Minister of State for Telecom Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani urged BRICS nations to collaborate on building institutional capacity and advocating for fair standards in international telecom and ICT bodies. He highlighted India's willingness to share its modular, open-source digital public infrastructure frameworks like Aadhaar and DigiLocker, emphasising their role in sustainable development and economic growth across the Global South.
What should have been a top-draw domestic red-ball clash to kick off the new season featuring some of India's Test stars has quickly turned into a lopsided contest, courtesy of a lifeless pitch heavily loaded in favour of the batters.
Sri Lanka's Sonal Dinusha has etched his name in cricket history by becoming only the third Sri Lankan and ninth overall batter to score three centuries in a two-match Test series, achieving the feat against India in Colombo.
Australia secured an unassailable 2-0 ODI series lead against Zimbabwe after Travis Head's century powered them to a record total, backed by Adam Zampa's 200th wicket in an 84-run victory.
InsuranceDekho and RenewBuy have merged to establish India's largest artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled insurance distribution platform, targeting a significant premium book and extensive reach across the country.
Indian tennis player Sumit Nagal reflected on his gruelling three-hour Davis Cup loss to South Korea's Hyeon Chung, attributing the defeat to Chung's superior play, challenging court conditions, and missed opportunities. The loss contributed to India trailing 0-2 in the tie, with Nagal acknowledging the fine margins in the intense battle.
Indian women's hockey team goalkeeper Bichu Devi Karibam and Pakistan striker Abdul Rehman have been honoured with the Poligras Magic Skill Awards for their outstanding performances at the recent FIH World Cup. The awards, decided by fan votes, recognised Devi's crucial save and Rehman's exceptional 3D skills.
Young Indian shooters Himanshu Dhillon and Rudrankksh Patil secured individual silver and bronze medals respectively in the men's 10m air rifle event at the Asian Games. They also combined with Parth Mane to win a team silver, contributing significantly to India's medal tally in shooting.
A senior Pakistani defence official, Lt Gen (retd) Mazhar Jamil, claimed that India's long-range missile development indicates ambitions to become a global nuclear power capable of threatening Western capitals, urging international attention to India's military modernisation. He also reiterated Pakistan's commitment to deterrence stability in South Asia.
The draw in the second Test saw India miss out on a chance to improve their position in the ICC World Test Championship standings.
The first phase of the Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU) polls recorded a 36% voter turnout, with a keen contest between ABVP, NSUI, and the AISA-SFI alliance. Student concerns like accountability, affordable accommodation, and accessible administration were prominent, influenced by past protests. The election also saw allegations between student groups and extensive security arrangements.
Zimbabwean cricketer Brendan Taylor has surpassed India's Sachin Tendulkar as the longest-serving one-day international player, with his ODI career now spanning 22 years and four months. Taylor, who previously retired and served a ban, returned to play for Zimbabwe ahead of the 2026 ODI World Cup.
India published 929 generative AI patents in 2024 and 2025 alone -- equating to nearly 70 per cent of the 1,350 patents it published over the entire previous decade (2014 to 2023).
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann and a state delegation have been invited by the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) to witness the semi-finals and finals of the Asian Games hockey competitions in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. This invitation is significant as Punjab is set to host the men's Asian Champions Trophy 2026, with the experience gained in Japan expected to aid in organising future international sporting events in the state.
Ishan Kishan continued his impressive form in crucial matches by scoring his maiden first-class double century, a blistering 250 off 301 balls, for East Zone against South Zone in the Duleep Trophy final before retiring hurt due to cramps.
Chinese President Xi Jinping addressed the BRICS summit, urging the bloc to play a significant role in achieving peace and tranquillity in West Asia and the Gulf region. He highlighted BRICS' growth over two decades, its efforts in tackling global challenges, and its steadfastness in safeguarding the interests of the Global South. Xi called for opposing the Cold War mentality, strengthening multilateralism, and promoting cooperation in emerging domains like AI, as China prepares to chair the next summit.
Indian benchmark equity indices, Sensex and Nifty, closed mixed on Friday. While a drop in crude oil prices offered some relief, weakness in IT stocks and several Tata Group counters, including a significant dip in Tata Chemicals and ongoing boardroom issues at Tata Sons, limited a broader market recovery.
India has been drawn into Group E of the AFC U-17 Men's Asian Cup Qualifiers, alongside hosts Malaysia, Palestine, Singapore, and Guam. The qualifiers will take place in Malaysia from November 11 to 20, with India aiming for their 11th appearance in the main tournament, scheduled for Uzbekistan in 2027.
The Duleep Trophy final between East Zone and South Zone will feature a mix of rising talents like Devdutt Padikkal, Tilak Varma, and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, alongside established players like Mohammed Siraj, KL Rahul, and Mohammed Shami. Players will be looking to impress selectors for upcoming national assignments, with Padikkal aiming to continue his red-ball form and Siraj seeking to regain rhythm. The match also marks Shami's 100th first-class game.
Tilak Varma is emerging as India's potential middle-order backup, offering left-handed batting variety and developing off-spin as selectors seek younger, flexible options ahead of the ODI World Cup.
Former Chief Economic Adviser Krishnamurthy V Subramanian outlines India's strategy to become a USD 55 trillion economy by 2047. The plan hinges on leveraging its young demographic in AI, dominating sunrise sectors like space and defence tech, attracting FDI, and achieving sustained 8% GDP growth.
The question for the next 20 years is not whether India can become a $5 trillion or $10 trillion economy. Those are attractive targets, but the real question is whether India can create enough productive jobs, educate its children properly, make its cities liveable, and give hundreds of millions of people a substantially better life, asserts Ramesh Menon.
From four nations to a powerful 11-member bloc, here's how BRICS reshaped the global order in 27 years.
The Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, are set to feature top athletes across various disciplines. This preview highlights key contenders like swimmers Pan Zhanle, javelin throwers Haruka Kitaguchi and Arshad Nadeem, badminton star An Se-young, gymnastic sensation Carlos Yulo, tennis prodigy Alexandra Eala, and the formidable Indian cricket teams, all poised to make a significant impact.
South Korea and Japan secured gold medals in the men's sabre and women's foil team events, respectively, at the Asian Senior Fencing Championships. Indian teams, despite facing strong competition, demonstrated grit and finished 10th overall, showing promising developmental strides for the future of Indian fencing.
The Indian Sports Ministry has sought assistance from the Indian diaspora in Nagoya to help with athlete accommodation at the Asian Games, as several Indian and other athletes have faced delays and issues with their designated lodging due to a lack of a dedicated athletes' village.
Veteran Indian pace bowler Mohammed Shami is set to play his 100th first-class match, leading East Zone in the Duleep Trophy final against South Zone in Chennai.
Top US and Chinese officials, including Vice Premier He Lifeng and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, held "candid, in-depth and constructive" talks in New York on economic and trade issues, with a specific focus on artificial intelligence. These discussions precede Chinese President Xi Jinping's anticipated visit to Washington and occur amidst new US sanctions targeting countries purchasing Russian oil and gas, and the US unveiling an "AI Force."
India Women's cricket team, fresh off two commanding victories, prepares to face a strong South Africa side in a crucial ICC Women's T20 World Cup Group 1 match. The contest is expected to highlight India's powerful top order against South Africa's varied bowling, with both teams aiming to build momentum and address fielding improvements.
India's wholesale price-based inflation (WPI) increased to 9.92 per cent in August, up from 9.78 per cent in July, primarily due to rising prices across food, manufactured items, and fuel and power sectors.
Suchika Tariyal, a 36-year-old Indian athlete, has secured India's first medal at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games by reaching the semifinals of the women's Traditional Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) 60kg event. Her journey began at age 12, driven by a desire for self-defence, leading her through successful careers in judo and jiu-jitsu before transitioning to MMA. She aims to convert her assured bronze into a gold medal.
Indian benchmark indices, Sensex and Nifty, closed nearly flat on Thursday, influenced by the US Federal Reserve's interest rate hike and indications of further monetary tightening. Despite some intraday gains, caution prevailed, with foreign institutional investors continuing to offload equities. Meanwhile, the National Stock Exchange of India's (NSE) mega initial public offering opened for subscription, garnering 39 per cent subscription on its first day.
The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) has dismissed concerns about organisational chaos at the Asian Games, attributing criticisms to attempts to "politicise" the event. Despite widespread issues like accommodation scarcity, lengthy check-ins, and athlete complaints, OCA officials insist challenges are normal and are being handled effectively. They also addressed a diplomatic complaint from South Korea regarding a historical figure at a welcome ceremony and defended cost-saving measures like container-style accommodation.
Indian athletes, including wushu and table tennis players, faced initial check-in difficulties upon arrival for the Asian Games in Nagoya. While some wushu players and coaches reportedly had issues with room allocation on the designated cruise ship, officials stated the problems were resolved. The Games' accommodation plan involves a mix of cruise ships, container rooms, and hotels, with some contingents already raising concerns about the quality and availability of lodging.
The FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 is set to begin on August 15, with India featuring in both the men's and women's tournaments. Here is the complete India schedule, fixtures and squad details for the World Cup.
Eran Wickramaratne, chairman of Sri Lanka Cricket's interim committee, has called for a revision of the ICC's Future Tours Programme to allow Sri Lanka to play more Test matches against cricketing powerhouses like India, England, and Australia, citing the financial dependence on India and the desire to excel in the format.
Indian benchmark indices, Sensex and Nifty, traded marginally higher in early trade despite the US Federal Reserve's recent rate hike and indications of further tightening, with the National Stock Exchange's much-anticipated Rs 22,569-crore IPO also opening for subscription.
A female cheetah named Nirva, part of India's reintroduction programme, was successfully rescued from Shivpuri district after an 11-day search. The 6-year-old South African cheetah had gone missing from Kuno National Park, and her satellite collar was malfunctioning. Forest officials, with local support, located and replaced her collar, confirming she is healthy.
Ishan Kishan's stunning 2026 has thrown him into India's 2027 ODI World Cup plans -- and Rishabh Pant could be the biggest casualty. With the selectors already looking ahead to South Africa, Kishan's red-hot form has turned the wicket-keeper debate on its head.
India is poised to secure its first overseas Test series victory in three years as they face Sri Lanka in the second and final match, with skipper Shubman Gill and opener Yashasvi Jaiswal under pressure to deliver substantial knocks.
