Top news of the day: Agniveer service tenure extended by two years; Democrats sweep U.S. midterms in major blow to Trump; and more

Agniveer service tenure extended by two years, CDS announcesThe Union Cabinet on Wednesday (November 4, 2026), cleared a scheme for the absorption of 25% of Agniveers into regular forces based on merit, Chief of Defence Staff General N.S. Raja Subramani announced. Two more years of engagement period offer to be given to the remaining Agniveers and when this engagement period is over, all Agniveers to be inducted into armed forces subject to objective selection criteria, the CDS said.Democrats win U.S. House in growing midterms wave against TrumpDemocrats won the House and were within reach of taking over the Senate in a rapidly building midterms wave on Tuesday (November 3, 2026) projected to sweep Republicans aside and deliver a stinging repudiation of Donald Trump’s bruising presidency. CNN and CNBC projected a Democratic House majority, giving the Opposition the power to block Mr. Trump’s legislative agenda and launch sweeping investigations of his administration during the final two years of his presidency.ECI still insisting on Form 6 for excluded voters in Delhi SIR, petitioners make urgent mentioning in Supreme CourtAdvocate Prashant Bhushan, on Wednesday (November 4, 2026), said that the Election Commission of India (ECI) was still insisting that voters excluded after the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Delhi, under the Absent, Shifted, Dead or Duplicate (ASDD) categories, must fill up Form 6, meant exclusively for new voters. fill up Form 6, which is meant exclusively for new voters.60-day prohibitive orders passed ‘ex-parte’ to prevent unrest in key capital zones: Delhi Police in Supreme CourtSeven separate prohibitive orders passed by the Delhi Police under Section 163 Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) in the national capital show restrictions concerning free movement were imposed way before protests erupted demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar.Supreme Court judgment questions two-child norm with falling fertility rateThe Supreme Court on Wednesday (November 4, 2026) held that laws penalising having more than two children have lost their relevance due to falling fertility rate. “The foundation of such laws, that is the fear of overpopulation, has crumbled due to demographic changes in the past few decades,” a Bench headed by Justice P.S. Narasimha observed.INCOIS warns of Marine Heat Wave, issues swell surge alert for east and west coastsThe Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), a research organisation under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), has issued a Marine Heat Wave (MHW) warning across the Arabian Sea, the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal. The warming conditions could adversely affect coral reef ecosystems, marine productivity and coastal biodiversity.Delhi Police registers FIR against Prashant Bhushan over doctored video of Russian Foreign MinisterThe Delhi Police have registered an FIR against advocate Prashant Bhushan over the alleged circulation of a doctored video of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, which purportedly showed him criticising India over its internal affairs and oil purchases. The case was registered by the Special Cell after the police came across claims about the video during cyber patrolling on November 3, according to a post by the Delhi Police on X.Tamil Nadu CM Vijay urges PM Modi to take steps to set up Supreme Court Bench in ChennaiTamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on Wednesday (November 4, 2026) wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging him to take necessary steps to establish a Bench of the Supreme Court of India in Chennai. In a letter to the Prime Minister, Mr. Vijay said it was one of the long-pending demands of the State to establish a Bench of the Supreme Court in Chennai. It was first mooted by the State in 1980, citing several factors, including the difficulties faced by litigants from southern States in travelling to New Delhi to seek legal remedies.Keralam Home Minister directs Vigilance to examine ₹2-crore bribery allegation against CEC Gyanesh KumarKeralam Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala has directed the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) to examine fresh bribery allegations raised by a former contractor against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar in connection with a road construction project undertaken under the KSTP nearly two decades ago when the CEC was serving in Keralam, an official source said here on Wednesday (November 4, 2026).Shift to Navi Mumbai or stop flying to Mumbai: Adani Airports CEO tells foreign airlinesAdani Airport Holdings CEO Arun Bansal on Tuesday (November 3, 2026) said international airlines unwilling to shift their operations to the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) could stop flying to Mumbai. The disagreement comes as Adani-owned Mumbai International Airport Ltd. (MIAL) prepares to undertake redevelopment work at Terminal 1, necessitating the relocation of a portion of flight operations currently handled at Terminal 2 to Navi Mumbai.Over one lakh workers expected at Jantar Mantar in Delhi for indefinite protest by CITU starting December 1The Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) will launch an indefinite protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi from December 1, demanding protection of workers’ rights and repeal of ‘anti-worker’ labour codes. Addressing a press conference in Kalaburagi on November 2, CITU State unit president S. Varalakshmi said, “Over one lakh workers from across the country are expected to participate. Around 40,000 travel tickets had already been booked by workers from Karnataka and other States.”Israel election commission rejects Benjamin Netanyahu charges of fraudIsraeli electoral authorities on Wednesday (November 4, 2026) rejected allegations promoted by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of fraud by Arab parties, who could hold the key to removing him from power after a divisive vote.President Isaac Herzog will at noon (10:00 GMT) officially receive the results of the October 27 election as he decides whether to give Mr. Netanyahu or his rival, Gadi Eisenkot, the first chance to form a government, with neither commanding enough votes alone.IND vs NZ 1st ODI: Pacers, Kohli script impressive win for IndiaA young pace unit headlined by the imposing Gurnoor Brar scarred New Zealand with disconcerting bounce before Virat Kohli decided to celebrate his 38th birthday a day in advance by striking a chiselled 74 as India earned an easy five-wicket win in the rain-curtailed first ODI in Auckland on Wednesday (November 4, 2026).With two titles in 4 months, P.V. Sindhu says she is building, not chasing her old selfP.V. Sindhu is no longer chasing her old self. The badminton ace is rebuilding herself, one title at a time. Victory at the Hylo Open on Sunday (November 1), her second title in four months, has taken her back to world No. 6 — into the top 10 for the first time since 2023. It also ended a long wait for silverware. Before the Japan Open in July, her last title had come at the 2024 Syed Modi International.