# Today in India: 8 October 2026

2026-10-08T00:30:50+00:00 | Daily Digest | Indian Opinion Desk

8 October 2026 | 14 stories | Updated 06:00 IST

A building collapse in Delhi's Seemapura kills three as rescue teams pull 11 survivors, the World Bank lifts India's GDP forecast to 7.1 per cent, and Harmanpreet Kaur ends a decade as women's cricket captain, handing over to Smriti Mandhana.

## Harmanpreet Kaur steps down as India captain, Mandhana takes over
Sports | 46 sources, 45 neutral, 1 sensationalist
Harmanpreet Kaur stepped down as captain of the Indian women's cricket team across all formats on 6 October 2026 after a decade-long leadership stint. The 37-year-old announced the decision on Instagram after a BCCI review meeting in Guwahati attended by secretary Devajit Saikia, vice-captain Smriti Mandhana and head coach Amol Muzumdar. Harmanpreet said she felt she had done her duty and was now 'ready to play for the love of the game again'. She will continue to represent India as a player.
Brief: https://indianopinion.org/harmanpreet-kaur-steps-down-as-india-captain-mandhana-to-lead/ (markdown https://indianopinion.org/harmanpreet-kaur-steps-down-as-india-captain-mandhana-to-lead.md)

## Three dead, eight injured in Delhi Seemapuri building collapse
India | 29 sources, 29 neutral
A four-storey residential building collapsed in northeast Delhi's New Seemapuri area around 3:30 pm on Wednesday, 7 October 2026, killing three people including a 12-year-old girl, a 21-year-old pregnant woman and a one-and-a-half-year-old child. Eight others were injured and taken to Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital. The building, on a 225 sq ft plot near Idgah Machhli Mandi, partially damaged two adjoining structures. Delhi Fire Services, NDRF, police and civic teams launched a rescue operation. Eleven people were rescued by evening.
Brief: https://indianopinion.org/delhi-building-collapse-in-seemapuri-several-feared-trapped/ (markdown https://indianopinion.org/delhi-building-collapse-in-seemapuri-several-feared-trapped.md)

## Telangana police book BJP agent over fake Form 7 voter deletions
Politics | 16 sources, 2 government-critical, 14 neutral
Hyderabad police registered the first FIR in Telangana against a BJP booth-level agent for allegedly submitting 30 pre-printed fake Form-7 applications seeking deletion of Muslim voters from the electoral roll at Polling Station 210 in Musheerabad. The accused, S Balachander, is booked under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Representation of the People Act. Election officials found all 30 voters still residing at the listed addresses and rejected the forms. AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi alleged similar pre-printed Form-7 submissions in Goshamahal targeting 122 Muslim voters.
Brief: https://indianopinion.org/fake-form-7-deletion-bids-for-30-muslim-voters-in-hyderabad-probed/ (markdown https://indianopinion.org/fake-form-7-deletion-bids-for-30-muslim-voters-in-hyderabad-probed.md)

## World Bank and RBI boost India GDP forecast to 7.1% for FY27
Business & Economy | 28 sources, 28 neutral
The World Bank on Tuesday, 6 October, raised India's GDP growth forecast for FY2026-27 to 7.1 per cent, up from 6.6 per cent in April, citing resilient domestic demand and robust exports. The bank warned that external risks remain elevated, including higher global oil prices, El Nino-related disruptions, and stock market corrections that could trigger capital flow volatility. It expects India's economy to grow 7.2 per cent in FY2027-28.
Brief: https://indianopinion.org/world-bank-raises-india-fy27-growth-forecast-to-7-1/ (markdown https://indianopinion.org/world-bank-raises-india-fy27-growth-forecast-to-7-1.md)

## More from today

### Kiara Advani and Sidharth Malhotra announce second pregnancy
Entertainment | 2 sources, 2 neutral
Kiara Advani and Sidharth Malhotra announced on Wednesday, 7 October that they are expecting their second child. The couple shared the news on Instagram with a picture of their hands and a tiny white sock, captioned: 'Blessed once again with the greatest gift of all. Our hearts are so full of love and gratitude.' The Economic Times reports they have a one-year-old daughter, Saraayah Malhotra, born on 15 July 2025. Fans and celebrities including Karan Johar, Alia Bhatt, Bhumi Pednekar and Manish Malhotra congratulated the couple.
Brief: https://indianopinion.org/kiara-advani-and-sidharth-malhotra-announce-second-pregnancy/ (markdown https://indianopinion.org/kiara-advani-and-sidharth-malhotra-announce-second-pregnancy.md)

### SC warns Rajpal Yadav of jail, extends payment deadline to 13 October
Entertainment | 26 sources, 24 neutral, 2 sensationalist
The Supreme Court on Wednesday, 7 October 2026, directed actor Rajpal Yadav to deposit Rs 2 crore by 13 October in a cheque-bounce case, granting him a final extension after he produced a Rs 1.15 crore demand draft. A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana accepted Yadav's proposal to sell his ancestral property, valued at over Rs 30 crore, to raise the remaining Rs 85 lakh.
Brief: https://indianopinion.org/your-place-is-in-jail-sc-slams-rajpal-yadav-over-unpaid-rs-7-5-crore/ (markdown https://indianopinion.org/your-place-is-in-jail-sc-slams-rajpal-yadav-over-unpaid-rs-7-5-crore.md)

### Jailer 2 gets UA 16+ certificate, 165-minute runtime
Entertainment | 16 sources, 13 neutral, 3 sensationalist
The Rajinikanth-starrer 'Jailer 2' has received a UA 16+ certificate from the Central Board of Film Certification, with a runtime of 165 minutes and 18 seconds. Multiple sources including timesofindia.indiatimes.com and bollywoodhungama.com confirm the certification, which comes a week before the film's worldwide theatrical release on October 15, 2026. The 'Jailer 2 Super Show', a digital pre-release event featuring Rajinikanth and the cast, will stream on Sun NXT from October 9.
Brief: https://indianopinion.org/jailer-2-super-show-to-stream-on-sun-nxt-from-october-9/ (markdown https://indianopinion.org/jailer-2-super-show-to-stream-on-sun-nxt-from-october-9.md)

### Ganguly appointed Delhi Capitals head coach, cites ombudsman order
Sports | 21 sources, 21 neutral
Sourav Ganguly has been appointed head coach of Delhi Capitals for the 2027 Indian Premier League season, the franchise announced. The 54-year-old former India captain replaces Hemang Badani, under whom Delhi missed the playoffs in 2025 and 2026, finishing sixth last season. Ganguly first joined DC as an advisor in 2019 and has since held roles including director of cricket for both men's and women's teams. He also coached sister franchise Pretoria Capitals in SA20.
Brief: https://indianopinion.org/sourav-ganguly-named-delhi-capitals-head-coach-for-ipl-2027/ (markdown https://indianopinion.org/sourav-ganguly-named-delhi-capitals-head-coach-for-ipl-2027.md)

### Four ships hit in Black Sea, 33 Indian sailors safe
World & Diplomacy | 32 sources, 31 neutral, 1 sensationalist
Four commercial vessels were attacked in the Black Sea between 5 and 6 October 2026, leaving two foreign nationals dead and injuring several seafarers including Indian nationals. The Turkish-owned cargo ship MV Royad Mammadov sank off Romania on 5 October after a Russian drone strike, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Two foreign crew members were killed and 11 rescued. Three Indian nationals aboard the ship were safe, with one injured and receiving treatment at Constanța County Hospital, the Indian Embassy in Romania confirmed.
Brief: https://indianopinion.org/russian-drone-strike-kills-captain-on-turkish-cargo-ship-with-indians/ (markdown https://indianopinion.org/russian-drone-strike-kills-captain-on-turkish-cargo-ship-with-indians.md)

### ED arrests KPSC ex-chairman, member, remanded till 19 October
Governance | 15 sources, 15 neutral
The Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday, 6 October, arrested suspended Karnataka Public Service Commission chairman Shivashankarappa S Sahukar and member B V Geetha for alleged money laundering in the recruitment of 400 veterinary officers. The ED told a special court on 7 October that Sahukar and Geetha leaked answer keys for the January 2026 exam in exchange for bribes of Rs 10 lakh and Rs 20 lakh respectively, The Indian Express reports. The court remanded both to ED custody until 19 October.
Brief: https://indianopinion.org/kerala-hc-raps-psc-for-not-cooperating-in-exam-probe/ (markdown https://indianopinion.org/kerala-hc-raps-psc-for-not-cooperating-in-exam-probe.md)

## Useful today

### IndiGo raises fuel surcharge on all flights from 6 October
Business & Economy | 28 sources, 1 government-critical, 25 neutral, 2 sensationalist
IndiGo raised fuel charges on domestic and international flights from 6 October. Domestic levies rose by Rs 100 to Rs 350 per sector, now ranging from Rs 375 for flights up to 500 km to Rs 1,300 for routes over 2,000 km. International charges increased by up to Rs 2,500, spanning Rs 1,000 for short SAARC routes to Rs 10,000 for Europe.
Brief: https://indianopinion.org/indigo-hikes-fuel-charges-rs100-to-rs350-from-october-6/ (markdown https://indianopinion.org/indigo-hikes-fuel-charges-rs100-to-rs350-from-october-6.md)

### Onion prices drop as Centre deploys buffer stocks, Kanda Express
Business & Economy | 2 sources, 2 neutral
Retail onion prices are expected to moderate further as fresh Kharif crop supplies start reaching markets, the Food Ministry said on 7 October. Onion wholesale prices have dropped 9 per cent in nine days. The government is releasing onions from buffer stocks at discounted rates and has deployed 467 trucks and 8 Kanda Express trains for buffer sales.
Brief: https://indianopinion.org/onion-prices-drop-as-centre-deploys-buffer-stocks-kanda-express/ (markdown https://indianopinion.org/onion-prices-drop-as-centre-deploys-buffer-stocks-kanda-express.md)

### EPFO issues security advisory for subscribers
Governance
The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation issued a security advisory on 7 October urging members to safeguard their personal and financial information from cyber fraud. The retirement fund body shared the warning through its official channel on X. It advised using only official websites and never clicking on unverified links received via SMS, email or social media.
Brief: https://indianopinion.org/epfo-issues-security-advisory-for-subscribers/ (markdown https://indianopinion.org/epfo-issues-security-advisory-for-subscribers.md)

### Trump proposes $70,000 fee for foreign students' OPT programme
World & Diplomacy
The Trump administration has proposed a $70,000 fee (about Rs 67.72 lakh) for international students to participate in the Optional Practical Training programme that allows work in the US after graduation. The fee would be charged to the student's college or university for initial applications. Renewal or extension would cost $30,000.
Brief: https://indianopinion.org/trump-proposes-70000-fee-for-foreign-students-opt-programme/ (markdown https://indianopinion.org/trump-proposes-70000-fee-for-foreign-students-opt-programme.md)

## The closing thought

Seven news stories and four practical briefs: the Seemapuri collapse, a GDP upgrade and a captaincy handover lead the day. The building tragedy will test Delhi's enforcement of construction norms for narrow plots that proliferate in unauthorised colonies. The World Bank's 7.1 per cent forecast rests on domestic demand holding up against oil price risks. Harmanpreet Kaur's exit as captain after a decade is a transition point for women's cricket, with Smriti Mandhana inheriting a side that reached the 2024 T20 World Cup semi-finals. Watch how Delhi Capitals respond to Sourav Ganguly's appointment as head coach, his first full-time coaching role in the IPL.

## Earlier digests

- [7 October 2026](https://indianopinion.org/today-in-india-7-october-2026.md)
- [6 October 2026](https://indianopinion.org/today-in-india-6-october-2026.md)
- [5 October 2026](https://indianopinion.org/today-in-india-5-october-2026.md)
- [4 October 2026](https://indianopinion.org/today-in-india-4-october-2026.md)
- [3 October 2026](https://indianopinion.org/today-in-india-3-october-2026.md)
- [2 October 2026](https://indianopinion.org/today-in-india-2-october-2026.md)
- [1 October 2026](https://indianopinion.org/today-in-india-1-october-2026.md)

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