Morning Digest: Protests continue against SIR, CEC; Govt says PLA’s patrolling behaviour keeps LAC disturbed, and more

Students, farmers, civil society groups continue to protest against SIR, CEC

Around 500 protesters from students, youth, women, farmers, and civil society organisations, under the banner of ‘People Against SIR’ marched through Central Delhi on Friday (October 23, 2026), demanding the rollback of the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. The march was part of a series of protests held across the country against the exercise.

PLA’s patrolling behaviour keeps LAC disturbed, Govt. says

The Line of Actual Control (LAC) has been “disturbed” by the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) patrolling behaviour, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Friday (October 23, 2026) in response to questions about a report in The Hindu on skirmishes along the LAC in Arunachal Pradesh. The report, which had quoted the outgoing Director General of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police Forces (ITBP), Shatrujeet Kapur, expressing concern over “face-offs” underway since July 2026, drew sharp criticism from the Congress.

Nuclear power could more than triple by 2060, UN agency says

The Supreme Court has held in a judgment that ordinary private citizens can file criminal complaints against candidates for giving false information or concealing information while filing their nomination papers for an election. The judgment by a Bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Sheel Nagu said the law does not insist that only public servants or competent authorities were eligible to lodge complaints against electoral candidates.

Punjab House passes resolution against electoral irregularities

The Punjab Assembly on Friday (October 23, 2026) unanimously passed an official resolution seeking an independent inquiry into alleged electoral irregularities and the functioning of the Election Commission under Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Taking part in the discussion on the resolution on Day 2 of the Assembly session, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann blamed the BJP for alleged vote ‘loot’, terming it dangerous for democracy, and demanded the scrapping of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Ebola vaccine trial begins in DR Congo

The first clinical trial of an Ebola vaccine in the outbreak gripping the Democratic Republic of Congo began Friday (October 23, 2026), the head of the World Health Organisation said. The DR Congo’s worst-ever Ebola outbreak has passed the 9,700-case mark, with the number of deaths exceeding 4,600. Among the many challenges facing the response is the lack of any approved vaccines or treatments for the Bundibugyo species of Ebola behind the epidemic.v

CJP leaders appear before Delhi court for surety verification; asked to return on November 3

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka, and Ajinkya Shinde appeared before a Special Executive Magistrate (SEM) court at Delhi’s Mandir Marg police station on Friday (October 23, 2026), two days after Mr. Das and Mr. Ranka were released from Tihar jail following seven days in judicial custody.

MPSC paper ‘leak’: Fourth Commission official arrested, total arrests rise to 13

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged question paper leak in the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) Drug Inspector recruitment examination arrested another commission official from Navi Mumbai on Friday (October 23, 2026) taking the total number of arrests in the case to 13.

Haryana power employees call off strike as government seeks cancellation of private distribution licence

Haryana electricity employees on Friday (Oct. 23) called off their strike with immediate effect after the State government decided to seek a review and cancellation of the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission’s (HERC) order granting a parallel power distribution licence to a private company in Gurugram and Nuh.

M.P. receives investment proposals of over ₹15,400 crore at semiconductor summit

Madhya Pradesh has received investment opportunities worth more than ₹15,400 crore, including a ₹6,415 crore data centre in Gwalior, at a two-day semiconductor summit inaugurated on Friday (October 23, 2026) in Indore to attract business in the State, officials said.