Top news of the day: Supreme Court to hear next week plea seeking CEC Gyanesh Kumar’s suspension; Neeru Dhanda strikes first-ever Asian Games women’s trap gold, and more

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. File | Photo Credit: Sushil Kumar Verma Supreme Court agrees to list next week plea to suspend CEC Gyanesh Kumar from officeThe Supreme Court on Tuesday (September 29, 2026) agreed to list and hear early a petition challenging allegations regarding Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar’s unilateral exercise of authority in the name of the Election Commission of India (ECI), and seeking his suspension from office.Asian Games 2026: Neeru Dhanda strikes first-ever women’s trap gold, leads team to silverNeeru Dhanda on Tuesday (September 29, 2026) scripted history by becoming India’s first shooter to win an Asian Games gold medal in the women’s trap individual event, smashing the continental record in the process. This was after she carried India to a silver medal in the women’s trap team event.Asian Games 2026: Ankush, Parveen punch their way to Asian Games finals; Narender settles for bronzeAnkush Panghal ended India’s eight-year wait for a male Asian Games boxing finalist while Parveen Hooda stormed into the 65kg gold-medal bout with a commanding victory on Tuesday (September 29, 2026) as Narender Berwal signed off with a bronze after bowing out in the +90kg semifinals.‘When we go, you will come’: Rahul Gandhi says PM told him only Congress can defeat BJPCongress leader Rahul Gandhi, on Tuesday (September 29, 2026), asserted that only Congress can defeat the BJP, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi too had remarked the same, during a closed-door meeting. The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, who spoke for 20-25 minutes at the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting, focused on the principle of resistance within the party and asked his colleagues to have confidence in themselves.NHRC issues notice to Meta, Centre, Etah district in U.P. over alleged exploitation of minors in videosThe National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Monday (September 28, 2026) issued notice to Meta, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and Etah district administration in Uttar Pradesh over a complaint alleging that minor children were repeatedly forced to appear in objectionable and politically sensitive social media videos linked to an Instagram account stated to be operated from Etah district.Kunal Kamra moves Supreme Court on issue concerning legislative privilegesStand-up comedian Kunal Kamra has moved the Supreme Court, seeking to intervene in a case on the interpretation of provisions related to the scope of legislative privileges of MLAs and its effect on the freedom of speech and expression.9% of students report suicidal thoughts, finds Supreme Court-appointed panel’s surveyAbout 15% of students in higher education institutions have experienced a period in the previous six months when they felt overwhelmed or distressed, while 9% reported experiencing suicidal thoughts, according to a nationwide survey conducted by the Supreme Court-appointed panel examining student suicides.PM Modi degree case: Gujarat High Court rejects Kejriwal appeal, upholds ₹25,000 cost on himThe Gujarat High Court on Tuesday (September 29, 2026) rejected Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convenor Arvind Kejriwal’s appeal against an order that set aside a directive asking Gujarat University to disclose Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s academic degree.AAP leaders Saurabh Bharadwaj and Jarnail Singh booked over assault of Delhi Police head constableThe Delhi Police have registered an FIR against Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders Saurabh Bharadwaj and Jarnail Singh, along with other party workers, for assaulting a head constable who was recording the proceedings during AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal’s visit to Tilak Nagar on Monday (September 28, 2026).Keralam local body bypolls: Congress-led UDF suffers setback as Opposition LDF wrests seven wardsFour months into its term, the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) government in Keralam appeared to have received a slight setback in the by-elections in 38 local body wards across 12 districts, with the Opposition Left Democratic Front (LDF) wresting seven wards from the UDF. Two of these were wards vacated by UDF’s sitting MLAs to contest in the previous Assembly elections. Published - September 29, 2026 06:07 pm IST