Karnataka Taluk Panchayat Development Officer Praveen Kumar KP was suspended after attending the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) centenary celebrations in Lingasugur on October 12, wearing the RSS uniform and marching in a procession. The action was taken under the Karnataka Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 2021, which require political neutrality from government employees. The suspension was issued by the Panchayat Raj Department following an inquiry. The BJP condemned the move as “illegal and unlawful,” citing court rulings that allow government servants to participate in RSS programs, and pledged legal support for Kumar to challenge the suspension. (PC: India Today)    

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced that the government's recent Goods and Services Tax (GST) rate reductions have led to greater-than-expected price drops on 54 daily-use items, benefiting consumers nationwide. Implemented on September 22, the new two-tier GST structure of 5% and 18% replaced the previous 5%, 12%, 18%, and 28% slabs, impacting approximately 375 products, including household goods and vehicles. Sitharaman highlighted increased consumer purchases and sustained demand, especially in sectors like automobiles and consumer electronics. The government is actively monitoring prices and addressing consumer complaints to ensure continued benefits.    

Delhi High Court ruled Friday that alimony "is not automatic" and cannot be granted to financially self-sufficient spouses without proven financial hardship. The case involved a Group 'A' Indian Railways Traffic Service officer seeking permanent alimony from her advocate husband after divorce. Married in 2010, they lived together only one year before the marriage was dissolved in August 2023 on cruelty grounds. The division bench emphasized Section 25 of Hindu Marriage Act aims to secure financial justice, preventing destitution, not enrichment or equalizing capable individuals' finances. The court found her senior government position, substantial income, and no dependents established full self-maintenance capability.

A major fire erupted on Saturday at the upper floors of the Brahmaputra Apartments — a multistorey residential complex near Parliament on B.R. Marg in Delhi that houses several Members of Parliament. Smoke and flames caused panic among residents as multiple fire‐tenders rushed to the scene to control the blaze. Although details about casualties or the fire’s cause are still emerging, officials confirmed that the building was safely evacuated and emergency services are working to bring the situation under control.     

India will “very soon” impose specific regulations to combat deepfakes and misuse of AI, IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced at the NDTV World Summit 2025 in Delhi. He emphasised that merely passing a law will not suffice — the country’s approach will combine legal measures with technical solutions to detect and deter deepfake threats. India’s strategy differs from the EU’s by prioritising innovation alongside societal protection, with efforts already underway at institutions like Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur to develop deepfake-detection tech exceeding 90 % accuracy. (PC: NDTV)  

Just days before Diwali, Delhi’s air quality has plunged to the “very poor” category, with an overall AQI of 254. Pollution hotspots such as Anand Vihar (384), Wazirpur (359), Jahangirpuri (307), Bawana (307), and Siri Fort (303) recorded dangerously high levels. Experts attribute the spike to stubble burning, vehicular emissions, and pre-festive firecracker use. Authorities have deployed anti-smog guns and water sprinklers to curb dust pollution. Health officials have warned of severe respiratory risks, particularly for children, the elderly, and those with asthma or heart conditions. (PC: PTI)

In a major success for anti-insurgency operations, 210 Maoists, including several senior commanders and 111 women cadres, surrendered before security forces in Jagdalpur, Bastar on October 17, 2025. They handed over 153 weapons, marking one of the largest mass surrenders in the state’s history. Officials credited the move to the government’s revised rehabilitation and outreach policy, which encourages reintegration into society. Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Chhattisgarh’s DGP hailed the surrender as a turning point in restoring peace across the Bastar and Abujhmad regions, long considered Maoist strongholds. (PC: The Hindu)  

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday that 303 Maoists surrendered in the past 75 hours, calling it a major step toward ending terrorism in India. Speaking at the NDTV World Summit, he said his government’s efforts had reduced Maoist-affected districts from 125 to just 11 in ten years. Modi said the surrender shows that “wayward youth” are returning to the mainstream. He accused past governments of hiding Maoist violence and praised Bastar’s progress, saying, “Now they can celebrate Diwali peacefully.” Modi ended by saying a “Maoist-free India” is part of his “Modi Guarantee.” (PC: NDTV)

Delhi witnessed massive traffic jams on Friday evening as people rushed for Diwali shopping. Major intersections like Moolchand, ITO, Chanakyapuri and Teen Murti Marg saw long queues of vehicles. Heavy congestion was also reported on the Delhi-Gurugram route and near Okhla and IFFCO Chowk. The Delhi Traffic Police issued an advisory urging people to avoid peak-hour travel and use navigation apps for updates. Officials said ongoing road repair work has worsened delays. To handle the rush, police have cancelled all traffic personnel’s leaves and deployed extra staff across the city to manage movement and prevent bottlenecks.

Three male students were arrested in Madhya Pradesh for secretly filming women while they were changing clothes during a youth festival at Bhanpura Government College in Mandsaur district. Police said CCTV footage showed the accused peeping through a window and taking videos. The men, aged between 20 and 22, are members of the ABVP, the student wing of the RSS. One suspect is still missing. Their phones have been seized for forensic tests. The college principal filed a complaint after noticing suspicious activity. The ABVP has removed one accused from his post. Police are continuing the investigation. (PC: NDTV)