Jantar Mantar no longer legal protest site; three alternative sites designated by Delhi Police
The Delhi Police on Monday (October 12, 2026) announced that Jantar Mantar has been de-notified as a protest venue. The decision was based on recommendations by a committee formed by the Ministry of Home Affairs to examine alternative proper venues for protests. “Three new venues viz Ramlila Ground, Burari Ground and CBD Ground, East Delhi have been designated as new venues for organising protest/demonstrations,” the police said in a statement. The move comes amid heightened security arrangements in the national capital following calls to gather for protests at Jantar Mantar.
Rahul Gandhi moves Supreme Court seeking independent panel to probe SIR, decision-making
Leaders of the INDIA bloc are marching from the Constitution Club towards the Supreme Court in New Delhi on Monday, protesting against the ECI and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged electoral roll irregularities and “vote theft”. Rahul Gandhi has also moved the Supreme Court seeking an independent committee to examine the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process and the ECI’s decision-making, along with a review of online voter registration and services such as the ECINet portal.
Democratic and political protests must take place, but SC must not be dragged into it: CJI
Chief Justice of India Surya Kant said on Monday (October 12, 2026) that peaceful democratic and political protests need to take place, but the “Supreme Court should not be dragged into it” or become a site for agitations. “Democratic activities must take place peacefully, but the Supreme Court’s functioning should go on smoothly… We are not concerned about any political party… The court should not be dragged into anything,” Chief Justice Kant said in open court
Keralam Assembly passes resolution seeking removal of CEC Gyanesh Kumar, steps to restore credibility of ECI
The Keralam Legislative Assembly on Monday (October 12, 2026) passed a resolution seeking the removal of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar and steps to improve transparency in the functioning of the Election Commission of India (ECI). The ruling Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) and the Opposition CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) supported the resolution moved by Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan.
Rajya Sabha MP moves SC alleging illegal detention, ‘secret transportation’, ‘torture’ on Oct 11
Rajya Sabha MP A.A. Rahim moved the Supreme Court on Monday (October 12, 2026) against the illegal detention, “secret transportation” in specialised compartmentalised vehicles, and custodial torture of Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) office bearers, Central Committee members and activists by the police on October 11, 2026 at Connaught Place in the national capital.
Corruption case: Supreme Court directs no coercive action be taken against people linked to Punjab govt
The Supreme Court on Monday (October 12, 2026) directed no coercive action to be taken on the basis of a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) FIR registered in connection with corruption allegations linked to the Officer on Special Duty to the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. A Bench headed by Justice M.M. Sundresh however refused to stay the FIR while issuing notice on the petition filed by the State of Punjab
Pinarayi Vijayan, kin move Kerala High Court in appeal against direction to register FIR in CMRL Exalogic payoff case
Keralam’s Leader of Opposition and former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has moved a Division Bench of the Kerala High Court, aggrieved by a Single Bench direction to register a First Information Report (FIR) against him and other accused in the CMRL Exalogic payoff case. The Division Bench of Justices K. Natarajan and Johnson John admitted the petitions filed by Mr. Vijayan, his daughter T. Veena and his son-in-law and former Public Works Department Minister P. A. Mohammad Riyas.
Sunil Bharti Mittal conferred France’s highest civilian award
Bharti Enterprises founder and chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal has been conferred the highest civilian award in France, Chevalier de l’Ordre national de la Légion d’Honneur (Knight of the National Order of the Legion of Honour), by French President Emmanuel Macron. Mr. Mittal has been conferred the distinction in recognition of his longstanding commitment to deepening economic ties between India and France and his outstanding achievements in telecommunications and digital infrastructure, a company statement said.
Americans Robert E. Hall, Michael Woodford win Economics Nobel 2026
The Economics Nobel is being awarded to Robert E. Hall of Stanford University and Michael Woodford of Columbia University for “microeconomic foundations of macroeconomic stabilisation”, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said on Monday (October 12, 2026). The prestigious award is the final prize to be given out this year and is worth 12 million Swedish crowns ($1.2 million).
Trump announces Ukraine and Russia have agreed to an ‘energy ceasefire’
U.S. President Donald Trump announced an immediate “energy ceasefire” between Russia and Ukraine on October 11, 2026, though Kyiv reported ongoing Russian strikes on energy sites, including a power plant in Kharkiv, shortly after the statement. While Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed the announcement as positive news and expressed readiness to halt strikes on Russian energy infrastructure if Moscow did the same, Moscow did not immediately comment on the agreement.
Turkiye, Pakistan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia condemn Houthi attacks on Riyadh airport
Turkiye, Pakistan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia condemned attacks by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi militants on Riyadh’s international airport, saying they were a “dangerous escalation that cannot be justified or accepted under any pretext.” One person was killed and nearly a dozen were hurt in a new attack on Riyadh’s international airport on Sunday (October 11, 2026), Saudi authorities said, a day after a strike claimed by the Houthis that killed 13 people and wounded more than 300.
Oil falls on hopes Russia-Ukraine energy ceasefire will boost supplies
Oil prices slipped on Monday (October 12, 2026) on expectations of more Russian supplies after U.S. President Donald Trump said Ukraine and Russia had agreed to halt attacks on each other’s energy facilities following a U.S. diesel-supply deal with Moscow. Brent crude futures fell 11 cents, or 0.11%, to $104.61 a barrel by 0627 GMT while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was at $91.36 a barrel, down 49 cents, or 0.53%. Both benchmarks were down more than 1% earlier in the session.