⚖️ SC flags POCSO misuse in custody battles 🚨

The Supreme Court flagged an alarming trend of misusing the POCSO law by warring parents in custody disputes. The bench, led by Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice KV Vishwanathan, set safeguards before arresting an accused in certain POCSO cases. These safeguards apply when the allegation is against a parent/family member in the same house and there is an existing matrimonial dispute. Police must involve a child psychologist or counsellor for evaluation before taking coercive action. The court stressed that the POCSO Act is not meant for settling personal scores.

🏏 Desert Vipers Development Batting in Cricket Match

Desert Vipers Development has been elected to bat in the current cricket match. The game is taking place with umpires Shiju Sam Mannil and Nadeem Anjum officiating. The match details are set for Thursday, September 24, 2026, at 16:00 GMT. Conditions are clear with a temperature of 33°C and a fast and bouncy pitch. Further updates will be provided as the match progresses. 🏏

💡 KSEB asks public to cut power use

KSEB has repeated its appeal for the general public to voluntarily lower electricity usage between 7 p.m. and midnight. The Kerala State Electricity Board has urged the Kerala Water Authority to shift water pumping to daytime operations. In a September 23 circular, the utility noted daily consumption hit 95.39 million units, with peak demand at 5,400 megawatts. Industries are also asked to shift energy-sensitive processes to solar hours or off-peak times. This voluntary reduction is crucial for managing the current demand-supply issue.

🚌 KSRTC ramps up bus service for Gandhi Jayanti weekend

KSRTC is running 850 extra buses for the Gandhi Jayanti weekend celebrations. These special services will run from Bengaluru on October 1 and 2, with extra buses heading to Bengaluru from various locations on October 4. Services connect to numerous places like Dharmasthala, Mangaluru, and Hyderabad across Karnataka and neighboring states. Passengers can avail discounts, including 5% for groups of four or more, and 10% on return tickets booked together. Advance online reservations are now live on the KSRTC website for these special runs.

💳 Govt says UPI cash fear is misplaced

Government sources stated that the fear surrounding a shift to cash due to merchant fees on UPI is completely misplaced. This statement was made by officials across India concerning the digital payment ecosystem. Currently, the focus is on ensuring the smooth operation of UPI transactions across various merchants and platforms. The government aims to promote digital adoption while addressing concerns about transaction costs. Moving forward, more efforts will be made to stabilize and improve the UPI infrastructure. 💳

🚌 Bus lane could slash JNTU-Raidurgam commute by 20 mins

A proposal suggests introducing a dedicated Counterflow Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system on a congested Cyberabad corridor. This initiative was discussed at a joint meeting involving various officials on Thursday. The study found that the JNTU-Hitec City-Raidurgam corridor takes 45 to 50 minutes during peak hours. The dedicated BRT lane could cut travel time by up to 20 minutes without major land acquisition. Officials are now directed to reassess the plan and study short-term relief options. 🚌

🌟 Cody Rhodes' wild journey before WWE stardom 🌠

Cody Rhodes had a complex path to WWE fame, spanning multiple phases before his current success. He started in WWE in 2007, achieving two Intercontinental Championship reigns and six tag-team titles. Rhodes left WWE in May 2016, then rebuilt his career independently and internationally. He made a massive comeback to WWE at WrestleMania 38 in April 2022. Now, his goal is clearly to capture the WWE Championship.

💧 India and Netherlands team up for Kalpasar water project

India and the Netherlands signed two MoUs for technical cooperation on Gujarat's Kalpasar project. This deal involves the Central Water Commission, Gujarat government’s Kalpasar Department, Deltares, and TU Delft in New Delhi. The agreements were finalized on Thursday, September 24, 2026, during the ninth India International Water Week 2026. The project aims to create a freshwater reservoir using runoff from Sabarmati, Mahi, and Dhadhar rivers. This collaboration will provide advanced Dutch expertise for the project's planning and execution. 💧

📈 AP aiming for $2.4T economy with cluster strategy

IT & HRD Minister Nara Lokesh stated that Andhra Pradesh is developing 23 sector-specific clusters to boost investment and job creation. This strategy aims to transform the current $200-billion economy into a $2.40-trillion economy by 2047. The clusters span from manufacturing to AI and rare earth minerals, with Google already investing significantly. Furthermore, the Horticulture Mission will launch on October 2, alongside building an Indian School of Agriculture. The state is using its 'P4' model to ensure development benefits reach all citizens. 🚀

💸 Mahadev betting app still running, ED claims huge profits

The Enforcement Directorate stated that the Mahadev online betting app generated proceeds of crime worth Rs 94,400 crore over the last decade. The agency named 42 individuals and companies as accused in the charge sheet filed in Raipur. The app, promoted via social media, allegedly offered betting on various sports and card games. ED claims the app remains operational with support from local officials in Chhattisgarh. So far, 14 people have been arrested and assets worth Rs 2,104 crore seized.

🗳️ Opposition plans fresh move to oust CEC Kumar

Opposition parties are preparing to submit a new notice demanding the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in both Houses of Parliament. This move comes as a previous petition filed in the Rajya Sabha on April 24 is still pending with Upper House Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh stated that the new motion will include more specific charges against the CEC. The Trinamool Congress urged for united and swift action, referencing their past role in drafting removal petitions. The opposition is also considering a joint action under the INDIA bloc banner. 🗳️