The Union Sports Ministry has committed a grant-in-aid of Rs 2000 crore to the Gujarat Government for hosting the 2030 Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad. This funding, based on 2025 rates and expected to reach Rs 2500 crore by 2030, will be disbursed from the Assistance to National Sports Federations (ANSF) scheme. Ahmedabad won the bid last year to host the centenary edition, which is anticipated to be a grand event featuring 15 to 17 disciplines, unlike the scaled-down Glasgow Games.
Indian para-athlete Suvarna Raj won the gold medal in the women's F54 discus throw at the Asian Para Games in Nagoya, achieving a best effort of 15.66m.
A Ramlila committee in Pitampura, Delhi, will burn a 30-foot-tall "cockroach" effigy this year, alongside those of Ravan, Kumbhkaran, and Meghnad. The committee states this symbolises "filth and dirt" and supports the "Swachh Bharat" and "Swachh Delhi" campaigns. This decision comes amidst protests by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) in the capital.
India's men's and women's hockey teams will kick off their 2026-27 FIH Pro League home campaigns in February. The men's team will face Germany, Argentina, Britain, and Spain, while the women's team will compete against Britain and Spain during the home leg from February 13 to 28.
Indian swimmer Kapil Kumar clinched a silver medal in the men's 400m freestyle S10 event at the Asian Para Games in Nagoya.
Shailesh Kumar led an Indian sweep of the men's high jump T63 competition, while sprinter Anjanaben Bumbadiya struck gold in the women's 400m T47 event at the Asian Para Games on Thursday.
The Sports Ministry is set to commence the nomination process for the National Sports Awards next month, following a delayed announcement of the 2025 awards. The delay was due to a re-evaluation process aimed at preserving the integrity of the honours, which resulted in no Khel Ratna awardee for 2025 and fewer Arjuna awardees than recommended. The article also details the criteria for these prestigious awards and highlights some of the notable Arjuna awardees for 2025.
India's Rinku clinched a gold medal in the men's javelin F46 event at the Asian Para Games, leading a one-two finish for the country as compatriot Ajeet Singh secured a silver. Rinku's throw of 65.11m narrowly beat Ajeet's 65.02m.
'Nobody could have played this character better than Rajkummar Rao.'
Telangana IT Minister D Sridhar Babu stated that Gen Z will be the driving force behind the next wave of AI and green innovation. He urged young innovators to use their skills to solve real-world challenges, particularly in sustainability. The launch of the Green Skills and Applied AI Centre of Excellence in Hyderabad, a partnership between Telangana's IT Ministry, Microsoft, 1M1B, and MeitY Startup Hub, aims to equip graduates with industry-relevant skills in AI, green pharma, solar energy, EVs, and wind energy, with 100 job offers already announced.
The Indian senior men's football team will play an international friendly against Panama at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru on September 26. This match against a FIFA World Cup-playing nation will be a significant test for the Blue Tigers, marking their return to Bengaluru after their SAFF Championship 2023 victory.
Shrishti Arora secured a bronze medal for India in the women's 10m air pistol SH1 event at the Asian Para Games in Nagoya. This marks India's fourth shooting medal at the Games, following earlier successes by Manish Narwal, Mona Agarwal, and Avani Lekhara.
Security forces in Manipur have taken control of the Sinai Kuki-Zo militant camp, marking the first such action since ethnic violence erupted in May 2023. The takeover followed the discovery of only one registered cadre out of 159, leading to 17 arrests and a significant arms seizure. A statewide audit of all 14 designated Suspension of Operations (SoO) camps is now planned to ensure compliance with the truce agreement, which expired on September 4 without renewal. This move comes amidst heightened tensions and demands for the abrogation of the SoO agreement.
The International Equestrian Federation (FEI) has suspended the Equestrian Federation of India (EFI) from December 1 due to a prolonged governance crisis, stemming from the dissolution of EFI's executive committee by the Delhi High Court and the absence of fresh elections. This suspension bars Indian riders, officials, and horses from international competitions until new elections are held and evaluated by the FEI.
Indian men's hockey team goalkeeper Krishan Bahadur Pathak returns to the squad after a nine-month absence for the Asian Champions Trophy. He focused on improving his game in Bengaluru and is excited to play in his hometown of Jalandhar. India, defending champions, will start their campaign on October 27.
Former Supreme Court judge Sanjay Kishan Kaul has criticised former Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud's approach to judicial appointments, alleging that he was "too deferential to the government". Kaul, in his forthcoming memoir, details instances where Chandrachud sought government "pre-approval" for appointments, raising concerns about judicial independence and executive pressure.
Very heavy rains in Nilgiris district on Saturday caused multiple mudslides, leading to the death of a bus driver whose vehicle was buried. Over 100 students from Kerala narrowly escaped a similar fate. The incident disrupted traffic and prompted authorities to close tourist spots and advise against travel.
Haryana defeated Jharkhand 2-1 to win the 16th Hockey India Junior Women National Championship. Madhya Pradesh secured third place by beating Chhattisgarh 3-1 in the bronze medal match. Haryana made a strong comeback after conceding an early goal, with Bhavya and Khushi scoring to secure their victory.
Soft tennis player Jay Meena, marathon runner Sawan Barwal, and air pistol shooter Kamaljeet share their personal journeys and challenges leading up to their medal wins at the Asian Games. Meena recounts how school rustication led him to soft tennis and his struggle with quarterfinal defeats. Barwal discusses the mental pressure of switching to marathon running, while Kamaljeet reflects on injury setbacks and the pressure of securing India's first shooting gold at the Games.
'If you ask Prime Minister Modi prove you are Indian, as per the Election Commission's criteria, he may not be able to prove that he is an Indian.'
An Indian national was killed and ten others injured in an attack at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The Indian Embassy confirmed the death and ongoing medical care for the injured. India has strongly condemned the repeated attacks, which Saudi Arabia blames on Yemen's Houthis, and called for an immediate cessation of violence.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio refused to comment on recent protests against India's Election Commission, labelling it an "internal political matter." During his visit to India, Rubio also dismissed UN experts' criticism of the protests, stating that the US would not interfere in India's domestic affairs, despite UN concerns over police response to demonstrations.
Indian swimmer Himanshu Nandal won a bronze medal in the men's 400m freestyle S11 event at the Asian Para Games on Tuesday. Nandal, who is visually impaired, clocked 5 minutes and 10.91 seconds. Another Indian swimmer, Ravi Karthik Budigina, finished fifth in the men's 400m freestyle S13, having previously won a silver on Monday.
Watching Udta Teer's refreshingly cheeky ambition dumb down into a grovelling piece of gutless filmmaking is supremely disappointing, notes Sukanya Verma.
India wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson, a self-proclaimed ardent fan of Rajinikanth, has booked an entire cinema hall for the superstar's latest release, 'Jailer 2', to watch with his family, friends, and several Tamil-speaking Indian teammates and support staff.
Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke has called for a 'tiranga march' in Delhi's Central Park on Friday, October 16, after two CJP members, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, were jailed for allegedly unfurling the national flag and protesting at Jantar Mantar. Dipke asserts that waving the tricolour is not a crime and encourages nationwide marches.
Power, patronage and money fuel politics in drought: And the ruling party controls all of those, points out Aditi Phadnis.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to interact with the Indian contingent from the recently-concluded Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on Thursday. The event, taking place at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, will see the PM address the athletes, coaches, and sports officials. India secured 85 medals, finishing fourth, a lower tally than the 2023 Hangzhou edition's 106 medals.
Naman Dhir's unbeaten 42 off 15 balls secured a thrilling four-wicket win for India against New Zealand in the first T20I, showcasing his potential as a reliable finisher for the national side, drawing praise from cricket legends like Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravi Shastri.
French Prime Minister Sbastien Lecornu said police arrested 1,200 protesters on Saturday, and 150 personnel were injured as demonstrations across the country over the rising cost of living turned violent.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed its third chargesheet against Satyanarayan Meghwal and Sahil Godara in a case involving cross-border trafficking of arms and narcotics using drones. The accused, arrested in July this year, face charges under UAPA, Arms Act, NDPS Act, and BNS. The investigation reveals an organised syndicate using encrypted channels to smuggle weapons and drugs across northern India, targeting youth and fostering disaffection against India.
India's Pradeep Kumar secured a silver medal and Ayush Verma won a bronze in the men's javelin throw F53/54 event at the Asian Para Games on Tuesday. Pradeep achieved a personal best of 27.45m, while Ayush's bronze was aided by Raza points due to his higher disability classification. Iran's Erfan Bandori won gold.
Air Chief Marshal A P Singh, the outgoing IAF chief, flew his final sortie aboard an HJT-16 Kiran Mk-1 trainer aircraft at the Air Force Academy in Hyderabad, bringing his distinguished flying career full circle. The flight was particularly special as he flew with his first flying instructor, Wing Commander V S Kochar (retd), marking an emotional reunion and a tribute to his journey. He is set to superannuate on October 31.
Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya inaugurated the BRICS Traditional and Indigenous Sports Demonstration Games 2026 in Ahmedabad, emphasising the role of traditional sports in reflecting cultural identity and fostering international cooperation. The one-day event, hosted by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, brought together delegations from BRICS and partner countries to showcase indigenous sporting practices like Mallakhamb, Yogasana, and Kalaripayattu from India, alongside Wushu from China and Sambo from Russia. Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi also highlighted India's rich sporting heritage and proposed initiatives for global promotion and preservation of traditional sports.
The International Equestrian Federation (FEI) has suspended the Equestrian Federation of India (EFI) from December 1, 2026, due to a prolonged governance crisis. This decision, made on October 13, 2026, means Indian riders, officials, trainers, and horses cannot participate in international competitions. The suspension stems from the Delhi High Court's dissolution of EFI's executive committee in February 2026 and the subsequent delay in holding fresh elections, despite an ad hoc committee being formed. The suspension will be reviewed after new elections are held and evaluated by the FEI.
Swati Chaudhary secured India's first-ever medal in the W1 category of archery at the Asian Para Games, winning a silver after a hard-fought final against China's Cen Mengkan.
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and student organisations have accused the government of attempting to influence electoral outcomes by allegedly deleting over 13 crore voters. They have demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, citing alleged irregularities in voter rolls and criticising the police crackdown on protesters. Leaders questioned the government's protection of the CEC and linked voter deletions to the narrow victory margin in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon stated that the historic Free Trade Agreement with India, now in effect, will help grow both economies, allowing Kiwi businesses to reach over a billion more customers with significantly reduced tariffs, leading to 'more jobs and higher wages for Kiwis'.
China has announced new export controls on key machinery, including tunnel boring machines, walking excavators, and dredger components, citing national security. These restrictions, effective November 18, could significantly impact India's infrastructure projects, such as metro systems and high-speed rail lines, as China has previously limited such exports to India.
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra criticised the alleged censorship of her son Raihan Vadra's photography exhibition at Bikaner House. Raihan Vadra stated that the administration removed his pictures documenting recent Delhi protests, citing the current political climate, leading to a row over artistic freedom.
