In Depth: The politics of citizenship

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is visiting Varanasi to inaugurate a new garment manufacturing facility and witness an Indian Air Force aerial display at Namo Ghat. Marking the 94th anniversary of the Indian Air Force with the theme 'Wings Over Ganges', the air show features fighter jets including Tejas, Rafale, and Sukhoi-30MKI, along with Prachand combat helicopters and aircraft from the Army and Navy. Meanwhile, the garment plant aims to bolster the textile sector and generate local employment, particularly for women. However, criticism was raised over scheduling the air show during Varanasi's 488-year-old Bharat Milap tradition, alongside questions regarding Chinese border incursions.

A major political controversy has erupted following the appearance of controversial graffiti across university campuses in the national capital. At Jawaharlal Nehru University, slogans demanding the release of Umar Khalid and hailing Naxalbari surfaced on walls, alongside alleged objectionable text near a portrait of Veer Savarkar. The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad accused left-wing student outfits of defacing campus property and disrupting the academic environment, demanding strict action. The JNU administration confirmed an internal inquiry and stated that attempts to disturb campus peace would not be tolerated. This row follows similar tensions at Jamia Millia Islamia, where slogans supporting Sharjeel Imam and demanding 'Free Kashmir' appeared amid protests calling for the reinstatement of student union elections. While the Jamia administration accused political leaders of trespassing and inciting unrest, the opposition denied raising anti-national slogans, accusing the ruling party of deliberate provocation.

An India Today investigation on Postmortem examines the operations of the Lawrence Bishnoi criminal network following a daylight shooting targeting actor Tiger Shroff in Mumbai's Juhu on October 18, 2026.

Tens of thousands of protestors have taken to the streets across France, leading to clashes with police in several cities including Lyon, Marseille, and Bordeaux. Demonstrators pulled boards from shops to build barricades to shield themselves, while police resorted to firing tear gas and deploying water cannons to disperse the crowds. In Lyon alone, around 10,000 people gathered for several unauthorised marches before being dispersed by security forces.