Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has announced the formation of a 10-member Task Force, chaired by Yugal Kishore Joshi, to explore the revival of Formula 1 in India. The committee will assess challenges, identify policy interventions, and develop a roadmap to potentially host a race by 2028, addressing issues that led to its discontinuation after 2013.
US Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh has picked former RBI governor Raghuram Rajan, Harvard University economics Professor Raj Chetty and Microsoft XBOX CEO Asha Sharma to be part of task forces constituted to examine the central bank's approach to monetary policy and propose transformational changes.
The Maharashtra government is setting up a ministerial task force, led by Minister Ashish Shelar, to ensure the effective implementation of its drone policy. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced this, emphasising the need for a "policy of policies" to integrate R&D, manufacturing, testing, and subsidies, and to strengthen the state's drone ecosystem, including developing a 'Drone City'.
India's Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has announced the formation of a 10-member Task Force, chaired by Niti Aayog's Yugal Kishore Joshi, to assess the feasibility and challenges of reviving Formula 1 in the country. The committee aims to develop a roadmap for India to host a Grand Prix by 2028, focusing on sustainable growth, policy interventions, and addressing past issues like taxation. The Adani group, owners of the Buddh International Circuit, will also be involved.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced the formation of a high-powered task force, led by Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani, to recommend reforms for examinations conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). The task force aims to leverage technology for a robust and transparent examination system, following recent public agitation and the resignation of the Education Minister.
Delhi is set to establish its first dedicated Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) police station as part of a broader initiative to make the city drug-free by 2027, according to LG Taranjit Singh Sandhu.
Rajasthan's Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) has conducted six operations across the state, seizing narcotics worth Rs 92 lakh and arresting six individuals. The seizures included poppy husk, opium, smack, and cannabis plants, with a significant bust involving a truck with secret compartments in Bhilwara.
The Rajasthan Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) conducted coordinated raids across multiple districts, seizing large quantities of narcotics and arresting seven individuals as part of 'Operation Ganjajuli'.
Lawrence Bishnoi gang member Harichand Jat alias Hari Boxer has been detained in the US by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). He faces multiple cases in Haryana, including murder, and is accused of operating criminal activities from abroad, supplying weapons, and being involved in extortion across several Indian states. Efforts are underway to bring him to India.
Mathura police, in a joint operation with the Agra Anti-Narcotics Task Force, arrested three alleged interstate drug smugglers and seized 250 kg of ganja worth Rs 1.25 crore from a container truck on Sunday. The consignment was reportedly en route from Odisha to Haryana.
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.
Assam police's Special Task Force arrested one person and seized 30,000 banned Yaba tablets, valued at Rs 7.5 crore, in Kamrup district. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced the successful operation against the highly addictive drug.
The Bihar government has formed a state-level task force to monitor actions taken by authorities to prevent and eradicate child marriages in the state. Bihar has the second-highest rate of child marriage in India, with 40.8% of women getting married before turning 18. The government is implementing a multipronged strategy to combat child marriage, including stricter enforcement of the law, empowering girls through education, and raising awareness.
West Bengal's Special Task Force (STF) conducted raids in Birbhum district, seizing a large quantity of explosives and illegal firearms. Two individuals were arrested in connection with the operation, and an investigation is ongoing to determine the source and intended use of the materials, including potential links to criminal or terrorist activities.
Assam Police have dismantled a financial fraud network operating through mule bank accounts, arresting six individuals. The Special Task Force (STF) investigation uncovered a multi-crore rupee fraud involving around 300 frozen accounts, with suspected links to Pakistani intelligence operations. The syndicate has been active for two years, with masterminds reportedly operating from outside Assam.
The Bihar Special Task Force (STF), in collaboration with the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) and district police, conducted two separate operations leading to the arrest of two alleged drug traffickers. Authorities seized charas valued at Rs 10 crore and 61 grams of smack in East Champaran and Purnea districts. One arrested individual, Rajesh Sahni, is believed to be part of an international narcotics syndicate supplying drugs across several Indian states after procuring them from Nepal. Investigations are ongoing.
Assam Police's Special Task Force (STF) seized Yaba tablets worth Rs 10 crore and arrested one person in Kamrup district. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma confirmed the bust, highlighting the state's commitment to combating drug menace as part of the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan.
Meghalaya Police arrested two individuals and seized heroin valued at approximately Rs 60 lakh in West Garo Hills. The operation, conducted by the Anti-Narcotics Task Force, also led to the seizure of cars and mobile phones, with officials suspecting an inter-state drug trafficking network.
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and AISA have raised concerns over the detention of their leaders, Abhijeet Dipke and Neha Bora, by Delhi Police during protests. Both parties allege their leaders are being held at undisclosed locations and denied access to lawyers, while police confirm detentions were made to maintain law and order.
Two men, Pardeep Singh and Saveer Khan, both 22, have been arrested and charged in connection with two extortion-related shootings in Surrey, Canada, including one at comedian Kapil Sharma's restaurant last year. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) confirmed the arrests made on November 1, stating the charges stem from extensive investigative work.
The Telangana Civil Supplies Department conducted a week-long crackdown on traders manipulating rice prices and creating artificial scarcity. Inspections revealed irregularities like weight manipulation, price sticker fraud, PDS rice hoarding, and operating without proper licenses. The department has fixed maximum retail prices for various rice varieties and is pursuing legal action, including invoking the PD Act against repeat offenders.
Rajasthan Police announced the detention of Harichand Jat alias Hari Boxer, a key member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Hari Boxer, wanted for extortion, firing incidents, and supplying weapons, was operating from abroad after fleeing India in April 2023. Efforts are underway to extradite him to India.
Six individuals have been arrested across two districts in Bihar for their alleged involvement in a murder case and an attack on Special Task Force (STF) personnel. Three of the accused sustained bullet injuries during an exchange of fire with police while attempting to flee in Sitamarhi, while three others were arrested in Vaishali for assaulting STF members.
The National Testing Agency (NTA) is implementing a major overhaul of its examination system, including creating a permanent pool of independent observers and inviting applications for empanelled examination centres. This initiative follows security breaches and allegations of irregularities, particularly the NEET-UG paper leak earlier this year, aiming to enhance fairness and security in national-level entrance exams.
Two men have been arrested in Madhya Pradesh's Sheopur district for allegedly shooting an Indian-born cheetah, KNG-22, last month. The cheetah was found injured on October 25 and died two days later. A special task force investigated the incident, leading to the recovery of the double-barrel muzzle-loading gun used in the crime and the arrest of the two siblings.
United States Central Command (CENTCOM) forces have disabled a commercial cargo vessel in the Gulf of Oman using precision airstrikes after the ship's crew repeatedly ignored warnings and attempted to breach an active naval blockade against Iran, the US military confirmed in an official statement.
The Uttarakhand Special Task Force (STF) has busted an illegal digital telephone exchange in Kashipur, Udham Singh Nagar district, leading to one arrest. The setup, operating as 'NS Enterprise', allegedly bypassed ILD gateways and facilitated automated calls linked to suspected cyber fraud. Investigations are ongoing, with seized equipment being analysed.
Assam Police's Special Task Force has arrested six individuals for allegedly running an organised financial fraud racket using mule bank accounts. The operation, which began on October 28, uncovered suspicious transactions amounting to lakhs of rupees and revealed potential links to Pakistan Intelligence Operatives. Investigations are ongoing to dismantle the syndicate and trace the fraudulent funds.
The ministry of education is actively formulating a computer-based testing strategy to transition the crucial NEET medical entrance exam to an online format.
Punjab Police have apprehended two individuals linked to a gangster network in Nawanshahr, recovering sophisticated weapons. Their arrest thwarted a planned targeted killing of a rival gang member during a court appearance in SBS Nagar. The accused are also suspected of involvement in a sarpanch's murder in Ludhiana and have links to foreign-based handlers orchestrating contract killings.
A special PMLA court in Ghaziabad has convicted two individuals under the anti-money laundering law, even though they were previously acquitted in the underlying bank loan fraud case investigated by the CBI. This ruling signifies an evolution in legal thinking, aligning with Financial Action Task Force (FATF) views that dealing with proceeds of crime can lead to money laundering conviction regardless of the predicate offence outcome. Five people, including a former bank manager, received three years rigorous imprisonment and a fine.
The task force's move to directly solicit views from students, parents and teachers marks a parallel effort to bring education stakeholders into the reform process.
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) and Bihar Special Task Force (STF) have dismantled a Nepal-origin charas smuggling network in Raxaul, Bihar. The operation led to the arrest of two individuals and the seizure of 5.14 kg of charas, valued at Rs 5.14 crore, intended for transport to Indore, Madhya Pradesh.
The Supreme Court of India has formed a National Task Force (NTF) to address the growing concern of student suicides in higher educational institutions. The court took note of the recurring cases and directed Delhi Police to register FIRs on the complaints of families of two students who died by suicide at IIT Delhi in 2023. The NTF, chaired by former apex court judge Justice S Ravindra Bhat, will prepare a comprehensive report, including the identification of causes leading to suicides, analysis of existing regulations, and recommendations for strengthening protections. The NTF will also have the authority to conduct surprise inspections of higher educational institutions and make further recommendations to ensure a holistic approach to addressing mental health concerns and eliminating suicides.
The Uttar Pradesh STF has arrested Firoz Musarrat Khan, an alleged interstate wildlife smuggler, in Lucknow and seized seven protected falcons worth Rs 1.4 crore. Khan's gang reportedly sourced protected birds and animals from UP forests, smuggling them to international markets via Mumbai. An FIR has been registered under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
The murder of Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Pradeep Purnekar in Thane has been linked to an old political dispute concerning civic polls, according to Uttar Pradesh police statements cited in court. Two accused, Santosh Kanojia and Amit Singh, arrested from Prayagraj, had their police custody extended till October 22 as the investigation continues into the meticulously planned conspiracy.
Police in Shravasti, Uttar Pradesh, have arrested three individuals for allegedly operating an inter-district counterfeit currency racket. A joint operation by the UP STF and local police led to the seizure of 804 fake notes worth Rs 1.74 lakh, along with printing equipment. The accused planned to circulate the fake currency during Diwali and were offering Rs 3 lakh in counterfeit notes for Rs 1 lakh in genuine currency.
A Class 7 dropout in Hyderabad was arrested for allegedly forging Aadhaar and PAN cards. The accused, Ch Mahadev, ran a photocopy centre and used online software to alter identity documents for customers seeking jobs, SIM cards, and government schemes. Police seized fake cards, cash, and equipment.
The Buddh International Circuit (BIC) recently hosted FIA-level racing for the first time in 13 years, sparking renewed discussions about a potential Formula 1 return to India. While organisers suggest 30-40% of the track needs revamping, drivers who competed praised its condition. The government is also exploring the feasibility, but significant financial investment and tax clarity are crucial for F1's comeback.
World champion Lando Norris says he would love to race in India as the government pushes to bring Formula 1 back to the country after a 13-year absence.
