Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini announced the state government's firm support for power employees, pledging to challenge the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission's (HERC) decision to grant a parallel electricity distribution licence to a private company for Gurugram and Nuh districts before the Appellate Tribunal for Electricity (APTEL). The government is appealing to unions to defer their planned three-day strike while making arrangements to ensure uninterrupted power supply.
Along with austerity and humility, Ahmed Saeed Uraizee displayed a rock solid self-respect and integrity, recalls Jyoti Punwani.
The government has introduced new aviation rules, the Bharatiya Vayuyan Niyam, 2026, granting it the power to intervene in airline ticket pricing during extraordinary situations.
The GST Council has approved significant reforms including removing the arrest power of tax officials, raising the prosecution threshold fivefold to Rs 5 crore, and introducing faster, largely automated refunds for taxpayers. These changes, aimed at fostering trust and easing business, will be implemented from April 1, 2027.
Maharashtra's Chief Electoral Officer has formally requested the Election Commission to modify the ECINet software, seeking greater discretion for Electoral Registration Officers in addressing over 2 crore voter discrepancies.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced on Friday that the BJP would implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in Uttar Pradesh if it returns to power in the upcoming assembly elections. Addressing a state working committee meeting, Shah expressed confidence in the BJP's victory, criticised opposition parties on issues like the Ram temple and alleged voter list irregularities, and highlighted the Adityanath government's achievements in law and order and development.
The National Testing Agency (NTA) is implementing a major overhaul of its examination system, including creating a permanent pool of independent observers and inviting applications for empanelled examination centres. This initiative follows security breaches and allegations of irregularities, particularly the NEET-UG paper leak earlier this year, aiming to enhance fairness and security in national-level entrance exams.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday asked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to disclose details of his foreign trips to the public, saying they have a right to know since he was the leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha.
The Union Cabinet has approved the establishment of a High Court bench in Ladakh, a move lauded by Home Minister Amit Shah and Lt Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena as a significant step towards improving access to justice and ensuring the all-round development of the Union Territory.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis addressed speculation regarding a potential merger between the NCP and NCP (SP) factions, stating that while they are independent parties, the BJP-led NDA would expect to be consulted if such a move were considered. He also dismissed claims that the state government intended to take over Gokul Dairy, clarifying the government's stance on the cooperative's internal issues and recent cabinet decisions.
India's central cyber security agency, I4C, has issued a critical warning to banks, NBFCs, and fintech firms regarding a surge in financially motivated cyberattacks leveraging artificial intelligence agents. These AI-driven attacks enable hackers to compromise systems and execute fraudulent transactions at machine speed, making investigations complex due to record deletion. The advisory, issued in collaboration with CERT-In, urges financial institutions to implement robust security measures, align with CERT-In's blueprint, and report incidents promptly to mitigate the escalating threat.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched a strong counterattack against the INDIA bloc's 'vote chori' allegations, challenging Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to a special Parliament session debate on EVMs and infiltrators. Shah dismissed the INDIA bloc's rally as a "save infiltrator" event, questioning Congress's wins if EVMs are faulty and asserting the BJP's commitment to removing all infiltrators from electoral rolls.
The BJP has launched a new song, "Modi Kahin Nahi Jaayega," as part of its social media campaign against Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's controversial "baap" remark about Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The song asserts Modi's continued presence and criticises the opposition's language, while the Congress has also intensified its social media attacks, accusing the government of "vote chori" ahead of an INDIA bloc rally.
The climate finance battle once again exposes the deep divide between rich and developing nations.
A book written by jailed activist Umar Khalid was removed from the library of the Pune-based Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) after a social media post objected to its listing as a new addition.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav addressed an INDIA bloc rally at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan, likening the venue to the "Haldighati of democracy" due to the massive public turnout. He asserted that the BJP, which came to power through Uttar Pradesh, would also be ousted from there, criticising their claims of an unshakeable political stance. Yadav accused the BJP of manipulating electoral rolls and predicted their defeat in upcoming elections, starting from UP.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah criticised Opposition parties, including Congress and AAP, stating that protests are futile and asserting that the NDA will form the next government in Punjab. He also spoke about Yamuna cleaning projects and accused previous Delhi governments of pollution.
In a life fully and adventurously lived, Bunker Roy creatively defied many conventions and opened paths for subsequent generations to follow. Long before the term 'social entrepreneur' was coined, Bunker innovated empowering social processes and village-level production systems that dramatically improved the lives of tens of lakhs of people not only across India but in 96 other countries, notes Rajni Bakshi.
The BJP is increasingly integrating its digital outreach with on-ground mobilisation, using social media attacks, political songs, marches, rallies, and public meetings to amplify its political messaging and counter opposition narratives. This evolving strategy, exemplified by the 'Loktantra Bachao, Arajakta Hatao' campaign, aims to take political contests beyond online platforms to streets and campuses, especially in response to the INDIA bloc's recent rally and accusations against the Election Commission.
Union Minister Ramdas Athawale has indicated a potential Union cabinet reshuffle soon and extended an invitation to eight NCP (SP) MPs to join the NDA, even if Sharad Pawar declines. He urged the opposition faction to set aside ideological differences for development. However, NCP (SP) spokesperson Clyde Crasto dismissed Athawale's offer, calling him a "floater." Athawale also addressed the issue of reservation, stating it's a constitutional right.
Union Minister Ramdas Athawale extended an invitation to Abhijeet Dipke to join his Republican Party of India-Athawale.
The Supreme Court's High-Powered Enquiry Committee (HPEC), tasked with investigating alleged violence and police excesses during CJP-led protests at Jantar Mantar, has reported receiving hardly any complaints from affected individuals. Despite extensive efforts to solicit complaints via a portal, email, and newspaper notices, the response has been minimal. The court has urged petitioners to forward materials and encourage victims to come forward, while also accepting a member's request to be relieved from the panel.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced the approval of the north corridor of the bullet train project by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, highlighting its 'Make in India' aspect and potential to transform lives. The corridor will connect major cities from Delhi to Guwahati, significantly reducing travel times. Vaishnaw also launched new Vande Bharat Sleeper Express and MEMU services in Varanasi, while criticising previous governments' railway budgets for Uttar Pradesh.
Speculation about a merger between the two factions of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has intensified following a viral video of Praful Patel meeting NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar in hospital. This comes as ruling NCP president Sunil Tatkare revealed that a merger would have occurred in February this year if Ajit Pawar were alive. The meeting and Tatkare's comments have reignited discussions about the future of the NCP.
A faction of the Boxing Federation of India (BFI), claiming support from 27 state units, met Union Minister of State for Sports Raksha Khadse to seek intervention regarding alleged governance lapses by president Ajay Singh. The group submitted a memorandum to the Sports Ministry, IOA, and World Boxing president, detailing accusations of power concentration, sidelining elected members, and lack of grassroots development. This comes after a planned no-confidence motion was put on hold by the Punjab and Haryana High Court until November 13. The BFI later issued a statement claiming unity among its state units.
'Nobody, even the government, cannot compel Gyanesh Kumar to resign. He can only be removed through a constitutionally laid down process of impeachment. If he does get impeached, there will be political fallout on Mr Modi's government.'
The Supreme Court on Friday reaffirmed its March 11 verdict, stating that a parent's salary or income from PSU or private sector employment cannot be the sole factor for creamy-layer exclusion for OBCs. The court also rejected the Centre's plea for prospective application of the judgment, clarifying that it applies to the parties involved and will not reopen concluded selections or promotions.
Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari has dismissed criticism against blending 20 per cent ethanol in petrol fuel as a 'paid campaign'. He highlighted that millions of vehicles are already running on E19-20 blends without widespread issues. Gadkari also addressed concerns about highway quality, promising improvements within two years and detailing plans for monitoring and penalising contractors. He further elaborated on the economic impact of infrastructure development and the expansion of India's highway network.
Srinagar Lok Sabha member Syed Aga Ruhullah Mehdi has resigned from the National Conference, accusing its leadership of abandoning key election promises, particularly the restoration of Article 370. He also hinted at forming a new political outfit in Jammu and Kashmir, criticising NC leaders Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah for their alleged betrayal of public trust and incompetence.
'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.'
The Supreme Court-appointed High Powered Enquiry Committee (HPEC) will hold a sitting on October 29 to hear affected persons and record evidence regarding alleged violence, including pellet gun use and harassment of female protesters, during the July Jantar Mantar protests. The five-member panel, chaired by Justice R Subhash Reddy, was formed after petitions alleged police excesses and counter-allegations of violence against police. An online portal is also available for submissions.
The Union finance ministry has constituted a high-level committee, chaired by former Central Vigilance Commissioner Suresh N Patel, to recommend structural, regulatory, and legislative reforms for India's banking sector, aiming to make banks globally competitive and support the financing needs of a developed economy.
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has concluded that former Kerala Health Minister Veena George was not assaulted by KSU activists at Kannur railway station, contrary to earlier claims. The report, submitted to the State Police Chief, could lead to disciplinary action against George's former gunman and the initial police investigation team.
The Congress party faced a significant defeat in the Karnataka Legislative Council elections, losing all four seats contested. The opposition alliance of BJP and JD(S) secured all segments, with JD(S) wresting one from Congress and BJP retaining three. This outcome, while not affecting government stability, is seen as a moral victory for the opposition and a test of their coordination.
Former Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh states the BJP government must regain public trust before early next year's assembly elections. He accuses some party colleagues of conspiring to remove him, questions the rationale behind his ouster given continued violence, and highlights public demand for his return, while also criticising the current government's inaction on key issues.
Thousands gathered at Ramlila Maidan for the INDIA bloc's rally, protesting alleged electoral irregularities. The demonstration also served as a platform for diverse concerns including unemployment, inflation, women's safety, the Manipur crisis, and rights of marginalised communities, drawing participants from across India.
The CBI has taken over the investigation into the murder of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota in Mansa, Punjab. A special team has been formed, including drug controllers, forensic experts, and GST officials, to examine all angles of the killing. The takeover follows the Punjab government's consent and a notification extending CBI's jurisdiction. Ashwani Kumar, accused of the shooting, has been apprehended. Punjab CM Bhagwant Singh Mann announced the CBI probe, fulfilling the family's demand.
BJP chief Nitin Nabin criticised the Congress and the INDIA bloc's Delhi rally, accusing them of targeting constitutional institutions due to electoral frustration. He highlighted the irony of the protest coinciding with the 1984 anti-Sikh riots anniversary, urging Congress to apologise instead. Nabin also challenged Congress to establish internal democracy.
Cyclone Arnab made landfall on the Andhra coast early on Wednesday, causing widespread destruction, including uprooted trees, damaged infrastructure, and inundated low-lying areas. Five people were killed in related incidents, primarily due to electrocution and wall collapse. Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has sought central assistance and outlined relief measures for affected residents and farmers.
Saurabh Chandrakar, alleged kingpin of the Rs 6,000-crore Mahadev online betting app scam, has been granted to CBI custody for eight days by a special court in Raipur. Chandrakar was recently extradited from Oman and brought to Raipur. His defence lawyer raised objections regarding extradition laws, stating he was extradited for an ED case, not a CBI case. The CBI alleges the Mahadev app was a large illegal betting syndicate operating from outside India, routing proceeds via hawala and paying protection money. The case involves high-ranking politicians and bureaucrats, with former CM Bhupesh Baghel also named in an EOW FIR.
