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.
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif repeatedly refused to answer reporters' questions regarding Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) chief Hafiz Saeed during his visit to the United Nations headquarters for the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
Indian states' capital expenditure (capex) utilisation for April-August FY27 fell to 21.21 per cent, slightly below the 21.73 per cent recorded in the same period of FY26, according to a CAG analysis. Despite the dip, this figure remains the third highest in the past six years, with significant variations observed across states.
Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati has reappointed her nephew Akash Anand as the party's national convenor, reversing an earlier decision to remove him. This move comes after Anand's expression of desire to return and considering party members' views, with Mayawati emphasizing the decision was made in the interest of the party and the movement.
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) led a large protest in Mumbai, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. CJP leader Abhijeet Dipke announced a further protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar on October 10 if Kumar does not step down, citing alleged voter deletions and irregularities in recent elections. The protest, which saw participation from various activists and public figures, also called for freezing voter lists and abolishing the 2023 law on Election Commissioner appointments.
Pakistan and Turkiye have agreed to deploy military forces in Saudi Arabia as part of the Makkah Alliance for Defence. This decision follows recent attacks by Houthi rebels and aims to strengthen collective deterrence against threats to Saudi Arabia. The alliance, formed in August, considers an attack on one member as an attack on all.
US President Donald Trump has expressed strong support for the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC), citing the necessity to move energy infrastructure away from Iranian checkpoints following attacks in West Asia. He made these remarks during a multilateral meeting with the Gulf Cooperation Council at the UN General Assembly, emphasising the corridor's role in overcoming regional challenges.
The Tata Aeris iCNG, evolving from the Tigor, offers a modernized exterior and a feature-rich interior. It boasts innovative twin-cylinder CNG technology for maximum boot space, premium comfort features like ventilated seats and a 360-degree camera, and a smooth driving performance. Priced competitively, it aims to challenge rivals in the segment while offering enhanced practicality.
The Indian government has ordered the removal of Jack Dorsey's Bitchat app from app stores, citing law-and-order concerns due to its ability to bypass communication restrictions. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) issued the takedown demand under Section 69(A) of the IT Act, 2000. The government also addressed the issue of banning minors from social media, indicating a search for a better solution than outright bans.
Micron CEO Sanjay Mehrotra announced plans to significantly scale up the company's chip assembly and testing facility in India, moving from "vision to execution" in the nation's semiconductor ambitions. He highlighted the success of the Sanand, Gujarat plant, which is already producing "Made in India" memory chips, and the company's substantial engineering contributions from its Indian centres. Mehrotra also emphasised the critical role of memory chips in the AI era, driving Micron's growth.
An IndianOil officer, Mahesh Shelke, was fatally attacked with a sharp weapon while inspecting a petrol pump in Hingoli district, Maharashtra. Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and Indian Oil Corporation have called for swift and strict action against those responsible. The incident draws parallels to the 2005 killing of another IOC officer, S Manjunath.
Aam Aadmi Party convenor Arvind Kejriwal criticised the Centre for the security clampdown in central Delhi against the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) protest, calling it "worse than Emergency" and alleging dictatorship. He also accused Prime Minister Modi of being scared and protecting "vote chori" by crushing democracy, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has filed a plea in the Supreme Court challenging the Election Commission's interim decision to freeze the Trinamool Congress' name and party symbol. The EC had allotted separate names and symbols to two rival TMC factions ahead of upcoming bypolls, a move Banerjee has strongly criticised as a "black day" for democracy.
An analysis by ADR and National Election Watch reveals that 111 MPs and MLAs changed parties after winning elections between 2022 and 2026. Nagaland and West Bengal recorded the highest number of switches. The report also highlights party-level impacts and suggests reforms to the anti-defection framework.
India is strategically positioned to develop a robust domestic semiconductor ecosystem, driven by increasing electronics consumption, strong government support through incentives, and a global shift in supply chains. Boston Consulting Group Managing Director Ankush Wadhera highlights India's potential as a safe haven for investments, with the AI boom further fuelling demand for advanced chips. The nation aims to expand its capabilities across the entire semiconductor value chain, attracting significant global and domestic investments.
'I was just thinking about me, because my rights have been affected. That's it.' 'I am an ordinary citizen of this country, and I am expecting my rights (as a voter) to be restored.'
Eight students from a Pune-based coaching class drowned in the Arabian Sea off Diveagar beach in Maharashtra's Raigad district during a picnic. The incident, which saw all bodies recovered, has led to criticism from a local MLA regarding inadequate safety measures and the need for better guidance for young visitors at popular tourist spots.
Congress candidate Milan Pradhan for the Nandigram assembly bypoll was arrested for alleged involvement in the 2007 anti-land acquisition movement. Another party leader, Subhasish Bhattacharya, was also arrested. The Congress alleges political vendetta by the BJP, especially as Pradhan had successfully filed his nomination. The party has questioned the timing and legality of the arrest, particularly during the model code of conduct, and plans demonstrations.
The Delhi Chief Electoral Officer's office has issued notices to over 33 lakh voters, including former deputy prime minister LK Advani, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, and former vice-president Jagdeep Dhankhar, over discrepancies in their electoral roll details. These notices are part of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, primarily due to details not matching with the 2002 SIR. Despite concerns raised by some politicians, officials assure that no names will be deleted without due verification and an opportunity for voters to respond.
The Election Commission has announced elections for 12 Rajya Sabha seats across Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and West Bengal on October 16. The BJP is expected to retain eight seats in UP and gain one in West Bengal, increasing its overall strength. The Samajwadi Party is also likely to gain one seat in UP, while Mayawati's BSP faces the prospect of losing its representation in Parliament.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the 'We Will Do It' slogan, aiming for India to become a developed nation by 2047 through visionary policies and hard work, while also addressing the challenge of societal division.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar strongly rebuked a Pakistani journalist at the UN headquarters who questioned India's alleged sponsorship of terrorism, calling Pakistan a "terrorist country."
The Supreme Court has agreed to urgently hear a 2016 Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking the speedy disposal of criminal cases against lawmakers across India. This decision comes amidst concerns raised by amicus curiae Vijay Hansaria about the high number of legislators facing criminal charges, including chief ministers. The court had previously issued directions in November 2023 to fast-track such trials.
The Supreme Court has directed the Election Commission to resolve the contentious dispute between the rival factions of the All India Trinamool Congress over its party name and crucial 'flowers and grass' election symbol within three months of the completion of pleadings.
Around 20 Congress workers, including six arrested, have been booked for attempt to murder, grievous hurt, and rioting after allegedly defacing Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's residence in Agra during a protest. The Congress party claims "false" sections were invoked and plans to challenge the charges.
US President Donald Trump has expressed interest to his advisers in setting up a meeting with Iranian officials present in New York for the UN General Assembly's 81st session, "if the conditions are right."
GIS intelligence solutions provider Mirai Aerospace Systems and Software Solutions has signed an MoU with US-based GreenValley International Inc to strengthen India's geospatial and LiDAR remote sensing manufacturing base. The collaboration focuses on local assembly, manufacturing, technical support, and the development of AI-driven LiDAR applications, aiming to meet India's growing demand across various sectors.
India defeated Pakistan by 19 runs to secure the gold medal in the Asian Games cricket final, a match that passed without any major controversy despite the ongoing diplomatic tensions and the conspicuous absence of customary handshakes between the teams.
BJP National President Nitin Nabin was welcomed by a fleet of brightly painted bulldozers at a Meerut toll plaza, marking the start of his significant two-day visit to Uttar Pradesh focused on Assembly election preparations, organisational meetings, and temple visits.
Ashutosh Ranka, co-convenor of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), and his supporters were reportedly detained by Assam Police in Guwahati ahead of a planned volunteers' meet-up. CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke claimed the detention was to prevent the meeting, while Ranka alleged Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma was afraid of the party exposing local issues.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has publicly supported India's bid for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council. He stated that any reform of the UNSC should not grant additional seats to Western countries like Germany and Japan, citing their "militarism and revanchism." Instead, Russia advocates for increased representation from Asia, Africa, and Latin America, specifically backing India and Brazil, while also emphasizing the need to address African interests.
Samajwadi Party MP Shiv Pal Singh Patel asserted that the Congress would not have secured any seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections without their alliance. He claimed SP chief Akhilesh Yadav persuaded Rahul Gandhi to contest Raebareli and highlighted the SP's significant contribution to the INDIA bloc's success in Uttar Pradesh.
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's planned visits to Uttar Pradesh for electoral literacy club conferences have been postponed, with officials stating it's a routine rescheduling. They denied any link to recent controversies regarding differences among election commissioners, highlighting that the postponements predated the controversy. The Election Commission is also ramping up efforts to engage Gen Alpha and Z ahead of the 2029 Lok Sabha polls through educational outreach.
Congress's Nandigram bypoll candidate Milan Pradhan has been sent to judicial custody until October 3 on charges dating back 19 years, effectively ending his campaign for the October 6 by-election.
'Their functioning is flawed, they are not accountable, they are opaque, they are non-transparent, they have lost credibility.'
The Delhi poll body has issued notices to several prominent voters, including Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal, for discrepancies in their enumeration forms during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise. While Gupta's entry has been validated, millions of other voters, including other political figures, have received notices for issues like age-related mismatches or being unmapped with previous SIR records, requiring them to submit documents by October 29.
In 100 days in office, Chief Minister V D Satheesan has ordered five SITs. This would appear to be some kind of a record, points out Aditi Phadnis.
Former Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister A Kali Krishna Srinivas, known as Alla Nani, has died at 56 due to a heart attack. Political leaders, including Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and IT Minister Nara Lokesh, expressed their condolences. Srinivas had served as Deputy CM and health minister and recently joined the TDP after losing the 2024 Assembly election.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has expressed support for the Centre's decision to levy charges on UPI transactions, citing the cost of maintaining the digital payment infrastructure. However, he emphasised the need to protect retail consumers from these fees. Abdullah also discussed the upcoming seven-day Assembly session, highlighting the government's commitment to smooth functioning and addressing MLAs' concerns, and touched upon efforts to tackle drainage issues affecting water bodies.
Police have registered cases against senior DMK leaders A Raja, P K Sekar Babu, and Vasantham Karthikeyan for allegedly making defamatory remarks against Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay and Energy Resources and Law Minister R Nirmal Kumar during recent party protests. The controversy stems from CM Vijay's comments questioning DMK chief M K Stalin's MISA detention during the Emergency, which the DMK claims is a long-standing narrative.
