Nearly 11 lakh names were deleted from Delhi’s electoral rolls between January 2025 and June 2026, before the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) began. Some voters said they were unaware that their names had been removed.   The Delhi Chief Electoral Officer’s office said the deletions may have happened during routine voter list revisions or due to errors by Booth Level Officers.   Officials said affected voters can apply again using Form 6. Claims and objections can be submitted until September 30. The final electoral roll is scheduled to be published on November 4, 2026.  

The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) has called for Muslims to be barred from garba and dandiya events during Navratri in Maharashtra. The group has asked organisers to check Aadhaar cards and apply tilak to identify Hindu participants.   VHP spokesperson Shriraj Nair said Navratri is a religious festival centred on worship of the Goddess. He questioned why people who do not follow idol worship should take part.   The announcement comes a month before Navratri begins on October 11. The VHP said the measures were precautionary and not aimed at targeting any community.  

Thousands of ISRO employees have written to chairman V Narayanan, seeking clarity on the government’s plans to expand private participation in India’s space sector. Nine employee associations raised concerns about the possible transfer of launch vehicle and satellite production to private companies and PSUs.   The employees fear that reduced in-house work could affect jobs, promotions and future recruitment. They said ISRO’s role in designing, testing and launching major rockets must remain protected.   The associations said they support private participation but want a clear government policy. They have asked whether recent remarks by IN-SPACe chairman Pawan Kumar Goenka represent official government policy.  

Nine people have died in the Bunda area of Madhya Pradesh’s Sagar district after allegedly consuming spurious liquor on Saturday night. The victims, residents of different villages, reportedly fell ill after drinking the suspected poisonous alcohol. As several people’s conditions deteriorated, the local administration was alerted, prompting officials and emergency teams to reach the affected area. Those who became ill were taken for medical treatment, while authorities began gathering details about the incident. The exact cause of the deaths is yet to be officially confirmed. Officials are expected to investigate the liquor’s source and distribution network as the case develops. 

The Census 2027 population enumeration will be conducted earlier in Goa, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and non-snow-bound areas of Uttarakhand from December 1, 2026, to January 4, 2027, ahead of assembly elections. A gazette notification issued by the Registrar General of India said self-enumeration will be available from November 16 to 30. A revisional round will follow from January 5 to 9, with January 5, 2027, as the reference date for these states. The assemblies of Goa, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand are due to end by May 2027. Census enumeration elsewhere will use March 1, 2027, as the reference date.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday defended India’s latest 7.8% GDP growth, saying critics who once viewed the country as part of the “Fragile Five” were finding the strong numbers difficult to accept. Speaking at the centenary celebrations of Shri Ram College of Commerce in New Delhi, Modi said the April-June growth showed India’s economic resilience despite the West Asia conflict and global trade disruptions. Referring to his 2013 SRCC speech, he revived his “half-empty glass” analogy, accusing critics of remaining pessimistic. Modi also highlighted financial inclusion, manufacturing and rising mobile-phone exports as signs of India’s economic progress. (PC: India Today)

Security forces in Jammu and Kashmir have identified the terrorist neutralised during Operation Ashdar in Budgam as Yasir, a Pakistani national affiliated with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). The operation marks a significant success for security forces in their efforts against terrorism in the region. J&K Police confirmed Yasir’s identity following the operation and said he was associated with the Pakistan-based terror outfit. His neutralisation was described as a major blow to terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir. The operation took place in Budgam, where security forces conducted the action against the terrorist. Officials did not provide further details about the operation. (PC: X)

Authorities in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, demolished a mosque located within the district Collectorate complex early Saturday under heavy security. The action followed a July order by the City Magistrate declaring the structure an illegal occupation of government land and directing its removal. On September 2, the district court dismissed a challenge by the mosque’s custodian and upheld the earlier order. The July ruling also imposed compensation of more than ₹6.41 crore. The demolition has triggered political controversy, with opposition leaders questioning the action and alleging restrictions on their movement. Authorities maintain the demolition followed the judicial process. (PC: X)

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau’s preliminary report on an August 4 Air India Phuket–Delhi flight has raised fresh questions about a serious in-flight incident. The Airbus A320neo, cruising at 36,000 feet, temporarily lost pressure in all three hydraulic systems within seconds, causing the autopilot to disconnect, a stall warning and a sudden altitude drop. The systems recovered shortly afterward, but 24 passengers and crew members were injured. Experts have questioned why the three hydraulic systems failed almost simultaneously, what triggered the violent altitude changes, and why the crew continued toward Delhi instead of diverting to a nearer airport. The investigation continues. 

Supreme Court Justice Ujjal Bhuyan has strongly criticised the alleged police assault on students and other protesters during a demonstration at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar. Describing the incident as “very, very distressing,” the judge said he was dismayed to see police personnel allegedly using force against protesters. The remarks came amid a wider controversy surrounding the CJP protest and allegations of police excesses. The incident has triggered concerns over the handling of peaceful demonstrations and police conduct. The developments have also intensified scrutiny of the authorities as legal and political attention remains focused on the Jantar Mantar protest row. (PC: AFP)