Olympic medallists Gagan Narang, Vijender Singh, and Yogeshwar Dutt, along with Kamlesh Mehta, were elected unopposed as male Sportspersons of Merit (SOMs) for the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) ahead of its December 5 polls. This occurred after eight former athletes withdrew their candidatures. Elections for female SOMs will still proceed as six candidates remain in the fray.
A thick layer of smog enveloped parts of North India, including Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, and Western Uttar Pradesh, a day after Diwali celebrations. Air Quality Index (AQI) levels soared to 'very poor' and 'severe' categories, with Delhi recording its most polluted Diwali in five years. Residents reported severe health issues, prompting calls for urgent government intervention.
Mehli Mistry has challenged Noel Tata's eligibility to continue as a trustee of the Bai Hirabai Jamsetji Tata Navsari Charitable Institution, alleging he holds Irish citizenship, a UAE Golden Visa, and is a tax resident of the United Arab Emirates, seeking an affidavit from Tata on his citizenship and tax residency status.
Four Indian players in the ICC ODI top 10 highlight India's remarkable depth, giving the team a strong pool of match-winners ahead of major ODI assignments.
Indian cyclists experienced early eliminations in the men's omnium, women's sprint, and women's madison events at the Asian Games. Harshveer Singh Sekhon finished 10th in the men's omnium points race, while Keerthi Rangaswamy Chikka and Celestina failed to advance past the 1/16-final repechages in the women's sprint. The women's Madison team also did not finish their event.
India's teenage tennis stars Maaya Rajeshwaran Revathi and Vaishnavi Adkar achieved their maiden WTA Tour-level victories at the Chennai Open on Tuesday. Maaya upset world number 115 Katarzyna Kawa in a thrilling three-set match, while Vaishnavi fought back from a deficit to defeat Britain's Jodie Burrage. These wins mark a significant milestone for the young Indian players.
A 24-member Indian shooting contingent, led by Olympic bronze medallists Swapnil Kusale and Sarabjot Singh, will compete at the ISSF World Cup Rifle/Pistol in Cairo starting Saturday. The squad, which recently completed a national camp, will participate in eight individual Olympic disciplines and two mixed team events, featuring a mix of experienced Olympians and promising young talent.
Indian squash player Velavan Senthilkumar secured his second PSA Copper-level title by winning the USD 35,000 Czech Open in Brno.
Aaryavir Sehwag, son of former Indian cricketer Virender Sehwag, scored a magnificent 160 runs to lead India to a 70-run victory over the UAE in the U-19 Asia Cup. This win secured India's spot in the semifinals, where they will face Afghanistan on Thursday.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has declared the state fully prepared to host the 2030 Hockey World Cup, citing its rich hockey legacy, numerous Olympians, and rapidly improving sports infrastructure. This announcement follows the successful hosting of the Asian Champions Trophy Punjab 2026, which India won. The state government has invested significantly in new astroturf grounds and allocated substantial funds for sports development, reinforcing Punjab's commitment to its sporting heritage.
Jyot Singh has made history by becoming the first Sikh to be elected to the Georgia House of Representatives. The Yale University alumnus won his election for House District 97 in the November 3 elections, securing 68 per cent of the votes. Singh, a Democrat, highlighted his commitment to diversity and ensuring opportunities for all residents in his vision statement.
Indian cricket stars Rishabh Pant, Shreyas Iyer, and Arshdeep Singh took to social media on Sunday to extend their warm Diwali greetings to fans. Pant shared a video message, Iyer posted a picture in traditional attire, and Arshdeep shared a photo with his girlfriend, all wishing happiness and prosperity for the festival of lights. The article also briefly touches upon Iyer's current cricketing engagements.
World number two Aryna Sabalenka and French Open champion Mirra Andreeva both secured victories in their opening matches at the WTA Finals. Sabalenka battled past Karolina Muchova in a tough two-set encounter, while Andreeva delivered a dominant performance against Elina Svitolina, winning in straight sets.
CERT-In has issued several advisories warning against AI agents going rogue and cases of open-source agentic AI tools being used to survey and attack.
India has launched three indigenous AI foundation models, EKA-1, Dhir 2B, and Dhir 5B, under the IndiaAI Mission. Developed by Soket Labs Technology and Research and ZenteiQ AiTech Innovations, these models aim to enhance India's technological and strategic autonomy in artificial intelligence, offering solutions for various sectors including banking, cybersecurity, defence, and government services, with a focus on Indian languages and offline capabilities.
The Indian rupee and government bonds are expected to face volatility in Samvat 2083, influenced by geopolitical developments in West Asia, crude oil prices, domestic inflation, and foreign capital flows, leading to cautious investor sentiment.
Indian benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty traded higher in early sessions, driven by sustained foreign fund inflows and moderate crude oil prices, even as global markets experienced a significant sell-off, particularly in the US and Asia. Track Sensex, Nifty on November 6, 2026.
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.
'Observe the person and don't invest emotionally just yet,' recommends rediffGURU Shalini Singh.
Pakistan has summoned India's Charge d'Affaires to protest the killing of two alleged civilians by the Border Security Force (BSF) along the international border in Punjab. While India claims the individuals were intruders, Pakistan asserts they were unarmed civilians and demands a transparent investigation into the incident.
'It is very significant that she mentioned that the issue of her foreign origin was not restricted to the BJP or Sangh Parivar, but was also very much alive in her own party.'
India is caught in a no-man's land, not cheap enough for value investors to pile in but not growing fast enough to attract growth investors either, asserts Akash Prakash.
League leaders Mohun Bagan Super Giant will face Odisha FC in an Indian Super League match on Thursday, aiming to extend their winning run and consolidate their top position. Mohun Bagan seeks its fourth successive victory, while Odisha FC, yet to win this season, looks to turn its campaign around.
Shillong Lajong FC came from behind to secure a 1-1 draw against Chanmari FC in their first home fixture of the Indian Football League (IFL) 202627 season. An own goal gave Chanmari the lead in the 24th minute, but substitute Abelson Jachi equalised for Shillong Lajong in the 78th minute, ensuring both teams shared the points.
Welcome to the Great Lexicon Flip: The old words wanted respect. The new words want relatability, notes Sandeep Goyal.
Actress Athulya Chandra and two others were arrested in Kochi on Thursday for allegedly assaulting a doctor. The doctor claims he was lured to a flat under false pretences, accused of drugging and raping an aunt of one of the accused, and then beaten and robbed of valuables worth Rs 3.25 lakh. Police have registered an FIR and launched an investigation.
The Indian women's cricket team has announced its squads for the upcoming all-format tour of South Africa next month. Jemimah Rodrigues returns after injury, alongside Harmanpreet Kaur and Amanjot Kaur. The tour will feature one Test, three ODIs, and three T20s, with matches scheduled from December 9 to 30 across various South African cities.
A significant rift has emerged between foreign rifle coach Thomas Farnik and national coach Deepali Deshpande following India's poor performance in air rifle events at the ISSF World Championship in Doha. Farnik reportedly feels sidelined by the domestic coaching staff, leading to friction and a heated exchange where both coaches blamed each other for the team's disappointing results.
Kapil Dev, president of the Professional Golf Tour of India, praised Pranavi Urs for her historic individual gold and the women's team for their silver medal at the Asian Games, highlighting the growing strength of women's golf in India.
A new analysis by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) reveals that Delhi-NCR's early-winter air pollution has reached a three-year high in the week preceding Diwali. The average PM2.5 concentration significantly increased compared to previous years, driven primarily by vehicular emissions and regional pollution inflow. The report highlights the failure of year-round pollution control measures, with Diwali firecrackers exacerbating an already deteriorating situation, and notes the emergence of new pollution hotspots and the ineffectiveness of emergency traffic restrictions.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy discussed peace efforts for the Russia-Ukraine conflict, with Modi reaffirming India's commitment to a peaceful resolution. Zelenskyy also sought India's mediation in establishing food corridors for Black Sea grain exports.
Indian-American Vivek Ramaswamy, endorsed by former US President Donald Trump, has lost Ohio's gubernatorial race to Democrat Amy Acton, who made history as the state's first woman governor.
Sreeja Reddy Koya, a student from Telangana studying at UMass Boston, has been reported missing since November 2. Her parents and Telangana Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy have sought assistance from Indian and US authorities to trace her.
Indian tennis experienced a significant disappointment at the recent Asian Games, failing to secure any medals for the first time since 1986. The campaign concluded with Sumit Nagal's quarterfinal exit in men's singles, alongside early exits for key doubles pairs. Coaches and officials acknowledge the high level of competition and the need for better support and development of the next generation of players to avoid similar outcomes in future tournaments.
Maharashtra State Lawn Tennis Association (MSLTA) president Prashant Sutar has announced his candidature for the All India Tennis Association (AITA) vice-president's post, setting up a direct contest against tennis legend Leander Paes in the upcoming November 27 elections. Sutar emphasizes his vision for Indian tennis administration over individual stature.
Indian shuttler Lakshya Sen expressed immense satisfaction after winning the Hylo Open men's singles title, attributing his success to consistent effort and a match-by-match approach. He defeated Indonesia's Jonatan Christie in straight games to secure his seventh BWF World Tour title.
Some of the IPL's biggest stars are reportedly demanding Rs 40 crore to be retained ahead of the 2027 season.
Ramnik Sakhwala, a 39-year-old from Surat, moved to Russia in 2025 for work and joined the Russian Army in June 2026 in a non-combatant role. He has been untraceable for over four months, leaving his family in Surat desperately seeking government and embassy assistance to locate him.
Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi has alleged "great damage" to India's fabric, democracy, and institutions over the last 12 years, expressing optimism for a return to proper governance. In an interview, she also discussed the resilience of the Congress party against challenges and provided insights into her upcoming memoir, 'Belonging: A Journey of Love', which covers her personal life and political journey.
The candidate list for the election of eight Sportspersons of Merit (SOMs) for the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) polls has been trimmed to 23 from 27 after scrutiny. IOA president PT Usha and several Olympic medallists are among those still in the fray, while some prominent names like Sardar Singh missed out. The elected SOMs will participate in the IOA General Assembly and vote in the December 5 Executive Council polls.
