A sharp price fall alone does not justify averaging down.
The Supreme Court has questioned the Centre's decision to cap trade margins on anti-cancer drugs at 30 per cent, asking why similar restrictions could not be extended to other medicines and medical consumables, citing glaring disparities between procurement costs and maximum retail prices (MRPs).
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut stated on Friday that he is prepared to apologise to the Supreme Court if his remarks were deemed inappropriate, emphasising his party's respect for the judiciary. His comments followed observations by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant regarding attempts to browbeat the judiciary. Raut also linked his apology to demands for justice concerning alleged electoral roll irregularities and the delayed hearing on the Shiv Sena name and symbol dispute.
The Supreme Court has sought responses from the Centre and others regarding a plea challenging the validity of 'Talaq-e-Hasan' and other forms of unilateral divorce under Muslim personal law. The petition also seeks uniform procedural safeguards, economic protection for divorced women, and questions the constitutionality of Section 2 of the Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Application Act, 1937, as well as the lack of safeguards against polygamy.
A state-wide bandh was observed across Punjab on Thursday following the murder of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota in Mansa. Markets and educational institutions remained shut, and roads were blocked by protesters, disrupting traffic. Jhota was shot on Tuesday for questioning the illegal sale of addictive drugs. His family, supported by various political parties and farmer unions, has refused to perform his last rites until justice is delivered, demanding resignations of top officials and a CBI probe. The incident has intensified the political debate on drug menace and law and order in Punjab.
Two tribal rights activists, Dr Randall Sequeira and Laxman Naik, have been arrested in Odisha's Rayagada district in connection with a six-month-old clash during an anti-mining protest. While police claim the activists instigated tribals to attack security personnel, a civil society group has condemned the arrests, alleging they are an attempt to suppress protests for tribal rights over natural resources. The activists face serious charges including attempt to murder and rioting.
HDFC Bank reported a 5.55 per cent increase in consolidated net profit to Rs 20,700 crore for the September quarter, with incoming MD and CEO Anup Bagchi indicating a focus on strengthening the balance sheet and addressing retail vertical concerns post-merger.
Beijing published the world's first global framework for vocational standards. If India does not act swiftly, it will be compelled to certify its workers by someone else's rulebook, cautions Abhay Jere, ex-Vice Chairman, AICTE.
Police in Mansa, Punjab, forcibly removed the body of a 35-year-old man who allegedly died of a drug overdose, leading to clashes with his family and protesters. The family sought to join a protest demanding justice for an anti-drug activist. Police claim the death is being investigated as a murder and used mild force, while opposition parties have severely criticised the government and police for their handling of the situation and alleged disrespect to Sikh sentiments.
Maharashtra FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe has clarified that he has not been transferred, dismissing speculation about his removal. He affirmed that the crackdown on unsafe food and substandard drugs will continue, despite recent appointment to an MPSC inquiry committee.
Bharti Airtel Chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal stated that his satcom venture, Eutelsat OneWeb, is 'significantly ahead' of Elon Musk's Starlink in the Indian satcom queue, having applied for a licence five years ago, and expressed a desire to receive regulatory approval before Starlink.
A sharp political slugfest erupted on Thursday as Congress leaders and INDIA bloc allies rallied behind MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's son, Raihan Vadra, accusing the authorities and Centre of censoring artistic expression after Bikaner House requested the removal of several photographs from his exhibition.
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."
Assam Police have formed a six-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe a firing incident at Hotel Bilas Inn in Guwahati that claimed five lives on Monday night. The incident stemmed from a dispute between the hotel owners and leaseholder Ghanakanta Gogoi, who has been arrested. Four members of a family and a staffer were killed, while another person was injured. The bereaved family alleges the attack was planned.
The Jammu and Kashmir Crime Branch's Special Crime Wing has filed a chargesheet against three public servants, including a retired officer, for alleged fraud and corruption involving the manipulation of service records to obtain undue benefits. The case centres on a forged date-of-birth certificate and the facilitation of its incorporation into official records.
Pakistan boycotted its Chess Olympiad opening round match against Israel in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, to express solidarity with Palestine, resulting in a 4-0 walkover for Israel.
'The larger lesson for India Inc is that promoter oversight and professional management are not inherently contradictory. The difficulty arises when the boundaries between the two are unclear.'
Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary has called upon ministers and legislators to extensively use digital technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI) for balanced development and improved public outreach. He highlighted the state government's existing use of AI in welfare programmes and project cost reduction, stressing its importance for Bihar's progress in the digital era.
'... but runs with the rigour and discipline of a large enterprise.'
American singer Mary Millben has ignited a political debate by calling on 'young patriots' in India to protest the Cockroach Janata Party..
The Kerala Legislative Assembly has passed a motion urging the central government to completely withdraw the proposed Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on UPI transactions exceeding Rs 2,000. Chief Minister V D Satheesan and CPI MLA K Rajan highlighted concerns that the MDR would increase business costs, harm small businesses, and reduce the appeal of digital payments, while the BJP argued it would not affect general public or small merchants.
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.
India has requested an update from Russian authorities regarding 69 Indian nationals reportedly serving in the Russian Army. The External Affairs Ministry spokesperson stated that 139 Indians have been discharged so far, but 51 have died. India continues to warn its citizens against joining the Russian military due to significant dangers.
The Maharashtra government announced a minimum 10 per cent water cut for all urban and rural local bodies starting October 16 due to a deficient monsoon and El Nino impact. The state is prioritising drinking water, planning for water stocks until August 2027, and implementing measures like preventing leakage, reusing treated wastewater, and curbing unauthorised extraction.
The India Meteorological Department's Cyclone Warning Centre has issued a moderate to high flash flood risk warning for 13 districts of Andhra Pradesh and Yanam until Thursday morning due to Cyclone Arnab. The very severe cyclonic storm has already caused extremely heavy rainfall and gale-force winds in the region, with Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu seeking central assistance for relief efforts.
A former Indian Army man, Sandeep, and two hired hitmen, Anuj and Avnish, have been arrested in Gurugram for the murder of Sandeep's cousin's 35-year-old wife, Neetu. The motive behind the crime was a land dispute, as Neetu had opposed the sale of land at a price Sandeep had agreed upon. The police solved the case within 12 hours of the victim's last rites, revealing that the accused had planned the murder, conducting a recce and then strangling Neetu on October 16.
Indigenous communities fear that a large reservoir could submerge ancestral land and settlements, disrupt traditional livelihoods and damage forests, wildlife habitats and river ecosystems in a seismically active Himalayan region.
Television actress Urmila Sanawar faces a fresh First Information Report (FIR) in connection with the Ankita Bhandari murder case, a day after her arrest in Uttar Pradesh. The new FIR, filed by a Dehradun resident, alleges "objectionable and defamatory allegations" made by Sanawar against Sikkim Governor Dushyant Kumar Gautam and BJP national general secretary BL Santosh. Sanawar is scheduled to undergo a narco-analysis test as part of the CBI inquiry, while the Uttarakhand Congress has criticised her arrest, claiming it is an attempt to shield influential individuals involved in the murder case.
A 52-year-old lawyer and college lab attendant, Satish Kumar Srivastava, was allegedly shot dead in Prayagraj by another advocate, Devendra Nath Mishra, on Thursday. The incident occurred during an altercation over a disputed Nazul land. Police have taken some individuals into custody and are investigating, with an FIR registered against Mishra and others.
'What is the need for collecting so much data unless they are going to be used for some other purpose?'
Police in Hoshiarpur, Punjab, have booked a man from Himachal Pradesh for allegedly kidnapping and raping a 17-year-old girl. The girl went missing on September 16 after going to school and returned on September 24, subsequently revealing the ordeal to her mother. The accused reportedly threatened her, and an investigation is underway.
The subtext here is that nobody else really matters to America today; only China, because nobody else can truly hurt them, points out Mihir S Sharma.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday met the families of individuals who lost their lives due to drug-related issues in Punjab, saying he had never felt so deeply saddened in life as he did while meeting them and also called out the AAP government for failing to curb the menace.
Airtel Business CEO Sharat Sinha stated that evolving architecture and methodologies for safely deploying Artificial Intelligence, coupled with adequate guardrails, are essential to unlock productivity gains. He welcomed the government's upcoming consultation paper on AI regulation, focusing on safety, deepfakes, and a human-first approach. Sinha also highlighted AI's role in driving demand for digital infrastructure and Airtel's growth in cybersecurity and fraud prevention.
Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Dinesh Trivedi, clarified that former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's arrival in New Delhi two years ago was unexpected and not facilitated by the Indian military. He addressed ongoing extradition requests from the current Bangladeshi government, stating India acted out of duty during tragic circumstances in Bangladesh.
Bollywood actor Imran Khan, an American national, has been issued a notice by Mumbai Police directing him to leave India by October 28 for allegedly violating immigration laws by participating in a political protest.
Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary recently made a statement suggesting Lord Ram was 'asking for a home' while Prime Minister Narendra Modi provided houses to millions. He linked the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya to PM Modi's efforts, highlighting the BJP's ideological commitment to the temple and other key issues like Article 370 abrogation. Choudhary also mentioned plans for a Sita temple in Bihar.
The death toll in a high-speed train collision in Spain's central province of Toledo on Wednesday (local time) has risen to at least 30, with several others injured. Authorities fear that the number of fatalities could increase further.
All India Students' Association (AISA) president Neha Bora was released early Saturday morning after preventive detention, while Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke is set to be produced before the Special Executive Magistrate (SEM) court in Delhi for breach of peace following the 'Lehra Do Tiranga' protest march.
The Indian government, through the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), has issued an advisory to Meta, urging the social media giant to prevent its recommendation systems from disproportionately exposing users to limited narratives and to enhance checks on content that could incite public disorder or unlawful activity. The advisory, dated October 10, also calls for Meta to provide adequate context for content related to ongoing public events and to review its content-ranking mechanisms to avoid amplifying misleading information.
