# Today in India: 12 November 2026

2026-11-12T00:31:45+00:00 | Daily Digest | Indian Opinion Desk

12 November 2026 | 14 stories | Updated 12:07 IST

US H-1B grace period plan draws 31,383 comments as submission window closes, Yogi attacks Akhilesh over ‘infiltrator’ remark on Uttarakhand, Maharashtra Congress names Bimol Akoijam to poll panels amid harassment allegations.

## US H-1B grace period plan draws 31,383 comments
World & Diplomacy | 4 sources, 4 neutral
A Trump administration proposal to scrap the 60-day grace period for laid-off H-1B visa holders received 31,383 public comments by Tuesday, 10 November, as the submission period ended. The Department of Homeland Security published the rule on 11 September, arguing that immigration status should stay tied to employment, and that the 2016 grace period is not required by statute. DHS acknowledged the change could leave workers without income or facing relocation costs and immigration proceedings.
Brief: https://indianopinion.org/us-plan-to-scrap-h-1b-grace-period-draws-31000-comments/ (markdown https://indianopinion.org/us-plan-to-scrap-h-1b-grace-period-draws-31000-comments.md)

## New Zealand call up record-breaking pacer Brett Randell for India ODIs
Sports | 5 sources, 5 neutral
New Zealand have added uncapped pacer Brett Randell to their squad for the fourth and fifth ODIs against India. The 31-year-old made history in March 2026 by becoming the first bowler in 254 years of first-class cricket to take five wickets in five consecutive balls, playing for Central Stags against Northern Districts in the Plunket Shield. He has 145 professional caps, including five for New Zealand A, and recently returned from a County Championship stint with Derbyshire.
Brief: https://indianopinion.org/new-zealand-call-up-record-breaking-pacer-brett-randell-for-india-odis/ (markdown https://indianopinion.org/new-zealand-call-up-record-breaking-pacer-brett-randell-for-india-odis.md)

## Yogi hits back at Akhilesh over ‘infiltrator’ remark on Uttarakhand
Politics | 3 sources, 2 neutral, 1 sensationalist
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath launched a sharp counter at Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday, 11 November, over his comment calling Uttarakhand residents ‘infiltrators’. Speaking at the Uttarakhand Mahotsav 2026 in Lucknow’s Pandit Govind Ballabh Pant Upavan, Yogi said Akhilesh’s thinking was ‘narrow and divisive’.
Brief: https://indianopinion.org/yogi-slams-akhilesh-over-infiltrator-remark-on-uttarakhand-residents/ (markdown https://indianopinion.org/yogi-slams-akhilesh-over-infiltrator-remark-on-uttarakhand-residents.md)

## Family of Kerala crash victim moves High Court against minor’s bail
India | 4 sources, 1 government-critical, 3 neutral
Bhadrakeerthi R.J., daughter of Jayabalakrishnan who died on 25 October when a Mercedes allegedly driven by a 17-year-old hit his scooter in Cheranalloor, has filed a criminal review petition before the Kerala High Court challenging the grant of bail to the minor. The petition contests orders of the Juvenile Justice Board and the Children’s Court in Ernakulam, which refused to cancel the bail.
Brief: https://indianopinion.org/kerala-hc-moved-over-bail-to-minor-in-mercedes-crash/ (markdown https://indianopinion.org/kerala-hc-moved-over-bail-to-minor-in-mercedes-crash.md)

## More from today

### Maize-based ethanol offers hit 59% as OMCs receive 19.35 billion litres
Business & Economy | 4 sources, 1 right-leaning, 2 neutral, 1 sensationalist
Oil marketing companies have received ethanol offers totalling 19.35 billion litres for the 2026-27 supply year, nearly double their tender requirement of 11 billion litres, with maize-based ethanol accounting for about 59% of bids. The share is up from 45% last year, driven by the government’s exclusion of sugarcane-based feedstocks after drought hit output, even though the procurement price of maize ethanol was cut by Rs 3 per litre to Rs 68.86.
Brief: https://indianopinion.org/maize-ethanol-offers-jump-37-raising-poultry-feed-cost-fears/ (markdown https://indianopinion.org/maize-ethanol-offers-jump-37-raising-poultry-feed-cost-fears.md)

### India U19 face unbeaten Afghanistan in Asia Cup semifinal
Sports | 5 sources, 5 neutral
India U19 face Afghanistan U19 in the second semifinal of the ACC Men’s U19 Asia Cup 2026 on Thursday, 12 November at the Al Amerat Cricket Ground in Oman, starting at 10:30 AM IST. The winner advances to the final on 14 November, where they will meet the winner of the first semifinal between Pakistan U19 and Bangladesh U19. Afghanistan topped Group B with three consecutive wins and have the best net run rate (+3.176) among all teams.
Brief: https://indianopinion.org/india-u19-face-afghanistan-u19-in-asia-cup-semi-final-on-12-november/ (markdown https://indianopinion.org/india-u19-face-afghanistan-u19-in-asia-cup-semi-final-on-12-november.md)

### CCTV shows Faridabad neighbour murdering ex-Tech Mahindra executive
India | 5 sources, 5 neutral
Fresh CCTV footage captures the 5 November murder of former Tech Mahindra regional head Paramjeet Dhankhar in Faridabad. The clip shows neighbour Monu Sharma calling Dhankhar down over a parking dispute, arguing for about four minutes, then firing 15 to 16 rounds from his licenced pistol. Dhankhar sustained eight to nine bullet injuries (India Today) or three to four (Times of India) and died on the spot.
Brief: https://indianopinion.org/cctv-shows-faridabad-neighbour-shot-ex-tech-mahindra-executive-15-times/ (markdown https://indianopinion.org/cctv-shows-faridabad-neighbour-shot-ex-tech-mahindra-executive-15-times.md)

### Oil prices drop over $1 on peace talk hopes
Business & Economy | 5 sources, 5 neutral
Oil prices fell more than $1 on Thursday, 12 November as hopes for progress in Middle East and Russia-Ukraine peace talks pressured markets. Brent futures lost $1.14, or 1.2%, to $91.62 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate fell $1.04 to $85.49. CNBC-TV18 reported Brent at $92.46 and WTI at $86.39, reflecting snapshot differences in volatile trading. Iranian security chief Mohsen Rezaei said Iran would not allow enriched nuclear material to leave the country and warned of consequences for any new US strikes.
Brief: https://indianopinion.org/oil-prices-slip-as-peace-talk-hopes-weigh-on-crude-markets/ (markdown https://indianopinion.org/oil-prices-slip-as-peace-talk-hopes-weigh-on-crude-markets.md)

### Congress puts Bimol Akoijam on Manipur poll panels amid harassment case
Politics | 7 sources, 3 government-critical, 3 neutral, 1 sensationalist
The Congress on Wednesday, 11 November, named Inner Manipur MP A Bimol Akoijam, dismissed by JNU on 9 October after 11 students alleged sexual harassment, as co-chairperson of the manifesto committee and a member of the campaign and state election committees for the upcoming Manipur assembly elections. Party president Mallikarjun Kharge approved the panels. The BJP attacked the appointments as ‘anti-women’. National general secretary Smriti Irani said the move exposed the gap between the Congress’s slogans and its actions.
Brief: https://indianopinion.org/congress-puts-akoijam-in-manipur-poll-panels-bjp-cries-anti-women/ (markdown https://indianopinion.org/congress-puts-akoijam-in-manipur-poll-panels-bjp-cries-anti-women.md)

### Adani Group and Codelco to develop Kaburkaala copper project in Chile
Business & Economy | 5 sources, 5 neutral
Chile’s state-owned copper producer Codelco has signed an agreement with Adani Group’s Kutch Copper Ltd to develop the Kaburkaala copper exploration project in the Antofagasta region of northern Chile. Adani will finance the project, which could provide long-term copper supply for its smelting complex at Mundra, Gujarat. The agreement was signed during LME Week 2026 in London in the presence of KCL Director Jeet Adani and Codelco Chairman Bernardo Fontaine.
Brief: https://indianopinion.org/adani-to-finance-chile-copper-project-for-mundra-smelter-supply/ (markdown https://indianopinion.org/adani-to-finance-chile-copper-project-for-mundra-smelter-supply.md)

## Useful today

### SPG tightens security, traffic curbs ahead of PM Modi's Mysuru, Bengaluru visit
Politics | 4 sources, 4 neutral
The Special Protection Group has taken control of the planetarium at the foot of Chamundi Hill in Mysuru ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit on Friday, 13 November, for the inauguration of the COSMOS centre and Bharat Vana Miyawaki Mini Forest. Iron barricades are being installed on main roads. A final mock convoy drill is expected on Thursday, 12 November.
Brief: https://indianopinion.org/spg-takes-over-mysuru-planetarium-ahead-of-pm-modis-visit/ (markdown https://indianopinion.org/spg-takes-over-mysuru-planetarium-ahead-of-pm-modis-visit.md)

### CAT 2026 to use AI face recognition on experimental basis
Technology | 2 sources, 2 neutral
IIM Indore will use artificial intelligence-based facial recognition to verify candidates at CAT 2026 exam centres, director Himanshu Rai said. The system will run alongside existing human verification of admit cards and will not deny entry if it fails to recognise a candidate. The institute will assess its accuracy after the exam by comparing machine and human identification results.
Brief: https://indianopinion.org/cat-2026-to-use-ai-face-recognition-for-first-time/ (markdown https://indianopinion.org/cat-2026-to-use-ai-face-recognition-for-first-time.md)

### Fuel rates steady on 12 November, CNG up in seven cities
Business & Economy | 3 sources, 3 neutral
Petrol and diesel prices remained unchanged across Indian cities on Thursday, 12 November, while CNG rates rose in seven of 11 tracked locations. Mathura recorded the largest CNG increase, climbing by Rs 2 per kg to Rs 104. Bengaluru, Bharatpur, Dewas, Meerut and Sonipat saw a Rs 1 per kg rise, and Firozabad recorded a 40-paise increase. New Delhi saw no change in any fuel price.
Brief: https://indianopinion.org/cng-price-jumps-rs-2-in-mathura-petrol-and-diesel-unchanged/ (markdown https://indianopinion.org/cng-price-jumps-rs-2-in-mathura-petrol-and-diesel-unchanged.md)

### MPESB reschedules Naib Tehsildar exam to 10 January 2027
Governance | 2 sources, 2 neutral
The Madhya Pradesh Employees Selection Board has rescheduled the departmental Naib Tehsildar recruitment exam 2026 from 14 November 2026 to 10 January 2027. The change, announced on Wednesday, 11 November 2026, follows a demand from the Patwari Sangh and consent from the revenue department. The limited competitive exam will fill Naib Tehsildar posts from patwari, revenue inspector and clerical staff working in revenue offices across the state.
Brief: https://indianopinion.org/mp-naib-tehsildar-exam-rescheduled-to-10-january-2027/ (markdown https://indianopinion.org/mp-naib-tehsildar-exam-rescheduled-to-10-january-2027.md)

## The closing thought

The day’s news offers a mix of administrative drift and political sparring. The H-1B rule change, still open for comment, could reshape thousands of careers if enacted, but its fate lies with the next administration. In India, political rhetoric over Uttarakhand and a rearguard action against a juvenile’s bail in Kerala show the durable pull of local grievance. The real marker to watch is the ethanol bidding spike: if maize supply holds, India’s fuel blending targets may slip from the sugar cycle’s grip.

## Earlier digests

- [12 November 2026](https://indianopinion.org/today-in-india-12-november-2026.md)
- [11 November 2026](https://indianopinion.org/today-in-india-11-november-2026.md)
- [10 November 2026](https://indianopinion.org/today-in-india-10-november-2026.md)
- [9 November 2026](https://indianopinion.org/today-in-india-9-november-2026.md)
- [8 November 2026](https://indianopinion.org/today-in-india-8-november-2026.md)
- [7 November 2026](https://indianopinion.org/today-in-india-7-november-2026.md)
- [6 November 2026](https://indianopinion.org/today-in-india-6-november-2026.md)

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