The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) is preparing for its October 10 protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The demonstration is backed by student organisations and other groups raising concerns over alleged irregularities in electoral roll revisions and voter deletions. Delhi authorities have intensified security arrangements, deploying thousands of police and paramilitary personnel. Reports indicate that the protest has not received official permission, with prohibitory orders in force. The planned demonstration adds to growing opposition-led protests demanding accountability and transparency in the Election Commission’s functioning. (PC: Times Now)

Congress MP Jairam Ramesh criticised the Modi government after the United States suspended Green Card-related labour certification applications involving several major technology companies, including TCS, Infosys, Wipro, HCLTech and Cognizant. Calling the development proof that “appeasement of bullies never pays,” Ramesh alleged that the government’s approach towards US President Donald Trump had failed to protect Indian professionals. He also cited UPI merchant discount rate charges as a policy benefiting American companies. Ramesh argued that India could respond using existing laws, including the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023. The US cited ongoing federal investigations behind the suspension. (PC: X)

The 57th GST Council meeting has approved major changes aimed at making GST enforcement less punitive for taxpayers. The Council decided to remove arrest powers of GST officers and raise the threshold for launching prosecution from ₹1 crore to ₹5 crore. It also removed the mandatory minimum punishment, leaving decisions on fines or imprisonment to judicial discretion. The general penalty where no specific penalty applies has been reduced from ₹25,000 to ₹10,000. The Council also recommended that GST notices below ₹10,000 should not be issued and existing ones below that amount withdrawn. The reforms are intended to improve ease of doing business. (PC: ANI)

Indian equity markets suffered another sharp decline on October 8, with the Nifty 50 falling 1.64% to 22,231.80 after touching a fresh 52-week low of 22,179.90. The Sensex dropped 1,045.46 points to 71,593.24. BSE-listed companies lost around ₹12.64 lakh crore in market capitalisation over two sessions, amid elevated crude oil prices, high US bond yields and continued foreign investor selling. Metal, realty and energy stocks faced heavy pressure, while midcap and smallcap indices fell more than 2%. The RBI’s recent rate hike and geopolitical concerns further weakened investor sentiment. (PC: BT)

The Delhi government has ordered all liquor shops in the national capital to remain closed on October 9 and 10 as a preventive measure to maintain public order. The Excise Department issued the order based on inputs from Delhi Police, amid ongoing protests demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over allegations concerning electoral processes. The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has also announced a protest at Jantar Mantar on October 10, although authorities have not granted permission for the gathering. More than 20,000 police and paramilitary personnel are being deployed across Delhi ahead of the anticipated protest. (PC: HT)

Indian households’ inflation expectations have risen sharply, reflecting growing concerns about the cost of living. According to the RBI’s September 2026 Inflation Expectations Survey, median inflation expectations for the next year increased to 10%, up from 9.4% in July. Expectations for the next three months also climbed to 9.9%, compared with 9.2% previously. The survey, conducted among 5,987 respondents across 19 cities, found food prices to be a major concern. The findings come shortly after the RBI raised its repo rate by 25 basis points to 5.50% to address persistent inflationary pressures. 

Veteran actor Nana Patekar, who died at 75 on October 8, had once saved ₹1.5 crore to purchase a luxury car. In 2015, however, a television report showing the suffering of families affected by farmer suicides in drought-hit Maharashtra deeply moved him. He decided to use the money to support distressed farming families instead. Along with actor Makarand Anaspure, Patekar later co-founded the NAAM Foundation, focusing on farmer welfare, water conservation and rural development. The foundation has reportedly helped millions of farmers, disaster-affected families and widows, making social service an important part of Patekar’s legacy. (PC: File)

Actor-activist Prakash Raj, YouTuber Dhruv Rathee and Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke led a protest at Bengaluru’s Freedom Park on October 8 against the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Organised as a “People’s Tribunal,” the demonstration brought together women, students and civil-society groups who alleged irregularities and wrongful deletion of voter names. Protesters demanded that the SIR exercise be scrapped and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar resign. Raj argued that the issue concerns citizens’ voting rights and dignity, while Rathee criticised the Election Commission over what he described as a lack of transparency and accountability.

The 57th GST Council meeting in New Delhi recommended major changes to GST enforcement rules. The Council decided to remove the power of GST officers to arrest taxpayers under the GST law, marking a significant shift toward less punitive tax administration. It also recommended raising the prosecution threshold from ₹1 crore to ₹5 crore, meaning cases involving tax evasion below ₹5 crore would generally not lead to prosecution. Additionally, the Council proposed reducing the general penalty from ₹25,000 to ₹10,000. The reforms aim to simplify compliance, reduce procedural burdens and improve the ease of doing business. (PC: X)

Veteran actor Nana Patekar’s death at 75 has prompted tributes from across India’s film and political circles. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the actor’s death and remembered his contribution to Indian cinema. Rajinikanth also mourned Patekar, describing him as a dear friend. Several actors, filmmakers and public figures paid tribute to the veteran performer, remembering his powerful screen presence and decades-long contribution to Hindi and Marathi cinema. Patekar, who worked in films for more than 4 decades, was known for acclaimed performances in Parinda, Krantiveer, Agni Sakshi, Ab Tak Chhappan, Welcome and Natsamrat. (PC: India Today)