ModiWatch: Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Ayushman Bharat Health Insurance scheme, health insurance coverage for all senior citizens aged 70. He also slammed the governments of Delhi and West Bengal for not implementing the scheme.

PM Modi launched health infrastructure projects worth nearly ₹12,850 crore ($1.57 billion).

PM Modi laid the foundation stone for four centres of excellence at the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) in Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Guwahati and Mohali.

After distributing 51,000 appointment letters through an employment scheme, PM Modi said that his government is working to create a system that gives opportunity to every youngster to fulfil their dreams.

PM Modi will visit Gujarat on October 30-31 to inaugurate infrastructure projects and address officer trainees.

Spanish PM takes responsibility with India

Spanish PM calls for collaboration in the South China Sea: Pedro Sanchez, Prime Minister of Spain, said his country and India must ensure an open and secure environment for the Indo-Pacific region while underlining the need to protect freedom of navigation amid the assertiveness of Beijing in the South China Sea.

Rahul alleges BJP while rift in the Congress party

Rahul Gandhi alleges nexus between key regulators, Adani and the BJP: The Leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, addressing the conflict of interest charges against SEBI chief Madhabi Puri Buch, claimed a “Monopoly Bachao Syndicate” (saving monopoly syndicate) is in place, at the core of which was a “dangerous nexus” among the e Adani Group, key regulatory bodies, and the BJP.

Rift inside Congress before polls: A growing rift among Congress leaders in Pune reached a boiling point, as Aba Bagul, Kamal Vyavhare, and Manish Anand decided to contest the upcoming assembly elections as independent candidates.

Election Commission rejects Congress's allegations: The Election Commission of India rejected “baseless” allegations made by the Congress party about irregularities in the Haryana Assembly election and cautioned it and other political parties against complaints without proof.

Trade news and predictions

AAI to raise 3 lakh crore: The Aluminium Association of India (AAI) has urged the government to increase import duties and a planned investment of ₹3 lakh crore ($36.59 billion) to boost up aluminium sector’s growth.

Adani Ports profit rose by 40%: Adani Ports reported a 40% year-on-year (YoY) increase in its consolidated net profit to ₹2,445 crore ($298.08 million) for the quarter that ended September 2024.

India not happy with General Electric delays: India has imposed multiple penalties on US engine manufacturer General Electric (GE) for repeated delays in deliveries of the F-404 engines to power the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA)-Mk1A manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

Indian companies venture into AI: According to an Inc42 report, 85% of Indian software-as-a-service (SaaS) ventures have tapped into the AI domain.

SBI identifies unbanked population for growth: The chairman of the State Bank of India, India’s largest public bank, said he’s targeting the country’s unbanked population as it seeks to expand amid intense competition for deposits.

Apple increases manufacturing in India: Apple Inc exports iPhone from India worth $6 billion in a major push to the West’s ‘China-Plus-One’ policy.

Gaming company joins South Korean investment fund: KRAFTON India, a South Korea-based KRAFTON Inc subsidiary, has joined South Korea's IMM Investment as the anchor investor in the recently created IMM India Fund. The Group said they have already invested $170 million in Indian startups.

Venture capital investments buzzing in India: Unlike the global trend, venture capital investment in India stayed strong in Q3 CY 24 at $3.6 billion because of the money raised by numerous consumer-focused companies, such as the edtech startup PhysicsWallah ($210 million), the hotel booking company OYO Rooms ($349 million), and the quick delivery start-up Zepto ($360 million), according to the KPMG report.

IT Minister in the US

IT Minister meets Microsoft CEO: The IT Minister, Nara Lokesh, in his visit to the US to attract investments met with Microsoft CEO, Satya Nadella in Redmond.

Delhi High Court diverts plea to the Centre

Delhi High Court diverts Rohingya refugees plea: The Delhi High Court rejected a plea addressing the issue of direct admissions of Rohingya Muslim children in local schools, the court added this in the Centre’s domain.

Man behind hoax bomb threats, on the run

Police identify the man behind hoax bomb threats: Maharashtra Police has identified a 35-year-old man from Gondia in the State as the person behind the series of hoax bomb threats that triggered panic-caused flight delays and led to increased security at airports.

Views from the Op-Eds: Priyanka Gandhi’s debut into politics.

MG Radhakrishnan (The Telegraph) agrees with the consensus that Priyanka Gandhi will win the bye-election from Wayanad, Rahul Gandhi's vacated seat. He adds, that the Congress party is being extra cautious with Sonia Gandhi visiting the district, something she had not done in Rahul’s two tenures. He also writes there could be a close fight for the Palakkad assembly seat between Congress and BJP.

Meenakshi Lekhi (The Print) writes that the initiative of nominating Priyanka Gandhi from Wayanad is a step by the "matriarch" of the Gandhi family, Sonia Maino, who governs the Congress party similar to her predecessors— like "a personal fiefdom". The move is nothing but dynastic politics, it’s the reaffirmation of the Nehru-Gandhi family’s legacy, influence, and control over the political spectrum, she adds.

Tavleen Singh (Indian Express) writes the Gandhi family’s "vaunted charisma" faded long ago, or Narendra Modi would not have been elected with a full majority twice. She believes there has been a decline in “charisma” in Indian Politics, hence Priyanka coming to Parliament will make little difference to the fortunes of the Congress Party.

Delhi Today: Clear skies with plenty of sunshine.

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