News Headlines for CAT, CLAT and IPM aspirants
Source: The Hindu , Indian Exp and others

ECI sets new SIR rules, extends objection periods in Delhi

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Saturday (September 26, 2026) announced a slew of decisions regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls following a full-bench meeting. This comes amid the ongoing row over reports of “illegal” decisions and dissent within the poll body. The declaration attached to Form 6 would have to be filled out only during the SIR exercise, the ECI said, adding that the earlier format would be applicable otherwise for fresh voter registration.

Drought declared in Maharashtra’s 265 talukas

Maharashtra Government on Saturday (September 26, 2026) issued a government resolution (GR) declaring drought in 265 of the State’s 358 talukas based on the Agriculture Commissioner’s report, following prolonged rainfall deficits causing crop loss in the State. This covers major parts of Vidarbha, Marathwada, North Maharashtra and the Pune division. The worst-hit districts are Yavatmal (16 taluks), Jalgaon (15) and Ahilyanagar/Nagpur/Amravati/Nanded (14 each).

Kunal Ghosh attacked in Bengal; Mamata alleges attempts to disrupt her party’s public meetings

Beleghata MLA and Mamata All India Trinamool Congress (Mamata TMC) leader Kunal Ghosh was on Saturday (September 26, 2026) while he was visiting Serampore in West Bengal’s Hooghly, to participate in a public meeting addressed by former Chief Minister Mamata. Mr. Ghosh’s vehicle was blocked by a mob at Sakherbazar in Uttarpara; eggs and stones were thrown, and it was attacked with sticks. Slogans were raised against Mr. Ghosh.

India criticises Pakistan’s ‘falsehoods’ and ‘deceit’ at UN; warns terrorism will have consequences

Describing Pakistan as a “puppet” regime, India has criticised the country’s “falsehoods” and “deceit” at the UN, warning that continued terrorism by Islamabad will have consequences. India exercised its Right of Reply on Friday night (September 25, 2026), after Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif used the UN General Assembly (UNGA) podium to credit U.S. President Donald Trump for his “timely intervention” in the 2025 conflict with India, and again raised the Kashmir issue in his address to the world body.

Bihar on alert amid heavy rain forecast

Due to incessant rainfall in the catchment areas of ​​the Gandak River in Nepal, border districts and areas vulnerable to the Gandak, Bagmati, and Kosi rivers in Bihar have been instructed to remain on high alert. Bihar Chief Secretary Pratyaya Amrit on Saturday (September 26, 2026) chaired a high-level review meeting along with officials of the Disaster Management Department, Water Resources Department, and District Magistrates (DMs) of 17 districts through video conferencing.

China, U.S. agree to $30 billion tariff cut, AI dialogue during Xi visit: Beijing

China said on ​Saturday (September 26, 2026) it had agreed with the U.S. on a $30 billion reciprocal tariff-reduction arrangement ‌and on launching a dialogue on AI, under an ​eight-point consensus reached during President Xi Jinping’s visit to ⁠Washington. The two sides have also agreed to set up a trade council and extend the outcomes of earlier talks in Kuala Lumpur, the Chinese ‌Foreign Ministry said.

Two days of rain halve Andhra Pradesh’s monsoon deficit from 43% to 22%

Andhra Pradesh’s Southwest Monsoon (June to September) rainfall deficit has come down from 43% on September 15 to 22% on September 25, after the deep depression over the Bay of Bengal brought heavy rain to the coast on September 23 and 24, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). At 43% A.P. was the third most rain-deficient State in the country until September 15, after Meghalaya at 59% and Manipur at 44%. It had recorded only 251.1 mm against the normal of 437.6 mm in a season shaped by El Niño. Experts had pointed out that this was the second time since 1904 that the State had recorded such a steep rainfall gap; 1904 was a drought year with a deficit of 44.19%.

Tajinderpal Toor wins silver in men’s shot put

Tajinderpal Singh Toor won a silver medal in men’s shot put at the Asian Games, his third medal at the Continental showpiece. Toor, who won a gold medal in the last two editions of the Games, bagged the silver, hurling the iron ball to 20.64 m. Iran’s Mohammadreza Tayebise broke the Games record and took home the gold with a throw of 20.81, breaking Toor’s 20.75 m set in 2018.

‘It’s the last World Cup I’m going to play for India’: Kohli

Virat Kohli has said next year’s ODI World Cup will be his last for India, and that he is going to “leave everything out there” to win the trophy. Kohli (37), who now plays only one format, spoke to JioStar ahead of the ODI series against West Indies starting here on Sunday (September 27, 2026). The World Cup will be hosted jointly by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.

Bank unions defer three-day nationwide strike after ‘understandings reached’ with IBA

Bank unions on Sunday (September 28, 2026) deferred the proposed three-day nationwide strike after a meeting with bank management. “All banks will function normally now. There will be no strike...,” C. H. Venkatachalam, general secretary of All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA) told The Hindu.

Punjab’s LPU student protesters block NH-44, clash with police after alleged rape of female student

Allegations that a student was raped on the campus of Lovely Professional University in Punjab sparked an agitation that led to protesters, mainly students, blocking National Highway-44 near Phagwara on Sunday (September 27, 2026), disrupting traffic and clashing with police, hours after they went on a rampage, vandalising university property.

Israeli media says Netanyahu made unannounced visit to UAE

Israeli media reported on Sunday (September 27, 2026) that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had made an unannounced visit to the United Arab Emirates to meet with the Gulf state’s leader.

Students, right-wing consumer group members clash on SRFTI campus in Kolkata

Violence erupted in the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI) campus in Kolkata on Sunday (September 27, 2026) as students clashed with members of a right-wing consumer welfare organisation, who were holding a meeting inside the institute’s auditorium.

‘Illegal detention’ by Assam Police finally ended: CJP’s Ashutosh Ranka after release

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leader Ashutosh Ranka on Sunday (September 27, 2026) evening said the “illegal detention” of him and other volunteers by the Assam Police has “finally ended”.

U.K. police arrest five for preparing ‘terrorist act’ as incident near air base probed

British counter-terrorism police were on Sunday probing “a major” incident near a base used by the U.S. air force after arresting five men on suspicion of “preparing a terrorist act”, police said.

Election Commission row: Mumbai Police deny CJP permission for October 2 protest at Shivaji Park

The Mumbai Police have denied permission to the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) to hold a protest against the Election Commission at Shivaji Park on October 2, citing court-imposed restrictions on non-sporting activities at the ground, lack of BMC permission and concerns over noise and traffic congestion.

Sahil Wakode’s death can’t be seen in isolation, IIT Bombay alumni write to Director

The death by suicide of Sahil Wakode cannot be viewed in isolation, alumni of Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay (IITB) said on Sunday (September 27, 2026). The incident pointed to a deeper problem within the academic environment, they said. In a letter written to the Director of the institute, a group of alumni have also expressed concerns over the increasingly “militarised campus” during exams. Calling for immediate, comprehensive reforms, they sought a survey of the students’ mental health and a humane approach to deal with instances of misconduct.

Delhi CM backs Election Commission over SIR amid allegations of Opposition

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Sunday rejected the Opposition’s allegations against the Election Commission, saying the revision of electoral rolls to remove deceased voters, duplicate entries and other invalid names was being dubbed “vote chori”.

DMK MLA E.V. Velu, others booked for illegal excavation of lake bed to level venue for party event

The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) has registered a case against E.V. Velu, DMK MLA and formerly Minister for Highways, Minor Ports, and Public Works, his son E.V. Kumaran, other public servants, and contractors, among others on charges of unauthorised excavation of lake-bed material in Malappambadi village in Tiruvannamalai district for levelling the venue of a DMK Northern Zone Youth Wing Conference held in December 2025.