States

West Bengal plans to finalise a new industrial policy focusing on sectors with strong demand for ancillary industries, including textiles, steel, automotive, heavy electrical equipment, IT and electronics. The policy aims to attract investments, boost employment and promote MSME-linked support businesses

The Trinamool Congress plans statewide protest rallies after former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee faced protests and alleged stone and shoe attacks during a visit to Bijpur. The party will organise block-level demonstrations, while political leaders traded accusations over the incident

A leopard was captured in the Belrayan forest range of Uttar Pradesh’s Dudhwa buffer zone following recent big cat attacks on villagers. Forest officials said it was trapped in a cage near Murtiha village, marking the fourth leopard captured since August 2

Assam’s flood death toll reached 100 after two more fatalities were reported, while nearly 1.4 lakh people remained affected across seven districts. Hundreds of villages and thousands of hectares of farmland were inundated, with several rivers flowing above danger levels

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay is set to move a special Assembly resolution making Tamil Thai Vazhthu mandatory as the first song at government functions. The move follows controversy over Vande Mataram’s rendition before the state invocation at official events

Nagasaki marked the 81st anniversary of the 1945 atomic bombing, with Mayor Shiro Suzuki condemning nuclear weapons as “absolute evil” and urging Japan to uphold its non-nuclear principles. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi defended a pragmatic approach amid concerns over nuclear deterrence

Gujarat’s Forest Department has begun creating a 100-hectare enclosure at Ambardi Safari Park in Amreli to house lions involved in human attacks. The initiative aims to reduce human-wildlife conflict while providing affected Asiatic lions a secure, natural habitat within the Gir landscape

A banner in Kolkata’s Salt Lake warned political leaders joining the BJP against engaging in extortion or corruption, threatening them with “egg therapy.” Former BJP mandal president Sanjoy Poira said the party should maintain zero tolerance for illegal activities amid opposition leader defections

Union Minister Sanjay Seth backed protesting JPSC aspirants in Ranchi and criticised the Jharkhand government and Rahul Gandhi over their handling of the agitation. He alleged attempts to divide students and demanded action on examination irregularities, while BJP leaders accused the government of politicising the issue

The NIA arrested Haris TA, the alleged main conspirator, in connection with the seizure of illegal explosives in Kerala’s Malappuram. His arrest takes the total number of accused held to ten. The probe is continuing into the wider conspiracy and procurement network

A 62-year-old farmer, Pasuva Chetti, was allegedly trampled to death by a wild elephant while guarding his turmeric and vegetable crops in Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve, Tamil Nadu. The elephant entered his farm around 2 a.m., prompting him to attempt driving it away

Student protests in Ranchi over alleged irregularities in the Jharkhand Civil Services Preliminary Examination entered their 16th day after a second round of government talks failed to reach agreement. Hunger striker Devendra Nath Mahato’s health deteriorated, while students demanded cancellation and investigation

Paddy farmers in Chenbagaramanputhoor, Kanyakumari district, are struggling with the spread of wild rice weed, which has affected nearly 150 acres and raised cultivation costs. Farmers have urged the Tamil Nadu government and Agriculture Department to provide immediate control measures and technical assistance

Union Home Minister Amit Shah presented the prestigious President’s Colours to Puducherry Police during a ceremony held amid heightened security. Over 1,000 security personnel were deployed, traffic restrictions imposed and drones banned. Shah also visited the Arunachaleswarar Temple and Ramana Maharshi Ashram

Police searched multiple locations, including residents of individuals associated with the banned Jamaat-e-Islami in the Sopore area of Baramulla district

Kerala Police registered a cyber fraud case after an AI-generated fake video impersonating ADGP P Vijayan circulated on Facebook, falsely promoting an old currency note scam. Police are investigating the account, possible victims and whether similar deepfake videos targeted other officials

Karnataka Congress faces internal pressure over ministerial portfolio allocation, with several leaders lobbying for key departments. Chief Minister DK Shivakumar is attempting to manage dissatisfaction among legislators, including denied Cabinet aspirants, ahead of the Assembly session and possible rebel meetings

The Supreme Court refused to dismiss an election challenge against former Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel’s 2023 Patan seat victory at the initial stage. The court allowed him to raise all defences before the high court election tribunal during the trial

Bengaluru Police arrested a Bihar man for allegedly strangling his wife after repeated domestic disputes. The accused allegedly fled to Bihar after the murder but was traced and arrested. Police said scientific evidence and CCTV footage support the ongoing investigation

The CBI alleged three NTA subject experts leaked confidential NEET-UG 2026 questions by exploiting security lapses, including inadequate frisking and CCTV monitoring. Its chargesheet names 13 accused, detailing the alleged paper leak network, investigations, arrests and subsequent examination re-conduct

The Maharashtra government has ordered the forfeiture of 114 extremist publications and digital propaganda materials linked to ISIS, Hizb-ul-Mujahideen and AQIS. The crackdown, based on ATS intelligence, aims to curb radicalisation, recruitment and threats to India's sovereignty and public order

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay said he had proposed talks with Karnataka over the Cauvery dispute in the hope of a positive outcome but reiterated that his government would not compromise on Tamil Nadu's water rights or opposition to the Mekedatu project

UP Congress chief Ajay Rai said all clearances have been secured for Rahul Gandhi's "Chhatron Ki Goonj" programme in Prayagraj on Saturday. The Congress expects a record turnout, with a motorcycle rally planned ahead of the student interaction at KP Ground

Two Army soldiers were injured in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district while defusing a drift landmine near Kanga Gali. Officials said the explosives were displaced by rain and erosion. Another unexploded grenade was recovered and safely destroyed by the Army’s bomb disposal squad