The Assembly Elections of Bihar will be conducted in two phases on 6th and 11th November this year. The counting of votes will take place on 14th of November. The Election Commission today announced the poll schedule for the 243 members Bihar Assembly elections. With the announcement of poll schedule, the Model Code of Conduct has come into force in Bihar. Polling will be held in 121 assembly seats in the first phase while, 122 assembly constituencies will go to polls in the second phase.

Briefing media in New Delhi today, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar said that over 90 thousand 712 polling booths will be set up for seven crore 43 lakh voters in the state. He informed that the notification for the first phase of voting will be issued on 10th of this month and candidates can make their nominations till 17th of October. For the second phase of polling, the notification will be issued on 13th of this month and the nomination can be filed till 20th of October.

Major CGHS reform: In a relief for both central government employees and pensioners as well as for private hospitals, the central government has made a major revision in the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) rates after a long time. These new rates will come into effect from October 13. The move is likely to benefit approximately 4.6 million CGHS beneficiaries.

The government says the new rates are based on the hospital’s accreditation, city category, hospital type, and patient ward.

A quarter of a century after it joined NATO and amid rising tension on its eastern frontier, Poland will finally join the alliance's fuel pipeline network, the government said on Friday (October 3, 2025).

The Western allies operate a 10,000-km network of European pipelines, bringing fuel and lubricants for tanks and aircraft to where troops might need them in time of war.

But the system was set up during the Cold War, when Poland was still a member of the opposing Warsaw Pact, and NATO's pipelines still do not reach its bases closer to the borders with Russia and Belarus.

Poland has been considering joining the NATO Pipeline System (NPS) for many years, and on Friday, the Defence Ministry and national pipeline operator PERN unveiled a 4.7-billion-euro plan to do so.

"This is one of the largest investments in the security of the Polish state in the last 30 years," Deputy Defence Minister Cezary Tomczyk told reporters at the signing ceremony.

The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying is planning to launch the National Camel Sustainability Initiative (NCSI) — a national mission aimed at reversing the steady decline in India’s camel population.

The proposal has been outlined in a draft policy paper prepared in consultation with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), which was circulated on September 29 for public comments.

“To reverse the rapid decline of India’s camel population and restore its economic and ecological significance, a multi-dimensional strategy is essential,” the draft notes.

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday approved the nationwide celebrations to mark the 150 years of the national song, 'Vande Mataram'.

Addressing a cabinet briefing, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said, "Keeping in mind the role played by the song during the freedom struggle, a decision was taken to hold country-wide celebrations to mark its 150th year. The celebrations will be held across the country, especially for our youth and students, many of whom may not be well-acquainted with historical events."

The song Vande Mataram, composed in Sanskrit by Bankimchandra Chatterji, was a source of inspiration to the people in their struggle for freedom.

Known as the “Amazon of the seas”, the Coral Triangle is a 5.7 million sq. km expanse across the tropical waters of Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Solomon Islands, and Timor-Leste — and the richest marine ecosystem on the earth. The Triangle is home to more than three-quarters of the world’s coral species, a third of all reef fish, the vast mangrove forests, and six of the seven marine turtle species. It also sustains the food security and livelihoods of more than 120 million people.

The Coral Triangle is also facing mounting dangers. Growing carbon emissions, destructive fishing, air, water, and soil pollution, and the accelerating effects of climate change are all driving coral bleaching, habitat loss, and species decline, placing both biodiversity and coastal communities at grave risk.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Friday granted self-regulatory organisation (SRO) status to the Finance Industry Development Council (FIDC).

According to the central bank, it had received three applications to be recognised as self-regulatory organisations in the NBFC space, including that of the FIDC.

“Based on the examination, it has been decided to recognise the Finance Industry Development Council (FIDC) as an SRO for NBFCs. The remaining two applications were not considered since they were incomplete as on the last date of submission of application,” the RBI said in its press release.

Veteran actor Sandhya Shantaram died at the age of 94. Her last rites were conducted today at Vaikunth Dham in Shivaji Park. While there is no clarity on what caused her death, sources told Indiatoday.in that she was suffering from old age-related issues.

Known for her captivating performances and the ability to bring depth to every role, Sandhya left behind a legacy that defined Indian cinema’s golden era.

Married to filmmaker V Shantaram, Sandhya was both his muse and a prominent actor in her own right. She was widely recognised for her work in the Marathi classic 'Pinjara', which showcased her ability to convey complex emotions with ease. In 'Do Aankhen Barah Haath', she combined acting and dance, earning critical acclaim for her versatility.

The Indian Coast Guard Ship (ICGS) Akshar, the second vessel in a series of eight Adamya-class Fast Patrol Vessels (FPVs), was commissioned into service at Karaikal, Puducherry, on Saturday. The 51-metre-long vessel has been designed and built indigenously by Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL), showcasing the spirit of Aatmanirbhar Bharat and advancing the Government’s Make in India initiative with over 60% indigenous content.

Commissioned by Dipti Mohil Chawla, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Defence, in the presence of Additional Director General Donny Michael, Coast Guard Commander, Eastern Seaboard, the event was attended by senior officials from the central and state governments.

Displacing approximately 320 tons, ICGS Akshar is powered by twin 3,000 KW diesel engines, achieving a maximum speed of 27 knots and an endurance of 1,500 nautical miles. The ship is equipped with indigenously developed Controllable Pitch Propellers (CPP) and gearboxes, providing superior manoeuvrability and operational flexibility.

The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) will conduct the 10th edition of the National Level Pollution Response Exercise (NATPOLREX-X) off the coast of Chennai, Tamil Nadu, starting tomorrow. This two-day biennial flagship exercise will be conducted in conjunction with the 27th National Oil Spill Disaster Contingency Plan (NOSDCP) and Preparedness Meeting. In a statement, ICG said the exercise is designed to evaluate and enhance India’s national preparedness to respond to marine oil spill incidents.

The exercise will further strengthen inter-agency cooperation, promote the adoption of best practices, and set new benchmarks in maritime environmental stewardship, operational readiness, and technological integration.

The event is expected to witness active participation from a wide range of stakeholders, including central ministries, coastal state governments, major ports, oil handling agencies, and maritime organizations. The event will host more than 40 foreign observers from 32 countries and over 100 national delegates, making it a globally relevant forum for marine pollution response.