Pan-India SIR to cover more than 10 States in first phase
The Election Commission of India (ECI) is all set to announce the schedule for a country-wide roll-out of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the next few days. The first phase of the process will be implemented in more than 10 States and one Union Territory, including election-bound Assam, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Kerala, and West Bengal.
Tri-services to get systems, platforms for ₹79,000 crore
The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, approved a series of capital acquisition proposals worth around ₹79,000 crore aimed at strengthening the operational capabilities of the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force. According to the Ministry of Defence, the approvals granted during a meeting at South Block will cover a wide spectrum of platforms and systems designed to enhance lethality, mobility and intelligence-gathering capabilities across the services.
Trump to pull U.S. support if Israel annexes West Bank
U.S. President Donald Trump said Israel would lose its crucial backing from the United States if it annexes the occupied West Bank, in a Time magazine interview published. Mr. Trump’s comments, which Time said were made by telephone on October 15, were published as both Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned against any annexation.
People won’t forget ‘jungle raj’ for another 100 years: PM Modi’s attack on RJD-Congress ahead of Bihar polls
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the people of Bihar would never forget the “jungle raj”, nor forgive the Opposition regardless of how much it attempts to conceal its “sins”. The term ‘jungle raj’ is associated with the rule of Lalu Prasad and his Rashtriya Janata Dal in the 1990s. During an audio-conference interaction with booth-level Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers, Mr. Modi said: “The discussion on jungle raj will continue even for the next 100 years… people can never forgive those associated with jungle raj.”
Government writes to CJI Gavai on recommendation for successor
The government has written to Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai seeking his recommendation for his successor. The CJI is currently on a four-day visit to Bhutan. His office said he would come back and send his recommendation to the government. As per seniority norms, Justice Surya Kant is the next in line to become the 53rd CJI. Chief Justice Gavai is scheduled to retire on November 24.
Ahead of J&K Rajya Sabha byelections, Congress and PDP extend support to NC
The Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) formally extended their support to the ruling National Conference (NC), a day ahead of the byelections for the four Rajya Sabha seats of Jammu and Kashmir. “Taking into account our sensitivities as a suffering state and our identity as a tested voice for a diverse and secular India, the Congress Party has decided to keep all differences with the NC on the back burner, solely to reaffirm our commitment to our own ethos and principles,” J&K Pradesh Congress Committee president Tariq Hameed Karra said.
Hope for India-U.S. trade deal in the ‘near future’, says Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said he hoped for a trade deal with the U.S. to materialise in the “near future”. He added that the teams of both countries were in dialogue and that talks were “progressing”. Mr. Goyal is in Berlin at the moment, following a short trip to Geneva to speak at the 16th session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.
Bihar Assembly elections 2025: JD(U) releases full list of 101 candidates
The Janata Dal (United) (JD(U)) released two lists of candidates on Wednesday and Thursday, totalling 101 names for the upcoming 2025 Bihar Legislative Assembly election, in line with its quota of 101 seats under the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) seat-sharing arrangement. In its first list issued on October 15, the party named 57 candidates, including sitting ministers and several new entrants. The second list, released on October 16, comprised 44 candidates, thereby completing the party’s full candidate list.
Reliance Industries recalibrates Russian oil imports to align with India’s guidelines
Reliance Industries Ltd, one of the top importers of crude oil from Russia has decided to recalibrate its oil imports from that country in line with Government of India’s guidelines. A company official confirmed the development. This comes after new sanctions being imposed by U.S. and Europe on Russia oil firms.
UPI leads in payments volume, RTGS in value; debit card transactions decline: RBI report
In terms of volume, the payment transactions grew from 3,248 crore in Calendar Year (CY) 2019 to 20,849 crore in CY 2024. In terms of value, from ₹1,775 lakh crore to ₹2,830 lakh crore during this period according to Payments Systems Report, a bi-annual publication released by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). In the Half Year (HY) ending June 2025, transaction volume was 12,549 crore, amounting to ₹1,572 lakh crore. Almost all of the growth in payments was attributable to digital payment transactions.
Controversy erupts over photo of President’s visit to Sabarimala
A day after President Droupadi Murmu visited the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple, a controversy has erupted over an alleged violation of temple protocol after the Rashtrapati Bhavan posted a photo of her praying at the Malikappuram Devi temple. The image, shared on the Rashtrapati Bhavan’s social media account, showed the interior of the sanctum sanctorum as well as the idol. It immediately drew criticism for revealing a sacred space not meant for public display. Following the backlash, the Rashtrapati Bhavan deleted the post later in the day.
Vance visits Israel and says ceasefire in Gaza is going better than expected
U.S. Vice President JD Vance and other envoys projected optimism about Gaza’s fragile ceasefire agreement, calling progress better than anticipated as they visited a new center in Israel for civilian and military cooperation. Mr. Vance noted flare-ups of violence in recent days but said the ceasefire that began on Oct. 10 is going “better than I expected” after two years of war between Israel and Hamas.
Gaganyaan mission: 90% of development work completed, says ISRO Chairman
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman V. Narayanan said that about 90% of the development work on the Gaganyaan mission has been completed. “The Gangyaan mission is going on very well. A lot of technological development has to take place. Number one the rocket has to be human rated, the life support system, the crew escape system and of course human centric products. I can say today that approximately 90% of the development work has been completed,” Mr. Narayanan told reporters in Bengaluru.
‘Bachke rehna re baba’: Congress claims PM not going for ASEAN summit to avoid meeting Trump
The Congress claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is attending the ASEAN summit virtually instead of travelling to Malaysia to avoid “being cornered” by U.S. President Donald Trump. Taking to social media platform X, Congress communication chief Jairam Ramesh said it was “one thing to post messages in praise of President Trump, but far too risky to be physically seen with the man who has claimed 53 times that he stopped Operation Sindoor and that India has promised to stop buying oil from Russia.”
Droupadi Murmu unveils bust of former President K.R. Narayanan at Kerala Raj Bhavan
President Droupadi Murmu unveiled the bust of former President K.R. Narayanan at Kerala Raj Bhavan. Speaking on the occasion, the President described K.R. Narayanan’s life as a story of courage, perseverance and self-belief. She said that through immense dedication and the power of education, the former President rose from humble beginnings to occupy the highest constitutional office in the country.
AUS vs IND second ODI: Rohit’s 73 in vain as India lose to Australia
Rohit Sharma’s defiant 73 went in vain as India surrendered the three-match ODI series against Australia after losing the second game by two wickets here, a setback that will reignite the debate on the proven match-winner Kuldeep Yadav’s omission from the playing XI. Under pressure, Rohit mixed grit with grace in a 97-ball knock on a spicy track that formed the cornerstone of India’s total of 264 for 9 which was at least 25 short of what should have been a par-score.
Pratika, Smriti and Jemimah dazzle as India seals last semifinal spot
India couldn’t have hoped for a better way to storm into the semifinals of the Women’s ODI World Cup. The pressure mounted on the home team following three successive defeats, but as it returned to its cherished hub — the D.Y. Patil Stadium — more than 25,000 spectators braved the rain and cheered for the Women in Blue.
Published – October 24, 2025 06:18 am IST
