Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi repeatedly recorded that they had not been consulted or informed about decisions taken in the Commission's name, revealed an Indian Express report on Wednesday morning.
The Union Home Ministry has issued a stern advisory to states and Union Territories, highlighting a "dangerous trend" of human trafficking through "overseas recruitment scams." These scams lure victims with promises of high-paying jobs abroad, only to trap them in "CyberFraud Centres." The ministry has called for a "specialised offensive" involving various state agencies to combat this growing menace, emphasising strict enforcement, agency verification, and public awareness.
The parents of IIT Bombay student Sahil Wakode, who allegedly died by suicide, have begun a hunger strike demanding action against those they accuse of tormenting their son due to caste discrimination. The institute has deferred mid-semester examinations and reissued an apology for an earlier statement regarding the circumstances of his death.
The Bombay High Court has imposed a complete ban on firecrackers, loudspeakers, DJs, and laser beams on public roads during festival processions, criticising the Maharashtra government for its laxity in implementing noise pollution rules. The court highlighted the severe noise and air pollution caused by such celebrations and called for more dignified ways of observing festivals, noting that current permissions are often ineffective due to official inaction.
A 21-year-old woman in South Delhi was allegedly stalked and harassed by two men on a motorcycle, who then rammed their bike into her scooty, causing serious injuries. Police have registered an FIR and are investigating the incident, which occurred near Panchsheel Park metro station.
The Election Commission has announced elections for 12 Rajya Sabha seats across Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and West Bengal on October 16. The BJP is expected to retain eight seats in UP and gain one in West Bengal, increasing its overall strength. The Samajwadi Party is also likely to gain one seat in UP, while Mayawati's BSP faces the prospect of losing its representation in Parliament.
The father of an IIT Bombay student who died by suicide has alleged that his son faced relentless caste-based mocking and torture from a professor and the administration. A police complaint has been filed, and an FIR registered against a professor for abetment of suicide and under the SC/ST Act. IIT Bombay has removed a Dean from his post following the allegations.
Gautam Gambhir reflects on two years as India coach, accepting successes and failures, praising four captains for their team-first approach, and backing Shubman Gill's leadership future.
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has called for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, alleging he has 'undermined' voter rights by excluding over 13 crore names from draft electoral rolls across 30 states and Union territories during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.
The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has appointed Ishan Anand, Mayawati's younger nephew, as its new national coordinator. This decision follows the removal of his elder brother, Akash Anand, from all party responsibilities. The appointment was made at a national executive meeting, where Mayawati reiterated the party's commitment to avoiding dynastic politics.
Trinamool Congress leader Saket Gokhale has accused the Election Commission of India (ECI) of withholding details about the software and algorithm used for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Citing an RTI response, Gokhale highlighted the ECI's claim that the information relates to "commercial confidence, trade secrets and intellectual property matters," raising concerns about transparency in the electoral process.
BJP leader and former Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu was detained by Punjab Police after he waved a liquor bottle, eggs, and tomatoes at Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's cavalcade, claiming he was 'returning' items previously thrown at his own convoy and protesting alleged misgovernance.
Police in Bhadohi, Uttar Pradesh, have registered a case against an X user for allegedly making indecent and derogatory remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP MP Kangana Ranaut online. The complaint was filed by the district police's social media in-charge, leading to charges under the BNS and IT Act. Authorities are examining evidence and will take further action.
The driver of a speeding BMW involved in a fatal crash on Mumbai's Coastal Road, which killed three students, had a documented history of reckless driving and drunk and disorderly conduct. Police have registered an FIR against the deceased driver, Shanay Gajar, as investigations reveal prior cases of overspeeding and obstructing officers while inebriated.
Thousands across Assam, including 2,600 students, gathered to commemorate the first death anniversary of cultural icon Zubeen Garg, with his wife Garima Saikia Garg joining tributes and musical performances.
A 17-year-old girl, allegedly raped by three men at Delhi's Aastha Kunj Park, bravely assisted investigators by leading them to the crime spots. Her detailed account and identification of the locations enabled forensic teams to collect crucial biological evidence, including a condom. Police subsequently identified and arrested the three accused, Asif, Hemant, and Mahesh, after scanning CCTV footage and using technical surveillance.
IndiGo, India's largest airline, has recently increased charges for several ancillary services, including infant travel and unaccompanied minors, citing rising operational costs and higher fuel prices. Domestic infant travel charges have risen to Rs 3,000, while unaccompanied minor services are now Rs 5,999 for domestic and Rs 12,999 for international flights.
Hyundai Motor India is set to outpace the broader passenger vehicle market, projecting an 8-10 per cent domestic sales growth in H2FY27, fueled by strategic launches of a new mid-size SUV and a dedicated electric vehicle, alongside increased production capacity.
Three infants tragically died after a fire erupted in the Special Newborn Care Unit (SNCU) of the state-run RIMS hospital in Adilabad, Telangana. A preliminary inquiry suggests a short circuit in the air-conditioning unit caused the blaze, leading to thick smoke. State Health Minister C Damodar Rajanarasimha has ordered a comprehensive inquiry into the incident, promising strict action against any negligence.
The Election Commission of India has addressed reports of internal dissent among its commissioners and clarified that all Special Intensive Revision (SIR) orders and Form 6 updates for voter enrolment received unanimous consent and were upheld by the Supreme Court. The EC also announced measures to ease the process for voters issued notices, including doorstep document collection and extended deadlines in Delhi and Maharashtra, while affirming its commitment to transparent decision-making and meticulous compliance with directives.
Indian shooters Elavenil Valarivan and Parth Mane secured second place in the 10m air rifle mixed team qualification at the Asian Games 2026, positioning them for a medal contention. China set a new world record in the same event. Separately, Aadhya Tiwari faced a defeat in her opening soft tennis match but aims to recover in her next game.
India may have a vast coastline and a strategic location, but it will become a true maritime nation only when its people understand, value and actively participate in the maritime ecosystem, asserts Vice Admiral Biswajit Dasgupta (retd).
The Bombay High Court has issued a complete ban on bursting firecrackers on public roads and deemed the use of loudspeakers, DJs, and laser beams during religious processions "unwarranted." The court emphasized that festivals must be celebrated without causing noise and air pollution, highlighting the need for strict enforcement of existing regulations.
Violent protests erupted in Manipur's Kangpokpi district after seven Kuki villagers were allegedly detained by security forces. Protesters blocked roads and clashed with forces, leading to injuries. The villagers were later released, but a Meitei women's organisation subsequently staged a sit-in demanding the release of Meitei village volunteers.
The Indian men's badminton team secured a dominant 3-0 victory over Bangladesh at the Asian Games, advancing to the quarterfinals. Lakshya Sen, Ayush Shetty, and K Srikkanth all won their respective matches without dropping a game, setting up a clash with hosts Japan. Lakshya Sen also shared insights on his form and the camaraderie among players.
Comparing the two states is comparing an apple to an orange. I ate apples for years. Then I felt I needed some citrus, and I moved to oranges. That doesn't make the apple a lesser fruit, reflects Binu Alex.
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar is facing significant scrutiny after an investigation revealed objections from his fellow election commissioners, Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, regarding decisions made during the Special Intensive Revision of voter lists. The objections, reportedly made at least 14 times, concerned issues like changes to voter registration forms and centralised control over electoral roll databases, intensifying criticism of Kumar's tenure and the EC's impartiality.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah experienced food poisoning during his visit to Karnataka, leading to the cancellation of his scheduled events in Hubballi and Belagavi. Senior BJP leader Pralhad Joshi confirmed Shah's illness but stated he is now "perfect" after suffering weakness from vomiting.
Indian badminton stars Lakshya Sen and PV Sindhu face challenging draws in the individual competitions at the Asian Games, while defending champions Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty have a more favourable path to the semifinals. The individual events follow India's men's team securing a bronze medal. Players will need to overcome tough opponents to secure individual medals.
A Mumbai court has granted bail to Rohan Parikh, a 24-year-old student, and his bodyguard, Dilip Kunde, who were arrested for entering Jio World Plaza with a firearm and a fake PMO identity card. The court cited the lack of "overt malicious act" and the potential prejudice to the student's future as reasons for bail, setting a cash bond of Rs 50,000 each.
The IIT Bombay Faculty Forum has expressed strong solidarity with Professor Suryanarayana Doolla, who was invigilating an exam where a student was found using a smartphone, an incident preceding the student's death by alleged suicide.
Glimpses from Janmashtami celebrations taking shape across India before the festival.
The Crime Branch has taken over the investigation into the alleged suicide of a 22-year-old IIT Bombay student, Sahil Ravindra Wakode. Wakode was found dead after being caught using a mobile phone and ChatGPT during an exam. His parents have filed a complaint alleging institutional harassment and caste-based discrimination, leading to a protest by students. A professor has been named as an accused, and the Crime Branch is expected to summon them for questioning. This marks the third suicide at IIT Bombay in seven months.
Former BJP MP Pratap Simha has been booked by police in T Narasipura, Mysuru, for allegedly delivering a provocative speech during a Ganesha idol procession. The FIR was registered following a complaint by a PSI, accusing Simha of making derogatory remarks against an inspector. Simha claims the FIR is politically motivated and vows to challenge it in court.
Elavenil Valarivan's family celebrated her historic Asian Games silver medals, saying 12 years of dedication, sacrifice and support from coaches and authorities finally brought her long-awaited success.
The Supreme Court has ordered the Delhi and Gurugram police to explain why the body of missing Delhi realtor Yuvraj Singh Manchanda was cremated without identification and why details were not uploaded to the CCTNS portal. This directive comes after Manchanda's family alleged they were not informed about the recovery of his body, which was found in Gurugram and cremated before they were notified. The court also referenced its earlier directives on prompt FIR registration for missing persons, highlighting concerns about human trafficking and the need for an all-India police grid.
The Karnataka Assembly has passed a resolution rejecting the K Kasturirangan report on Western Ghats conservation in its current form. The state government urged the Centre to address deficiencies, particularly concerning the inclusion of agricultural lands and human settlements in Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESA) without proper physical surveys or livelihood support.
Police investigating the gangrape of a 17-year-old girl at Astha Kunj Park in New Delhi have revealed that the three accused followed the victim for nearly a kilometre before assaulting her at multiple secluded locations, coordinating their actions via phone calls. One accused, an advocate, was previously removed from a gym due to complaints about his behaviour. The probe also suggests the accused frequented the park and may have been involved in similar incidents, highlighting concerns about park security and lighting.
The Chintan Shivir is expected to discuss the progress of government schemes, policy implementation, time management, inter-ministerial coordination, and public service delivery, among others.
Remember when photographs had film grain, hairstyles had volume and nobody had to worry about accidentally taking 47 identical selfies? The 1980s are back on Instagram, thanks to AI.
