The Congress party has launched nationwide protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, demanding his removal. Accusing him of acting in favour of the BJP and citing alleged irregularities in electoral roll revisions (SIR), party workers burned effigies and clashed with police. Opposition parties plan further action, including a meeting of the INDIA bloc to strategize for his ouster.
Historian Ramachandra Guha, at the launch of his book "Arguments with Gandhi", discussed Mahatma Gandhi's use of "Ram Rajya", acknowledging it could be "off-putting to Muslims" despite Gandhi's interfaith practice. Guha highlighted Gandhi's pluralistic approach, his efforts to protect minorities after Partition, and his contributions to the anti-untouchability campaign, often overlooked in contemporary discourse. The book also examines Gandhi's disagreements with figures like Ambedkar, Savarkar, Nehru, and Bhagat Singh.
JD-U leaders have backed a proposal to rename the party Janata Dal Nitish, putting Nitish Kumar's political legacy at the centre of the party's identity.
The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and Shiv Sena (UBT), led by Raj and Uddhav Thackeray, are organising a mass protest march in Mumbai on October 4 against the Election Commission. They accuse the EC of acting as a "branch of the ruling party" and allege "gross deception" of voters, calling for broader political and public participation.
JD(U) president Nitish Kumar and his son Nishant Kumar made a joint appearance at a party orientation programme, sparking speculation about Nishant's political future and potential leadership roles within the party. The event, aimed at training parliamentarians and legislators, also saw Nishant urging attendees to uphold his father's principles of "zero tolerance for crime, corruption and communalism."
The Reserve Bank of India's recent measures, including a dedicated dollar window for state-run oil marketing companies and tightened foreign exchange derivative rules, are expected to provide near-term relief to the rupee's depreciation, but market participants believe global factors and balance of payment dynamics will continue to exert pressure in the medium term.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar stated that the world is entering an age of flux marked by conflicts and tariff volatility, requiring India to respond effectively to these challenges. He reiterated India's consistent stance on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, advocating for dialogue and diplomacy, and highlighted India's efforts to engage with both sides. Jaishankar also emphasised India's role in championing the voice of the Global South and navigating complex strategic partnerships in a multi-aligned world.
Former President Donald Trump's recent deal with Russia to supply diesel to the US and global markets has ignited a political firestorm, drawing sharp criticism from Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Democratic leaders, and a segment of Republicans, despite the US Treasury lifting sanctions on Russian diesel supplies.
India is deeply concerned by the growing consolidation of Pakistan-backed jihadi and radical Islamist groups in Bangladesh, particularly in the strategically vital Chittagong Hill Tracts, which experts warn is transforming the country into a new safe haven for these networks and posing a direct threat to India's security.
The reference to India's 'Presidential election' appears to be a mix-up with Brazil, which held its first round of presidential elections on Sunday with 125.27 million valid votes.
Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has ignited a political and religious debate by claiming the BJP "stole Lord Ram" and contrasting northern and southern religious sentiments, drawing sharp criticism from a Union Minister.
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.
Easing Gyanesh Kumar out would create a hazardous political precedent because forcing out a top official, due to public pressure, projects an image of reactive, defensive governing. Furthermore, making a high-level official like the CEC to hand in his papers would validate Opposition claims that Constitutional referees have been compromised, observes Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay.
An elderly couple and their domestic help were brutally murdered in Dehradun by their plumber, who allegedly used a screwdriver during a payment dispute. The accused was arrested hours after the incident, and police are investigating a potential robbery motive after recovering a gold chain from him. The incident has sparked political criticism regarding law and order.
Tamil Nadu Minister C T R Nirmal Kumar has rejected calls for an all-party meeting to discuss the ongoing Cauvery water dispute with Karnataka, citing a previously passed unanimous resolution in the Assembly. He accused DMK and Karnataka CM D K Shivakumar of working against Tamil Nadu's interests and criticised the DMK's "hasty" Supreme Court petition.
Political strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj Party has secured its first seat in the Bihar Assembly, with Kishor winning the Bankipur bypoll in his electoral debut, stunning the BJP in its long-held bastion.
Meesho, a value-commerce platform targeting middle- and lower-income geographies, is poised for significant growth driven by its asset-light model and low fulfilment costs, but faces intense competition from e-commerce giants and high valuations.
Bruno Fernandes has spoken to Cristiano Ronaldo and dismissed suggestions of a rift within the Portugal squad following Ronaldo's abrupt departure from the national team's training camp, emphasising that Ronaldo remains a national symbol.
There are only bad and worse options before him, points out Aakar Patel.
The Congress party staged nationwide protests, demanding the immediate arrest and removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The party accused the Election Commission of an "unprecedented attack" on voter equality through an alleged 'Mark VIP' feature and called for an independent review of decisions made under Kumar, citing objections from other commissioners regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Congress leader Sonia Gandhi reportedly called former Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar a "traitor" during a CWC meeting, drawing sharp criticism from JD(U) leaders. Union minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh "Lalan" and JD(U) working president Sanjay Kumar Jha condemned the remarks, highlighting Kumar's role in the INDIA bloc's formation and his popularity among the people.
The Central Bureau of Investigation has arrested two key suspects in the plot to murder West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari's close aide Chandranath Rath, uncovering potential links to the functionary of a rival political party in the state, officials said on Friday.
Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif used his UN General Assembly address to thank former US President Donald Trump for his "timely intervention" in the 2025 conflict with India, a claim India consistently denies. Sharif also raised the Kashmir issue and discussed the Indus Waters Treaty, while touting Pakistan's role in mediating US-Iran peace.
Bank unions have deferred a three-day nationwide strike after receiving assurances from the Indian Banks' Association (IBA) regarding their demands, including the implementation of a five-day work week and modifications to the PLI scheme for senior officers.
Indian-American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi voted in favour of a Russia sanctions act in the US House, diverging from his Democratic party and other Indian-American lawmakers. The bill, which passed, imposes tariffs on Russian oil and gas buyers, potentially impacting India and China, and exempts US uranium purchases from Russia.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session in New York. India raised its concerns regarding the recently signed "Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026," which authorises tariffs on countries buying Russian oil and gas. Both leaders also discussed bilateral relations, regional priorities, and the situations in the Gulf and Ukraine.
As international investigations intensify into the mid-air security scare aboard the Flydubai flight, Israel's i24 News reported that an Emirati source has revealed that among the belongings of the Omani co-pilot were leaflets and publications from "Free Palestine" groups, alongside pro-Palestinian material.
An Indian captain on a Flydubai flight heroically prevented a co-pilot from crashing the plane en route to Tel Aviv. The co-pilot, allegedly radicalized, attacked Captain Smit Machchhar, who managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and off-duty aviators to subdue the assailant and make an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. Investigations are ongoing, with Israeli and UAE authorities involved.
A FlyDubai flight captain was stabbed by his co-pilot in a suspected terror attack, leading to a desperate fight for survival that was heroically thwarted by an Israeli dentist and other passengers, averting a major mid-air disaster.
Did love make Bhagat Singh a weaker revolutionary? In a heated argument once, Sukhdev accused him of allowing his fascination with a woman to come in the way of revolutionary duty. Bhagat Singh's answer, in a letter days later, was a defence of love as a revolutionary's strength, not a weakness. On Bhagat Singh's 119th birth anniversary, Utkarsh Mishra looks at the friendship, arguments and ideas that bound him and Sukhdev together.
In 100 days in office, Chief Minister V D Satheesan has ordered five SITs. This would appear to be some kind of a record, points out Aditi Phadnis.
Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to visit the United States from September 23 to 25 for summit talks with US President Donald Trump, with discussions expected to cover critical economic and trade issues, including AI, and the recently signed US sanctions law targeting countries buying Russian oil and gas.
Bankers said the impact could become more visible from September 29 as customers could withdraw larger amounts of cash, although ATM operations are increasingly managed through third-party cash-loading arrangements.
The Bharatiya Janata Party received nearly Rs 1,473 crore at its central headquarters alone during the last five state assembly elections, more than seven times the Rs 207 crore in net receipts reported by the Congress across its central and state units, according to expenditure statements filed with the Election Commission.
The BJP knows that there is no leader in its ranks who can match Modi's popularity or have his cult following, and what awaits is a return to the Vajpayee numbers, when allies called the shots, argues Saisuresh Sivaswamy.
US President Donald Trump has extended the USD 100,000 fee on employers for H-1B foreign workers for another year, citing a significant decrease in registrations from large IT outsourcing firms. This move, aimed at protecting American jobs and ensuring highly-skilled workers, also includes a separate proclamation for enhanced scrutiny of H-1B applications, particularly concerning potential layoffs of US workers.
Following the horrific Jamui molestation case, new incidents of harassment have been reported in Bihar's Samastipur and Muzaffarpur districts, leading to five arrests and prompting strong criticism from opposition leaders against the BJP-led NDA government over the state's law and order situation.
Chinese President Xi Jinping's arrival in Washington marks a pivotal moment for global diplomacy, as he advocates for a "partners, not rivals" approach to US-China relations amidst high-stakes discussions on trade, technology, and international stability.
'Nitishji as CM never supported the UCC and publicly expressed his strong reservations over UCC.'
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi spoke to the parents of Sahil Wakode, an IIT Bombay student who died by suicide, assuring them support in their quest for justice. Sahil's death is under police investigation, with allegations of caste discrimination against a faculty member who has been sent on leave. Sahil's parents plan an indefinite hunger strike.
