🚨 Railway bribe caught: Officers get 3-year jail term

Two railway officers were convicted for taking bribes and attempting to ditch the cash during a CBI trap. The officers, Kailash Kant Jha and Rajeshwari Singh, were posted in Jharkhand's Ramgarh district. The case originated in 2018 when a contractor sought clearance for a Rs 6.26 lakh bill. They demanded money, with Jha asking for Rs 17,000 and Singh demanding Rs 45,000. The Ranchi court sentenced both officials to three years of rigorous imprisonment and fined them. 💸

⚖️ Fake quotes in court clips cross into crime, says Supreme Court

The Supreme Court clarified that falsely quoting judges in barred online court clips moves beyond contempt into criminal territory. A three-judge Bench, led by CJI Surya Kant, made this distinction while reviewing a lawyer's petition in New Delhi. The ruling was issued on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, referencing prior orders from July 24 and July 31. While live-stream distribution is contempt, adding fabricated remarks constitutes criminal activity. Lawyers are advised to exhaust IT Act remedies for video takedowns first.

📚 UPSC Engineering Services Exam 2027 Notification Out

The Union Public Service Commission released the Engineering Services Examination 2027 notification today, September 16, 2026. This exam is for candidates in India, and applications run from September 16 to October 6, 2026. The preliminary examination is set for January 31, 2027, featuring two sessions totaling 500 marks. Applicants must be between 21 and 30 years old and hold an engineering degree. Candidates are advised to check the official UPSC website for final fee and eligibility details.

🛡️ Govt dismisses foreign influence claims on UPI fees

The Indian government has responded strongly to allegations of external influence regarding UPI transaction fees. Officials clarified that the fee structure operates without any foreign interference in the system. This response follows recent public discussions and media reports questioning the fee governance. The government maintains that the fee mechanisms are entirely domestic and regulated locally. Moving forward, the government plans to continue monitoring the system's integrity against such claims.

🚀 Kerala aiming to ditch remittance for investment economy

Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan announced Kerala's shift from a remittance to an investment economy. This was stated during the 'Reimagining Keralam' roundtable conference organized by KSIDC. The government plans to amend as many as 19 outdated laws by October to boost growth. He emphasized that the government must move beyond the traditional Kerala Model for progress. Furthermore, a global job watchtower will be set up to update higher education curricula. 📈

🔬 Bizarre microbes hint at complex life's start 🧬

Scientists are using rare Asgard archaea to uncover the origins of complex life forms on Earth. Emily Aguilar-Pine transported a sample of the archaeon, Skadi, from Bozeman, Montana, to Austin, Texas in June. Researchers have sequenced these genomes since finding them in North Atlantic sediments in 2015. The Asgard archaea's genetics suggest they are the ancestral line for all eukaryotes, like plants and animals. Studying their unique features offers clues about the transition to complex cellular structures.

🛶 J&K Govt finally clears Bilquis Mir for Asian Games

International canoeing coach Bilquis Mir has finally been cleared by the J&K government to join India's national team for the 2026 Asian Games in Japan. The decision followed a long court battle, including intervention from the Supreme Court. The association first sought her services on February 3, 2026, but faced delays and denials. The Supreme Court eventually quashed the government's denial order, which had been issued on June 19. This clearance allows her to fulfill her role as Coach/Chief Coach for the upcoming international assignments. 🛶

🏏 Varun Aaron's shift from player to coach

Varun Aaron transitioned into coaching after retiring in 2025, initially enjoying broadcasting. He developed his own coaching methods through personal injury recovery and assisting friends. His major project was the MRF Pace Foundation High Performance Center, which he designed. He joined Sunrisers Hyderabad, focusing on young quicks like Praful Hinge and Sakib Hussain. Aaron emphasized that coaching requires simplifying basics while tailoring methods to each bowler's uniqueness.

👮 Cop suspended for gun reels at BRICS summit

A Delhi Police constable was suspended after posting reels on Instagram while on duty at the 18th BRICS Summit. The constable, Deepak Bangar, was posted with the Foreigners Cell of Northwest Delhi during the summit. The videos, posted during the September 12 and 13 event, showed him posing with a light machine gun and a pistol. This action drew the attention of the Delhi Police after the reels went viral online. A departmental inquiry is currently underway regarding this incident. 👮

🏏 Abhishek ranks second in T20I batting

Abhishek Sharma moved up to No. 2 in the ICC men's T20I batting rankings after scoring 82 against Afghanistan. This rise happened in the first T20I of the series played in India. Sanju Samson also climbed to No. 30 after the second T20I, securing a 2-0 series lead. England's Ollie Robinson reached No. 3 in Test bowling after taking 21 wickets against Pakistan. Further gains were noted for Indian bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh. 🏏

✨ Miss Universe finalist back at Google job

Miss Universe India 2026 finalist Umanga Kumawat returned to her role as a Google Cloud engineer in Bengaluru after the pageant. Kumawat represented Madhya Pradesh and reached the Top 20 out of 52 finalists. The national finale, where Kaziah Liz Mejia won, was held in Jaipur on August 23. Her social media post showed a normal corporate day, proving her tech career remains her focus. This highlights varied paths where pageant life coexists with a steady corporate career.