Top news of the day: ECI sets new SIR rules, extends objection periods in Delhi, Maharashtra; drought declared in Maharashtra’s 265 talukas, and more

ECI sets new SIR rules, extends objection periods in DelhiThe Election Commission of India (ECI) on Saturday (September 26, 2026) announced a slew of decisions regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls following a full-bench meeting. This comes amid the ongoing row over reports of “illegal” decisions and dissent within the poll body. The declaration attached to Form 6 would have to be filled out only during the SIR exercise, the ECI said, adding that the earlier format would be applicable otherwise for fresh voter registration.Drought declared in Maharashtra’s 265 talukasMaharashtra Government on Saturday (September 26, 2026) issued a government resolution (GR) declaring drought in 265 of the State’s 358 talukas based on the Agriculture Commissioner’s report, following prolonged rainfall deficits causing crop loss in the State. This covers major parts of Vidarbha, Marathwada, North Maharashtra and the Pune division. The worst-hit districts are Yavatmal (16 taluks), Jalgaon (15) and Ahilyanagar/Nagpur/Amravati/Nanded (14 each).Kunal Ghosh attacked in Bengal; Mamata alleges attempts to disrupt her party’s public meetingsBeleghata MLA and Mamata All India Trinamool Congress (Mamata TMC) leader Kunal Ghosh was on Saturday (September 26, 2026) while he was visiting Serampore in West Bengal’s Hooghly, to participate in a public meeting addressed by former Chief Minister Mamata. Mr. Ghosh’s vehicle was blocked by a mob at Sakherbazar in Uttarpara; eggs and stones were thrown, and it was attacked with sticks. Slogans were raised against Mr. Ghosh.India criticises Pakistan’s ‘falsehoods’ and ‘deceit’ at UN; warns terrorism will have consequencesDescribing Pakistan as a “puppet” regime, India has criticised the country’s “falsehoods” and “deceit” at the UN, warning that continued terrorism by Islamabad will have consequences. India exercised its Right of Reply on Friday night (September 25, 2026), after Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif used the UN General Assembly (UNGA) podium to credit U.S. President Donald Trump for his “timely intervention” in the 2025 conflict with India, and again raised the Kashmir issue in his address to the world body.Bihar on alert amid heavy rain forecastDue to incessant rainfall in the catchment areas of ​​the Gandak River in Nepal, border districts and areas vulnerable to the Gandak, Bagmati, and Kosi rivers in Bihar have been instructed to remain on high alert. Bihar Chief Secretary Pratyaya Amrit on Saturday (September 26, 2026) chaired a high-level review meeting along with officials of the Disaster Management Department, Water Resources Department, and District Magistrates (DMs) of 17 districts through video conferencing.China, U.S. agree to $30 billion tariff cut, AI dialogue during Xi visit: BeijingChina said on ​Saturday (September 26, 2026) it had agreed with the U.S. on a $30 billion reciprocal tariff-reduction arrangement ‌and on launching a dialogue on AI, under an ​eight-point consensus reached during President Xi Jinping’s visit to ⁠Washington. The two sides have also agreed to set up a trade council and extend the outcomes of earlier talks in Kuala Lumpur, the Chinese ‌Foreign Ministry said.Two days of rain halve Andhra Pradesh’s monsoon deficit from 43% to 22%Andhra Pradesh’s Southwest Monsoon (June to September) rainfall deficit has come down from 43% on September 15 to 22% on September 25, after the deep depression over the Bay of Bengal brought heavy rain to the coast on September 23 and 24, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). At 43% A.P. was the third most rain-deficient State in the country until September 15, after Meghalaya at 59% and Manipur at 44%. It had recorded only 251.1 mm against the normal of 437.6 mm in a season shaped by El Niño. Experts had pointed out that this was the second time since 1904 that the State had recorded such a steep rainfall gap; 1904 was a drought year with a deficit of 44.19%.Congress asks the Supreme Court to take suo motu notice against Gyanesh over Form 6 changesThe Congress on Saturday (September 26, 2026) urged the Supreme Court to take suo motu cognisance of what it described as “illegal and unconstitutional” changes to the voter enrolment process under Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, alleging that the changes had created a hurdle for young and first-time Gen Z voters.Tajinderpal Toor wins silver in men’s shot putTajinderpal Singh Toor won a silver medal in men’s shot put at the Asian Games, his third medal at the Continental showpiece. Toor, who won a gold medal in the last two editions of the Games, bagged the silver, hurling the iron ball to 20.64 m. Iran’s Mohammadreza Tayebise broke the Games record and took home the gold with a throw of 20.81, breaking Toor’s 20.75 m set in 2018.‘It’s the last World Cup I’m going to play for India’: KohliVirat Kohli has said next year’s ODI World Cup will be his last for India, and that he is going to “leave everything out there” to win the trophy. Kohli (37), who now plays only one format, spoke to JioStar ahead of the ODI series against West Indies starting here on Sunday (September 27, 2026). The World Cup will be hosted jointly by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.