Now Reading: Today in India: 12 October 2026
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Today in India: 12 October 2026
Opposition leaders and journalists were detained on the second day of protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, triggering a Supreme Court order to restore normal services. The RBI opened a dollar window for oil firms, and an IndiGo flight was diverted after a power bank fire.
CJP founders detained, 500 held in Delhi protest
Cockroach Janta Party founders Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were detained at Delhi airport on Saturday as they headed to Jantar Mantar to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in electoral roll revision. Prakash Ambedkar backed the agitation, calling the government ‘totally scared’ and comparing restrictions to an ‘Emergency-like situation’.
18 sources, 5 government-critical, 1 left-leaning, 10 neutral, 1 sensationalist, 1 opinion
CJI Surya Kant declines INDIA bloc meeting
Chief Justice of India Surya Kant has declined a meeting request from INDIA bloc leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge for Monday, 12 October, multiple outlets report. The CJI said similar matters are sub judice before the Supreme Court and that the court cannot interfere with executive functioning on its administrative side.
23 sources, 23 neutral
Delhi Police detains a dozen journalists despite SC order
Delhi Police detained about a dozen journalists on Sunday, the second day of protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Reporters from The Hindu, Hindustan Times, Indian Express, The Quint, and Malayalam channels were among those held, some for hours despite showing valid press cards. Press bodies condemned the detentions as a ‘blatant attack on press freedom’ and demanded a public apology.
21 sources, 14 government-critical, 6 neutral, 1 sensationalist
Power bank fire forces IndiGo flight to Hyderabad
An IndiGo flight from Delhi to Chennai was diverted to Hyderabad on Sunday after a passenger’s power bank caught fire mid-air. Flight 6E 6115 landed safely at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport around 3.15 pm. Cabin crew extinguished the blaze, and an alternate aircraft continued the journey to Chennai. The flight departed Hyderabad around 5.45 pm and was expected to reach Chennai by 7.10 pm.
29 sources, 27 neutral, 2 sensationalist
More from today
Dhruv Rathee detained from Gurugram, calls it kidnapping
YouTuber Dhruv Rathee was detained from his Gurugram residence on 10 October by plainclothes police and released late that night, hours after the CJP protest was prevented. Police said Rathee refused warnings not to join an unauthorised gathering and was held under Section 163 of the BNSS. Rathee called his detention a ‘kidnapping’.
25 sources, 23 neutral, 2 sensationalist
Rajya Sabha MP John Brittas alleges assault, hospitalised
CPI(M) Rajya Sabha MP John Brittas was detained and allegedly assaulted by security personnel on Sunday at Connaught Place while speaking to journalists about the protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Brittas said he was dragged by CRPF personnel, pinned to a seat, and choked inside a police bus. He was released after DCP Sachin Sharma intervened and then admitted to RML Hospital.
19 sources, 5 government-critical, 14 neutral
SC sets tests for state on detentions, orders normal services
The Supreme Court on Sunday ordered immediate removal of Section 163 BNSS notice boards outside the Supreme Court and High Court premises, and directed that metro and rail services function normally and professionals not be impeded. The bench of Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana issued notice on a contempt plea against senior officials for alleged non-compliance with its 9 October order on transport curbs.
19 sources, 4 government-critical, 15 neutral
RBI opens dollar window for oil firms, tightens forex rules
The RBI on Saturday announced a special window to meet the entire daily dollar requirements of Indian Oil, HPCL and BPCL, effective 12 October. The RBI will sell US dollars to the three state-run oil marketers through designated banks until further notice, based on an assessment of market conditions. Simultaneously, the central bank tightened foreign exchange derivative rules to curb speculative activity.
19 sources, 1 government-critical, 18 neutral
Two Indian seafarers missing after drone strike off Oman
Two Indian seafarers are missing after a drone attack struck the Nicaragua-flagged tanker MT Petro Dolphin at Sohar Anchorage in Oman on 11 October. Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said nine of the 11 Indian crew have been rescued and are safe. The local Coast Guard is searching, and the Indian Embassy in Muscat is coordinating with Omani authorities.
15 sources, 15 neutral
Smriti Mandhana named UNICEF India celebrity advocate
UNICEF India appointed women’s cricket captain Smriti Mandhana as its celebrity advocate on Sunday, the International Day of the Girl. UNICEF said Mandhana will champion equal opportunities for girls, especially in sports, and support efforts to empower adolescent girls and promote their health. Mandhana said she was deeply honoured, adding that her cricket experience taught her every dream begins with an opportunity.
3 sources, 3 neutral
Useful today
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Red alert for Delhi-NCR as rain lashes region
The IMD issued a red alert for heavy rainfall exceeding 15 mm per hour and severe thunderstorms with wind gusts of 62 to 87 kmph on Monday, 12 October. A western disturbance over Himachal Pradesh drove the weather. Waterlogging was reported near Jhandewalan Temple in central Delhi and across Noida, Gurugram and Ghaziabad.
9 sources, 9 neutral
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Delhi-NCR hit by heavy rain, dry spell expected from Tuesday
Delhi-NCR experienced heavy rain and thunderstorms on Monday, 12 October, causing waterlogging near Jhandewalan Temple. The IMD warned of moderate to heavy rainfall for the next two to three hours across the region. However, its seven-day forecast issued on Sunday predicts no rainfall from 13 October onwards, with maximum temperatures between 31 and 35 degrees Celsius.
6 sources, 6 neutral
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Agniveer rally in Sikar: running ends, medicals from 10 Oct
The first phase of running at the Agniveer army recruitment rally in Sikar concluded, with 4,749 youth completing the 400-metre test. Selected candidates will undergo medical tests on Saturday, 10 October. Those who pass will move to the next physical test phase.
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PM Modi sets 30 lakh new rural homes target by 2029
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday announced a target to build an additional three million homes under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Gramin) by 2029, taking the total planned to 70 million. The announcement came during the launch of the scheme’s third phase in Bihar’s Bhagalpur. Modi also unveiled projects worth over Rs 8,300 crore and said Rs 1.7 lakh crore had already been transferred to over 7 crore beneficiaries.
3 sources, 2 government-critical, 1 neutral
The closing thought
The Supreme Court's order to restore normal services and restrict Section 163 notices signals a judicial push against blanket detentions. With two more protest days and political pressure mounting, the coming week will test both the Election Commission's stated autonomy and the government's commitment to allowing peaceful dissent. On the economic front, the RBI's oil dollar window and tighter forex rules suggest the central bank is acting defensively to stabilise the rupee.
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.
