Jamia Millia Islamia in New Delhi shifted classes online on October 24 after protesting students clashed with security guards during an ongoing agitation demanding the restoration of student union elections. The confrontation began when guards attempted to remove tents set up by protesters, including students on hunger strike. The protest started on October 12, seeking the revival of the Jamia Millia Islamia Students’ Union, which was dissolved in 2006 following campus violence. The university administration rejected allegations of an unprovoked crackdown. The registrar also accused 2 Congress MPs of disturbing the campus environment during their visit.

The Centre has extended Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh’s tenure by one year, allowing him to continue in the post until October 31, 2027. The decision was approved on October 24, a week before his existing tenure was due to end.   Singh, a 1989-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer from the Kerala cadre, took charge as India’s 40th Defence Secretary on November 1, 2024. He also holds additional charge as Secretary of the Department of Defence Research and Development and Chairman of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). His extension is expected to ensure continuity in defence administration and ongoing reforms. (PC: HT)

Indian theoretical physicist Ashoke Sen has become the first Indian to receive the 2026 Oskar Klein Medal for his contributions to string theory. Sen is a professor at the International Centre for Theoretical Sciences (ICTS) in Bengaluru. His research helped show how 5 string theories, once considered separate, could be different forms of a single underlying theory. He received the medal and delivered a lecture titled “Gravity from Strings and Strings from Gravity” at Stockholm’s AlbaNova University Centre on October 22. Established in 1988, the award has previously honoured scientists including Stephen Hawking, Peter Higgs and Kip Thorne. (PC: India Today)

Protests began across France on October 24, 2026, as students, trade unions and “Yellow Vest” demonstrators mobilised over rising living costs, housing concerns and underfunded schools. Authorities deployed around 70,000 security personnel to prevent a repeat of last weekend’s violence and looting. Shops and restaurants boarded up their premises, while major Paris attractions, including the Louvre and Musée d’Orsay, closed temporarily. Several metro stations were also shut, disrupting transport. Authorities restricted demonstrations in some cities amid security concerns, while protesters continued demanding government action on economic pressures and public services. (PC: AFP)

Punjab Police have registered 18–20 FIRs and rounded up 50–52 suspects during an anti-drug operation across eight identified hotspots in Ludhiana on October 24. Assistant Commissioner of Police Rupinder Singh said the drive is part of the state government’s ongoing “War Against Drugs” campaign, supported by senior police officials. Authorities are assessing the operation’s progress and the recoveries made. The crackdown comes amid political controversy over Punjab’s drug problem and demands for justice following anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota’s killing on October 13. The CBI has registered an FIR in the murder case. (PC: ANI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin have directed their governments to strengthen bilateral cooperation, targeting $100 billion in trade and $50 billion in mutual investments by 2030. Indian Ambassador to Russia Vinay Kumar shared the details in an interview with Russian news agency TASS. Their discussions took place during the BRICS summit in New Delhi on September 12–13, 2026. Cooperation includes trade, commerce and skilled labour mobility. India has also proposed establishing training institutions jointly with Russia to prepare skilled workers for Russian industries, strengthening economic and employment ties between both countries. (PC: Reuters)

The Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) has urged Rahul Gandhi to postpone the INDIA bloc’s November 1 rally at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan until after November 10. The traders’ body warned that traffic restrictions and crowds could disrupt business worth ₹10,000 crore during the festive shopping season. CTI chairman Brijesh Goyal said Delhi traders had already suffered estimated losses of ₹3,000 crore due to earlier protests and road closures. The rally targets Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and alleged irregularities in electoral roll revision. (PC: X)

A 17-year-old Class 12 student died after being found with severe burn injuries behind the guard room of Sarvodaya Balika Vidyalaya in Krishna Nagar, Delhi’s Shahdara district, on October 24. Police reached the school following a call reporting a fire. Investigators recovered certain materials from the scene and the student’s school bag. Reports suggest that a three-page note was also found, while a possible chemical substance was reportedly involved. However, police have not officially confirmed these details. A forensic team inspected the location, and authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident. (PC: Delhi Police)

Iran has unveiled a provocative billboard installation in Tehran featuring an actor resembling US President Donald Trump inside a mock prison cell. Located at Tajrish Square, the display shows the impersonator pacing behind bars and taking naps, attracting crowds and public attention. The installation forms part of Tehran’s campaign accusing Washington of responsibility for civilian deaths, including a reported strike on a wedding gathering in southern Iran. Iranian authorities describe the display as a demand for justice. The United States maintains that its forces do not deliberately target civilians, amid continuing tensions between the two countries. 

Haryana gangster Himanshu Bhau, also known as Himanshu Ritoliya, and his associate Neeraj Kaushik, alias Neeraj Faridpuria, were reportedly detained in Las Vegas, United States, on October 22, 2026. The operation involved US law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), following inputs from Haryana’s Special Task Force. Bhau is wanted in India in multiple cases involving murder, kidnapping, extortion and organised crime. An Interpol Red Notice was issued against him in August 2023. Indian authorities are coordinating with US agencies to secure their return to India for legal proceedings.