The Union Cabinet has approved a significant increase in the mandatory EPFO wage ceiling from Rs 15,000 to Rs 25,000 per month, a move expected to bring over 51 lakh additional employees under mandatory social security coverage.
Urban Indian millennials are caught in an algorithmically amplified consumption spiral where social media normalises spending patterns that systematically undermine retirement security.
Two men, Rohan Parikh and Dilip Kunde, were arrested after attempting to enter a Mumbai mall with a firearm and a fake PMO identity card. Parikh confessed to fabricating the PMO ID using ChatGPT to enhance his social standing, while Kunde, a former Army man, was acting as his bodyguard with a personal weapon. Both have been remanded to judicial custody.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday said the government will arrange identity cards and registration on the e-Shram portal to assist 1 crore gig workers. Presenting the Union Budget 2025-26, the finance minister also said a scheme for the socio-economic upliftment of urban workers will be implemented.
Ganges Grandmasters, led by Ian Nepomniachtchi, defeated defending champions Alpine APL Pipers to win their first Global Chess League title. Nepomniachtchi's crucial win against Magnus Carlsen in the final, coupled with Stavroula Tsolakidou's performance, sealed the victory. FYERS American Gambits secured third place in the tournament.
Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya presented a comprehensive report card on the Sports and Labour & Employment ministries to NDA MPs, detailing India's ambitious bid to host the 2036 Olympics, targets for medal tallies, and significant growth in job creation and social security coverage over the past decade.
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.
A question paper for the All Odisha Medical PG Examination was allegedly shared on social media platforms, specifically WhatsApp groups, while the exam was underway. This incident, which occurred during the General Surgery paper for the 2023-26 batch, has prompted an internal investigation by the Odisha University of Health Sciences, even as officials deny it was a "leak" as the paper emerged during the test.
BRICS leaders, in their New Delhi Declaration 2026, have called for wider access to Artificial Intelligence resources and stronger international cooperation to ensure the technology is safe, secure, inclusive, and reliable. The declaration outlines a broad technology agenda covering AI, cybersecurity, digital public infrastructure, telecom, quantum technologies, and advanced manufacturing, committing to implement the grouping's statement on 'Global Governance of Artificial Intelligence'.
Following the murder of a trader in Gonda, Uttar Pradesh, after a social media dispute, widespread protests have erupted. Demonstrators, led by Uttar Pradesh minister Sanjay Nishad, are demanding the death penalty for the accused, compensation for the victim's family, and action against negligent police personnel, three of whom have already been suspended.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and NDA leaders reviewed India's progress in international sports and significant growth in youth employment opportunities at their weekly parliamentary meeting.
Security personnel reportedly justified the action due to child theft concerns and identity verification.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay's planned meet-and-greet sessions with the Tamil diaspora in London have been cancelled due to public safety concerns and directives from the Metropolitan Police. The TVK party appealed to supporters to refrain from gathering, as CM Vijay is in the UK to attract investments, having already secured agreements worth Rs 12,300 crore.
Hindutva influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj has been granted three weeks' interim bail by a Delhi court in a case involving the alleged assault on the father of a student activist during a Jantar Mantar protest. Bhardwaj was previously in judicial custody after being detained following public outrage over his claims of assault and political connections.
Judoka Asmita Dey from Tripura has won a gold medal in the women's 48 kg category at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, marking a historic first for an Indian woman judoka. Chief Minister Manik Saha and Sports Minister Tinku Roy congratulated Dey, highlighting her achievement as an inspiration for the nation.
'...in which our names are written with our phone numbers.'
The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has arrested 19-year-old Maqsood Ali from Tamil Nadu for his alleged involvement in a conspiracy to carry out "violent jihadist activities." Ali was reportedly part of WhatsApp groups sharing bomb-making videos and Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) material, and was in contact with Pakistani hackers, developing a secure communication network for the group. This is the second arrest in the case, following Mohammad Nabeel's apprehension.
The Delhi High Court has ruled that maternity cannot be a source of ignominy at the workplace, extending statutory protection beyond employment continuity to professional status and career advancement. The court directed a private firm to compensate a woman demoted after maternity leave and urged the Centre to frame comprehensive rules for post-maternity reintegration within six months.
The US Department of Homeland Security removed a controversial X post featuring a Transformers-themed cartoon targeting an Indian Sikh man, Harjinder Singh, with racially charged language. The post, which linked Singh to vehicular homicide charges and used phrases like "Self deport or find out," drew fierce condemnation from Indian American organisations and Democratic lawmakers for its discriminatory nature. DHS initially dismissed the outcry but later removed the post without explanation, while continuing its campaign against "illegal aliens" involved in fatal traffic accidents.
The Delhi Traffic Police has issued a detailed advisory regarding traffic restrictions and diversions during the upcoming BRICS Summit from September 12-13. While Delhi will not be shut down, commuters should expect temporary stoppages and diversions, especially on routes used by VVIP convoys. The advisory covers movement for residents, essential services, public transport, and advice for exam candidates and hospital visitors, urging reliance on official updates.
AIIMS Jammu is poised to become the first hospital in India to receive armed security from the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) due to its strategic location near the India-Pakistan international border. This move marks a significant shift in security policy for healthcare facilities, which the Ministry of Home Affairs had previously resisted. The CISF is also slated for deployment at Kolkata Metro and Donyi Polo Airport.
'Treating stock brokers as merchants for MDR is fundamentally misplaced.'
Security agencies have uncovered a new operational tactic by terror groups and Pakistan's ISI, who are now using pornography websites and niche encrypted applications to communicate secretly and recruit in Jammu and Kashmir. These platforms, including Tor-based apps and privacy-focused messengers, help them evade surveillance, posing significant challenges for intelligence efforts.
New Delhi is under a thick blanket of security as it hosts top world leaders for the BRICS Summit. Extensive security measures, including thousands of personnel and CCTV cameras, are in place. Commuters can expect temporary traffic restrictions and diversions due to VVIP movements, though officials aim to minimise public inconvenience.
TMC MP Mahua Moitra has formally complained to the UN Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues, alleging that senior Muslim IAS and IPS officers in West Bengal were deliberately excluded from official events attended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Moitra claims these officers were sidelined due to their religion, a pattern she describes as discriminatory and potentially damaging to minority confidence in security establishments.
China has called for stronger global governance of artificial intelligence, advocating for international cooperation to develop the technology for humanity's benefit while preventing it from getting out of control. This comes amidst warnings from leading AI researchers in the US about potential existential risks, with China emphasizing both rapid development and robust safeguards, including its new AI Safety Governance Framework 3.0. The issue is expected to be a key topic in upcoming US-China talks.
A head constable on Amarnath Yatra security duty was killed in a terror attack in Anantnag, Jammu and Kashmir. The Resistance Front (TRF) has claimed responsibility for the attack, prompting security forces to launch a search operation.
Defending champions India faced significant organisational issues upon arrival in Samarkand for the Chess Olympiad, experiencing a five-hour delay in hotel room allotment. Players and coaches, including Grandmasters Srinath Narayanan and Vidit Gujrathi, expressed frustration over the poor arrangements for the prestigious FIDE tournament.
The Trinamool Congress has submitted new names and symbols to the Election Commission for the upcoming West Bengal bypolls, following an interim order that temporarily barred the party from using its original name and "flowers and grass" symbol due to an ongoing internal dispute and split. The party submitted its choices under protest.
A gym trainer, Vijay Kumar, was shot dead in south Delhi's Aya Nagar. Police are investigating a possible link to a longstanding village rivalry and are verifying a social media post by gangster Himanshu Bhau claiming responsibility. This incident follows other violent deaths in the area, including a dairy businessman's murder, also linked to the Himanshu Bhau gang. Family members deny Vijay Kumar had personal enmity, suggesting he was caught in an ongoing family feud.
S Sreesanth and Sanju Samson ignore each other at the Kerala Cricket League 2026 awards ceremony.
Delhi Police have arrested three men from Punjab for allegedly painting pro-Khalistan and anti-BRICS slogans near the Singhu border. The arrests were made at the behest of designated terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, chief of the banned Sikhs for Justice (SFJ). One of the accused, Preetpal, previously arrested for similar activities, is suspected to be SFJ's operational head in India and is being investigated for foreign funding and links to terror operatives.
A Kanpur-based engineer, Chandan Gupta, alleges he was abused, threatened, and tortured during a 48-hour detention by Russian police in Moscow. He denies charges of public intoxication and property damage, claiming police provided no evidence and denied him contact with family or a translator. Gupta also criticises the Indian Embassy's handling of the situation, stating they relied solely on the Russian police's version of events. Traumatised, he has returned to India and vows never to work abroad again.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay has clarified that his recent jaw-touching gesture in the State Assembly was unintentional, not meant to mock DMK president MK Stalin. The gesture sparked social media debate and drew criticism from CPI(M) State Secretary P Shanmugam, who linked it to Stalin's jaw fracture during the Emergency. Vijay made the gesture while criticising the DMK over alleged corruption.
Delhi Capitals quashed all rumours over senior batter K L Rahul's future with the franchise, with co-owner Parth Jindal confirming his retention for IPL 2027.
An 'illegally' constructed mosque within the Saharanpur district collectorate complex was demolished following a court order, drawing strong condemnation from opposition parties who accused the government of engaging in 'politics of hate' and undermining social harmony.
An Indian woman has alleged that Russian police detained her husband in Moscow and pressured him to join the Russian army. The Indian Embassy has sought consular access, while India continues efforts to secure the return of its nationals recruited into Russian forces.
Jacob Coxon, an AI researcher formerly with OpenAI and Anthropic, has resigned, accusing leading tech firms of an irresponsible and unchecked race towards developing superintelligence. He warns that this competitive rush, lacking adequate safeguards, poses an existential threat, potentially leading to catastrophic harm and "gambling with our lives."
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay issued a stern warning against personal attacks, double-meaning insults, and derogatory language targeting women, particularly in political discourse. Speaking in the Assembly, he recalled past humiliations faced by late CM J Jayalalithaa and condemned recent incidents involving women personalities, stressing that such behaviour would face immediate legal consequences. He also outlined his administration's vision for public security and zero-tolerance against crime.
The Rajasthan high court, Jodhpur, has taken suo motu cognisance of issues concerning Gen Z, Gen Alpha and Gen Beta, expressing concern over junk food, excessive screen time, paper leaks, inadequate infrastructure in rural schools and the possible erosion of basic learning skills in the age of artificial intelligence.
