The Supreme Court on Tuesday stayed the criminal defamation trial against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his 2018 “Commander-in-Thief” remark against Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the Rafale fighter jet deal controversy. A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Aparesh Kumar Singh issued notice on Gandhi’s plea and sought a response within 4 weeks. Gandhi had challenged a September 8 Bombay High Court order that refused to quash the case. The complaint was filed by BJP worker Mahesh Shrishrimal, who alleged that Gandhi’s remarks harmed Modi’s reputation. The trial will remain on hold pending further proceedings. (PC: India Today)

A 19-year-old man has been arrested after his speeding Mini Cooper rammed into a scooter near Nedumbassery in Kerala’s Ernakulam district, killing 3 young people. Police identified the accused as Suhail Sajeev and registered a case of culpable homicide. The victims, Devika, 21, Gopika, 22, and Ijaz, 21, died after the crash early on Sunday near Kochi airport. An old social media video, reportedly linked to the accused, shows the car reaching 220 kmph. Police are examining the footage and investigating whether the driver was under the influence of alcohol. 

National Security Adviser Ajit Doval held a phone conversation with Iranian security chief Mohsen Rezaei on Monday to discuss regional developments and bilateral relations, according to Iran’s embassy. The call came as hostilities in West Asia continued to affect shipping and Indian nationals in the region.   The discussion covered the latest regional and international developments and issues of mutual interest. However, India did not issue an official readout of the conversation.   The call followed attacks on merchant vessels near the Strait of Hormuz, with 2 Indian seafarers reported missing after a drone attack on the MT Petrol Dolphin. India has called for dialogue and diplomacy to resolve the conflict. (PC: HT)

India and the United Kingdom aim to double bilateral trade to $120 billion by 2030, building on their free trade agreement (FTA). Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and UK Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds announced the shared ambition during the 16th Joint Economic and Trade Committee meeting in New Delhi on Monday. Current bilateral trade stands at around $60.56 billion, covering goods and services. Both countries plan to address trade barriers, strengthen business partnerships and expand investment opportunities. Goyal also met visiting UK mayors to discuss regional cooperation in trade, investment and innovation. (PC: NDTV)

Four Pakistani terrorists, including senior Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander Muhammad Faizan, were killed in a landmine blast while allegedly attempting to enter India through the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district on Monday, October 12. According to officials, the explosion occurred in the Satwal-Naki area of the Krishna Ghati sector. The other deceased were identified as Muhammad Ishtiaq, Muhammad Waqas and Muhammad Asim, all residents of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Security forces subsequently heightened surveillance along the LoC. Officials said the exact circumstances leading to the explosion are yet to be established. (PC: NDTV)

Senior IAS officer Tukaram Mundhe has been appointed secretary of a committee investigating alleged paper leaks and irregularities in Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) examinations. The development follows an 11-day protest by aspirants in Pune demanding accountability and reforms. The five-member panel will be headed by retired judge Dilip Bhosale and is expected to submit its report within 60 days. MPSC chairman Vivek Bhimanwar has decided to go on leave until the inquiry is completed. The state government has also agreed to withdraw cases against protesters and double the number of Group C posts planned for recruitment through the 2027 examination. (PC: The Times of India)

Punjab’s final electoral roll, released on October 12, lists 2,01,00,727 eligible voters after the Special Intensive Revision (SIR). The state recorded a decline of over 13.6 lakh electors, or 6.33%, from the 2,14,61,043 voters registered before the revision began. Chief Electoral Officer Anindita Mitra said 7,97,263 new voters were added to the final list. The number of electors increased from 1.93 crore in the draft roll published in August. The revision involved checking records for deaths, migration, absent voters and duplicate entries ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly election. (PC: NDTV)

India’s retail inflation rose to 5.54% in September 2026 from 4.83% in August, driven by rising food prices, according to data released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation on October 12. Food inflation increased to 7.74% from 5.97% in the previous month. Onion prices recorded the sharpest rise, with inflation reaching 108.09%, while ginger, garlic and lemons also became costlier. Rural retail inflation stood at 6.08%, compared with 4.88% in urban areas. However, potato and tomato prices declined by 11.50% and 8.62%, respectively, offering some relief to consumers. (PC: Business Today)

Bollywood actor Vijay Varma took a sarcastic dig at Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar amid protests demanding his resignation. Varma shared an edited image of Kumar on Instagram with the tagline “Saving Private Gyan”. He also mocked efforts to protect the poll body chief. Actor Huma Qureshi backed the protesters, saying peaceful protests and demands for accountability were democratic rights. Singer Suchitra Krishnamoorthi criticised police action against demonstrators in Mumbai and Delhi. Actor Sunny Hinduja also shared a poem highlighting the importance of speaking up against injustice. The protests concern alleged irregularities in electoral rolls.  

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke criticised Delhi Police for removing Jantar Mantar as a designated protest site. Reacting to the decision on Monday, he said, “Ab poora desh Jantar Mantar banega!” He also claimed the site had been turned into a “war zone”. Delhi Police has named three alternative venues for protests: Ramlila Ground, Burari Ground and CBD Ground in Shahdara. The decision follows months of youth-led demonstrations organised by the CJP. Recent protests have focused on alleged examination irregularities and claims of voter roll manipulation linked to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR).