News Headlines for CAT, CLAT and IPM aspirant

 Source: The Hindu  Indian Express and others

Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir warns India of ‘decisive response’ to any provocation

In a sharp escalation of rhetoric, Pakistan Army chief Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir on Saturday (October 18, 2025) warned India of a “decisive response” to even a minor provocation, saying there is no space for war in a “nuclearised environment”. “I advise and firmly caution India’s military leadership that there is no space for war in a nuclearised environment,” he said.

Supreme Court upholds partial demolition of 400-year-old Ahmedabad mosque for road widening project

The Supreme Court on Friday (October 17, 2025) upheld an order of the Gujarat High Court permitting the partial demolition of the over 400-year-old Mancha Masjid complex in Ahmedabad to facilitate a road-widening project, holding that the measure was undertaken in the public interest and did not infringe upon the right to religious freedom. A Bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi noted that only a portion of the vacant land and an adjoining platform were to be cleared, while the mosque’s main structure would remain untouched.

Statehood of J&K to be restored at appropriate time: Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday (October 18, 2025) promised restoration of statehood for Jammu and Kashmir at “an appropriate time” and a “good resolution” of demands raised by people of the Union Territory of Ladakh. Speaking at a media conclave in Patna, he also claimed that after the abrogation of Article 370, Jammu and Kashmir has “taken a U-turn” and “no local terrorist has been recruited in the last nine months”.

Fire breaks out at Dhaka international airport, flight operations suspended

A massive fire broke out on Saturday (October 18, 2025) at the cargo complex of the international airport in Bangladesh’s capital, forcing authorities to suspend all flight operations as thick black smoke engulfed the area. There were no immediate reports of casualties.

India-E.U. trade talks: Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal to visit Brussels October end

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal will visit Brussels later this month to give an impetus to the ongoing negotiations for a free trade agreement between India and the European Union, an official said. The Minister will be in Europe to participate in the Berlin Global Dialogue, that will be held from October 23 to October 25, the official said.

Delhiites violate cracker ban again; Air quality likely to turn ‘severe’ after Deepavali

Despite the overall air quality staying in the poor category for the fifth consecutive day in the national capital, Delhiites burst firecrackers in different parts of the city, openly flouting a ban on bursting firecrackers. The air quality is likely to turn “very poor” on Deepavali and “severe” a day later, as per official data.  While the overall air quality of Delhi was “poor”, Anand Vihar recorded “severe” air quality and many areas such as Wazirpur, Bawana, and Siri Fort reeled under “very poor” air quality.

Glitch grounds Air India plane in Milan, spoils Deepavali plans of passengers booked on flight

Hundreds of Air India passengers returning to India for a Deepavali break were left stranded after their Milan to Delhi flight on October 17 was cancelled due to a technical glitch, among whom young mothers expressed worries about food for their toddlers, and others were concerned about elderly passengers abandoned at the airport.

Paid holiday in Bihar on voting days; employers contravening provision can be fined: ECI

The Election Commission of India (ECI) said voters in Bihar, where polls will be held in two phases next month, are entitled to paid holidays on polling days, and employers who contravene this legal provision can be fined. It added that voters in eight Assembly constituencies across various States, where bypolls are being held on November 11, 2025 are also entitled to a paid holiday.

Operation Numkhor: Bhutan authorities evince interest in joining probe in crackdown on luxury vehicle smuggling

The investigation into the alleged smuggling of high-value pre-owned cars will be expanded to Bhutan once the Customs (Preventive) Commissionerate, Kochi, consolidates the documents of all 43 vehicles seized under Operation Numkhor. The vehicles were allegedly smuggled into Kerala from Bhutan by a suspected Coimbatore-based racket through the porous Indo-Bhutan border. Bhutanese authorities have already expressed interest in joining the investigation. Customs sources said that any potential association will be routed through the Ministry of External Affairs and the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs.

Iran says no longer bound by 'restrictions' on its nuclear programme

Iran said that it was no longer bound by restrictions on its nuclear programme as a landmark 10-year deal between it and world powers expired, though Tehran reiterated its “commitment to diplomacy”. The 2015 deal — signed in Vienna by Iran, China, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and the United States — saw the lifting of international sanctions against the Islamic Republic in exchange for restrictions on its nuclear programme. But the pact had already been in tatters after Washington unilaterally withdrew during President Donald Trump’s first term, with Iran later pulling back from its commitments.

Nobel Prize–winning Chinese physicist Chen-Ning Yang dies at 103

Noted Chinese physicist and Nobel Laureate Chen-ning Yang, died in Beijing on Saturday (October 18, 2025). He was 103 years old. Yang was born in Hefei, east China’s Anhui Province, in 1922. In the 1940s, he went to the United States to pursue academic studies and subsequently held teaching positions. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1957, official media in Beijing reported.

Jyothi Surekha Vennam scripts history with World Cup Final bronze medal

Decorated Indian archer Jyothi Surekha Vennam became the first Indian woman compound archer to win a medal at the World Cup Final, clinching the bronze with a flawless performance in Nanjing. The reigning Asian Games champion was at her imperious best against world No. 2 Ella Gibson of Great Britain, shooting 15 perfect arrows to prevail 150-145 and secure her maiden podium finish in the tournament.

AUS vs IND first ODI: Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in focus as Shubman Gill steps in as full-time skipper

Even amid the emotional theme of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma's return to India fold, Shubman Gill's maiden outing as full-time ODI skipper provides an equally compelling narrative to the first one-dayer against Australia in Perth on Sunday (October 19, 2025). Kohli and Rohit are coming back to national colours after playing the Champions Trophy in March, and the dynamics of Indian cricket has changed irrevocably in these seven months.

Bikes, cars and televisions have seen price drop post GST rate cut, says Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman

Two-wheelers, four-wheelers, and consumer durable items such as televisions are among the 54 daily-use items where manufacturers have passed on the benefit of GST cuts, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Saturday (October 16, 2025). “Since September 22 we have been getting information from zonal items on all items, of which we have been monitoring 54 items where we wanted to ensure that the tax benefit is reaching the consumer. Not even in one item has the tax benefit not been passed to the consumer,” the FM said at a press conference on GST Bachat Utsav.

Every inch of Pakistan territory within BrahMos range, Operation Sindoor was only a trailer: Rajnath Singh

Every inch of Pakistan’s territory lies within range of BrahMos, and what happened during Operation Sindoor was just a trailer, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said in Lucknow on Saturday (October 18, 2025), in a stern warning to Pakistan. The Union Minister, along with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, flagged off the first batch of BrahMos missiles manufactured at the BrahMos Aerospace unit in Lucknow’s Sarojini Nagar.