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Justice Surya Kant Appointed 53rd Chief Justice of India, to Assume Office on November 24

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Justice Surya Kant Appointed 53rd Chief Justice of India, to Assume Office on November 24 2

Justice Surya Kant has been appointed as the 53rd Chief Justice of India (CJI) and will assume charge on November 24, succeeding Justice Bhushan R. Gavai, who retires a day earlier.

The Department of Justice under the Union Law Ministry issued the official notification announcing his appointment on Thursday. Justice Kant will serve as CJI for nearly 15 months, demitting office on February 9, 2027, upon attaining the age of 65.

“In exercise of the powers conferred by the Constitution of India, the President is pleased to appoint Shri Justice Surya Kant, Judge of the Supreme Court of India, as the Chief Justice of India with effect from November 24, 2025,” Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal stated on X, extending his congratulations and best wishes.

Born on February 10, 1962, in Haryana’s Hisar district, Justice Surya Kant was elevated to the Supreme Court on May 24, 2019. His judicial career spans over two decades and is marked by key judgments on constitutional matters, democracy, corruption, environmental protection, and gender equality.

Justice Kant was part of the historic bench that suspended the colonial-era sedition law and directed that no new FIRs be registered under it until further review. He also pushed the Election Commission to reveal details of 65 lakh excluded voters in Bihar, underscoring his stance on electoral transparency.

He made history by mandating one-third reservation for women in Bar associations, including the Supreme Court Bar Association. Justice Kant also served on the bench that formed a committee headed by Justice Indu Malhotra to probe the 2022 security breach during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Punjab visit, emphasizing the need for a “judicially trained mind” in such matters.

Justice Kant upheld the One Rank-One Pension (OROP) scheme for defence personnel, terming it constitutionally valid, and continues to hear cases on granting women officers permanent commissions in the armed forces.

He was also part of the seven-judge bench that overturned the 1967 Aligarh Muslim University ruling, paving the way for reconsideration of the university’s minority status. Additionally, he played a key role in the Pegasus spyware case, where the court appointed a cyber expert panel to investigate alleged surveillance, asserting that the “state cannot get a free pass under the guise of national security.”

NDA Promises 1 Crore Jobs, 7 Expressways, and Metro Expansion in Bihar Poll Manifesto

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NDA Promises 1 Crore Jobs, 7 Expressways, and Metro Expansion in Bihar Poll Manifesto 4

The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on Friday unveiled its manifesto for the upcoming Bihar assembly elections, making ambitious promises that include providing jobs to one crore youth, developing seven new expressways, and introducing metro train services in four more cities.

The 69-page manifesto also outlines plans to create one crore Lakhpathi Didis under women empowerment schemes, establish seven international airports, and launch 10 new industrial parks to boost the state’s economy.

It further promises free quality education from kindergarten to post-graduation, a monthly aid of ₹2,000 for Scheduled Caste students pursuing higher studies, and the establishment of a world-class medicity along with a medical college in every district.

The NDA has also pledged free ration, healthcare coverage up to ₹5 lakh, and the construction of 50 lakh additional pucca houses.

The manifesto was released at a press conference attended by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary, BJP president JP Nadda, and Union ministers Dharmendra Pradhan, Jitan Ram Manjhi, and Chirag Paswan, along with other alliance leaders.

Amit Shah Announces ‘Bharat Parv 2025’ to Mark Sardar Patel’s 150th Birth Anniversary

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Amit Shah Announces ‘Bharat Parv 2025’ to Mark Sardar Patel’s 150th Birth Anniversary 6

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday announced that ‘Bharat Parv 2025’ will be celebrated across the country from November 1 to 15 to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

Speaking at a press conference, Shah said a grand parade would now be held every year on October 31 at Ekta Nagar in Gujarat to mark Patel’s birth anniversary. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to attend the inaugural parade on Friday at 7:55 a.m.

Highlighting Sardar Patel’s immense contribution to India’s freedom struggle and nation-building, Shah said, “Along with Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Patel formed the backbone of India’s independence movement. His efforts in uniting the nation were unparalleled.”

The Home Minister accused the Congress of attempting to erase Patel’s legacy, claiming that it did not build any significant memorial in his honour. “In contrast, the NDA government built the Statue of Unity, which stands today as an engineering marvel and a tribute to the Iron Man of India,” he added.

No Legal Provision to Use VVPAT Machines in Maharashtra Local Body Polls: SEC

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No Legal Provision to Use VVPAT Machines in Maharashtra Local Body Polls: SEC 8

The Maharashtra State Election Commission (SEC) has clarified that there is currently no legal provision for using Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines in local body elections across the state.

The clarification comes amid demands from Opposition parties to conduct upcoming local body elections in Maharashtra using VVPAT machines to ensure greater transparency. Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Vijay Wadettiwar had also urged that if VVPATs could not be deployed, polls should be held using ballot papers instead.

Local body elections, including those for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), are slated to be completed by January 2026.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the SEC explained that most local body elections in Maharashtra are conducted under a multi-member ward system, which currently does not support the use of VVPATs with existing voting machines.

The Technical Evaluation Committee (TEC), comprising representatives from all State Election Commissions in India, is examining the development of voting machines compatible with VVPAT attachments for such systems. However, the committee’s final report is still pending, making the immediate use of VVPATs infeasible.

The SEC also noted that while Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) were incorporated into local body election laws in 2005, there is no existing legal framework for VVPAT use. It further stated that any amendment to the relevant acts—such as the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act, the Maharashtra Municipal Councils Act, and the Zilla Parishads Act—falls outside its jurisdiction.

Elon Musk’s Starlink to Conduct Key Security and Technical Demos in Mumbai Ahead of India Launch

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Elon Musk's Starlink to Conduct Key Security and Technical Demos in Mumbai Ahead of India Launch 10

Elon Musk-led Starlink is set to conduct crucial security and technical demonstration runs in Mumbai on October 30 and 31 to showcase its compliance with government regulations for satellite broadband services, according to official sources.

The demonstrations, which will take place before law enforcement and regulatory agencies, will be conducted using the provisional spectrum allotted to Starlink, sources told PTI.

The move represents a major step toward Starlink’s much-anticipated entry into the Indian satellite broadband market. The security and technical demo runs are mandatory prerequisites for the company to obtain final clearances before beginning commercial operations in India.

Sources confirmed that Starlink’s demo will focus on demonstrating adherence to the security and technical conditions required under its Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite (GMPCS) authorisation. The trials in Mumbai mark a key milestone in Starlink’s efforts to expand its global satellite internet footprint to India.

Amit Shah Slams Lalu and Sonia: “Both CM and PM Seats Are Not Vacant”

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Amit Shah Slams Lalu and Sonia: "Both CM and PM Seats Are Not Vacant" 12

Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched a sharp attack on the opposition INDIA bloc on Wednesday, alleging that RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav wants to make his son Tejashwi Yadav the Chief Minister of Bihar, while Congress leader Sonia Gandhi dreams of seeing her son Rahul Gandhi as Prime Minister. “But both posts are not vacant,” Shah quipped, addressing a massive rally in Darbhanga, Bihar.

He described the Mahagathbandhan as a “thug bandhan,” accusing its leaders of being neck-deep in corruption. “Lalu Prasad is involved in fodder, bitumen, and land-for-jobs scams, while the Congress party is responsible for corruption worth ₹12 lakh crore,” Shah alleged.

Highlighting the Centre’s crackdown on radical outfits, Shah said, “The NDA government banned the Popular Front of India (PFI) and arrested its members. Do you think RJD will keep them in jail if they return to power?”

The Home Minister listed several developmental projects initiated by the NDA government in Bihar, including free ration for 8.52 crore beneficiaries, 125 units of free electricity for domestic consumers, the formation of the Makhana Board, and plans to introduce metro rail services in Darbhanga.

He further mentioned the construction of an airport and an AIIMS in Darbhanga, along with a temple dedicated to Goddess Sita in Mithila. “All the places visited by Sita will be linked under the Ram Circuit,” Shah said, adding that Maithili has been granted official language status, the Constitution translated into it, and ₹500 crore allocated for a manuscript conservation centre in the region.

SC Seeks Centre, Ladakh Response on Sonam Wangchuk’s Detention Under NSA

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SC Seeks Centre, Ladakh Response on Sonam Wangchuk’s Detention Under NSA 14

The Supreme Court on Wednesday sought responses from the Centre and the Union Territory of Ladakh within ten days on an amended plea filed by climate activist Sonam Wangchuk’s wife, Gitanjali J Angmo, challenging his detention under the National Security Act (NSA).

A bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and NV Anjaria directed Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre and the Ladakh administration, to file their responses and listed the matter for hearing on November 24. The bench also permitted senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing Angmo, to file a rejoinder if necessary.

On October 15, the top court had deferred the hearing after Angmo sought to file an amended petition with additional grounds contesting her husband’s detention. The court had noted an affidavit from the Jodhpur jail authorities confirming that Wangchuk’s elder brother and lawyer had met him.

Earlier, Sibal had urged the court to allow Wangchuk to exchange notes with his wife, a request to which the Solicitor General raised no objection.

The apex court had earlier issued notices to the Centre and the UT administration on October 6 but declined to order the disclosure of the detailed grounds for detention.

Wangchuk, a noted environmentalist and education reformer from Ladakh, was detained under the NSA on September 26, two days after violent protests demanding statehood and Sixth Schedule status for Ladakh left four people dead and around 90 injured. Authorities have accused him of instigating the unrest.

The NSA allows preventive detention for up to 12 months to avert acts deemed prejudicial to India’s defence or public order, though the detention can be revoked earlier.

Mumbai EOW Arrests Key Accused in Rs 2.88-Crore Fake Government Job Scam

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Mumbai EOW Arrests Key Accused in Rs 2.88-Crore Fake Government Job Scam 16

The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Mumbai Police has arrested Ravindra More, one of the key accused in the ₹2.88-crore fake government job scam that duped dozens of aspirants with false promises of employment. More was taken into custody during questioning at the EOW office and is expected to be produced before the court today.

Earlier, on October 10, the EOW had arrested fake IAS officer Nilesh Rathod, 35, a resident of Barshi in Solapur district, for allegedly posing as an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer and cheating 36 job seekers. Rathod had introduced himself as a Deputy Secretary with the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) and lured candidates with promises of high-paying government positions such as Income Tax Inspectors and Assistants.

The accused allegedly collected large sums of money from the aspirants under the pretext of facilitating appointments through official channels. The EOW is now investigating the financial trail to trace other individuals involved in the racket and recover the defrauded amount.

President Droupadi Murmu Takes Rafale Sortie at Ambala, Key Base Behind Operation Sindoor

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President Droupadi Murmu Takes Rafale Sortie at Ambala, Key Base Behind Operation Sindoor 18

President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday undertook a sortie in a Rafale fighter jet from the Air Force Station in Ambala, Haryana — one of the Indian Air Force’s most crucial bases and the operational hub of the recent Operation Sindoor.

Air Chief Marshal A. P. Singh also flew in a separate aircraft from the same airbase. Before boarding the Rafale, President Murmu donned a G-suit, posed for photographs with the pilot while holding her helmet, and waved from the cockpit before take-off at 11:27 a.m.

Upon her arrival, she was accorded a ceremonial guard of honour at the airbase.

The Rafale jets, manufactured by French aerospace giant Dassault Aviation, were formally inducted into the Indian Air Force in September 2020 at Ambala. The first batch of five aircraft arrived from France in July 2020 and joined the 17 Squadron, known as the “Golden Arrows.”

These same Rafale jets played a pivotal role in Operation Sindoor, launched by India in retaliation to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. The operation, conducted in early May, targeted multiple terror infrastructures in Pakistan-controlled territories and concluded after four days of intense cross-border clashes.

President Murmu, the supreme commander of the Indian Armed Forces, had previously flown a sortie in a Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter jet from Tezpur Air Force Station in Assam in April 2023.

Former Presidents A. P. J. Abdul Kalam and Pratibha Patil had also taken similar sorties in Sukhoi-30 MKI aircraft from Pune’s Lohegaon Airbase in 2006 and 2009, respectively — continuing a legacy of India’s top constitutional authority connecting directly with the nation’s defence forces.

Taliban Warns Pakistan of Retaliation After Border Talks Collapse in Ankara

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Taliban Warns Pakistan of Retaliation After Border Talks Collapse in Ankara 20

The high-stakes talks between Afghanistan and Pakistan in Ankara ended abruptly after three rounds failed to produce any agreement on a border management mechanism. The Pakistani delegation withdrew, deepening tensions between the two neighbours.

Soon after the talks collapsed, Afghan Interior Ministry spokesperson Abdul Mateen Qani accused Pakistan of making “irrational and unacceptable demands,” warning that any air strikes by Islamabad would provoke a “severe response.”

Qani stated that while Afghanistan remains open to dialogue, it “will not tolerate cross-border attacks.” He warned, “If Pakistan conducts air strikes on Afghan soil, Afghan forces are prepared to target Islamabad in response.”

The deadlock followed Pakistan’s insistence that Kabul take “concrete and actionable steps” against militant groups, including the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), allegedly operating from Afghan territory. Afghan officials, however, rejected these demands as unreasonable and claimed Islamabad was using terrorism concerns as a political pressure tactic.

Pakistan’s final draft reportedly left “no room for compromise” on terrorism concerns, while Afghanistan countered with its own “comprehensive proposal” urging respect for its sovereignty. The Taliban accused Pakistan of attempting to dictate its internal policies, asserting that Kabul would not bow to foreign pressure.

Qani emphasized Afghanistan’s resilience, saying, “We may not have nuclear weapons, but even NATO and the United States could not subdue Afghanistan in 20 years of war. The Afghan nation has never bowed.”

The breakdown in Ankara marks a major setback in efforts to ease escalating border tensions, where recent clashes have claimed dozens of lives and injured hundreds. Both delegations — led by Afghanistan’s Deputy Interior Minister and senior Pakistani defence and interior officials — engaged in marathon sessions but left without progress.

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