ModiWatch: Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated Diwali with the Border Security Force (BSF), Army, Navy and Air Force personnel near the Indo-Pak border in Gujarat's Kutch district.

PM Modi celebrated Ekta Diwas, the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

During the Rashtriya Ekta Diwas festivities, PM Modi emphasised that "terrorism will not be tolerated" and called on the country to fortify its unity in the face of persistent difficulties.

Indian ties with China, Thailand and Algeria

India-China troops exchange sweets for Diwali: According to Army sources, troops of India and China exchanged sweets at several Line of Actual Control (LAC) points on the occasion of Diwali.

Thailand Foreign Minister to visit India: According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand Maris Sangiampongsa is scheduled to meet his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar in Delhi this weekend.

Chief defence staff visits Algeria: The Chief of Defence Staff, General Anil Chauhan, is visiting Algeria on an official five-day visit. During this visit, he will sign a memorandum of understanding on defence cooperation.

Opposition pays tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel

Congress pays tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel: On the occasion of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's birth anniversary, the Congress paid their respects and claimed that those whose "ideological gurus" opposed the Quit India Movement and attacked the Constitution were always trying to "appropriate" his legacy.

Centre to adopt new procurement model

Government to adopt a transparent model for fighter jet procurement: According to sources, the government is trying to choose a procurement model that is transparent and non-controversial for the acquisition of 114 Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) tender that has been stuck for several years now.

India-US mixed relations

US worried for Indian Home Minister: The US State Department Spokesperson, Matthew Miller, said Canada's allegations against the Indian Home Minister, Amit Shah, are "concerning" and stated it would continue to consult Ottawa on the issue.

Centre seeks help from the US on hoax bomb threats to airlines: The Centre has contacted the US government and Interpol to assist in the investigation of the more than 400 bomb hoax threats that have disrupted domestic and international flight travel in India in the last two weeks.

India-US discuss regional security: US National Security Advisor (NSA) Jake Sullivan and Indian NSA Ajit Doval spoke over the phone as the Indian Army confirmed that disengagement has been completed at two points of friction along the India-China border. They "discussed regional security developments, underscoring the need for further efforts to ensure stability in the Indo-Pacific region and globally".

The US puts 19 Indian firms on sanctions list: The United States placed 19 Indian private companies and two Indian nationals on a list of "nearly 400 entities and individuals" from various nations that will be subject to penalties for their alleged role in supporting Russia's military efforts in Ukraine, adding another source of strain to bilateral relations.

India's largest electrolyzer order: Greenko Group said it has placed India’s largest electrolyzer order with John Cockerill for a 1.3 gigawatt (GW) advanced pressurized alkaline electrolyzer in an existing plant in Andhra Pradesh.

Bharti Telecom to raise ₹11,150 crore: Bharti Telecom, a key holding company of the Bharti Group for its telecom business, is raising ₹11,150 crore ($1.34 billion) through a new issuance of non-convertible debentures (NCDs).

Drop in fiscal deficit

Fiscal deficit drops to 29.4%: The central government's budget deficit in the first half of 2024–25 reached 29.4% of the annual target, down from 39.3% the previous year, according to publicly available data.

India joins international committee

India joins ARIN-AP steering committee: The Asset Recovery Interagency Network-Asia Pacific (ARIN-AP), a well-known multi-agency network devoted to combating the proceeds of crime in the Asia-Pacific area, has added India's Directorate of Enforcement (ED), to its Steering Committee.

Air India short on planes

Air India cancels 60 flights to the US: Between November and December, Air India, an airline company controlled by the Tata Group, had to cancel almost 60 flights on the India-US route due to aircraft maintenance concerns.

Views from the Op-Eds: New political front in Tamil Nadu.

T Ramakrishnan (The Hindu) writes that actor-turned-politician Vijay's opening speech for his political party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) (English translation: Tamil Nadu Victory Federation) attracted attention from all corners of politics in Tamil Nadu. He builds his argument by saying, the BJP and the state-ruling party, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), did not take his speech kindly. On the other hand, All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) took Vijay's speech as an opportunity to revive its politics. He concludes by saying, that Vijay's political party like his movies offers nothing radically new; just in support of social justice.

TS Sudhir (India Today) agrees that Vijay's speech created a stir in the political landscape but he adds, as far as 2026 is concerned, Vijay is more likely to be just a disruptor. He believes DMK did not take the attack very seriously because they felt the actor would damage AIADMK's image more than them. He also adds it will be a long run for Vijay since many other actors have tried and failed to open their political fronts in Tamil Nadu. He concludes by saying, the actor should not be very hopeful for 2026 and build his party as a long-term alternative to the DMK.

The Editorial Team (Indian Express) believes Vijay established a space that acknowledges the BJP's current status as the main political force in the country while asserting continuity with the Dravidian movement. They add that Vijay's rise in Tamil Nadu can be seen as similar to Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) journey in Delhi or Prashant Kishore's new party in Bihar. New political entrants face challenges: high barriers in a complex, established field; a tendency to adopt the same patterns as those they aim to replace; and the risk of having their ideas coopted by established players, they added.

Delhi Today: Less humid with plenty of sun.

Delhi's air quality still "very poor": Delhi's air quality remained "very poor" on the morning of Diwali. The Air Quality Index was recorded at 330 in the morning and was expected to deteriorate further towards the evening as festivities began.