IMF Raises India's 2025 Growth Forecast to 6.6% Citing Strong Performance
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has upgraded India's economic growth projection for 2025 to 6.6%, a revision of 0.2 percentage points from its prior forecast. In its latest World Economic Outlook report, the IMF noted that the country's strong performance in the first quarter of the year has more than offset the potential negative impact of increased US tariffs on Indian imports. The optimistic forecast positions India as a bright spot amid a modest global economic outlook.
Haryana Police Chief Sent on Leave Amid Probe into IPS Officer's Suicide
Haryana's Director General of Police, Shatrujeet Kapur, has been sent on leave by the state government following allegations of harassment in the suicide case of IPS officer Y Puran Kumar. Kapur and seven other senior officers were named in an eight-page note purportedly left by Kumar, which cited "blatant caste-based discrimination" and mental harassment. The move comes amid mounting political pressure from opposition parties and demands from the deceased officer's family for action against the accused.
Army Foils Infiltration Bid in Kupwara, Kills Two Terrorists
The Indian Army thwarted an infiltration attempt along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir, killing two terrorists. Officials reported that troops noticed suspicious movement and engaged the infiltrating group in a sustained gunfight. The operation is part of heightened vigilance by security forces to prevent militants from crossing into India from launch pads in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir before winter snowfall closes the mountain passes. Searches in the area are ongoing.
Bus Fire in Jaisalmer Kills 20 Passengers, Injures 16
A tragic accident on the Jaisalmer-Jodhpur highway in Rajasthan claimed the lives of at least 20 passengers after a private bus caught fire. Another 16 people were critically injured. The bus, carrying 57 passengers, was quickly engulfed in flames, which are believed to have originated from a short circuit in the vehicle's rear. Local authorities, passersby, and army personnel assisted in rescue efforts, and the injured were rushed to hospitals in Jaisalmer and Jodhpur for urgent medical treatment.
SpaceX Starship Completes Successful 11th Test Flight
SpaceX's Starship, the world's most powerful rocket, successfully completed its 11th test flight, marking a key milestone in its development. The rocket launched from Texas, and its Super Heavy booster executed a controlled splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico. The upper-stage spacecraft continued into space before descending into the Indian Ocean after an hour-long flight. The successful test is a crucial step for NASA, which plans to use Starship for landing astronauts on the moon for its Artemis program.
Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Takes Effect; First Hostages Released in Prisoner Swap
A ceasefire in the two-year Israel-Hamas war has begun, marked by the release of the first group of hostages. Hamas handed over seven hostages to the Red Cross as part of a deal to exchange 20 living hostages for over 1,900 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. The agreement, brokered with significant international pressure, is also expected to facilitate a surge of humanitarian aid into the famine-stricken Gaza Strip. US President Donald Trump is visiting the region for a peace summit in Egypt.
Hamas Releases All Living Israeli Hostages in Ceasefire Deal
Hamas has released all remaining living Israeli hostages after two years in captivity, a major development in the Gaza conflict. The release is part of the first phase of a U.S.-mediated peace plan and ceasefire agreement, which also includes a phased withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza. The Israel Defense Forces confirmed no living hostages remain in captivity, though the bodies of 28 deceased hostages are yet to be returned. In exchange, Israel is set to release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
WHO Flags Three Contaminated Indian Cough Syrups After Child Deaths
The World Health Organization has issued a global health advisory for three contaminated cough syrups made in India: Coldrif from Sresan Pharmaceuticals, Respifresh TR from Rednex Pharmaceuticals, and ReLife from Shape Pharma. The warning follows the deaths of several children in Madhya Pradesh linked to the syrups, which were found to contain dangerous levels of the toxic chemical diethylene glycol. In response, Tamil Nadu authorities have revoked the manufacturing license of Sresan Pharmaceuticals and arrested its owner.
ED Raids Tainted Cough Syrup Maker and FDA Officials After Child Deaths
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has raided premises linked to Sresan Pharmaceuticals, the manufacturer of Coldrif cough syrup, and officials of the Tamil Nadu Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The raids in Chennai are part of a money-laundering investigation following the deaths of at least 22 children in Madhya Pradesh. The cough syrup was found to be dangerously adulterated with the poison diethylene glycol (DEG). The company's owner was recently arrested by Madhya Pradesh Police.
India's Retail Inflation Drops to 99-Month Low of 1.54%
India's retail inflation, measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), fell to a 99-month low of 1.54% in September 2025, according to official data. This significant drop, last seen in June 2017, was primarily driven by falling food and fuel prices. The figure is well below the Reserve Bank of India's lower tolerance band of 2%, increasing expectations of a potential interest rate cut by the Monetary Policy Committee in its next meeting to stimulate economic growth.
Supreme Court Orders CBI Probe into Deadly Karur Stampede
The Supreme Court has ordered a CBI probe into the stampede at a political rally in Karur, Tamil Nadu, that killed 41 people on September 27. The rally was organized by actor-politician Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) party. The investigation will be monitored by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by former Supreme Court judge Ajay Rastogi. The apex court was critical of the Madras High Court's handling of petitions related to the tragedy.
Trio Awarded Nobel in Economics for Work on Innovation-Driven Growth
Economists Joel Mokyr, Philippe Aghion, and Peter Howitt have been awarded the 2025 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences for their research explaining how innovation and technological progress drive long-term economic growth. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences highlighted Mokyr's work on the historical prerequisites for technological progress and jointly awarded Aghion and Howitt for developing the theory of "creative destruction," where new innovations replace older technologies, thereby boosting prosperity and living standards.
Charges Framed Against Lalu Prasad, Rabri Devi, Tejashwi Yadav in IRCTC Case
A Delhi court has framed charges of corruption, criminal conspiracy, and cheating against RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, his wife Rabri Devi, and son Tejashwi Yadav in the IRCTC land-for-hotels scam case. The court found sufficient prima facie material to proceed with a trial, which will begin just before the Bihar Assembly elections. The case alleges that during his tenure as Railway Minister, Lalu Prasad manipulated the leasing of two railway hotels in exchange for prime land in Patna at undervalued rates.
Trump Warns Russia of Sending Long-Range Tomahawk Missiles to Ukraine
US President Donald Trump has warned Russia that he may authorize sending long-range Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine if Moscow does not soon settle the ongoing war. Trump made the remarks to reporters aboard Air Force One, suggesting a significant potential escalation in US military support. The statement represents a tougher stance toward Russian President Vladimir Putin and is aimed at pressuring Moscow to engage seriously in peace negotiations to end the conflict.
Fourth Arrest Made in Durgapur Gang-Rape Case
West Bengal Police have arrested a fourth accused in the alleged gang-rape of a second-year medical student in Durgapur. Three of the arrested individuals have been remanded to 10 days in police custody as the investigation continues. The student, who hails from Odisha, was attacked outside her college campus on Friday night. The case has sparked outrage and prompted a delegation from the Odisha State Commission for Women to travel to Durgapur to support the survivor.