TODAY NEWS ON October 06, 2026
News Headlines for CAT, CLAT and IPM aspirants
Source: The Hindu , Indian Exp and others
2026 Nobel medicine prize: Trio wins for optogenetics work
The Nobel Prize for Physiology for 2026 was awarded to scientists Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel for “discoveries concerning light-gated ion channels and optogenetics,” the award-giving body said on Monday (October 5, 2026).
Voting in high-stakes bypoll in three States, one U.T. today
Voting will take place today (October 6, 2026) for byelections to five Assembly constituencies in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry, as well as to one Lok Sabha constituency in Assam. The counting of votes is scheduled for Friday (October 9, 2026). Follow live updates here
Jeffrey Archer, U.K. author and politician, dies aged 86
Jeffrey Archer, the best-selling British novelist and former politician who was jailed for lying in a high-profile libel case, has died aged 86, his publisher HarperCollins said on Monday (October 5, 2026). Mr. Archer sold over 300 million copies worldwide and was known for pacy thrillers like his 1976 debut Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less and Kane & Abel, with his final novel Adam and Eve due to be published this month.
India, Switzerland identify areas of cooperation in defence, nuclear energy: PM
India and Switzerland have identified new opportunities for cooperation in areas of defence and nuclear energy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, following a bilateral meeting with Swiss President Guy Parmelin. Agreements signed by the two sides included one to extend visa durations and student permits. Mr. Parmelin is in India for a three-day visit to commemorate the first anniversary of the Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) between India and the four-country European Free Trade Association (EFTA), which came into force on October 1, 2025.
ECI fact-checks claims on Form 6 following SC observation
Amid the political slugfest over Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant’s remarks on Form 6 used for registration of voters, the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the Press Information Bureau came out with a slew of fact-checks. Following the reports of dissent within the commission over changes made in Form 6, the EC had in a press release on September 26, claimed that the declaration form attached with Form 6 was upheld by the apex court.
SC asks Centre to furnish details on relocation of Central Secretariat Library under Central Vista project
The Supreme Court sought a detailed affidavit from the Union government on the proposed relocation of the 135-year-old Central Secretariat Library in Delhi, which houses over 8.5 lakh books, as part of the Central Vista redevelopment project. The court sought details of the space earmarked for the library, along with its layout plans. The court’s suo motu intervention comes amid reports that the library, currently housed in the Shastri Bhawan complex, was directed on September 17 to vacate the premises by September 30 as part of the redevelopment project.
SIR: No inquiry yet into bulk Form-7 submissions targeting minority voters
Amid a row where multiple cases have emerged where Form-7, used to file objections and seek deletion of names from the electoral rolls, have been filled in bulk, mostly targeting Muslim and minority communities, Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) V. Anbu Kumar said that “in none of the cases has an inquiry been initiated by the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO)”. Directions have been given to all EROs to take action as per law against those who knowingly make false statements or declarations in writing while filling forms such as Form-7, preceded by an inquiry under the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, following an over-five-hour-long protest by Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on October 1.
Set up 24-hour monitoring cells to prevent sexual offences, Supreme Court tells Delhi Police
Underlining the need to take preventive measures against sexual offences, the Supreme Court asked the Delhi Police to set up 24-hour monitoring cells for continuous surveillance of vulnerable areas. The court also asked the police to strengthen patrolling, particularly around educational institutions and public spaces. A Bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and K. Vinod Chandran observed that the mere installation of CCTV cameras in public spaces would serve little purpose without continuous monitoring to detect suspicious activity and enable a swift police response.
U.S. accuses California woman of spying for China, surveilling Taiwan leader’s son
U.S. authorities arrested a California woman and accused her of spying on a son of Taiwan's President at the behest of Chinese officials, the FBI said. The FBI arrested Wanying Zhang, also known as Heather, at Los Angeles International Airport before her planned departure to China, the agency said in a statement. Authorities charged Zhang, 34, of Irvine, California, with acting as an unregistered foreign agent.
OpenAI's Sam Altman says AI benefits warrant accepting some risks
OpenAI Chief Executive Sam Altman said the benefits of artificial intelligence justify accepting some risks and argued the technology should remain broadly accessible to the public. “We believe that the world should accept some bad things happening for the benefits of this technology and people having the agency,” Altman said in an interview with Politico’s technology-focused newsletter Decoded.
Spain’s Prime Minister calls early election after housing crisis defeat
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Monday (October 5, 2026) called a snap election for November 29, after Parliament rejected housing relief measures proposed by his minority government. The defeat on Friday (October 2) was just the latest political setback for the Socialist premier, one of the few European prime ministers from the left still in power. “To do more, we need to renew and broaden the support of the people,” Mr. Sanchez, in office since 2018, said in a televised address.
Brazil’s Flavio Bolsonaro beats polls in presidential vote, faces Lula in runoff
Brazilian Senator Flavio Bolsonaro will face President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in the runoff of a presidential election, the country’s electoral authority said on Sunday (October 4, 2026). With just over 97% of the ballots counted, the right-wing challenger took 47.45% of valid votes in the first round, beating the forecasts in most private surveys. Leftist Lula received 44.66% of the votes.
Supreme Court to list plea to allow peaceful protests to Jantar Mantar
The Supreme Court on Monday (October 5, 2026) indicates that it will list a petition alleging that the Delhi Police is not allowing peaceful protests and marches to Jantar Mantar in the national capital following allegations of misconduct by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and seeking his removal. The petition sought judicial directions from the apex court to the police to allow peaceful protests.
FM Sitharaman hails India-EU trade deal at Munich Leaders Meeting
The India-European Union free trade deal stands out as an example of how India is negotiating and finalising trade deals, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Monday (October 5, 2026). Speaking at the opening session of the Munich Leaders Meeting in New Delhi, Ms. Sitharaman noted that India has opened up 92.5% of all its tariff lines through the agreement and 97% of the trade value, while the EU has opened up 99% in terms of value and possibly 97% of tariff lines.
Preservation of culture a fundamental right, says SC, refuses to stay Calcutta HC proceedings in Nicobar project case
Saying that “preservation of culture is a constitutionally protected fundamental right”, the Supreme Court on Monday (October 5, 2026) did not agree with a Union government plea to stay Calcutta High Court proceedings in a petition filed by former Union Environment Secretary Meena Gupta challenging the Great Nicobar Island Project as a threat to the area’s fragile ecosystem and Forest Rights Act, 2006. A three-judge Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant instead urged the Calcutta High Court to hear the case and decide the issues without delay.
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