The National Green Tribunal has dismissed petitions against the Rs 80,000 crore Great Nicobar mega infrastructure project and allowed it to move forward. A six-member bench said it found “no good ground to interfere” with the environmental clearance. The tribunal noted there were “adequate safeguards” in the approval conditions. It also highlighted the “strategic importance of the project.” The bench directed authorities to ensure “full and strict compliance” with all clearance conditions. The project includes a transhipment port, airport, township and power plant. Some activists had raised concerns about forest diversion and coastal regulation violations. (PC: The Indian Express)

The Supreme Court made strong oral remarks on pre-marital physical relations while hearing a bail plea in a rape case linked to a promise of marriage. The bench said caution is needed before such relationships. Justice BV Nagarathna said, “Maybe we are old-fashioned but… we fail to understand how they can be in a physical relationship before marriage.” The case involves a man accused of promising marriage despite already being married. The woman said they met on a matrimonial site and later travelled together. The court noted it appeared to be a consensual relationship and referred the matter to mediation. Hearing will continue Wednesday. (PC: NDTV)

India will host the AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi from Monday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the event at Bharat Mandapam. The summit will bring global tech leaders, startups and policymakers together.   Day one will focus on AI for road safety, learning, jobs and judicial reforms. Experts will discuss how AI can reduce accidents, improve skills and speed up court cases.   A special session will highlight AI in agriculture and climate resilience.   The Expo will feature over 300 pavilions and 600 startups. The theme is “Sarvajana Hitaya, Sarvajana Sukhaya.”

At least seven workers were killed in a fire at a chemical factory in Bhiwadi, Rajasthan, on Monday. The incident happened in the Khushkhera-Karoli industrial area.   Officials said nine workers were trapped inside the unit. So far, seven bodies have been recovered. Two workers are still trapped. Rescue teams are working at the site.   Additional District Magistrate Sumita Mishra said police noticed the fire during a routine patrol. They quickly launched a rescue operation.   Authorities are investigating the cause of the fire. More details are awaited. (PC: UnSplash)

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said India is now the company’s second-largest market after the US. Over 100 million people in India use ChatGPT every week. India is also the biggest market in Asia.   Altman said India has the largest number of student users globally. Many students use ChatGPT for homework, coding and exam preparation.   OpenAI has around 800 million weekly users worldwide. The company introduced a low-cost ChatGPT plan in India and later made it free for a year.   Google is also expanding Gemini in India through student offers and telecom partnerships.

7 people died in a road accident near Bengaluru early Thursday morning. Police said a speeding SUV hit a motorcycle from behind. The rider died on the spot. The SUV then crashed into a divider, overturned and hit a truck. Another car later rammed into the damaged truck, causing a pile-up. All six people inside the SUV died. Police suspect overspeeding caused the crash. The victims were from Bengaluru and were travelling towards Devanahalli. The motorcycle rider was the only earning member of his family. A case has been registered and investigation is ongoing. 

Security agencies have uncovered a large hawala network in Jammu and Kashmir and frozen over 8,000 mule accounts in three years. Officials say these accounts were used to move illegal money linked to cyber fraud and possible anti-national activities. Investigators believe international syndicates may be involved. Mule accounts help criminals shift stolen funds into cryptocurrency. Police are working with banks to stop more accounts from opening. Many people gave access to their accounts for small commissions. Officials said even if they did not plan the scams, they helped launder money. Authorities have also restricted VPN use in the region.

Imran Khan’s party has raised concern over reports that the former Pakistan prime minister could be moved from jail for medical treatment without family involvement. In a statement, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf said any such step done secretly would put his life at risk. The party called it a “blatant violation” of legal and human rights rules. PTI said medical checks must take place with his personal doctors and at least one family member present. Khan is currently held at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has said a later transfer to a new jail with medical facilities is planned. (PC: X)

The Union minister of state for civil aviation has rejected a foreign media report that suggested an intentional pilot act caused the Air India crash in Ahmedabad. Minister Murlidhar Mohol said the investigation is still ongoing and no final findings are ready. “Our investigation agencies are probing the matter. Should we have faith in our own agencies or outsiders?” he said. He added that comments are not justified until the final report is completed. An Italian newspaper had claimed a pilot may have shut fuel controls. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau called such reports “incorrect and speculative” and said the probe is not finished. (PC: HT)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a historic landing on Northeast's first Emergency Landing Facility (ELF) on a national highway in Assam's Dibrugarh district Saturday. His Indian Air Force C-130J aircraft touched down on the 4.2-kilometer specially constructed stretch on Moran Bypass, built at Rs 100 crore. The dual-use infrastructure can handle fighter aircraft up to 40 tonnes and transport aircraft up to 74 tonnes maximum take-off weight. Following the landing, Modi witnessed a 20-minute aerial display featuring fighter jets, transport aircraft, and helicopters. He later traveled to Guwahati to inaugurate the Rs 3,000-crore Kumar Bhaskar Varma Setu bridge over Brahmaputra river, connecting Guwahati with North Guwahati.