Indian Politics

Kolkata puja pandal stampede kills 19; West Bengal announces SIT, opposition seeks accountability

Sun, 18 Oct 2026 12:06:20 +0530

At least 19 people died and about 25 were injured in a stampede at the Chorebagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal in north Kolkata at around 7.30 pm on Saturday, 17 October 2026, West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari told reporters, as reported by Hindustan Times. On Sunday, 18 October, the state government announced a judge-led inquiry while the opposition Trinamool Congress questioned the puja committee’s links to the ruling party. This report relies on news coverage; official statements and court filings were not directly accessible.

NPPA caps trade margins on 137 non-scheduled anti-cancer drugs at 30 per cent

Sun, 18 Oct 2026 09:06:18 +0530

The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has capped trade margins at 30 per cent of the maximum retail price (MRP) on 137 non-scheduled anti-cancer drugs, according to a notification reported by The Indian Express and The Tribune on Saturday, 17 October 2026. The revised prices will come into effect on 9 November 2026. The NPPA’s own notification could not be accessed for this report; the details below are as reported by those outlets.

Supreme Court says internet access is a fundamental right of children, cautions on bans

Sat, 17 Oct 2026 15:06:28 +0530

The Supreme Court has said that the right to access and use the internet is a fundamental right of every individual, including children, and has cautioned against blanket restrictions on children’s online access. A bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and K Vinod Chandran made the observations in an order dated Thursday, 15 October 2026, which became public on Saturday, 17 October, according to Hindustan Times and The Indian Express. The order text itself could not be accessed for this report; the wording below is as quoted by those outlets.

Centre amends Census Rules to allow private school teachers, company staff as enumerators

Sat, 17 Oct 2026 09:06:27 +0530

The Centre on Friday, 16 October 2026, amended the Census Rules, 1990, to allow states and Union Territories to appoint teachers of private institutions, among others, as enumerators for the 2027 Census. The Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India issued the notification in the Gazette, according to Business Standard, The Hindu and Hindustan Times. The Gazette text itself could not be accessed for this report; the wording below is as quoted by those outlets.

India's External Affairs Ministry rejects US Congresswoman Jayapal's remarks on voter roll revision

Sat, 17 Oct 2026 06:07:06 +0530

India’s External Affairs Ministry (MEA) on Friday, 16 October 2026, rejected criticism of the revision of the country’s electoral rolls by US Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, calling her remarks “unwarranted and uninformed”. Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal was responding to a question at the ministry’s regular media briefing, Hindustan Times reported.

Madras High Court clears RSS route marches in Tamil Nadu for 25 October and 1 November

Sat, 17 Oct 2026 00:06:07 +0530

The Madras High Court on Friday, 16 October 2026, allowed the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to hold route marches in Tamil Nadu on 25 October and 1 November, according to Hindustan Times and LiveLaw. Justice V. Lakshminarayanan disposed of the RSS’s petition after the Advocate General told the court that the state agreed to the marches, subject to modifications by local police.

ED summons former Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan for questioning on 23 October

Fri, 16 Oct 2026 21:06:18 +0530

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to appear at its zonal office in Kochi on 23 October 2026 in connection with the alleged Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL)-Exalogic payments, according to Hindustan Times and The Indian Express. The Indian Express reported that the summons came hours after the Supreme Court declined an urgent hearing on his plea against a Kerala High Court order for an FIR. Hindustan Times, citing officials familiar with the matter, said it is the first time the agency has summoned him in the case.

Delhi Police detain CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke ahead of Connaught Place Tiranga march

Fri, 16 Oct 2026 18:06:33 +0530

Delhi Police detained Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke on Friday, 16 October 2026, as he walked towards Connaught Place for a “Lehra Do Tiranga” event scheduled for 5 pm, Hindustan Times reported. Student leader Neha Bora was detained after she began a march from Mandi House, the newspaper said. We could not view a Delhi Police statement directly; the account below relies on Hindustan Times and The Indian Express.

Home Ministry–Ladakh talks end without breakthrough; next round set for 22 October

Fri, 16 Oct 2026 15:05:56 +0530

Talks between a sub-committee of the Union Home Ministry and representatives of Ladakh’s two main civil-society bodies ended on Thursday, 15 October 2026, without a breakthrough, according to Hindustan Times (carrying a PTI report) and The Indian Express. The two sides will meet again in New Delhi on 22 October.

Supreme Court may set up bench in Dussehra break to hear Pinarayi Vijayan's FIR plea

Fri, 16 Oct 2026 12:06:09 +0530

The Supreme Court on Friday, 16 October 2026, did not grant an urgent hearing to former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s plea against a Kerala High Court order directing that a First Information Report (FIR) be registered in the CMRL-Exalogic case, according to Hindustan Times and The Indian Express. A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi said it may constitute a bench during the Dussehra vacation, and otherwise hear the matter when the court reopens on 26 October.

Election Commission orders Special Summary Revision of electoral rolls in 17 states and UTs

Thu, 15 Oct 2026 21:06:40 +0530

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Thursday, 15 October 2026, ordered a Special Summary Revision (SSR) of electoral rolls in 17 states and Union Territories, with 1 January 2027 as the qualifying date, according to The Hindu, Hindustan Times and ETV Bharat. The ECI’s own letter was not available to us; this report relies on those three outlets, which agree on the details below.

Kerala High Court dismisses leave to appeal against FIR order in CMRL-Exalogic case

Thu, 15 Oct 2026 18:05:55 +0530

The Kerala High Court on Thursday, 15 October 2026, dismissed applications by former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, his daughter T. Veena and her husband, former minister P.A. Mohammed Riyas, seeking leave to appeal against a Single Judge’s direction to register a First Information Report (FIR) against them in the CMRL-Exalogic case, according to The Hindu, LiveLaw and The New Indian Express.

Supreme Court upholds quashing of Tamil Nadu order on quota for converts to Islam

Thu, 15 Oct 2026 15:06:00 +0530

The Supreme Court on Thursday, 15 October 2026, dismissed an appeal by the Tamil Nadu government against a Madras High Court ruling that struck down a State order on reservation for people who convert to Islam. A bench of Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and Shree Chandrashekhar held that a person who converts from the Hindu social order to a non-Hindu one cannot claim affirmative action under Article 16(4) of the Constitution merely on the basis of backwardness associated with the earlier status, according to Bar & Bench, The Hindu and The News Mill. The judgment text was not available to us; this report relies on those outlets’ accounts of it.

Supreme Court stays trial in defamation case against Rahul Gandhi over 2018 remarks

Tue, 13 Oct 2026 12:06:16 +0530

The Supreme Court on Tuesday, 13 October 2026, stayed the trial in a criminal defamation case against Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, which is pending before a Mumbai magistrate’s court. A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Aparesh Kumar Singh issued notice on his petition, returnable in four weeks. “In the meantime, further proceedings before the trial court shall remain stayed,” the order said, as quoted by LiveLaw. The order text itself was not available to us; this report relies on Bar & Bench, Hindustan Times and LiveLaw.

Karnataka High Court strikes down law raising SC and ST quotas beyond 50% ceiling

Tue, 13 Oct 2026 09:06:25 +0530

The Karnataka High Court on Monday, 12 October 2026, struck down provisions of a 2022 State law that had increased reservation for Scheduled Castes (SCs) from 15% to 17% and for Scheduled Tribes (STs) from 3% to 7%. A bench of Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice K S Hemalekha held that the increase, which took total reservation in the State to 56%, breached the 50% ceiling, according to Bar & Bench. The judgment text was not available to us; this report relies on that outlet’s and The Indian Express’s accounts.

President Murmu appoints new Governors for Keralam, Karnataka, Odisha, Sikkim and Uttarakhand

Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:06:20 +0530

President Droupadi Murmu on Monday, 12 October 2026, appointed Governors for six states, according to a Rashtrapati Bhavan communique reported by The Hindu and The Indian Express.

The appointments

Tamil Nadu: Rajendra Arlekar, who had held additional charge of Tamil Nadu alongside Keralam, becomes full-time Governor of Tamil Nadu.
Keralam: O.P. Mathur, until now Governor of Sikkim, is appointed Governor of Keralam in place of Mr Arlekar.
Karnataka: Sudha Yadav is appointed Governor, replacing Thawarchand Gahlot, according to The Hindu.
Odisha: Braj Mohan Ram (spelt “Brij Mohan Ram” by The Hindu) is appointed Governor.
Uttarakhand: Dhal Singh Bisen is appointed Governor.
Sikkim: Dushyant Gautam is appointed Governor.

Background of the appointees

According to The Hindu, Ms Yadav is a former Lok Sabha member from Mahendragarh, Haryana (1999–2004), and was a member of the BJP’s Parliamentary Board from August 2022 until the new team under party president Nitin Nabin took charge. Mr Ram was a Lok Sabha member for Palamau, Jharkhand, between 1996 and 2004. Mr Bisen is a former MP from Madhya Pradesh and has served as a minister in the state government. Mr Gautam is a former Rajya Sabha member and served as BJP general secretary under J.P. Nadda’s presidency. The Hindu reports that Mr Bisen succeeds Lt. Gen. (retd) Gurmeet Singh, whose five-year term in Uttarakhand ended in September.

INDIA bloc leaders file Supreme Court petition on SIR and Election Commission decisions

Mon, 12 Oct 2026 21:14:16 +0530

Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and ten other INDIA bloc leaders filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court on Monday, 12 October 2026, against the Election Commission of India (ECI) over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and how the Commission reached decisions during it. Hindustan Times reported that the plea was likely to be heard on Tuesday, 13 October.

Delhi Police de-notify Jantar Mantar as protest site, name three new venues

Mon, 12 Oct 2026 18:07:36 +0530

Delhi Police announced on Monday, 12 October 2026 that Jantar Mantar has been de-notified as a designated protest venue in the capital and that three other sites have been designated in its place. The Hindu, The New Indian Express and Hindustan Times reported the details of the order, which was signed by Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar and is dated 11 October.

Keralam Assembly passes resolution seeking removal of CEC Gyanesh Kumar; BJP opposes

Mon, 12 Oct 2026 15:06:46 +0530

The Keralam Legislative Assembly on Monday, 12 October 2026, passed a resolution seeking the removal of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, according to The Hindu and PTI. Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan moved it. Reports describe it as the first such resolution by a state Assembly.

Kerala vigilance bureau registers two FIRs in CMRL-Exalogic case naming Pinarayi Vijayan

Mon, 12 Oct 2026 12:08:14 +0530

Kerala’s Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) registered two first information reports (FIRs) on Monday, 12 October 2026, in the CMRL-Exalogic case, naming former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, his daughter T. Veena and former minister P.A. Mohammed Riyas as accused, according to The Hindu, The New Indian Express and The Federal. The FIRs are registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act. An FIR records allegations for investigation; it is not a finding of guilt, and those named have not been convicted of anything.

Maharashtra forms MPSC inquiry panel; aspirants end Pune protest, chairman goes on leave

Mon, 12 Oct 2026 09:06:13 +0530

Aspirants of the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) ended their agitation in Pune late on Sunday, 11 October 2026, after the Maharashtra government formed a committee to examine alleged irregularities, including paper leaks, in the recruitment body, The Hindu and Hindustan Times reported. MPSC Chairman Vivek Bhimanwar then announced that he had gone on leave until the inquiry is completed.

PM Modi and Tamil Nadu CM Vijay open Chennai Metro Phase II stretch, share stage

Sun, 11 Oct 2026 21:05:41 +0530

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay flagged off the first train on the Poonamallee Bypass-Vadapalani section of Chennai Metro Rail Phase II on Sunday, 11 October 2026, The Hindu and The Indian Express reported. The two later appeared together at a government function at IIT Madras, which The Indian Express described as the first time Mr Vijay had shared a dais with the Prime Minister at a major government event.

Supreme Court holds Sunday sitting, directs no detentions except by law in Delhi

Sun, 11 Oct 2026 18:06:26 +0530

The Supreme Court held an unscheduled Sunday sitting on 11 October 2026 and directed the Union government and Delhi Police to allow free movement of people and traffic and to run Metro and rail services, “subject to law and public order”, The Hindu reported. The bench of Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana was hearing petitions over the detentions and travel restrictions in Delhi on Saturday, 10 October, around a protest demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Nine killed in clashes across three Manipur hill districts as Chief Minister meets PM

Sun, 11 Oct 2026 09:06:20 +0530

At least nine people were killed in 24 hours of violence across three hill districts of Manipur that began on the night of Friday, 9 October 2026, according to officials cited by The Indian Express and Hindustan Times. Hindustan Times reported four deaths each in Kamjong and Kangpokpi districts and one in Ukhrul. The violence came as Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Saturday, 10 October.

Delhi Police detain hundreds as CJP protest against Chief Election Commissioner is blocked

Sat, 10 Oct 2026 15:05:57 +0530

Delhi Police detained about 500 people by midday on Saturday, 10 October 2026, as protesters tried to reach Jantar Mantar for a demonstration called by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and allied student and Left groups, The Hindu reported, citing officials. The protest seeks the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and a rollback of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. This report reflects accounts published up to about 3 pm IST and the situation was still changing.

Madhya Pradesh High Court strikes down 2019 law raising OBC quota to 27%

Sat, 10 Oct 2026 12:07:00 +0530

The Madhya Pradesh High Court on Friday, 9 October 2026, struck down a 2019 State law that had raised reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in public services from 14% to 27%. A Division Bench of Justices Anand Pathak and Vinay Saraf in Jabalpur held the amendment unconstitutional in a 159-page order, according to The Hindu and The Indian Express. The judgment text was not available to us; this report relies on those two outlets’ accounts of it.

Supreme Court says no complete Metro shutdown in Delhi ahead of 10 October protest

Sat, 10 Oct 2026 00:06:18 +0530

The Supreme Court on Friday, 9 October 2026, directed that Delhi Metro and railway services not be completely suspended ahead of a protest planned for Saturday, 10 October, against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. A bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana was hearing petitions against the closure of 57 Metro stations and the cancellation of long-distance trains to Delhi, Bar & Bench reported.

CAPF General Administration Act, 2026 takes effect with Supreme Court challenge pending

Fri, 09 Oct 2026 00:06:33 +0530

The Ministry of Home Affairs has notified that the Central Armed Police Forces (General Administration) Act, 2026 came into force on Thursday, 8 October 2026, The Hindu, ANI and PTI reported. The notification says the Central government “hereby appoints the 08th day of October, 2026, as the date on which the provisions of the said Act shall come into force”. It comes while the Act’s constitutional validity is under challenge in the Supreme Court.

GST Council removes officers' arrest powers, raises prosecution threshold to Rs 5 crore

Thu, 08 Oct 2026 18:06:42 +0530

The GST Council on Thursday, 8 October 2026, approved a package of process reforms that removes the power of Goods and Services Tax officers to arrest taxpayers and raises the threshold for prosecution from Rs 1 crore to Rs 5 crore, IANS, The Economic Times and NDTV Profit reported. The Council, chaired by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, left GST rates unchanged at its 57th meeting in New Delhi.

Supreme Court directs Centre to form committee on statutory regulation of pharma marketing

Thu, 08 Oct 2026 15:05:51 +0530

The Supreme Court on Thursday, 8 October 2026, directed the Union government to constitute a committee to examine whether pharmaceutical companies’ marketing practices should be brought under a legally enforceable framework, The Hindu, Verdictum and LiveLaw reported. The Bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta was hearing a petition by the Federation of Medical and Sales Representatives’ Associations of India (FMRAI).

CJI agrees to examine plea to recall split verdict in election commissioners law case

Thu, 08 Oct 2026 06:05:51 +0530

The Supreme Court on Wednesday, 7 October 2026, agreed to examine an application seeking recall of its 23 September split verdict in the challenge to the law on appointing election commissioners, The Hindu, Scroll.in and ThePrint reported. Senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan mentioned the application orally before Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, who agreed to examine it and take a call on hearing it.

Supreme Court declines to disturb interim bail of Congress's Nandigram bypoll candidate

Thu, 08 Oct 2026 00:05:46 +0530

The Supreme Court on Wednesday, 7 October 2026, refused to interfere with a Calcutta High Court order granting interim bail to Milan Pradhan, the Congress candidate in the Nandigram Assembly bypoll, The Hindu, NDTV and Deccan Herald (the last two carrying PTI reports) said. The Bench, headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, disposed of the State of West Bengal’s challenge to the bail order.

FIR filed against Rahul, Priyanka Gandhi after INDIA bloc march on Election Commission

Wed, 07 Oct 2026 18:38:27 +0530

Delhi Police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) against Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra over a sit-in at Akashvani Bhawan in central Delhi on 6 October 2026, The Indian Express and The Hindu reported on 7 October. The FIR followed an INDIA bloc march towards the Election Commission of India (ECI) that was stopped by police.

How a Bill becomes law in India's Parliament

Mon, 28 Sep 2026 23:00:00 +0530

Every central law in India — from a one-line amendment to a new criminal code — travels the same basic route through Parliament. Here is that route, step by step.

1. Introduction (first reading)

A Bill can be introduced in either House, except a Money Bill, which can only begin in the Lok Sabha. A Bill introduced by a minister is a government Bill; one introduced by any other member is a private member’s Bill. At introduction the House only grants leave to introduce it; there is normally no debate on its merits. The Bill is then published in the Gazette.

What the Model Code of Conduct is, and when it applies

Mon, 28 Sep 2026 22:55:00 +0530

When the Election Commission of India announces the dates of a Lok Sabha or Assembly election, one thing changes immediately: the Model Code of Conduct comes into force.

What it is

The code is a set of guidelines for political parties, candidates and governments that aims to keep campaigns fair and to stop those in office from using their position to gain an electoral advantage. Its origins go back to a set of guidelines agreed for the 1960 Kerala Assembly election, and the ECI has expanded it over the decades.

The anti-defection law, explained

Mon, 28 Sep 2026 22:50:00 +0530

In 1967, a Haryana legislator named Gaya Lal changed parties several times within a short span, giving Indian politics the phrase “Aaya Ram, Gaya Ram”. Nearly two decades later, Parliament responded with the anti-defection law.

What the law says

The Tenth Schedule of the Constitution, inserted by the 52nd Amendment Act, 1985, applies to members of Parliament and of state legislatures. A member elected on a party ticket can be disqualified if they:

How the President of India is elected

Mon, 28 Sep 2026 22:45:00 +0530

The President of India is not elected directly by voters. Instead, the Constitution sets up an electoral college — and gives its members’ votes different weights.