Top news of the day: Supreme Court distances itself from changes to Form 6; American and 2 Germans win medicine Nobel for work in optogenetics, and more

Changes to Form 6 not made by court; post-retirement immunity to CEC not given to even judges: Supreme CourtThe Supreme Court on Monday (October 5, 2026) distanced itself from the controversial alterations made to Form 6 for registering new voters during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls across several States, shifting scrutiny to the Election Commission of India (ECI). “We are making it clear, any modifications to Form 6 have not been made by us,” Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, heading a three-judge Bench, said.2026 Nobel medicine prize: Trio wins for optogenetics workThe Nobel Prize for Physiology for 2026 was awarded to scientists Karl ​Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel for “discoveries concerning light-gated ion channels and optogenetics,” the award-giving ​body said on Monday (October 5, 2026).Spain’s Prime Minister calls early election after housing crisis defeatSpanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Monday (October 5, 2026) called a snap election for November 29, after Parliament rejected housing relief measures proposed by his minority government. The defeat on Friday (October 2) was just the latest political setback for the Socialist premier, one of the few European prime ministers from the left still in power. “To do more, we need to renew and broaden the support of the people,” Mr. Sanchez, in office since 2018, said in a televised address.Brazil’s Flavio Bolsonaro beats polls in presidential vote, faces Lula in runoffBrazilian Senator ​Flavio Bolsonaro will face ‌President Luiz Inacio ​Lula da ⁠Silva in the runoff of a presidential election, ‌the country’s electoral authority said ‌on Sunday (October 4, 2026). With ‌just ⁠over 97% of ⁠the ballots counted, the right-wing challenger took 47.45% ​of valid ‌votes in the first round, beating the forecasts in ‌most private surveys. ​Leftist Lula received 44.66% of the ⁠votes.CEC’s ability to ‘execute G2’s illegal orders’ makes him a liability for country: CongressThe Congress on Monday (October 5, 2026) said Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar must quit right away and claimed that his ability to “execute G2’s illegal orders” has now made him a “liability for the country”. Congress general secretary in charge of communications Jairam Ramesh’s attack on the CEC came a day after Supreme Court judge Justice Ujjal Bhuyan remarked that any process that “disenfranchises” millions of Indian citizens is “intrinsically arbitrary” and a “negation” of the constitutional order.Woman journalist who alleged sexual harassment by ACP, 16 others detained; lawyer says detainees assaultedA woman journalist who has accused ACP Vivek Bhagat of sexually harassing and manhandling her while she was covering a protest was detained again, along with 16 other journalists, on Monday (October 5, 2026) morning. They were taken to the Delhi Cantonment police station about 12 kilometres away. The detention happened as independent journalists and activists spent a second consecutive night protesting outside the Parliament Street police station demanding registration of an FIR against the officer.Supreme Court to list plea to allow peaceful protests to Jantar MantarThe Supreme Court on Monday (October 5, 2026) indicates that it will list a petition alleging that the Delhi Police is not allowing peaceful protests and marches to Jantar Mantar in the national capital following allegations of misconduct by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and seeking his removal. The petition sought judicial directions from the apex court to the police to allow peaceful protests.FM Sitharaman hails India-EU trade deal at Munich Leaders MeetingThe India-European Union free trade deal stands out as an example of how India is negotiating and finalising trade deals, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Monday (October 5, 2026). Speaking at the opening session of the Munich Leaders Meeting in New Delhi, Ms. Sitharaman noted that India has opened up 92.5% of all its tariff lines through the agreement and 97% of the trade value, while the EU has opened up 99% in terms of value and possibly 97% of tariff lines.Preservation of culture a fundamental right, says SC, refuses to stay Calcutta HC proceedings in Nicobar project caseSaying that “preservation of culture is a constitutionally protected fundamental right”, the Supreme Court on Monday (October 5, 2026) did not agree with a Union government plea to stay Calcutta High Court proceedings in a petition filed by former Union Environment Secretary Meena Gupta challenging the Great Nicobar Island Project as a threat to the area’s fragile ecosystem and Forest Rights Act, 2006. A three-judge Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant instead urged the Calcutta High Court to hear the case and decide the issues without delay.Delhi High Court dismisses pleas for SIT probe into 2020 riots, 2019 Jamia violenceThe Delhi High Court on Monday (October 5, 2026) dismissed a batch of petitions seeking a SIT probe into the 2020 riots in the national capital and the 2019 violence that broke out in Jamia Millia Islamia following anti-CAA protests. A bench of Justices Vivek Chaudhary and Manoj Jain said, “For the reasons mentioned in the judgment, all the petitions are dismissed”.Messi visit row: Keralam police chief vets SIT report on alleged irregularities; ex-Sports Minister V. Abdurahiman under scannerState Police Chief (SPC) Ravada A. Chandrasekhar has commenced scrutiny of the report submitted by the Special Investigation Team (SIT), tasked with probing the alleged irregularities surrounding the proposed visit of football great Lionel Messi and the Argentina national football team to Keralam. The report will subsequently be submitted along with the SPC’s recommendations to the Home Department. BJP releases list of candidates for Rajya Sabha polls in Uttar PradeshThe Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday (October 5, 2026) announced eight candidates from Uttar Pradesh for the upcoming biennial Rajya Sabha polls. The Rajya Sabha elections for 10 seats from Uttar Pradesh are scheduled to be held on October 16. The BJP is in a position to win at least seven seats from the State based on its strength in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly. The Samajwadi Party (SP) has filed two candidates till now, and is likely to contest the third seat