Top news of the day: India invites Pakistan Minister for SCO Dialogue, first since 2023; Supreme Court seeks government response on pleas challenging Vande Mataram as a ‘divisive religious war song’, and more

In a first since 2023, Delhi invites Pakistan's minister for inaugural SCO Civilisational Dialogue in NovemberIndia will hold the first “Civilisational Dialogue Forum” of the 10-nation Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) grouping, which includes Pakistan, from November 20-22 in Delhi, sources confirmed to The Hindu. The dialogue, which will be organised by the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of External Affairs, was proposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the SCO leaders’ Summit in Tianjin last year and adopted by the SCO Council. BRICS Forum adopts joint declaration; condemns Pahalgam attack, seeks UNSC reformsThe two-day conclave of the BRICS Parliamentary Forum on Tuesday (October 27, 2026) adopted a joint declaration strongly condemning the 2025 Pahalgam attack and all acts of terrorism as it pledged to combat the menace in all its forms and manifestations and also stressed on non-intervention in the internal affairs of any country.Supreme Court seeks government response on pleas challenging Vande Mataram as a ‘divisive religious war song’The Supreme Court on Tuesday (October 27, 2026) sought a response from the Union government on two separate petitions filed by a Phule-Ambedkarite and a former Kerala bureaucrat challenging government orders imposing the six-stanza Vande Mataram on the people. A Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant issued notice to the Centre on petitions filed by B.D. Borkar and former IAS officer Balakrishnan Sathyabhama Mavoji, both of whom have termed the six-stanza Vande Mataram a ‘divisive religious war song’ and a step towards theocracy.PM Modi, Liechtenstein’s Prince Alois hold talks to boost tiesPrime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday (October 27, 2026) held talks with Liechtenstein’s Prince Alois on bolstering ties between the two countries and furthering the momentum in the bilateral partnership. Liechtenstein’s Prince Alois is on a visit to India from October 25-28 to shore up bilateral cooperation in trade and investment, science, technology and innovation.Cyclone Arnab | Odisha announces evacuation of 48,000 in eight districts: Storm 170 km from Visakhapatnam, landfall near Yanam; Nepal on high alertVery severe cyclonic storm ‘Arnab’ was about 170 km from Visakhapatnam and 180 km from Kakinada at 11.30 a.m. on Tuesday (October 27, 2026), the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. It is expected to cross the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts close to Yanam, between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, by Wednesday forenoon, with winds of 125-135 kmph gusting to 150 kmph.Bombay High Court stays “Leave India Notice” against actor Imran Khan till November 2The Bombay High Court on Tuesday (October 27, 2026) granted interim relief to actor Imran Khan by staying the ‘Leave India Notice’ issued against him by the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO), Mumbai, until the next hearing on November 2. A division bench led by Chief Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi adjourned Mr. Khan’s petition challenging the notice till Monday at 3:00 p.m. The court recorded an oral assurance from Additional Solicitor General Anil C. Singh, appearing for the Centre, that the notice would be kept in abeyance, and directed a stay until the next hearing.Four new faces join Omar Abdullah’s Cabinet in J&KJammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah-led government, on Tuesday (October 27, 2026), inducted four new faces into the Council of Ministers, including an old hand from Srinagar, Ali Muhammad Sagar, and a female face, Shameema Firdous, taking the total strength of Cabinet to nine in the Union Territory.Punjab Assembly: Stopped from entering House, Congress MLAs allege; stage protestStormy scenes were witnessed on the last day of the Punjab Assembly session, as Congress MLAs raised slogans against the AAP government outside the House, alleging that they were prevented from entering the Assembly, even as ruling and opposition MLAs engaged in a war of words.Rape and murder accused killed in encounter in West Bengal’s Bongaon In the wee hours of Tuesday (October 27, 2026), the 23-year-old prime accused in the rape and murder of a Class 11 woman was shot dead in an encounter in the Bongaon region of West Bengal. This is the second such encounter incident in the State in the past four months. The accused, Prahlad Das, was taken to the crime scene in Gaighata around 3-3.30 a.m. on Tuesday (October 27, 2026) to reconstruct the crime scene.Dutch broadcaster pulls out of Eurovision over Israel ‘sensitivities’The Netherlands will not participate in next year’s Eurovision Song Contest, its public broadcaster NPO said on Tuesday (October 27, 2026), citing “sensitivities” over Israel’s participation. The Dutch withdrawal is the latest in a series of boycotts from countries unhappy with Israel’s inclusion in the annual music festival, given its military campaign in Gaza sparked by the October 7 Hamas attacks.