Divya Mittal, a 2013-batch IAS officer and former Deoria district magistrate, has resigned from the Indian Administrative Service after 13 years. An alumna of IIT Delhi and IIM Bangalore, Mittal cited no specific reason but reflected on her journey from working in London to serving India, highlighting her impactful tenures in Mirzapur and Deoria.
Analysts predict that the US midterm election results, which saw Democrats gain control of Congress, will primarily influence Indian markets through changes in global financial conditions, trade policy expectations, and geopolitical developments, with a keen focus on the US administration's actions in West Asia and their potential impact on crude oil prices.
The Centre has announced a major bureaucratic reshuffle, appointing Prakash Rajpurohit as Deputy Election Commissioner and approving appointments for 27 civil servants at joint secretary and equivalent levels across various ministries and departments.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, speaking at the UPSC centenary, urged a fundamental shift in civil services recruitment and governance. He highlighted the need for services to adapt to an "instant-delivery world" powered by AI, focusing on citizen-centricity and evaluating candidates' motivation beyond academic knowledge. The PM also praised Captain Smit Machchhar's bravery during his address.
As CEC Gyanesh Kumar faces protests over electoral roll revisions, a 20-year-old Kerala corruption case resurfaces.
Northern Railway has announced that all train services will operate as per their normal schedule on October 11, following cancellations and rescheduling of several trains on October 9-10 after the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) announced a protest against CEC Gyanesh Kumar in Delhi.
Ashok Thombre, international business advisor at The Quantico, shortlists some of the most popular government competitive exams in India that attract thousands of aspirants every year.
In a life fully and adventurously lived, Bunker Roy creatively defied many conventions and opened paths for subsequent generations to follow. Long before the term 'social entrepreneur' was coined, Bunker innovated empowering social processes and village-level production systems that dramatically improved the lives of tens of lakhs of people not only across India but in 96 other countries, notes Rajni Bakshi.
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar has affirmed that Indian electronic voting machines (EVMs) are manufactured by public sector companies and operate without internet, Bluetooth, or Wi-Fi connectivity, ensuring their security and reliability.
The Centre has appointed two directors and a joint director to the National Testing Agency (NTA) amidst ongoing reforms and scrutiny over issues like the NEET paper leak. These appointments are part of a broader overhaul of the NTA's examination system.
The US Treasury Department has sanctioned a Chandigarh-based couple, Suniel Kumar Sharma and Jaspreet Preeti Shahid, and their network of companies. They are accused of providing false flags and certifications to support Iran's shadow fleet, enabling the transport of petroleum and evasion of international restrictions. Their operations involved defrauding maritime regulatory administrations and establishing fraudulent flagging registries across multiple jurisdictions.
Former IAS officer Divya Mittal has launched her new political party, Jan Neeti Bharat, with the aim of contesting the 2027 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections and redefining governance by making people central to policymaking and ensuring government accountability.
Former IAS officer Divya Mittal has announced her independent entry into politics, starting her journey in Uttar Pradesh. She aims to create a platform to voice public grievances and challenge systemic issues, focusing on intent and justice rather than party politics.
'This creates a lot of uncertainty. I am not sure if I want to be here, but then a lot of this now depends on my company.'
A group of 124 former IAS, IFS, IPS, and allied services officers have issued an open letter defending the Election Commission (EC) and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. They argue that the electoral system cannot be deemed rigged only when a party loses, citing instances where the ruling BJP lost elections under the same EC. The officers highlight the legitimacy and necessity of the SIR for cleaning voter rolls and underscore the robust safeguards within India's electoral system.
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.
Indian-born democratic socialist Nithya Raman has been elected Mayor of Los Angeles, becoming the first South Asian mayor of the nation's second-largest city. Her victory is part of a broader trend of Indian-American candidates winning in the US midterm elections, highlighting the growing political power of the community.
Sunil Gavaskar launched 'Rag Rag Mein Cricket', chronicling Sanjay Jagdale's journey from cricketer to coach, selector and administrator, while praising his lifelong, invaluable contribution to Indian cricket.
The Indian government has made electric vehicles (EVs) the default choice for staff car procurement across ministries and departments, setting a higher price cap of 20 lakh for EVs compared to 10 lakh for ICE vehicles. Concurrently, new guidelines have been issued for procuring electronic devices, incentivising 'Make in India' products with a higher price ceiling.
The Indian government has significantly simplified its visa regime, reducing main categories from 13 to nine and sub-categories from 49 to 23. This initiative also cuts down fields in visa application forms by 65-70 per cent, aiming to make the process more coherent and responsive for foreign nationals. Key changes include renaming the Tourist Visa to Visitor Visa, consolidating medical and student visas, and introducing a Production Investment Business Visa.
The Enforcement Directorate has arrested four more individuals in connection with an ongoing money laundering investigation into a call centre scam that defrauded US nationals. The scam involved callers posing as US agency officials to intimidate victims into transferring money or assets, with proceeds laundered through cryptocurrency and hawala channels.
A retired 70-year-old IAS officer, Rakesh Agarwal, was found dead with his throat slit at his Bhopal residence. Police suspect his househelp, Varun, who joined two days prior and is now missing. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has assured strict action, while the Congress party has criticised the state's law and order situation following the incident.
A retired 70-year-old IAS officer, Rakesh Agarwal, was found dead with his throat slit at his Bhopal residence. Police suspect his househelp, Varun, who joined two days prior and is now missing. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has assured strict action, while the Congress party has criticised the state's law and order situation following the incident.
A retired 70-year-old IAS officer, Rakesh Agarwal, was found dead with his throat slit at his Bhopal residence. Police suspect his househelp, Varun, who joined two days prior and is now missing. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has assured strict action, while the Congress party has criticised the state's law and order situation following the incident.
A 70-year-old retired IAS officer, Rakesh Agarwal, was found dead with his throat slit at his home in Bhopal. Police suspect his househelp, who has been missing since the incident. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has condemned the killing and assured swift action, while the opposition has criticised the state's law and order situation.
Banking services, particularly at public sector banks across India, were impacted by a nationwide strike called by the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) to demand the immediate implementation of a five-day workweek and resolution of pending wage-related issues.
'Many women lose control of properties after their husband's death.'
Cabinet Secretary T V Somanathan and Home Secretary Govind Mohan have been granted a one-year extension in their service by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet. Somanathan's tenure is extended beyond August 2026, and Mohan's beyond August 2026, up to August 2027, under special provisions for key government officials.
West Bengal and Assam have initiated high alert measures, including the evacuation of 12,000 people, following a glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) in Bhutan's Gasa region. The incident caused a significant rise in the Sankosh River's water level, prompting authorities to deploy disaster response teams and monitor vulnerable areas.
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar is facing significant scrutiny after an investigation revealed objections from his fellow election commissioners, Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, regarding decisions made during the Special Intensive Revision of voter lists. The objections, reportedly made at least 14 times, concerned issues like changes to voter registration forms and centralised control over electoral roll databases, intensifying criticism of Kumar's tenure and the EC's impartiality.
At the border, places that you had just seen on a map, suddenly acquire a life. Looking at the vast expanse of quiet land, you realise an emotional connect, a sense of belonging binds you to a piece of land which is not merely territory, but a part of who you are.
A privately run helicopter carrying five pilgrims from Badrinath and its pilot crashed into a hillside in Joshimath, Uttarakhand, killing all six on board. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has launched a probe into the incident.
The Indian Olympic Association has released a Model Code of Conduct for the upcoming Athletes' Commission and Sportspersons of Merit elections. The code prohibits criticism of private lives, bans all forms of publicity including social media, and mandates neutrality from IOA and NSF office-bearers, aiming for fair and ethical campaigning.
Engagement with neighbours has gathered pace, particularly as the conflict in West Asia has exposed their vulnerability to energy supply disruptions.
Sunil Gavaskar launched "Sanjay Jagdale: Rag-Rag Mein Cricket," a book detailing the life and contributions of former BCCI secretary Sanjay Jagdale. Gavaskar praised Jagdale's dedication to cricket, highlighting his roles as player, coach, and administrator, and expressed hope that the book would inspire young cricketers.
'Indian IT firms must hire and train more Americans while reducing dependence on sending employees from India to the US.'
The Congress party has launched nationwide protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, demanding his removal. Accusing him of acting in favour of the BJP and citing alleged irregularities in electoral roll revisions (SIR), party workers burned effigies and clashed with police. Opposition parties plan further action, including a meeting of the INDIA bloc to strategize for his ouster.
Andhra Pradesh is on high alert as very severe cyclonic storm Arnab is set to make landfall on its coast, with extensive evacuations, deployment of medical teams, and stocking of essential supplies underway to minimise damage and ensure public safety.
India has strongly criticised the US decision to suspend the Permanent Labor Certification (PERM) program for eight major IT firms, including Indian giants like TCS and Wipro. New Delhi also condemned US Vice President JD Vance's description of foreign professionals as "indentured servants," calling it "unwarranted and deeply offensive." The move is expected to impact thousands of Indian tech professionals seeking permanent residency in the US and further strains bilateral ties.
Indian IT companies have significantly reduced their fresh H-1B visa applications for US FY27, a direct consequence of soaring fees imposed by the Trump administration and new lottery system changes that prioritise higher-salaried employees, leading to a seven-year low in registrations.
