Batmi Shorts — India’s biggest stories in under a minute

The India Meteorological Department has issued a high-alert warning for Odisha and eastern India, forecasting 100 to 200 millimetres of rain in just 24 hours. Thunderstorms and localized flooding are expected, raising flood risks in low-lying areas.

State disaster agencies have activated rescue operations. Meanwhile, Delhi may see scattered rain showers tomorrow, potentially easing heat but causing brief urban flooding.

Akasa Air will begin a daily direct flight from Bhogapuram to New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport on October 25, marking its entry into the coastal town’s air travel market. The move follows IndiGo’s earlier launch, offering passengers their first direct route between the two cities.

The new service aims to cut travel time and expand connectivity for both passengers and businesses.

The Supreme Court has ordered the Election Commission to end the Trinamool Congress’s symbol freeze by March 15, rejecting years of delay. The party’s West Bengal symbol was locked in 2021 after a rival petition.

Now, the EC must decide whether to restore TMC’s mark or assign a new one, with a status update due on March 14. The ruling comes as the party prepares for 2024 state polls, where symbol recognition matters.

Up to ₹15,000 per vehicle will support operators, with a target of 10,000+ drivers enrolled by 2025. The rollout begins in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, and Rourkela, with private aggregators partnering to implement the plan.

An advocate has filed criminal contempt proceedings against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, accusing him of flouting Supreme Court judgments on election rules. Now, the Supreme Court awaits the Attorney General’s consent before any action can proceed.

The case hinges on whether the AG’s approval will allow the contempt proceedings to move forward or stall them entirely.

Delhi High Court has directed authorities to reply by 15 June on a plea accusing gangs of forcing children as young as seven into begging. Petitioners allege abuse and confinement, despite prior complaints ignored.

The court ordered police to respond within ten days, marking the first legal push for action on unchecked exploitation in the city.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaffirmed his party’s commitment to service after sweeping victories in Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh on 10 October. Speaking in Vadnagar, Gujarat, he declared: ‘No matter how much power we gain, we will never deviate from the path of service.’ The pledge came days after his party secured a third consecutive term in Gujarat and a landslide win in Madhya Pradesh.

Local media, including The Hindu and ThePrint, reported the exact words. The remarks follow rising speculation about voter turnout in the 2024 general elections.

Microsoft has launched its fourth cloud region in Hyderabad, Telangana, naming it India South Central. The facility will act as a critical hub for cloud services across Asia and the Global South, supporting Microsoft’s Azure platform with localised data storage.

This follows the company’s efforts to strengthen AI infrastructure in India, competing directly with AWS and Google Cloud. Before this, Microsoft had no dedicated cloud base in Telangana, but now businesses and governments in the region will benefit from faster, compliant data processing.

The Supreme Court Collegium has cleared 12 judges for permanent roles in Delhi, Madras, Kerala and Rajasthan High Courts, where vacancies have slowed down cases. Three judges will join Delhi High Court, two Madras, three Kerala and four Rajasthan.

The President must now approve these appointments before they take effect, aiming to cut delays and ease the backlog, especially in Delhi, which faces the most pending cases.

Iran’s foreign ministry has issued a stark warning that a US military strike could pull the Indian Ocean into a wider conflict, echoing threats made by President Donald Trump. With no immediate response from Washington and India’s naval forces already operating in the region, tensions have shifted from diplomatic exchanges to a potential direct threat to maritime security.

No military action has been reported yet, but the warning signals a deeper risk of escalation.

The Supreme Court today upheld Danam Nagender’s disqualification as MLA for Warangal Rural, Telangana, after he switched from the BRS to the TDP. The bench dismissed his appeal, confirming the High Court’s 2023 ruling that his move violated the anti-defection law.

Nagender’s seat in the Assembly is now vacant, triggering a bye-election. BRS leader Kaushik Reddy called the verdict ‘justice for defection’ as the unanimous decision leaves no room for appeal.

The India Meteorological Department has issued a heavy rain alert for September 24, warning of intense downpours in Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Chhattisgarh. Flood-prone areas face risks of flooding and landslides, prompting residents to stay indoors and avoid travel.

State disaster teams stand on high alert as the IMD’s hourly updates could disrupt transport and power in Odisha. Normal conditions have shifted to heightened caution across the four states.

A Mumbai court has discharged Maharashtra Minister Chhagan Bhujbal from a bribery case linked to the ₹12.5 crore contract for Mumbai University’s Central Library plot in 2016. After over a decade of legal proceedings, the charges were dropped, leaving Bhujbal’s ministerial position untouched.

The ruling closes the case without immediate political fallout.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma accused opposition parties of trying to undermine the Election Commission’s work during a meeting with the Korean ambassador in Guwahati. He praised the EC’s role in Assam’s recent polls as ‘good’ while claiming opposition efforts were obstructing electoral processes.

The remarks follow allegations of political interference in election management, marking a direct challenge to opposition oversight.

Delhi Bar Association members called a complete work stoppage today to protest a new amendment in the Central Motor Vehicles Act. The change removes the need for court orders before police can seize vehicles for traffic violations.

Lawyers argue this undermines legal protections and have demanded the provision be scrapped immediately. The strike has halted court filings, consultations, and casework across Delhi, with no date set for resumption.

The Supreme Court will soon decide whether the Bar Council of India can keep overseeing legal education after years of legal challenges. Petitioners say its rules choke law schools’ freedom, while the Council insists it keeps standards high.

New Delhi’s top court may now hand this power to the National Legal Services Authority instead. If it does, over 3,000 law colleges—where 100,000 students study yearly—could see admissions, syllabi, or accreditation overhauled.

The hearing is set for October, with a verdict that could redefine how law education operates across India.

Election Commission chief Gyanesh Kumar faced sharp questions at Parliament’s Standing Committee over AI’s growing role in elections. Members probed whether India’s poll body could stop deepfakes and misinformation, while Kumar admitted plans to use AI for voter verification—without revealing how or when.

Opposition parties accused parties of using AI for unfair campaigning, demanding stricter rules. Kumar called AI both a threat and a tool but refused to ban it outright.

The committee now pushes for a national AI policy, though ECI’s current framework lacks enforcement. A next hearing awaits tech firms’ and part

The Delhi High Court today dismissed YouTuber Ajeet Bharti’s anticipatory bail plea in an SC/ST Act case, rejecting his request after noting his inflammatory remarks against MP Chandra and a history of provocative posts. Bharti now faces charges under IPC Sections 505 and 153A alongside the SC/ST Act violations, with the Delhi Police having filed a chargesheet against him in October 2023.

Though no arrest order was issued, Bharti must now appear in court when summoned, ending his bail protection.

Telangana has locked in a ₹1,200-crore annual contract with Coal India to secure 1.5 million tonnes of coal for its thermal plants, starting next fiscal year. By ensuring a steady fuel supply, the move could ease electricity tariffs for homes and businesses.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has stressed the need to protect the Election Commission’s independence and transparency, warning against political interference in electoral processes. His remarks follow reports of pressure on officials ahead of state elections.

Vijayan cited past controversies while emphasising the importance of transparent voter lists and polling procedures for maintaining public trust in the system.

Karnataka’s Chief Minister Shivakumar has announced an all-party delegation will travel to Delhi to press for drought relief after 15 districts face severe water shortages. The crisis has parched 1.2 million acres of farmland, leaving farmers dependent on state support.

The team, led by Shivakumar, will meet central officials next week to demand immediate financial aid. The outcome will decide whether affected growers can replant or suffer deeper losses, shaping the state’s agricultural future.

Gautam Adani declared Adani Group will pump over ₹1 lakh crore into West Bengal by 2035, a landmark pledge. The plan includes a ₹4,000 crore, 2,000-bed hospital in Kolkata and promises to create over 10,000 jobs.

News outlets like NDTV and The Hindu reported the announcement, marking a shift from earlier proposals to a far larger economic push.

Tamil Nadu has urged the Supreme Court for an extra 20 TMC of Cauvery water, alleging a shortfall that threatens its agriculture and drinking supplies. Karnataka countered by citing drought in multiple districts, arguing it cannot release more.

The court ordered Karnataka to respond by the next hearing as Tamil Nadu’s southern districts face ongoing shortages. The dispute centres on the 2018 water-sharing agreement, with both states’ supplies at risk.

SEBI deducted ₹1,00,000 from Rakeshbhai K Pandya’s assets on 24 September 2026 under Recovery Certificate No. 9229 of 2026.

The order targets his defaults in trading ANI Integrated Services Limited shares. Pandya, marked as a defaulter in SEBI’s records, now faces reduced access to funds due to the deduction.

No prior notice or hearing preceded the remittance.