Now Reading: Today in India: 21 October 2026
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Today in India: 21 October 2026
Mizoram's Chinmay Sutar scores historic quadruple century, Jio Platforms' Rs 30,213-crore IPO is fully subscribed in 100 minutes, West Bengal sets up SIT to probe Kolkata stampede.
Chinmay Sutar scores 400 not out, second Indian to do so
Mizoram batter Chinmay Sutar on Monday became only the second Indian to score a quadruple century in first-class cricket, remaining unbeaten on 400 off 517 balls against Nagaland in the Ranji Trophy Plate Group match in Sovima. He hit 46 fours and seven sixes. The only other Indian to cross 400 is Bhausaheb Nimbalkar (443 not out in 1948). Sutar's innings is the second-highest in Ranji Trophy history, surpassing Prithvi Shaw's 379.
8 sources, 7 neutral, 1 sensationalist
RSS chief warns regime change attempts in India will fail
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said on Tuesday that attempts to 'dismantle' India through regime change would not succeed. Addressing the annual Vijayadashami gathering in Nagpur, he said a 'storm from the West' was trying to exploit social divisions and install proxies. He cited France, Albania, Nepal and Bangladesh as examples where upheavals had not resolved problems, Times of India and Hindustan Times reported. Bhagwat urged protests to remain within constitutional and legal bounds and to focus on solutions rather than deepening discord.
6 sources, 5 neutral, 1 opinion
Amit Mishra returns to Delhi Capitals as spin-bowling coach
Former India leg-spinner Amit Mishra has been appointed spin-bowling coach of Delhi Capitals ahead of IPL 2027, the franchise announced on Wednesday. Mishra, 43, who retired from all cricket in September 2025, takes up a top-level coaching role for the first time. He is the franchise's all-time leading wicket-taker with 110 wickets in 103 matches, and overall has 174 wickets in 162 IPL matches, the only bowler to take three hat-tricks in the league.
8 sources, 8 neutral
Bengal sets up six-member SIT to probe Kolkata stampede
The West Bengal government on Wednesday constituted a six-member special investigation team (SIT) to probe the October 17 stampede at the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal in north Kolkata, which killed 19 people and injured 25. Retired judge Justice Anindita Roy Saraswati will head the SIT, formed in consultation with the Calcutta High Court, according to an order by Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Agarwal. The SIT will examine the sequence of events, crowd management, weather conditions, CCTV footage, and the roles of the police, municipal corporation, fire services and organisers.
2 sources, 2 neutral
More from today
HDFC Bank probe finds two senior executives leaked confidential information
HDFC Bank has found evidence that two senior executives disclosed confidential business strategies and potentially market-sensitive information to outsiders, Bloomberg News reported on 21 October, citing people familiar with an internal probe. The investigation began after some leaders raised concerns about possible leaks. The executives, who oversee key businesses and functions, have been formally informed of the findings, though no disciplinary action has been announced. The findings were reported to senior management and some board members earlier in 2026.
8 sources, 7 neutral, 1 sensationalist
Complaint filed over Moosewala toddler's gun gestures
A child rights group has filed a complaint with the Mansa district administration seeking an inquiry into the welfare of Sidhu Moosewala's two-and-a-half-year-old brother, Sukhdeep Singh Sidhu, after he made gun gestures during a hologram concert in Toronto on 9 October. Lawyers for Human Rights International approached the district magistrate and the District Child Protection Unit on 17 October, requesting counselling for the parents and interim directions to prevent the child from being encouraged to imitate firearm gestures at public or private events.
7 sources, 7 neutral
EC team in Manipur to review poll preparedness for 2027 elections
A team of senior Election Commission officials is in Manipur to review preparations for the state's Assembly elections, expected in early 2027. The EC is gearing up for polls in five states: Manipur, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab and Goa. The commission has already reviewed Uttarakhand, a visit to Punjab is scheduled for 28 October, while dates for Goa are being rescheduled. A schedule for Uttar Pradesh is yet to be announced. On Wednesday, polling in Assam, Kerala and Puducherry remained largely peaceful, the EC said.
4 sources, 1 pro-government, 3 neutral
RBI MPC minutes signal rate cuts off table, further hikes possible
Minutes of the Reserve Bank of India's Monetary Policy Committee meeting held on 5 to 7 October, released on Wednesday, show that rate cuts are off the table in the near term. The MPC voted 4:2 to shift its stance to calibrated tightening and raised the repo rate by 25 basis points to 5.5%. RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra said future policy action can only be a rate hike or a pause, depending on the growth-inflation outlook, as per all sources.
5 sources, 5 neutral
Hardik Pandya likely out until IPL 2027 after calf injury setback
India all-rounder Hardik Pandya is unlikely to return to competitive cricket before IPL 2027 in March 2027, multiple reports say. He is recovering from a stress injury on the inner side of his shin at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. According to a Dainik Jagran report cited by several outlets, Pandya is expected to start jogging in three weeks, followed by eight weeks of gradually increased running. The medical team, including Dr Dinshaw Pardiwala, has not set a firm return date.
5 sources, 4 neutral, 1 sensationalist
Jio Platforms IPO fully subscribed in 100 minutes
Billionaire Mukesh Ambani's Jio Platforms' Rs 30,213-crore initial public offering was fully subscribed within 100 minutes of opening on Wednesday, making it India's largest-ever share sale. The IPO, open until 23 October, is priced at Rs 1,065 to Rs 1,119 per share, valuing the company at up to Rs 10.3 lakh crore ($108.3 billion). Proceeds of Rs 27,500 crore will repay borrowings of Reliance Jio Infocomm, with the remainder for general corporate purposes. The company reported 533.3 million subscribers as of June 2026.
8 sources, 8 neutral
Useful today
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Delhi-NCR enforces GRAP-1 as AQI jumps to 244
The Commission for Air Quality Management invoked Stage 1 of GRAP across Delhi-NCR on Wednesday after the capital's air quality plunged into the 'poor' category. Delhi's AQI rose sharply from 179 on 20 October to 244 by 2 pm on 21 October. Forecasts indicate the AQI will remain 'poor' in the coming days.
10 sources, 2 pro-government, 5 neutral, 3 sensationalist
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Telangana, Andhra Pradesh schools to reopen as scheduled, no Dussehra extension
School education departments in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh have dismissed social media rumours of an extended Dussehra break. In Telangana, all schools will resume classes on Friday, 23 October, after a 13-day vacation. Residential Gurukul schools will reopen on Thursday, 22 October. Andhra Pradesh schools will also reopen on Thursday, 22 October.
5 sources, 4 neutral, 1 sensationalist
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Temple wearable pre-orders open on 1 November
Deepinder Goyal's wearable venture Temple will open pre-orders for the first batch of its head-worn device on 1 November, the founder announced on X. Each device will be hand-made to order and delivered within three months. The pill-shaped wearable attaches to the side of the head and tracks blood flow and oxygenation inside the brain using optical sensors.
3 sources, 3 neutral
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SBI hires chief AI officer, SCO posts open
The State Bank of India has invited online applications for Specialist Cadre Officer positions, including a general manager and chief AI officer role requiring at least 15 years of experience, the Indian Express reports on 21 October. Other posts cover AI governance, data engineering, risk analytics and AI architecture. Applications are open at sbi.bank.in.
3 sources, 3 neutral
The closing thought
The day's news offers a mixed picture. Jio Platforms' massive IPO was snapped up in minutes, showing investor appetite for digital infrastructure, while the RBI's MPC minutes signal that inflation concerns will keep rates higher for longer. The Kolkata stampede investigation and the HDFC Bank leak probe remind us that institutional accountability is under scrutiny. Watch for the EC's schedule for Uttar Pradesh polls, a bellwether for 2027, and how the RBI balances growth against price stability in its next policy move.
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.
