Nitish Kumar took oath as Bihar’s Chief Minister for the tenth time on Thursday at Gandhi Maidan in Patna. The ceremony was attended by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, several BJP-led state leaders, and NDA allies including Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu. Kumar was unanimously chosen as the leader of the NDA legislative party in Bihar after a meeting of alliance legislators on Wednesday. Following his selection, he submitted his resignation from the outgoing government and staked claim to form a new one. Critics attribute his political longevity to his adaptability and strategic alliance-building. Currently, Kumar ranks as India’s eighth longest-serving Chief Minister, and if he completes this term, he could surpass Sikkim’s former leader Pawan Kumar Chamling’s record of 24 years in office.

Seven Maoist insurgents were killed in a gun battle with security forces in Andhra Pradesh’s Alluri Sitarama Raju district, police confirmed on Wednesday. Among the dead were four men and three women, including senior Maoist leader Metturi Joga Rao, also known as Tech Shankar, who was a central committee member of the CPI (Maoist) and oversaw technical operations in the Andhra-Odisha border region. This marks the second such encounter in the state within 24 hours, following another clash near Maredumilli that resulted in the death of top Maoist leader Madvi Hidma. Authorities said intensified operations are underway in Maoist-affected areas. Meanwhile, Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma urged Maoists to surrender and opt for government rehabilitation programs, emphasizing that the administration is ready to provide dignified reintegration opportunities for those willing to abandon armed rebellion.

Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar reaffirmed India’s firm stance against terrorism during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Heads of Government meeting held in Astana, Kazakhstan, on November 18. He emphasized that India will exercise its sovereign right to protect its citizens and urged the global community to demonstrate zero tolerance toward all forms of terrorism. Highlighting the SCO’s founding purpose of combating terrorism, separatism, and extremism, Jaishankar called for strengthening the organization’s structure and actions to meet contemporary challenges. He also advocated for modernization and reforms within the SCO, including implementing India’s longstanding proposal to make English an official language alongside Russian and Chinese. Additionally, he outlined India’s initiatives to promote innovation and entrepreneurship among youth through the SCO Startup and Innovation Working Group and the SCO Startup Forum. Jaishankar assured that India would continue to extend full cooperation to achieve these shared goals.

A bizarre accident occurred in Jodhpur, India, when a camel collided with a private car and crashed through its roof, leaving both the animal and the driver seriously injured. Eyewitnesses reported that the camel suddenly appeared on the road, giving the driver no time to brake. The impact destroyed the car’s front section, including the bumper, bonnet, and windshield, and caused the camel’s upper body to become trapped inside the vehicle for nearly two hours. Locals rushed to rescue the injured driver, identified as Ramsingh, who was taken to a hospital in Jodhpur after receiving first aid. The camel was later freed using mechanical equipment in a joint effort by local residents and authorities. Images and videos of the incident have gone viral on social media, showing the distressed animal struggling to escape from the wrecked car.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep grief over the tragic bus accident in Saudi Arabia that killed 42 Indian Umrah pilgrims, most of whom were from Hyderabad. In a Facebook post on Monday, Modi offered condolences to the bereaved families and wished a speedy recovery for the injured. He stated that the Indian Embassy in Riyadh and the Consulate in Jeddah are providing all possible assistance and maintaining close contact with Saudi authorities. According to The Indian Express, the accident occurred between Medina and Badr when a bus collided with a tanker truck, causing a fire that led to heavy casualties. Among the deceased were 20 women and 11 children. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar also expressed condolences and confirmed that a 24-hour control room has been set up at the Jeddah Consulate to assist families. Indian officials and volunteers are coordinating with Saudi authorities and hospitals to support victims.

India has signed a significant energy agreement with the United States to import 2.2 million tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) annually, accounting for about 10% of Delhi’s total LPG consumption. The deal comes amid ongoing pressure from Washington over India’s continued purchase of Russian oil and recent trade frictions, including US President Donald Trump’s decision to raise tariffs on Indian goods to 50%. Despite these tensions, both nations continue dialogue on energy and trade cooperation. Indian Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri described the deal as the first LPG supply agreement between the two countries, emphasizing India’s goal of diversifying energy sources to ensure affordable and secure fuel for its population. The agreement also opens the rapidly growing Indian LPG market to US suppliers. Analysts note that while India’s economy has recently shown strong growth, high US tariffs remain a concern that could slow GDP expansion if not reduced soon.

The recently concluded Bihar state assembly elections, held in two phases on November 6 and 11, resulted in a decisive victory for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which secured 202 of the 243 seats. The opposition Mahagathbandhan (MGB) alliance, led by the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), managed to win only 35 seats. Notably, only 10 Muslim candidates were elected to the assembly, marking the lowest Muslim representation since 1990. Despite Muslims constituting about 17.7% of Bihar’s population, both major alliances fielded fewer Muslim candidates compared to the 2020 election. The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), led by Asaduddin Owaisi, contested 25 seats with 23 Muslim candidates and won five, performing strongly in Muslim-majority districts such as Kishanganj, Purnea, Katihar, and Araria. In contrast, the ruling Janata Dal (United) fielded only four Muslim candidates, and the opposition RJD and Congress saw limited success among their Muslim nominees.

Delhi University has come under fire for allegedly violating academic freedom after canceling a long-running seminar on democracy and directing faculty and students to attend a 'National Cow Conference' on the same day. Critics, including sociology professor Nandini Sundar, accused the administration of promoting a Hindutva agenda and suppressing secular and democratic discourse. The university claimed the seminar was canceled due to lack of prior approval, but organizers argued that such permission had never been required in the event’s 60-year history. The Democratic Teachers’ Front condemned the move as ideological suppression and bias against social sciences. Analysts say the incident reflects a broader trend under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government, where universities face growing political pressure, restrictions on academic content, and intolerance toward critical research. The controversy underscores concerns about the erosion of academic autonomy and the increasing politicization of higher education in India.

The Indian national football team has arrived in Dhaka to face Bangladesh in the AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifying return leg on November 18. However, controversy has emerged over the inclusion of Ryan Williams, an Australian-born striker who recently obtained Indian citizenship. Despite his new nationality, India reportedly brought him to Dhaka without securing necessary approvals from FIFA and Football Australia. According to regulations, India must obtain a no-objection certificate (NOC) from Football Australia before seeking formal clearance from FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). Without these permissions, Williams will be ineligible to play against Bangladesh. The All India Football Federation (AIFF) confirmed that while Williams will travel and train with the team, his participation in the match depends on receiving the required NOC and international clearances.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has temporarily suspended senior leader and former Union Minister R.K. Singh, along with party member Ashok Agarwal, following the party’s strong performance in the Bihar Assembly elections, where it won 89 seats as the single largest party. According to official letters, both leaders were suspended for engaging in anti-party activities. The Bihar BJP unit has given them one week to provide a written explanation regarding their conduct. Party insiders told the Hindustan Times that Singh’s suspension was primarily due to his alleged criticism of fellow BJP leaders and his actions during the recent state elections. The move signals the party’s effort to maintain internal discipline and unity after a significant electoral victory.

Following a crushing defeat for the Congress-led Mahagathbandhan alliance in the Bihar state assembly elections, opposition leader Rahul Gandhi expressed surprise at the results and questioned the fairness of the electoral process. Without directly alleging vote rigging, Gandhi stated on social media that the election was not fair from the beginning and reiterated his gratitude to millions of voters who supported the alliance. He emphasized that the Congress and the INDIA bloc would review the outcome thoroughly to strengthen their fight for democracy and the Constitution. The two-phase election saw over 67 percent voter turnout, with the ruling NDA alliance led by the BJP and JD(U) winning 202 out of 242 declared seats. The BJP secured 89 seats, JD(U) 85, while the opposition RJD and Congress managed only 25 and 10 seats respectively, marking a significant setback for the opposition in Bihar.

At least seven people were killed and 27 others injured when a large cache of seized explosives detonated at a police station in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, on Friday night. Most of the victims were police officers and forensic experts who were examining the explosives at the Nowgam police station. Among the dead were two Srinagar administrative officials and a deputy tehsildar. Authorities fear the death toll may rise as five of the injured remain in critical condition. Senior police officials have cordoned off the area, and the injured have been admitted to the Indian Army’s 92 Base Hospital and Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences. The explosives were reportedly linked to an investigation into posters by the militant group Jaish-e-Mohammed. Several doctors had earlier been arrested in connection with the case, including Adil Ahmed Rather and Muzammil Shakil, from whose residence police recovered about 3,000 kilograms of ammonium nitrate.

The Adani Group has announced major investments totaling more than ₹1.63 lakh crore in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh and Assam. According to The Hindu, the conglomerate plans to invest ₹1 lakh crore in Andhra Pradesh across multiple sectors, including port infrastructure, creating over 100,000 direct and indirect jobs. Adani Ports and SEZ Managing Director Karan Adani described Andhra Pradesh as the gateway to eastern India. In Assam, Adani Power and Adani Green Energy have received government approval for a 3,200 MW ultra-supercritical thermal power plant and two pumped storage projects, together worth ₹63,000 crore. Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani said the investments represent the largest private sector commitment in the region, aimed at boosting energy security, industrial growth, and employment. The projects are expected to accelerate economic transformation across India’s northeastern corridor.

The National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Janata Dal (United) (JD-U), is set to return to power in Bihar with a commanding majority. According to the latest official trends, the NDA is leading in 202 out of 243 assembly seats, while the opposition Mahagathbandhan is ahead in only 35. The BJP leads in 90 seats, JD-U in 84, and allies LJP (Ram Vilas), HAM, and RLM in several others. Tejashwi Yadav’s Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) trails far behind, managing leads in just 26 constituencies. Political strategist Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party failed to make an impact, polling fewer votes than NOTA. Meanwhile, Asaduddin Owaisi’s AIMIM surprised observers by leading in six seats in the Seemanchal region. Prime Minister Narendra Modi credited women and youth voters for the victory and suggested that Bihar’s political momentum could influence West Bengal next. Analysts attribute the NDA’s landslide to strong female voter turnout, effective caste alliances, and the enduring popularity of Nitish Kumar and Modi.

Following a deadly explosion near Delhi’s Red Fort that killed 13 people, Indian authorities have launched extensive raids across Jammu and Kashmir, detaining several suspects including doctors and religious figures allegedly linked to banned militant groups such as Jaish-e-Mohammed and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind. The investigation has uncovered large quantities of explosives and weapons, prompting claims of an international terror network’s involvement. However, the crackdown has also triggered a surge in Islamophobic and anti-Kashmiri sentiment across India, with reports of police compiling lists of Kashmiri residents and social media users calling for their eviction. Rights activists warn that such actions are heightening fear among Kashmiri students and professionals living outside the region. Analysts say the incident raises new questions about India’s counterinsurgency approach and the government’s earlier claims that militant recruitment in Kashmir had ceased.