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In a major revision to military recruitment rules, the Union Cabinet has lengthened the service period of Agniveers from four to six years, offering the 75% cohort previously slated for civilian discharge an additional two-year engagement and a subsequent route to regular military enrollment. Announced by CDS General N.S. Raja Subramani just ahead of the first batch’s retirement dates, the overhaul also reverses recruitment stages by putting written tests ahead of physical trials.
Celebrated British actor Sir Patrick Stewart has passed away at the age of 86. Rising from a childhood marked by domestic hardship and going completely bald by age 19, Stewart built a formidable career with the Royal Shakespeare Company before capturing global stardom as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek and Professor X in the X-Men franchise. Knighted in 2010, the Yorkshire-born legend proved that classical discipline and character can redefine modern popular culture.
Septuagenarian CPI(M) whole-timer Bipul Dasgupta has emerged as the face of peaceful resistance in West Bengal after standing ground with folded hands against a mob attempting to tear down a Left book stall in Nagerbazar during Durga Puja. The incident, set against a broader ideological row over the festival’s nomenclature, drew widespread condemnation from civil society as well as senior saffron figures including State Finance Minister Swapan Dasgupta and the RSS, prompting a large solidarity march from Kolkata’s College Street on October 29.
In a surprise move, the government is reportedly set to appoint former railway minister and veteran politician Dinesh Trivedi as high commissioner to Bangladesh.
Amid the ongoing campaign for the 2026 West Bengal
Legislative Assembly election, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the BJP would ban the beef trade in West Bengal if it comes to power in the state. He also accused Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of “misleading people” regarding food habits.
BJP leader SamratChoudhary was sworn in as the chief minister of Bihar on Wednesday, the first from the saffron party to hold the post. Governor Lt Gen Syed Ata Hasnain (retd) administered the oath of office and secrecy to Choudhry.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday outlined the party’s five guarantees for West Bengal ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal has approached the Supreme Court, seeking the recusal of Delhi High Court Judge Swarna Kanta Sharma from hearing matters related to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) case in the Delhi excise policy matter.
It was considered next to impossible for any female playback singer to emerge past the shadow of Lata Mangeshkar, the nation’s melody queen. But this feat was achieved by Asha Bhosle, who passed away recently.
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