivasagar district early Wednesday. Gogoi, who allegedly shot five people dead, was reportedly attempting to snatch an officer's weapon while being taken for investigation in a separate bank fraud case. His death has been hailed as "God's justice" by victims' families, while opposition parties question the encounter and suggest a larger land mafia involvement.
As many as 15,000-20,000 frontline retail jobs have reportedly been rationalised, with further cuts feared.
Police sources reveal that the three shooters involved in the attack on actor Tiger Shroff on October 18 received real-time updates on the police investigation via news channel coverage from their handlers, allowing them to alter their escape routes. They were apprehended from a train in Kota on October 19. The investigation also points to gangster Anil Pandit, an alleged associate of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, claiming responsibility.
The Supreme Court has ruled that foreign nationals can be granted bail under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) if their initial entry into India was legal and authorised, even if they overstayed their visa. This decision upheld a Madras High Court order granting bail to a Sri Lankan national accused in a terror case, stating that the prosecution failed to prove illegal entry. The court clarified the conjunctive conditions of Section 43D(7) of UAPA, emphasising that both foreign nationality and unauthorised entry must be proven to deny bail.
Modi's greater weakness is his inability since July when he directed the exit of Dharmendra Pradhan, to come up with a political counter strategy. Security measures and executive orders as seen in recent days will only likely further weaken him and make him as lame duck a premier as many prior to him, Indira Gandhi and Manmohan Singh included, observes Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay.
