For Aditya Mehta, winning an international title has always been a matter of pride. This time, however, there was someone special waiting at the finish line.

The Indian cueist clinched gold in men’s snooker at the Commonwealth Cue Sports Championships 2026 in Ahmedabad, defeating compatriot Dhvaj Haria 3–0 in the final on Saturday. But beyond the dominant scoreline, the victory carried a deeply personal significance. It was Aditya’s first gold medal since becoming a father, and a moment he had hoped to dedicate to his daughter, whom he affectionately calls his “Special One”.

Speaking before the tournament, Aditya had expressed his desire to deliver an international title for his little girl. With the gold medal now secured, that wish has become reality, making his triumph on home soil all the more meaningful.

India’s Udhayveer Sidhu clinched the gold medal in the men’s 10-metre air pistol event at the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF), World Cup Rifle and Pistol in Cairo, Egypt, today. The 24-year-old shooter delivered an impressive performance in the medal match, scoring 240.6 points to defeat Germany’s multi-Olympic medallist Christian Reitz by a narrow margin of 0.5 points.

Olympic bronze medallists Swapnil Suresh Kusale and Sarabjot Singh are among the leading members of the 24-strong Indian contingent at the tournament, which continues until the 16th of this month. India is competing in eight individual Olympic disciplines and two mixed-team events, with a contingent comprising experienced Olympians and promising young shooters.

Bharti Enterprises Founder and Chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal has been conferred the highest civilian award in France, Chevalier de l’Ordre national de la Légion d’Honneur (Knight of the National Order of the Legion of Honour), by French President Emmanuel Macron.

Established in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte, the Légion d’Honneur is the highest civilian award bestowed by the French Republic.

Mittal has been conferred the distinction in recognition of his longstanding commitment to deepening economic ties between India and France and his outstanding achievements in telecommunications and digital infrastructure, a company statement said.

Ambassador of France to India Thierry Mathou said that Sunil Bharti Mittal has been a friend of France for more than thirty years, since the early days of Airtel in 1992.

The Indian Army introduced ‘Bharat Rice’ into its regular troop rations on Monday and signed an MoU with the Food Corporation of India (FCI) to utilise civilian infrastructure during border contingencies.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh termed the MoU a significant step toward enhancing national security.

Singh pointed out that recent military assessments, including the strategic analysis of Operation Sindoor, indicate that future conflicts may offer very little warning time.

“Zero-warning situations and the inclusion of technology in warfare will severely test our preparedness. Such conflicts can also test the endurance of our logistics chains and supply networks," Singh said at the joint launch ceremony in New Delhi. He added that the military must build logistics resilience to support sustained operations.

Some of the best puzzle solvers from across the world have gathered in Kolkata as the city launched the 19th World Sudoku and 33rd World Puzzle Championship (WSPC) 2026 on Sunday (October 11, 2026). The tournament organised by Logic Masters India (LMI) will showcase elite mind sports athletes from 35 countries this year.

The inaugural event was organised at The Westin in Kolkata’s Rajarhat, where the tournament will take place for the next seven days till October 18. The event will see five days of competitive brain games, with 38 rounds, over 100 Sudokus, and 250 puzzles created by LMI, this year’s host and the national representative at the World Puzzle Federation since 2008. The competition will also have an Indian touch, with several puzzles inspired by the tales of Ramayana and the Mahabharata.

India has previously hosted the WSPC in Bengaluru in 2017 and in Goa in 2008. Kolkata was chosen for 2026 for its reputation as India’s “intellectual capital” and for foreign delegations to immerse in Durga Puja festivities.

The Assam Forest Department has launched an educational initiative to take learning beyond textbooks and connect students directly with nature at Nameri Tiger Reserve, a state minister said on Sunday.

The ‘Nameri Wild Classroom’, open to students of Class 8 and above, including college-goers, will offer two- and three-day residential learning programmes, Forest and Climate Change Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah said.

“It will give school and college students an opportunity to learn directly from nature at Nameri Tiger Reserve,” Baruah said, adding that the programme reflects the state government’s commitment to nurturing a generation that understands, appreciates and actively protects Assam’s rich natural heritage.

Under the initiative, students will get an opportunity to learn through direct engagement with the forest ecosystem, and develop a deeper understanding of wildlife, biodiversity and environmental conservation, the minister said.

The National Institute of Securities Markets (NISM) has introduced two certification courses on Cyber Security and Cyber Resilience in the GIFT International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) for IFSCA professionals and individuals who seek to learn more about cyber security and cyber resilience.

The two certification courses on cyber security and cyber resilience in the GIFT IFSC, namely NISM-IFSCA-02A(Basic) and NISM-IFSCA-02B (Advanced), are designed to equip participants with cyber security capabilities, awareness of cyber risks, and greater resilience across the IFSC environment.

As announced by the institute, candidates will be required to appear for an examination for both courses to receive the certificate. The registration link for the examination is available at the NISM certification portal, cert.nism.ac.in.

Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang on Sunday, October 11 released Chocolate Mahseer fish into the Rangeet river during the Chirbirey River Fest near Jorethang, highlighting the need to conserve indigenous fish species and protect the state’s aquatic biodiversity.

Tamang participated in the fish release programme on the second day of the festival, where he was joined by ministers, MLAs and officials at a fish ranching site along the riverbank. The initiative aims to promote the conservation of freshwater resources and river ecosystems, officials said.

In a social media post, the chief minister said the Chirbirey River Fest celebrates Sikkim’s natural beauty, spirit of adventure and the cultural identity of its communities. He said the festival brings people together through local traditions, tourism and activities centred on rivers and the state’s natural heritage.

The iconic ‘Mohanthal' ‘prasad' (offering) of Gujarat's revered Ambaji temple received the Geographical Indication (GI) tag on the first day of the Navratri festival, officials said on Sunday.

Mohanthal, a sweet made of gram flour, sugar and ghee, is the traditional offering at the famous Durga temple, a prominent Shaktipeeth, in the Banaskantha district.

“The Government of India has granted the GI tag to Mohanthal Prasad, which is considered the signature offering of the Ambaji temple. On behalf of Shri Arasuri Ambaji Mata Devasthan Trust, I am thankful to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the government. The Ambaji temple's offering is a symbol of devotees' faith towards the Goddess and a years-old religious ritual. This GI tag is a matter of pride for all the devotees of the Goddess,” Banaskantha Collector and managing trustee of the Trust Mihir Patel told the media.

In a significant step towards transforming India’s Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), Shareholders’ Agreements (SHAs) have been signed under the Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs (PM-SETU) scheme.

The agreements cover the upgradation of nine Government ITIs — five in Surat (Gujarat) and four in Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) — in partnership with ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India (AM/NS India).