Now Reading: Today in India: 1 October 2026
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Today in India: 1 October 2026
Eight Pune coaching students drowned at a Maharashtra beach. The Supreme Court stayed an Ahmedabad blasts convict’s execution. Shubman Gill hit the fastest ODI double century as India chased a record 406.
8 Pune coaching students drown at Diveagar beach
Eight students from Winners Academy, a private coaching class in Alandi, Pune, drowned at Diveagar beach in Raigad district on Thursday. The group of 48, including 25 boys, 17 girls and six teachers, had gone on a picnic when the Class XI and XII students entered the sea and misjudged the depth and current, police said. The bodies were recovered.
4 sources, 4 neutral
Supreme Court stays execution of Ahmedabad blasts convict
The Supreme Court on Thursday stayed the death sentence of Indian Mujahideen operative Ahmed Bawa, one of 38 convicts sentenced to death for the 2008 Ahmedabad serial bomb blasts. A bench of Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and Augustine George Masih issued notice to the Gujarat government, called for trial court records, and stayed the execution. Barelvi’s counsel argued he was ‘convicted totally on the basis of conspiracy’ while Solicitor General Tushar Mehta called the case ‘serious’.
8 sources, 8 neutral
Shubman Gill hits fastest ODI double ton in record chase
India captain Shubman Gill scored an unbeaten 223 off 133 balls, the fastest ODI double century in history, as India chased down West Indies’ 406-run target in Guwahati on Wednesday. Gill reached 200 in 117 deliveries, surpassing Ishan Kishan’s record of 126 balls. He hit 26 fours and eight sixes at a strike rate of 167.67, and Rohit Sharma made 101 off 75 balls in an opening stand of 255, the highest for India in an ODI chase.
3 sources, 1 government-critical, 2 neutral
ICC allows pink ball in daytime Tests
The International Cricket Council on Thursday announced changes to playing conditions across all formats, effective for all international series starting on or after that date. The most significant change allows the use of pink balls in daytime Test matches by mutual agreement between teams as a trial to reduce loss of play due to bad light. The decision must be made before the start of the match and cannot be changed afterwards.
3 sources, 3 neutral
More from today
PM Modi urges UPSC to test motivation, not just knowledge
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday urged recruitment agencies like the UPSC to adopt selection parameters that test not only academic knowledge but also an aspirant’s motivation for joining the civil services. Addressing the UPSC centenary celebration at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, Modi said the purpose of government recruitment should be to bring people into public service rather than public office. He insisted every selection process be tested against the dual criteria of prioritising the nation and the citizen.
3 sources, 3 neutral
Washington Sundar out of India T20I squad, Naman Dhir in
Washington Sundar has been withdrawn from India’s T20I squad for the five-match series against West Indies starting on 6 October. The BCCI said the decision was made with the upcoming away Test series against New Zealand in mind, and Sundar will play red-ball cricket for Tamil Nadu in the Ranji Trophy, which begins on 11 October. Naman Dhir, who recently made his ODI debut, has been named as Sundar’s replacement.
3 sources, 2 neutral, 1 sensationalist
Gambhir says Guwahati pitch unfair after record chase
India head coach Gautam Gambhir criticised the batting-friendly pitch at Guwahati’s Barsapara Cricket Stadium after India chased a record 406 against West Indies on Wednesday, winning by eight wickets and sealing the series 2-0. Gambhir told Star Sports: ‘This is not cricket, this is only batting.’ He said wickets offering so little to bowlers were ‘not fair’ and called for a better contest between bat and ball.
7 sources, 7 neutral
Rupee falls below 96 per dollar as crude oil climbs
The rupee breached the 96-per-dollar mark on Tuesday, opening at 96.03 and falling to 96.13 against the US dollar. The currency closed at 95.97 on Monday. Elevated crude oil prices and persistent foreign fund outflows drove the depreciation, forex traders said. Brent crude traded 1.51% higher at $106.87 a barrel amid concerns over supply disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz. The dollar index rose 0.04% to 101.23. Foreign institutional investors sold equities worth Rs 5,353.22 crore on a net basis on Monday.
3 sources, 3 neutral
SC orders Delhi govt to enforce free EWS treatment at all hospitals
The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the Delhi government to ensure that every private hospital allotted land at concessional rates provides free treatment to economically weaker section patients. A bench of justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and Shree Chandrashekhar issued the direction while finalising guidelines to prevent denial of free care. The court noted that hospitals beyond the 51 already listed by the Delhi government may also be bound by the lease clause.
2 sources, 1 government-critical, 1 neutral
SC dismisses TMC plea to operate frozen bank accounts
The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed a plea by the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC faction seeking permission to operate four debit-frozen bank accounts, declining to interfere with a Calcutta High Court order. A bench of Justices MM Sundresh and PB Varale said it was not inclined to exercise jurisdiction under Article 136 and asked the high court to expedite the hearing. The court noted that the Election Commission has frozen the party symbol and the larger question of who is entitled to the funds remains pending.
8 sources, 7 neutral, 1 sensationalist
Useful today
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Delhi winter pollution plan: WFH, construction ban
The Delhi government’s winter pollution-control framework runs from November 1, 2026 to February 28, 2027. Measures include doubled parking charges (except DMRC lots), staggered office timings, and a 50% work-from-home mandate for government and private offices. Dust-generating demolition and outdoor civil construction are banned from November 1 to January 31, with a complete construction ban from December 10 to January 20.
12 sources, 11 neutral, 1 sensationalist
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Apple Pay launches in India with Axis Bank cards
Apple Pay launched in India on 30 September, initially supporting Axis Bank-issued Visa and Mastercard credit cards. Eligible iPhones must be XR or later with iOS 18 or later, Apple Watch support starts with Series 6 running watchOS 11 or later paired with an iPhone XR or later. To set up, open the Wallet app, tap the plus button, or add a card through the Axis Bank app.
3 sources, 3 neutral
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Orange alert for three Kerala districts
The IMD issued an orange alert for Pathanamthitta, Kottayam and Idukki districts in Kerala on 1 October, with very heavy rain forecast. A yellow alert has been issued for six other Kerala districts. Isolated heavy rain is also forecast for Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Karaikal, coastal and south interior Karnataka, and parts of the northeast.
6 sources, 6 neutral
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Commercial LPG, ATF prices hiked from 1 October
Oil marketing companies raised the price of 19-kg commercial LPG cylinders from 1 October. Delhi saw an increase of Rs 62.50 to Rs 2,810, Mumbai’s cylinder rose by Rs 63 to Rs 2,764, Chennai by Rs 66.50 to Rs 2,983, and Patna recorded the steepest hike of Rs 71.50 to Rs 3,100.50.
9 sources, 9 neutral
The closing thought
The diversely stark news of drowning deaths in Maharashtra, a postponed Ahmedabad bombings execution, and a revolutionary cricket run chase illustrate a day of sharp contrast. As West Bengal's leadership dispute reaches apex court over bank accounts and Delhi tackles pollution for winter, the government’s plan for rigorous UPSC reforms and pressure on hospitals for free care show state capacity under debate. The rupee's slide and energy costs loom as deeper challenges ahead.
This digest is refreshed through the day at indianopinion.org/today.
This digest was compiled and written by AI from the day’s Indian Opinion coverage.
