National News: Latest India Updates

Bengal: Nandigram turns from Mamata’s triumph to political torment

IANS | September 18, 2026 10:48 PM

New Delhi, Sep 18 (IANS) Nandigram in West Bengal’s Purba Medinipur district, situated between the Ganga and Haldi rivers, has been the defining battleground in Trinamool Congress founder Mamata Banerjee’s political career. While it once propelled her rise to the Chief Minister’s chair, it later became the constituency where she dramatically challenged Suvendu Adhikari in 2021 and lost, and now the seat where her candidate withdrew ahead of the October 6 by-election, leaving her perplexed.

Odisha: BJD slams govt over Utkal University paper leak

IANS | September 18, 2026 10:39 PM

Bhubaneswar, Sep 18 (IANS) The opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Friday strongly criticised the state government over the alleged leak of the question paper for the +3 Second Semester Examination at Utkal University, calling it another serious blow to students and Odisha's youth under the double-engine government.

Rahul Gandhi exposed Cong's sordid history: BJP on LoP's 'party theft' allegation

IANS | September 18, 2026 10:22 PM

New Delhi, Sep 18 (IANS) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday remarked that Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has exposed the Congress' "sordid history", saying that the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Trinamool Congress had split from the grand old party.

Women comprise over 40 pc of workforce in 57.8 pc districts in India

IANS | September 18, 2026 8:38 PM

New Delhi, Sep 18 (IANS) There has been a strong growth in women entering the workforce in India, with 57.8 per cent of the country's districts recording a female Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) of 40 per cent or more, according to the first ever district-wise data released by the National Statistics Office on Friday.

FSSAI suspends licence of Paradise Distilleries over serious non-compliances

IANS | September 18, 2026 8:26 PM

New Delhi, Sep 18 (IANS) India’s food regulator on Friday suspended the licence of Paradise Distilleries, following serious non-compliances observed during the inspection of the food premises.

India-Norway relationship growing, getting stronger: Norwegian envoy

IANS | September 18, 2026 7:47 PM

New Delhi, Sep 18 (IANS) Hailing ties between Norway and India, Norwegian Ambassador to India, May-Elin Stener, said on Friday that the relations between both nations have been growing and getting stronger by the day.

India's IT software exports rise 9.5 pc to cross $239 bn in 2025-26

IANS | September 18, 2026 7:29 PM

Mumbai, Sep 18 (IANS) India's total IT software export services, including services delivered by foreign affiliates of Indian companies, increased by 9.5 per cent during financial year 2025-26, compared with the previous financial year, to touch the $239.3 billion mark, according to data released by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Friday.

Bengal: Congress candidate for Nandigram bypoll arrested in an old case

IANS | September 18, 2026 7:07 PM

Kolkata, Sep 18 (IANS) Milan Pradhan, the Congress candidate for the forthcoming bypoll for Nandigram Assembly constituency in East Midnapore district of West Bengal, was arrested on Friday in an old case, confirmed an official of the East Midnapore district police.

Red Sea tensions, attempted attack on Mecca threaten regional stability: MEA

IANS | September 18, 2026 5:52 PM

New Delhi, Sep 18 (IANS) Reiterating its serious concern over the deteriorating security situation in the Red Sea region and the attempted attack on Saudi Arabia’s holy city of Mecca, India on Friday said that the developments threaten regional stability as well as freedom of navigation through the Bab el-Mandeb strait.

Vande Mataram should be sung in full: Lyricist Muntashir slams Rahul Gandhi

IANS | September 18, 2026 5:52 PM

Ujjain, Sep 18 (IANS) Lyricist and screenwriter Manoj Muntashir Shukla on Friday criticised Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi over the ongoing ‘Vande Mataram’ row, saying the Congress leader should refrain from such acts and that the national song should be sung in its entirety.