National Security Adviser Ajit Doval has recalled an early mission in Sikkim that he thought had ended his career. Speaking at the IIT Roorkee convocation on Saturday, Doval said he was in his 20s and in charge of intelligence in Sikkim when he sent a team near the China border. They were due back in eight days, but nothing was heard for 15. The team was caught and questioned by the Chinese army before being released.   An inquiry cleared Doval because the maps from headquarters had errors. A Tibetan Sherpa's advice helped him: know where you are, where you want to go, and the route. (PC: India Today)

Independent candidate Deepanshu Shokeen has won the vice-president post in the Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU) election 2026, defeating candidates backed by ABVP and NSUI.   Shokeen secured 30,615 votes and beat ABVP's Ishu Maurya, who got 16,910, by 13,705 votes. NSUI's Vir Chatrath received 4,313 votes.   A student of Buddhist Studies at DU, Shokeen comes from Peeragarhi village in Delhi. His father is a bus conductor and his mother an anganwadi worker. He had sought an NSUI ticket but was asked to withdraw his nomination. He refused and contested independently, campaigning on student safety and accommodation. He now holds one of DUSU's four key posts. (PC: India Today)

The Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) Election 2026 results were declared on September 19 after 20 rounds of counting. ABVP won three of the four central posts—President, Secretary and Joint Secretary. Yash Dabas secured the President post with 24,576 votes, defeating NSUI’s Vijay Shankar Meena, who received 22,523 votes. Riya Chhawdi won Secretary with 21,650 votes, while Lakshya Raj Singh became Joint Secretary with 16,615 votes. Independent candidate Deepanshu Shokeen, a former NSUI member, won the Vice-President post with 30,615 votes, defeating ABVP’s Ishu Maurya. The Delhi High Court had barred victory processions following the results. (PC: X)

Tamil Nadu is considering adding non-vegetarian options, including chicken biryani, to its school meal programme. School Education Minister A. Rajmohan said a special committee has been formed to explore more diverse and appealing menus. He questioned why schoolchildren should not receive chicken biryani when it is served to prisoners. However, the proposal would require a pilot project and rigorous testing to ensure hygiene and food-safety standards. The expanded Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Breakfast Scheme is set to cover classes 6–8 from September 22, benefiting about 15.3 lakh additional students. The government has allocated ₹217.63 crore for the expansion. (PC: PTI)

A second-year BTech student of IIT Bombay died by suicide on September 18 after being found using a mobile phone during an examination. According to IIT Bombay, the student had uploaded the examination question paper to ChatGPT to seek answers. The institute said no disciplinary action had been initiated and that the instructor and Head of Department counselled him, assuring him that the incident would not affect his academic career. He later returned to his hostel room, where he was found dead. Police are investigating the circumstances. The incident triggered a student protest and marks the third reported campus suicide in seven months.

The Supreme Court on September 18 indicated that Justices P.S. Narasimha and Alok Aradhe would inspect the National Testing Agency’s newly upgraded office at Minto Road, New Delhi, amid concerns over NEET-UG paper leaks. The bench said temporary measures would not be sufficient and stressed the need for permanent systems, staff and institutional structures to protect examination integrity. The court also directed a Union Education Ministry joint secretary associated with the Nandan Nilekani-led task force to submit an affidavit within two weeks detailing reforms and their implementation. The Nilekani panel is expected to submit an interim report by the end of September. (PC: X)

A second-year undergraduate student of Energy Science and Engineering at IIT Bombay allegedly died by suicide on Friday, September 18, making it the third reported student death on the Powai campus this year. According to student accounts, the incident followed an examination in which the student was allegedly caught using another student’s answer sheet and was told he could face disciplinary action. IIT Bombay disputed this account, stating that he was found using a mobile phone and had uploaded the question paper to ChatGPT for answers. The institute said no disciplinary action had begun and that the student had been counselled. (PC: HT)

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested Sukriti Foods promoter Kailash Chand Mangla in connection with the alleged adulteration of ghee supplied to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) for Tirupati Laddu prasadam. Mangla was arrested on September 17 and later sent to judicial custody by a special PMLA court in Visakhapatnam. According to the ED, the allegedly adulterated ghee was made using refined palm oil, palm kernel oil, palmolein and chemicals, and supplied as Agmark Special Grade cow ghee. The agency estimates alleged fraudulent supplies to TTD during 2019–2024 at ₹230 crore, including ₹96 crore allegedly manufactured by Mangla. (PC: India Today)

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay will launch the Thaimaaman Thanga Mothiram Thittam, or Maternal Uncle Gold Ring Scheme, on September 28, 2026. The one-gram gold ring programme is a key pre-poll promise of the ruling TVK. Babies born in government hospitals between June 22, Vijay’s birthday, and the launch date will also qualify. The TVK government has procured 1.28 lakh gold rings for the first installment, with rings distributed to babies born in state-run hospitals. The state government announced the scheme on Friday. The chief minister is scheduled to launch it on September 28. The article provides no further details about the distribution process or eligibility beyond these conditions.

Maharashtra’s Food and Drug Administration suspended the licence of Olympia Coffee House, a 108-year-old Irani cafe in Colaba, after a September 16 inspection triggered by a customer complaint found hygiene violations. Inspectors reportedly found a urinal inside the food storage area, meat and blood residues in a refrigerator, cockroach and fly infestation, improper segregation of vegetarian and non-vegetarian items, food handled directly on the floor, and unclean preparation water. Chopping boards and missing protective clothing among staff were also noted. Under Section 32(3) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, the cafe must stop food-related operations until deficiencies are fixed and clears re-inspection. Hollywood stars visited two months earlier.