🛡️ SUV owners take oath for safer roads in Daman

Mahindra Thar and Toyota Fortuner owners recently participated in a public road-safety oath ceremony. This event took place in Daman, where vehicle owners committed to responsible driving and traffic rule adherence. The initiative was shared by Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, who praised the Daman Collector's approach. She suggested that such public pledges can be more effective than relying solely on road signs. This campaign highlights an unconventional method to boost road safety awareness.

⚖️ Lalu Yadav & others face money laundering charges

A Delhi court framed money laundering charges against Lalu Prasad Yadav, Rabri Devi, and Tejashwi Yadav over alleged IRCTC hotel leasing irregularities. The case concerns tender manipulation during Lalu Yadav's 2004-2009 tenure as railways minister for Ranchi and Puri hotels. Specific allegations involve a three-acre plot transfer to an associate, later to Rabri Devi. Formal charges are set for October 3, with suspicion of abuse of office noted by the judge. Seven other suspects were discharged, while the CBI case began in July 2017. ⚖️

💰 NSE IPO sets price band; opens Sept 17

The National Stock Exchange (NSE) has finalized its IPO price band between ₹1,700 and ₹1,785 per share. This ₹22,569-crore public issue will start its subscription on September 17 and close on September 21, 2026. The issue size is the second-largest in India, surpassing the 2022 LIC IPO but below Hyundai Motor India's 2024 offering. It is structured entirely as an Offer for Sale, meaning proceeds go to existing shareholders. Shares are reserved for QIBs at 50%, NIIs at 15%, and retail investors at 35%. 📈

📺 Best TVs under ₹75k for gaming and picture quality

Five budget-friendly TVs offer better picture and sound quality without exceeding ₹75,000. The options include models from Xiaomi, Samsung, Hisense, Lumio, and TCL, catering to different viewer needs. Prices range from ₹49,999 for Hisense to ₹51,990 for Samsung. These TVs boast features like Mini LED, QLED, and 144Hz refresh rates for enhanced experiences. Buyers should check contrast and HDR, while high refresh rates benefit serious gamers. 📺

🇧🇩 Bangladesh clarifies BRICS invite for BIMSTEC, not PM

Bangladesh confirmed that its Prime Minister, Tarique Rahman, was not invited to the BRICS summit in an official capacity. Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir stated that India invited him only as the head of BIMSTEC. This clarification came amidst speculation after India extended an early invite in August 2026. Kobir clarified that the initial visit must be bilateral, separate from multilateral events. Other regional heads are confirmed to attend the 2026 BRICS summit hosted by India.

🚆 Railways hits record bookings during festive rush

IRCTC recorded its highest-ever single-day bookings surpassing 20 lakh tickets on September 7. This massive surge in demand occurred across Indian Railways as the festive season approached. A total of 20,06,353 tickets were booked on September 7, followed by 19,50,699 on September 8. Currently, nearly 89 percent of reserved tickets are booked online, which has necessitated new server deployments. IRCTC is also cracking down on bots, having deactivated 3.04 crore user IDs to manage the volume. 🚆

🤝 BRICS Business Forum kicks off, focusing on resilience

The BRICS Business Forum commenced its inaugural session just before the main Summit took place. The forum gathered enterprises from various sectors across the BRICS nations. The discussions focused on exploring commercial opportunities, supply chain connectivity, and trade facilitation. India’s chairship theme emphasizes building resilience, innovation, and sustainability amid global economic issues. Future plans include strengthening the ecosystem with initiatives like the BRICS Incubator network. 🤝

🌵 Desert donkeys create oasis in Israel

In 1982, Israel released 28 wild donkeys into the Ramon Crater of the Negev Desert to aid conservation. These animals, Persian onagers and African wild asses, were carefully introduced after breeding programs began decades prior. Today, the population ranges between 500 and 600 across the region. They dig waterholes and disperse acacia seeds, restoring the arid ecosystem significantly. This effort has turned a harsh environment into a globally studied model of ecological resilience. 🌵

🎖️ Indian veterans' paper cited by NATO study

A paper by Indian Army veterans explored how modern warfare moves beyond physical battlefields into the socio-technical-cognitive battlespace. Lt Gen DS Hooda (Retd) and Lt Col Pavithran Rajan (Retd) co-authored this work, which was cited ten times in a NATO-funded publication. This study, published by the Polish Association for National Security, highlighted AI and cognitive warfare aspects. General VK Singh called this international recognition a landmark achievement for Indian strategic thought. The research shows adversaries can impact conflict by shaping public perception instead of just destroying armies.

🏦 Bank services hit by nationwide strike for 5-day week

Banking services were significantly impacted nationwide on Friday, September 11, 2026, due to a strike called by the United Forum of Bank Unions. The strike affected most public sector banks across the country, though private sector banks remained functional. Approximately 7,000 branches in Madhya Pradesh halted operations, affecting daily business worth around ₹5,500 crore. Unions are pushing for a five-day workweek and resolution of wage-related issues, including declaring Saturdays as holidays. The unions plan to continue their protest until the government agrees to their demands. 🏦

🔬 IIT JAM 2027 registration starts tomorrow

Registration for the IIT JAM 2027 exam opens tomorrow through the official website jam.iitkgp.ac.in. This test allows admission to PG science courses in top institutes nationwide. Applications are open until October 12, 2026, with the exam set for February 14, 2027. Candidates must have completed or be in the final year of their undergraduate degree in 2027. Fees vary by category, ranging from Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,700, and applications are final once submitted. 🎓