Story Of The Day

Bengal: Let the Left Book Stalls Be

October 20, 2026

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People Are Talking About Junk Food Near Schools

News Snippets

  • India–New Zealand free trade agreement takes effect on Vijayadashami, giving 100% of Indian exports duty-free access to New Zealand, according to the government’s announcement
  • US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is due in Mumbai today for talks with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, with trade, energy security, technology and defence cooperation among the key issues. He is also expected to pay tribute to the victims of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks
  • Three people were killed and three injured when suspected militants ambushed a group collecting firewood near the border of Manipur's Imphal East and Kangpokpi districts. The killings triggered protests in Imphal, where demonstrators placed two victims' bodies outside Chief Minister Y. Khemchand Singh's residence; markets and shops shut amid renewed security concerns
  • A Delhi court extended the judicial custody of Cockroach Janta Party leaders Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das by two days at the police's request for further questioning
  • India rejected a resolution on Jammu and Kashmir adopted at the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation's Council of Foreign Ministers' meeting in Baghdad, describing its references to India as biased and false. The Ministry of External Affairs accused Pakistan of using the 57-member grouping to advance its position and reiterated that Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are integral parts of India
  • Samyukta Kisan Morcha has decided to join the nationwide protest against the SIR, with the first rally on October 23
  • The government directed oil marketing companies to reduce sugar diversion for ethanol production to zero for the 2026–27 supply year, excluding ethanol made from sugarcane juice, syrup and B-heavy molasses from the latest tender. The move is intended to increase domestic sugar availability and ease prices, which have risen sharply ahead of the festive season, but it could reduce returns on sugar producers' ethanol investments
  • India's National Cybercrime Threat Analytics Unit warned of a rise in online financial fraud involving manipulated videos of the Prime Minister, finance ministers and chief ministers promoting fictitious government schemes. Fraudsters direct victims to fake websites or messaging accounts and demand processing fees or induce them to approve fraudulent UPI transactions, the unit said
  • The rupee closed almost unchanged at ₹94.925 against the US dollar on Monday after early gains faded as importers bought dollars and domestic equities weakened
  • Indian equities fell sharply on Monday, with the Sensex declining 876.37 points, or 1.17%, to close at 73,852.90 and the Nifty 50 losing 1.11% to finish at 22,888.95. Private-sector banks and information technology stocks led the decline as investors assessed quarterly earnings and elevated crude oil prices
  • India won 11 medals, including four gold, five silver and two bronze, on the opening day of the Asian Para Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. Mona Agarwal won gold in the women's 10-metre air rifle event, Nishad Kumar topped the men's T47 long jump, Soumya won the women's 1,500 metres, and Rinku Hooda secured gold in the men's F46 javelin
  • Indian para-archer Sheetal Devi equalled the world record in the women's compound qualification round at the Asian Para Games, scoring 704 out of 720 and setting a new Asian record. The 19-year-old also helped India top the women's compound team qualification standings with a combined score of 1,379 alongside Payal
  • Ranji Trophy matches produced major batting performances on Monday, with Mumbai's Sarfaraz Khan scoring an unbeaten 139 against Himachal Pradesh and Delhi's Ayush Badoni making 217 against Gujarat after Priyansh Arya fell one run short of a double century
  • A new pressure group, calling itself Lal Hit Janata Party (reference to the cockroach repellant Lal Hit), held its first meeting in Delhi on Sunday. Formed to oppose Cockroach Janata Party and the Congress, the group said the CJP is destroying the nation's institutions
  • Kolkata Police arrested seven people, including office-bearers of the Chorbagan Durga Puja committee and private security personnel, in connection with Saturday's stampede that killed 19 people and injured 25. A case has been registered over alleged failures in crowd management, safety arrangements and the pandal's structural setup
Actor Tiger Shroff attacked: Unidentified gunmen on motorcycle fired 6 rounds at the car carrying Tiger Shroff, his driver and a fan sustained injuries /////// Tiger shroff escaped with minor abrasions /////// Lawrence Bishnoi gang members claimed responsibility

Politics

Tiranga Rally Is Excellent. Breaking The Law Was Not

Tiranga Rally Is Excellent. Breaking The Law Was Not
Illegal Entry In Prohibited Place Is Not Patriotism

Illegal Entry In Prohibited Place Is Not Patriotism
Cribbing Will Not Help CJP: Pick a Site and Comply

Cribbing Will Not Help CJP: Pick a Site and Comply
The Movement That Read the Charge Sheet Before It Was Filed

The Movement That Read the Charge Sheet Before It Was Filed
Anarchy, Peaceful Protest And Democracy

Anarchy, Peaceful Protest And Democracy
A Rally Refused Is Still a Rally

A Rally Refused Is Still a Rally

More on Politics ...

Business

A Quarter-Point Hike and a Changed Vocabulary: Reading the RBI's October Resolution

A Quarter-Point Hike and a Changed Vocabulary: Reading the RBI's October Resolution
Mediclaim Co-Payment: Don't Make Patients Pay for the Insurer-Hospital Fight

Mediclaim Co-Payment: Don't Make Patients Pay for the Insurer-Hospital Fight
GST Crosses Rs 2 lakh Crore Again. The Growth Is Real, But So Is The Import Effect

GST Crosses Rs 2 lakh Crore Again. The Growth Is Real, But So Is The Import Effect
Rs 20 on a Rs 500 Meal Draws No Protest. Rs 8 on a Rs 2,000 UPI Payment Triggers a Revolt

Rs 20 on a Rs 500 Meal Draws No Protest. Rs 8 on a Rs 2,000 UPI Payment Triggers a Revolt
Stocks Tumble As Investors Become Nervous

Stocks Tumble As Investors Become Nervous
Why the MDR on UPI Is Necessary and Why the Government Should Not Roll It Back

Why the MDR on UPI Is Necessary and Why the Government Should Not Roll It Back

More on Business ...

Law

Grounds Of Arrest: The Supreme Court's Rule Must Be Followed By The Police On The Ground

Grounds Of Arrest: The Supreme Court's Rule Must Be Followed By The Police On The Ground
When Street Power Tries to Override Constitutional Process

When Street Power Tries to Override Constitutional Process
A Split Bench Gives the Election Commission Law a Constitution Bench

A Split Bench Gives the Election Commission Law a Constitution Bench
When a Bank Debits the Wrong Account

When a Bank Debits the Wrong Account
Brij Bhushan Walks Free. The System He Represents Does Not

Brij Bhushan Walks Free. The System He Represents Does Not
The FIR Theatre: What CJP Actually Wants From the Supreme Court

The FIR Theatre: What CJP Actually Wants From the Supreme Court

More on Law ...

From The States

Bengal: Let the Left Book Stalls Be

Bengal: Let the Left Book Stalls Be
Kolkata Chor Bagan Durga Puja Tragedy: Accountability Must Be Complete, Fair and Free of Politics

Kolkata Chor Bagan Durga Puja Tragedy: Accountability Must Be Complete, Fair and Free of Politics
Bankipur Falls: The Seat BJP Could Not Afford to Lose Has Fallen

Bankipur Falls: The Seat BJP Could Not Afford to Lose Has Fallen
Bengal Won the Case. Karnataka Built the Policy.

Bengal Won the Case. Karnataka Built the Policy.
Bengal: 21st July: One Date, One Event, Three Claimants

Bengal: 21st July: One Date, One Event, Three Claimants
TMC Rebels' Merger with NCPI May Trigger a Legal Battle Beyond West Bengal

TMC Rebels' Merger with NCPI May Trigger a Legal Battle Beyond West Bengal

More on From The States ...

Governance

A Rally Refused Is Still a Rally

A Rally Refused Is Still a Rally
A Quarter-Point Hike and a Changed Vocabulary: Reading the RBI's October Resolution

A Quarter-Point Hike and a Changed Vocabulary: Reading the RBI's October Resolution
The Defence Put Forward By The Election Commission Answers a Question Nobody Asked

The Defence Put Forward By The Election Commission Answers a Question Nobody Asked
Why the MDR on UPI Is Necessary and Why the Government Should Not Roll It Back

Why the MDR on UPI Is Necessary and Why the Government Should Not Roll It Back
India's 7.8% GDP Number: The Manipulation Charge Fails. The Reliability Question Does Not.

India's 7.8% GDP Number: The Manipulation Charge Fails. The Reliability Question Does Not.
When the System Fails, the Cyber Fraud Victim Pays

When the System Fails, the Cyber Fraud Victim Pays

More on Governance ...

Education

NEET-UG Reform: The Twenty-Seven Percent That Mattered

NEET-UG Reform: The Twenty-Seven Percent That Mattered
The Minister Has Gone. The Problem Hasn't

The Minister Has Gone. The Problem Hasn't
A Movement the Government Bet Would Fizzle

A Movement the Government Bet Would Fizzle
Banning Telegram Will Not Stop Paper Leaks Because The Problem Lies Elsewhere

Banning Telegram Will Not Stop Paper Leaks Because The Problem Lies Elsewhere
NEET 2026: The Rot Runs Deeper Than a Leaked Paper

NEET 2026: The Rot Runs Deeper Than a Leaked Paper
Clearing CAT With Over 99 Percentile Is Not Enough And No One Tells You Why

Clearing CAT With Over 99 Percentile Is Not Enough And No One Tells You Why

More on Education ...

Society

Kolkata Chor Bagan Durga Puja Tragedy: Accountability Must Be Complete, Fair and Free of Politics

Kolkata Chor Bagan Durga Puja Tragedy: Accountability Must Be Complete, Fair and Free of Politics
Brij Bhushan Walks Free. The System He Represents Does Not

Brij Bhushan Walks Free. The System He Represents Does Not
Rent Me For A Day: What The Internet's Latest Outrage Actually Reveals

Rent Me For A Day: What The Internet's Latest Outrage Actually Reveals
AI Did Not Invent Exploitation, It Industrialised It.

AI Did Not Invent Exploitation, It Industrialised It.
The Nanny in the Machine: Bengaluru's Daycare Horror Is a System Failure

The Nanny in the Machine: Bengaluru's Daycare Horror Is a System Failure
When Murder Masquerades as Misadventure: The Lohagad Case and What It Tells Us About Consent, Deception, and Accountability

When Murder Masquerades as Misadventure: The Lohagad Case and What It Tells Us About Consent, Deception, and Accountability

More on Society ...

Sports

As The Captain Promised, Indian Women Win The Hockey Gold

As The Captain Promised, Indian Women Win The Hockey Gold
A Nation Cheering Bronze While Its Golds Vanish

A Nation Cheering Bronze While Its Golds Vanish
Two Runs in Sano: Japan Lost the Match but Put India on Trial

Two Runs in Sano: Japan Lost the Match but Put India on Trial
Duleep Trophy: East Won The Trophy But Could Have Won The Final Too

Duleep Trophy: East Won The Trophy But Could Have Won The Final Too
Beyond the Podium: What Glasgow 2026 Really Told Us About Indian Sport

Beyond the Podium: What Glasgow 2026 Really Told Us About Indian Sport
Anahat Singh Wins the Title Indian Squash Never Could

Anahat Singh Wins the Title Indian Squash Never Could

More on Sports ...

Health

Mediclaim Co-Payment: Don't Make Patients Pay for the Insurer-Hospital Fight

Mediclaim Co-Payment: Don't Make Patients Pay for the Insurer-Hospital Fight
Sun Pharma Withdraws 11 Eye Care Products: Silence on Cause Raises Questions

Sun Pharma Withdraws 11 Eye Care Products: Silence on Cause Raises Questions
Health in 2025: A Year of Warnings, Strain and Deferred Reform

Health in 2025: A Year of Warnings, Strain and Deferred Reform
Acne Drug As Baldness Cure? The Science Behind The Hype

Acne Drug As Baldness Cure? The Science Behind The Hype
A Wake-Up Call For India: For The First Time, There Are More Overweight Than Underweight Children

A Wake-Up Call For India: For The First Time, There Are More Overweight Than Underweight Children
Vacant Posts At National Medical Commission Show Misgovernance

Vacant Posts At National Medical Commission Show Misgovernance

More on Health ...

Foreign Relations

Dialogue Is Not a Substitute for Dismantling Terror

Dialogue Is Not a Substitute for Dismantling Terror
Why India Was Right to Stay Out of the Iran-US Imbroglio

Why India Was Right to Stay Out of the Iran-US Imbroglio
India Watches, Waits, and Withstands - Diplomatic Silence and the Economic Test of a Prolonged Gulf War

India Watches, Waits, and Withstands - Diplomatic Silence and the Economic Test of a Prolonged Gulf War
PM Modi As Mediator In West Asia

PM Modi As Mediator In West Asia
Bangladesh In Turmoil: India Shows Restraint

Bangladesh In Turmoil: India Shows Restraint
Foreign Relations in 2025: Trade Friction, Troubled Neighbours, and Strategic Hedging

Foreign Relations in 2025: Trade Friction, Troubled Neighbours, and Strategic Hedging

More on Foreign Relations ...

Cyber Scams

Cybercriminals Have Weaponised the Festive Season. Vigilance Cannot Take a Holiday.

Cybercriminals Have Weaponised the Festive Season. Vigilance Cannot Take a Holiday.
The Rs 5 E-Challan Scam Shows How Cybercriminals Are Weaponising Fear

The Rs 5 E-Challan Scam Shows How Cybercriminals Are Weaponising Fear
India Is Now Asia-Pacific's Biggest Mobile Fraud Target. The State's Response Remains Cosmetic

India Is Now Asia-Pacific's Biggest Mobile Fraud Target. The State's Response Remains Cosmetic
When the System Fails, the Cyber Fraud Victim Pays

When the System Fails, the Cyber Fraud Victim Pays
The Census Has Its Own Doppelganger Now

The Census Has Its Own Doppelganger Now
The Taxman's Doppelganger: How India's ITR Filing Deadline Became a Phishing Season

The Taxman's Doppelganger: How India's ITR Filing Deadline Became a Phishing Season

More on Cyber Scams ...

Everything Else

Rs 20 on a Rs 500 Meal Draws No Protest. Rs 8 on a Rs 2,000 UPI Payment Triggers a Revolt

Rs 20 on a Rs 500 Meal Draws No Protest. Rs 8 on a Rs 2,000 UPI Payment Triggers a Revolt
Kangana Ranaut's War on 'Generation Gutter'

Kangana Ranaut's War on 'Generation Gutter'
When the Press Becomes the Enemy

When the Press Becomes the Enemy
Rent Me For A Day: What The Internet's Latest Outrage Actually Reveals

Rent Me For A Day: What The Internet's Latest Outrage Actually Reveals
AI Did Not Invent Exploitation, It Industrialised It.

AI Did Not Invent Exploitation, It Industrialised It.
E20 Isn't the Issue. Public Trust Is

E20 Isn't the Issue. Public Trust Is

More on Everything Else ...

Editorials

Lawrence Bishnoi: Locked Up, Not Locked Down

Lawrence Bishnoi: Locked Up, Not Locked Down

 Eighteen lives lost at Chor Bagan. Kolkata must mourn first and learn second.

Eighteen lives lost at Chor Bagan. Kolkata must mourn first and learn second.

In Depth

Grounds Of Arrest: The Supreme Court's Rule Must Be Followed By The Police On The Ground

Grounds Of Arrest: The Supreme Court's Rule Must Be Followed By The Police On The Ground

Editor's Pick

For the Goonj to Reverberate, Rahul Gandhi Must Take Regional Parties Along

For the Goonj to Reverberate, Rahul Gandhi Must Take Regional Parties Along
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