Sikkim has hosted the inaugural leg of the 2026 Zabarvan Extreme Legends Series, an international downhill mountain biking competition. The event, featuring riders from eight countries, aims to bolster the state's adventure tourism profile. Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang flagged off the competition and highlighted plans for infrastructure development to support tourism in the region.
The BJP's Sikkim unit has supported the appointment of Dushyant Kumar Gautam as governor, despite opposition allegations linking him to the "VIP" in the Ankita Bhandari murder case. The party called for an independent and impartial probe by the CBI, which recently met Bhandari's parents, and stressed that justice must be free from political influence.
Sikkim Vigilance Police has arrested a former general manager of the State Bank of Sikkim (SBS) in connection with a disproportionate assets case, conducting searches at multiple residential premises in Gangtok and Siliguri. The former GM is accused of embezzling crores of rupees and acquiring properties through illegal means during his tenure between 2022 and 2024. The Enforcement Directorate had also previously attached properties linked to him.
Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang congratulated the Indian Women's hockey team for winning the gold medal at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, highlighting their determination and teamwork.
Sikkim has identified 40 high-hazard glacial lakes, with 16 at the highest risk of catastrophic outbursts. Following a devastating GLOF in 2023, the state is developing India's first dedicated GLOF Risk Mitigation Protocol, using advanced monitoring and interdisciplinary approaches to protect downstream settlements and serve as a model for other Himalayan regions.
President Droupadi Murmu has announced a major gubernatorial reshuffle, appointing new governors for Tamil Nadu, Keralam, Sikkim, Karnataka, Uttarakhand, and Odisha. Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar moves from Keralam to Tamil Nadu, while Om Prakash Mathur becomes the new Keralam Governor. Dushyant Gautam, Sudha Yadav, Dhal Singh Bisen, and Braj Mohan Ram are among the new appointees, bringing diverse political experience to their roles.
The Congress' Seva Dal organised a candle march in New Delhi, demanding justice for Ankita Bhandari, who was murdered in Uttarakhand in 2022. The protest called for an impartial investigation and accountability, especially regarding allegations against BJP's Dushyant Gautam, whose recent appointment as Sikkim Governor has drawn criticism from the Congress.
Rahul Gandhi has written to President Droupadi Murmu, urging her to ask the government to reconsider the appointment of Dushyant Gautam as Governor of Sikkim. Gandhi argues that Gautam's appointment, while a CBI probe into the Ankita Bhandari murder case is ongoing, places him beyond the reach of investigation due to gubernatorial immunity. Ankita's parents allege Gautam's involvement and have protested the appointment.
Approximately 27 workers are trapped inside an under-construction tunnel in Sikkim's Namchi district following a landslide and suspected gas leak. Rescue operations are underway, but the presence of gas, believed to be methane, is complicating efforts, causing dizziness among rescue personnel. Teams from NDRF, SDRF, and West Bengal are involved in the challenging operation to save the workers.
Arunachal Pradesh has forfeited its Ranji Trophy Plate Group opener against Nagaland due to an administrative crisis within the state cricket association, stemming from a dispute between two factions and a pending High Court case.
Arunachal Pradesh could be forced to forfeit their Ranji opener after an association dispute left the state without clarity over team selection and player travel.
The CBI questioned former MLA Suresh Rathore in Haridwar regarding the Ankita Bhandari murder case, a day after meeting Bhandari's parents. Rathore, who has been expelled from the BJP, denied knowing actress Urmila Sanawar, whose allegations fueled the 'VIP' involvement controversy. The case has seen renewed protests following a governor's appointment and a recommended CBI inquiry earlier this year.
The second round of the Ranji Trophy will see India's Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill return to action for Punjab, while Mumbai will be without key players Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ayush Mhatre due to India A duties and injury, respectively, setting the stage for crucial encounters across the country.
National Security Advisor Ajit Doval shared a pivotal moment from his early IPS career at IIT Roorkee's convocation. He recounted how a border surveillance team he dispatched was captured by the Chinese army, leading him to believe his career was over. Despite being cleared by an inquiry, the incident deeply distressed him, ultimately teaching him valuable life lessons from a Tibetan Sherpa.
The Sikkim home department has filed an FIR to investigate the creation and circulation of a forged document falsely attributed to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, which claimed a merger of Sikkim and Darjeeling.
The Mizoram government has announced a cash reward of Rs 25 lakh each for Indian women's hockey players Lalremsiami and Lalthantluangi. This recognition comes after their significant contribution to the team's gold medal victory at the 2026 Asian Games, marking a historic achievement for the state.
Indian factories saw an 8 per cent decline in gross fixed capital formation (GFCF) in FY25, marking the first drop since the pandemic, despite achieving record high employment generation, according to the latest Annual Survey of Industries (ASI) data.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his two-day visit to Sikkim, engaged in a football session with local children in Gangtok, describing the experience as 'energising'. He also attended the closing ceremony of 50 years of Sikkim's statehood and launched projects worth Rs 4,000 crore.
The Mizoram government has announced a cash reward of Rs 40 lakh each for hockey players Lalremsiami and Lalthantluangi, who were part of the Indian women's team that won gold at the Asian Games. Chief Minister Lalduhoma felicitated the athletes, highlighting their historic achievement for the state and the government's commitment to promoting hockey through schemes and infrastructure development.
A man from Sikkim's Gyalshing district was allegedly drugged and robbed of Rs 7 lakh cash while travelling in a taxi for Tadaong.
Botanists have discovered a new plant species, Didymocarpus nautiyalii, in Arunachal Pradesh's Shi-Yomi district. This small herb, found in subtropical evergreen forests, features leathery leaves and bluish-purple flowers. Named after Prof Sunil Nautiyal, the species is currently assessed as Data Deficient by IUCN, prompting calls for further research and conservation efforts.
A 45-year-old labourer working with the General Reserve Engineer Force (GREF) died after being crushed under a machine in Sikkim's Pakyong district.
Sacred spots and soaring peaks: Bucket-listing across the heartland. Roopa Unnikrishnan and her father journey through the heart of India.
Police in North Sikkim's Mangan recovered over 70 grams of heroin and arrested one person following a raid on a rented accommodation.
An analysis by ADR and National Election Watch reveals that 111 MPs and MLAs changed parties after winning elections between 2022 and 2026. Nagaland and West Bengal recorded the highest number of switches. The report also highlights party-level impacts and suggests reforms to the anti-defection framework.
'I don't really expect the August increase in food prices, which was close to 6 per cent, to persist as we go close to the end of this year.'
'It appears to be a combination: A glacier breaking away, and a dam-like formation downstream reaching capacity and releasing water suddenly.'
'China wants to control and divert rivers.'
Scientists have discovered a rare leafless orchid species, Gastrodia keyiensis, in a remote gorge along the Keyi River in Arunachal Pradesh. This elusive orchid, which lacks leaves and chlorophyll, relies on soil fungi for nutrients and was found at an altitude of around 1,000 metres. The discovery highlights the rich biodiversity of Arunachal Pradesh and the need for conservation.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has announced a significant reshuffle of its state in-charges and co-in-charges across all 28 states and eight Union territories, with prominent leaders like Smriti Irani and Ram Madhav assigned to crucial states, as the party gears up for upcoming assembly elections.
A truck accident in Sikkim's Gyalshing district resulted in the deaths of three individuals after the vehicle plunged into a gorge.
'This is no longer a single-hazard problem; it is a cascading, multi-hazard problem. A landslide never occurs in isolation. This entire chain is the cascading effect of what looks, at first, like a single disaster.'
Over 130 Indian nationals, including Kailash Manasarovar Yatra pilgrims and tourists, are missing or stranded in Nepal following devastating flash floods that have cut off central districts and disrupted communication links. Indian states and the embassy in Kathmandu have launched helplines to assist those affected.
Lalremsiami Hmarzote, Mizoram's first female Olympian and Asian Games medallist, is now India's offensive lynchpin, aiming for a first Asian Games hockey gold since 1982, after overcoming initial family resistance and training on dirt pitches.
In July, tension emerged in Taksing, a remote village in the Upper Subansiri district of Arunachal Pradesh after locals sighted PLA soldiers.
'The trigger for the flood was definitely natural, but the damage that it caused was human-made.'
'We have a very demanding electorate which expects us to do something. So we will have to do something which is a bit out of the ordinary while at the same time keeping in mind the risk factors.'
A senior Geological Survey of India official warns that the Himalayas are vulnerable to cascading disasters, where one high-altitude event can trigger a chain of destructive events downstream, as evidenced by Nepal's recent floods. He stresses the need for integrated monitoring using satellite data and ground investigations to identify high-risk areas and improve preparedness in the Indian Himalayas.
A 14-year-old girl from Sikkim was rescued after allegedly staging her own kidnapping and demanding a ransom from her parents.
Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang emphasized the importance of public trust as the true strength of the police force, urging officers to serve with compassion and integrity.
