Delhi’s plan to create artificial rain to reduce pollution remains delayed even after the post-Diwali air quality spike. Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said the India Meteorological Department found no suitable clouds yet for the cloud seeding trial. The project, led by IIT Kanpur, has all permissions and funds cleared, and an aircraft is ready in Meerut. The trial will begin once the weather allows. Approved by 23 departments, the experiment has faced repeated delays since July due to monsoon changes and shifting weather. Officials say it will start immediately when suitable clouds appear. (PC: HT)

President Droupadi Murmu made history by becoming the first woman President of India to offer prayers at the Lord Ayyappa temple in Sabarimala. She is only the second President to visit the shrine, after VV Giri in the 1970s. The visit comes years after the 2018 Supreme Court ruling that allowed women of all ages to enter the temple. Dressed in a black saree, President Murmu carried the sacred ‘irumudi’ and climbed the 18 holy steps to the sanctum. Her visit was part of a four-day tour of Kerala and was praised by leaders for its faith and symbolism. (PC: India Today)

A Muslim family has captured hearts nationwide by celebrating Diwali on a local street with their children, lighting diyas and sparklers in pure joy. Shared by Times Now, the video showcases the family’s infectious happiness and their embrace of the Festival of Lights, demonstrating love, inclusivity, and cultural harmony beyond religious boundaries. Neighbors and online viewers alike have applauded their beautiful gesture, praising it as a symbol of unity, togetherness, and positivity. This celebration reminds everyone that the spirit of Diwali—light over darkness, hope over despair, and community over division—belongs to all. A truly uplifting moment!

The Karnataka Police Special Investigation Team (SIT) has uncovered a voter deletion scam in the Aland constituency, revealing that data centre operators were paid ₹80 per fraudulent voter deletion application submitted to the Election Commission ahead of the 2023 Karnataka Assembly elections. A total of 6,018 such applications were made between December 2022 and February 2023, amounting to ₹4.8 lakh in payments. The SIT's investigation has identified a data centre operated by Mohammed Ashfaq and Md Akram in Kalaburagi, with links to BJP leader Subhash Guttedar, who lost the 2023 election in Aland to Congress's B R Patil. 

On October 22, 2025, during President Droupadi Murmu's official visit to Kerala, her helicopter experienced a mishap upon landing at the newly constructed helipad at Pramadam Stadium in Pathanamthitta. The helipad, completed just hours before the landing, had not fully set, causing the tarmac to sink under the helicopter's weight. Emergency personnel swiftly responded, manually moving the aircraft to a safe area. Despite the scare, no injuries occurred, and the President proceeded with her scheduled visit to the Sabarimala temple. The incident has raised concerns about the readiness of infrastructure for high-profile events.

An IndiGo flight from Kolkata to Srinagar made an emergency landing at Varanasi’s Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport after the pilot detected a suspected fuel leak mid-air on Tuesday. The crew immediately alerted air traffic control and diverted the aircraft as a precautionary measure. Fire and rescue teams were deployed on standby at the airport. All passengers and crew were safely evacuated after landing, with no injuries reported. IndiGo confirmed the incident and said safety checks were underway. The airline is cooperating with aviation authorities to investigate the cause of the leak and ensure aircraft safety compliance.  

Three people were arrested for allegedly assaulting a woman doctor at Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay Government Medical College in Uluberia, West Bengal. The accused, relatives of a patient, reportedly attacked the doctor during an argument and threatened her with rape. One of them works as a Home Guard. The doctor filed a police complaint, leading to the arrests of Sheikh Samrat, Sheikh Babulal, and Sheikh Hasibul. The Joint Forum of Doctors raised concerns about doctors’ safety. Opposition BJP criticized the Trinamool government, saying women are unsafe in Bengal. Trinamool called the incident “condemnable” and noted that the accused have been arrested. (PC: NDTV)

In a startling murder investigation in Panchkula, Haryana, the son of former Punjab DGP Mohammad Mustafa, 35-year-old Aqil Akhtar, was found dead at his Mansa Devi Complex residence. The FIR alleges Aqil discovered an illicit affair between his father and his wife, and that his mother and sister were conspiring against him. Mustafa refutes the claims, labeling his son a chronic drug addict who had been to rehab several times, and dismisses the FIR as politicised. A five-member special investigation team (SIT) has been formed to probe the case thoroughly and impartially. (PC: HT Times)

On October 22, 2025, Olympic gold medallist Neeraj Chopra was formally awarded the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Territorial Army of India during a ceremonial “pipping” event in New Delhi. The ceremony, attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Chief of Army Staff Upendra Dwivedi, recognised Chopra’s exceptional achievements in athletics and his service with the Army’s Rajputana Rifles since 2016. The appointment took effect on April 16, 2025, and is a symbolic honour underscoring the bond between India’s armed forces and its elite sportsmen. (PC: PTI)

In Bengal’s Nadia district, thousands gathered in Shantipur to witness the centuries-old Bama Kali Bhasan. The 15-foot idol of Goddess Bama Kali was carried by devotees who made her “dance” to the beats of drums, chants, and glowing torches before immersion. The tradition, believed to be over 500 years old, is one of Bengal’s oldest Kali Puja rituals. Locals say the goddess’s dance shows divine energy and devotion. Videos of the event went viral, with many calling it a moving display of faith and heritage. The ritual is held every year a day after Kali Puja.