🌾 CM backs farmers against Western Ghats ESA rules

Karnataka's CM D.K. Shivakumar pledged support for the farming community regarding the Kasturirangan report on the Western Ghats. This assurance was given at a public consultation in Tirthahalli on September 19. The CM directed the Forest Department not to issue new notices to traditional cultivators, despite the Centre's draft ESA notification. He mentioned suggestions like a Kerala-model survey, which the state government will discuss next week. Furthermore, his government plans to ask the Centre to cut the land claim period under the Forest Rights Act from 75 to 25 years. 🌾

⚖️ Father sends massive defamation notice to Aaditya Thackeray

Disha Salian’s father, Satish Salian, has sent a legal notice to Aaditya Thackeray alleging defamation over social media posts. The notice was served on Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray following posts on his official X account on September 16, 2026. Salian is seeking Rs 500 crore in damages and demands the withdrawal of statements regarding political motives. Thackeray denied knowing Disha Salian, accusing others of a smear campaign for nearly six years. He is currently facing an FIR alongside his father and other individuals in the CBI probe.

🚨 Disha Salian's dad hits Aaditya Thackeray with huge notice

Disha Salian's father, Satish Salian, issued a legal notice to Aaditya Thackeray regarding social media posts about the Disha Salian case. The notice was served on September 16, 2026, directed at the Shiv Sena (UBT) leader. Salian is demanding Rs 500 crore in damages for what he calls false and malicious statements made by Thackeray. These allegations specifically target remarks concerning Satish Salian's political motives and personal enmity related to the CBI probe. Thackeray has been given seven days to withdraw the statements, issue an apology, and pay the compensation.

⛽ UPI MDR hikes might hit petrol pumps and brokers

New UPI MDR framework has caused protests from traders and industry groups across India. Petrol pumps in Mumbai might stop accepting UPI payments above ₹2,000 starting from October 15. The new rules impose a 0.4% MDR charge for transactions above ₹5, affecting many sectors. Traders are concerned this will push them towards cash, while Nithin Kamath warned about stockbroking economics. A PIL has also been filed in the Supreme Court seeking suspension of this new framework. ⛽

🇮🇳 India's GDP set to hit $38T in 20 years

National Security Advisor Ajit Doval predicted a massive leap for the Indian economy. He shared this projection at the IIT Roorkee convocation ceremony in Roorkee, Uttarakhand. Doval stated that India's GDP will grow from $4.015 trillion to $38 trillion over the next 20 years. He emphasized that the nation is entering a transformative and magnificent future, aligning with the 'Amrit Kaal' period. He also advised students to be courageous, citing Lord Ram as an example. 🚀

💥 Thar driver rams cab after street fight in Gurugram

A dispute among four friends in Gurugram's Sector 89 led to two men taking a cab away from their friend's Thar. The Thar driver then aggressively pursued and repeatedly rammed the cab at speed. This dangerous incident occurred late at night, with the cab driver pleading for the driver to stop. The repeated crashes severely damaged the cab's front end, but the occupants escaped serious injuries. Police have registered a case and are investigating the matter based on the Thar's registration details. 🚕

💰 Kerala sanctions big funds for local body maintenance

The Finance Department of Keralam has sanctioned ₹1,438.56 crore to local bodies for the second installment of maintenance funds. This allocation covers both road and non-road assets across the state. Specifically, ₹539.46 crore went to non-road maintenance, while ₹899.10 crore was for road maintenance. The government had initially budgeted a total of ₹4315.68 crore for these components in the 2026-27 fiscal year. Funds are distributed across six municipal corporations, municipalities, district panchayats, block panchayats, and grama panchayats.

🏏 Hridoy picked for one-off Test vs Afghanistan

Bangladesh has selected Towhid Hridoy for the upcoming one-off Test match against Afghanistan in the UAE. The selectors decided this after Nahid Rana and Taskin Ahmed were unavailable due to fitness and workload concerns. Hridoy earns his spot following his record-breaking 350* in an unofficial Test against South Africa A earlier this month. Jaker Ali is also brought back to the squad, while Amite Hasan has been dropped from the team. The match is scheduled to start from October 9, pending the venue announcement from Afghanistan. 🏏

🛡️ Denmark confirms US-Greenland security deal

Denmark and Greenland confirmed a security pact with the United States will respect their sovereignty. The agreement is set for signing next week during the UN General Assembly in New York. It allows the US to build a military presence in Greenland to counter adversaries. Greenland's PM praised the accord for boosting collective security and self-determination. Further details on the US military scale and foreign policy authority are still pending. 🤝

💰 2 Ganesha Idols Decked With ₹2.9 Crore Cash

Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations in Palvancha, Telangana, featured two Lord Ganesha idols decorated with Indian currency notes totaling ₹2.9 crore. The Kapu community displayed an idol worth ₹1.4 crore, while Team Ekadanta showcased another worth ₹1.5 crore. These elaborate displays used various denominations like ₹10 and ₹500, attracting massive crowds to the locations. Organizers mentioned that local traders and bankers contributed to these grand arrangements. This follows previous large-scale currency decorations seen in the town in 2023 and 2024. 🤩

🎓 Bus Conductor's Son Makes History in DU Polls

Deepanshu Shokeen has made history by winning the vice-president post in the Delhi University Students' Union election 2026 as an Independent. He secured this position in Delhi University, defeating his rivals by a significant margin. Shokeen is from Peeragarhi, and his father is a bus conductor and his mother works as an Anganwadi worker. Despite his father's preference for UPSC prep, Shokeen entered student politics and took a strong stance on the Satya Niketan PG accommodation collapse. He initially sought a ticket from the NSUI but chose to contest independently after being asked to withdraw his nomination.