India’s Parveen Hooda beat Chen Nien-chin of Taiwan in the women’s 65kg boxing competition final at the Asian Games 2026 on Friday.

Following an evenly matched clash, Parveen claimed a win by split decision (3-2).

Both boxers started cautiously in the first round, holding back their punches until the referee intervened with a warning. In the end, Parveen was the one to land more decisive strikes as she got a 10-9 score from all five judges.

But Paris Olympics bronze medallist Chen turned the tables in the second round with some aggressive play, winning over all five judges 10-9.

India ended their four-decade-long wait for a gold medal in women’s hockey at the Asian Games on Friday (October 2). In the final of the women’s hockey competition at the Asian Games 2026, India defeated China 1-0 to win the yellow metal.

India had last won the gold medal in women’s hockey at the Asian Games during the 1982 edition of the Games.

For India, Lalremsiami Hmarzote scored the only goal of the match in the first quarter. In the second quarter, goalkeeper Savita Punia saved a penalty stroke to deny China an equaliser.

The Indians were at their best in defence as they thwarted relentless Chinese attack thereafter, including a penalty stroke save by veteran goalkeeper Punia.

Nabkisan Finance Ltd, a subsidiary of Nabard, has listed India’s first social bond dedicated exclusively to the water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) sector on the National Stock Exchange (NSE), raising ₹180 crore to finance projects in rural and underserved communities.

The issue received strong investor interest and was oversubscribed 1.8 times. The five-year bond carries a coupon rate of 8.10 per cent, matures in September 2031 and has been assigned AAA ratings with a stable outlook by both CRISIL and CARE Ratings. Proceeds from the issue will be used to expand access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene solutions, aimed at improving health outcomes, livelihoods and quality of life in rural areas.

The transaction was backed by multiple stakeholders, including Water.org as technical adviser and knowledge partner.

Teenager Kumkum Mohod held her nerve under pressure to win gold and become the first Indian woman to win an Asian Games medal in the individual recurve event. Kumkum beat South Korea's Oh Yejin in a shoot-off on Saturday.

After the scores were tied at 5-5, Kumkum shot a 10 in the shoot out, while Oh managed an 8 to hand the Indian the gold medal.

Kumkum had also secured an Olympic quota place for India by reaching the semifinals, defeating China's Jingyi Zhu 6-2.

Kumkum secured one of the two available quota places for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The quota, as per the rules, belongs to the country.

Pranavi Urs on Saturday created history by becoming the first Indian woman golfer to win an Asian Games gold medal, overcoming a late challenge to finish the tournament with a one-stroke advantage and help India secure team silver. She also led the country to team silver, finishing with a sensational 15-under-par 265. She became the first ever Indian woman to win a GOLD in GOLF at the Asian Games. She held her nerve through the final round to become the Asian Games champion in women’s golf, delivering a historic gold for India!

India women also clinched silver medal in the golf team event with a score of 14-under 546. Indian trio Pranavi Urs, Aditi Ashok, and Diksha Dagar will return home with a silver. The Mysore golfer recovered quickly after a triple bogey on the third hole erased her three-stroke overnight lead. However, she responded with three birdies to steady her round and remain in contention for the top spo

Moreover, Urs also carded an even-par 70 in the final round to finish at 15-under 265 after four days, one stroke clear of her nearest challengers.

Doctors may soon have a more reliable way to predict how severely sickle cell anaemia (SCA) will affect Indian patients, thanks to a new India-specific disease severity score developed by scientists at the CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB).

The new tool, developed using clinical data from Indian children, could improve treatment decisions and disease management as existing international scoring systems do not accurately reflect the clinical profile of Indian patients with SCA, whose disease patterns often differ from those seen in African and Western populations.

SCA is an inherited blood disorder caused by a mutation in the beta globin gene, which produces abnormal haemoglobin causing red blood cells to assume a sickle shape, leading to anaemia, severe pain episodes, organ damage and other complications. India is among the countries with the highest burden of the disease, according to Giriraj R. Chandak, physician-scientist and Sir J C Bose Fellow at CSIR-CCMB.

The Keralam government is set to launch an IT Parks Affiliation Scheme, which seeks to link IT companies working outside the major IT parks to a State-level technology ecosystem, to provide better engagement with the government and the rest of the industry.

As part of the scheme, the IT firms located outside the government-owned IT parks can also utilise the benefits extended by the parks.

Ahead of the launch on October 6, an affiliation portal has been opened, through which eligible companies can register to become part of the affiliated network. The scheme is expected to provide these companies an opportunity to become part of the State’s growing technology network, gain greater visibility, access ecosystem opportunities and engage more closely with the government, industry and other partners.

California has officially banned child marriage, with Governor Gavin Newsom signing legislation to end the practice that is still legal in 32 US states.

The new law, which will come into effect on 1 January, states people must be 18 to get married in the Golden State.

Newsom called it a "long overdue measure to protect young Californians and minors". He signed the bill into law with Courtney Stodden, whose parents allowed her to marry a 50-year-old Hollywood actor when she was just 16.

Stodden, who has been advocating to end the practice, called the change a "victory" and said survivors of child marriage should "never have been expected to carry this burden".

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has rolled out Tamil Nadu’s first Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) tolling system at Paranur Toll Plaza. Located on the Tambaram-Tindivanam section of NH-179B, the new system introduces barrier-free tolling, allowing vehicles to pass through the tolling point without having to stop.

What is the new MLFF tolling system?
The Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) system is designed to make toll collection faster and more seamless. Unlike conventional toll plazas, vehicles do not need to stop at physical toll booths for toll payment. The system uses technology to identify vehicles and collect the applicable toll electronically.

NHAI said the move is aimed at improving the toll collection system and providing a smoother travel experience on National Highways.

The ministry of petroleum and natural gas launched GOBARdhan, a central sector scheme for development of the compressed biogas (CBG) sector, on Thursday. The ₹23,731 crore scheme provides a framework to accelerate CBG development from FY27 to FY36 and increase domestic biogas production almost 10-fold to 5 million metric standard cubic metres per day (MMSCMD).

Mint explains how the wider adoption of biogas will help achieve energy security amid a globally volatile crude oil and natural gas market.

The scheme aims to increase India's domestic CBG production almost 10-fold, mobilize large-scale private investment and create a vibrant circular bioeconomy across the country. It plans to achieve stronger rural livelihoods through new income opportunities for farmers, feedstock aggregators, cooperatives and rural entrepreneurs.