Navy’s Drishti-10 UAV crashes near Gujarat’s Porbandar; inquiry ordered
A Board of Inquiry (BoI) has been ordered after an Indian Navy Drishti-10 Starliner unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) crashed near Dharampur village in Gujarat’s Porbandar district during a routine training sortie on Wednesday (July 8, 2026). The inquiry will determine whether a technical malfunction, loss of the communication link or any other system failure caused the crash.
Income Tax Department opposes same-sex couple’s plea for tax exemption on gifts
The Income Tax Department has filed an affidavit before the Bombay High Court opposing a plea by a same-sex couple challenging Section 56(2)(x) of the Income Tax Act, which grants an exemption from tax on gifts between spouses, and seeking to extend the benefit to their relationship. According to the department, the petitioners are attempting to invoke the Income Tax Act to alter the meaning of “spouse” under the Act, a term not recognised for same-sex relationships under any marriage law in India.
PM Modi meets Australia Governor-General Sam Mostyn, discusses bilateral ties
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday (July 9, 2026) met Australia’s Governor-General Sam Mostyn and discussed “enduring” bilateral bonds, strong people-to-people ties and the strengthening of the “multifaceted partnership” between the two countries. Mr. Modi is in Australia on the second leg of his three-nation visit. He arrived in Melbourne from Indonesia on Wednesday (July 8, 2026).
Madras High Court stays Look Out Circular issued against former DMK Minister E.V. Velu
The Madras High Court on Thursday (July 9, 2026) stayed the operation of a Look Out Circular (LoC) issued against former Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) Minister E.V. Velu in connection with a recent case registered against him by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC). Justice G.K. Ilanthiraiyan granted the interim stay on the condition that Mr. Velu must appear before the investigating officer for inquiry on July 15, 2026. The judge took note that the petitioner was at present in Singapore for medical treatment and was slated to return to India only on July 12, 2026.
Pinarayi Vijayan defends tunnel project clearances; blames administrative negligence for Wayanad disaster
Kerala Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan launched a scathing attack on the State government, terming the recent Wayanad debris slip disaster “a result of grave administrative negligence.” He made strong remarks against Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan and the Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) after visiting the affected areas, a relief camp, and the private medical college where survivors were admitted.
Maharashtra sets up seven-member panel to prepare Uniform Civil Code draft
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday (July 9, 2026) announced the formation of a seven-member committee headed by retired Supreme Court judge Ranjana Desai to prepare a draft for the implementation of a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the State. The other committee members of the panel include former high court judges R.C. Chavan and S.G. Mehare, Maharashtra ex-chief secretary D.K. Jain, former advocate general Virendra Saraf, constitutional expert Ramesh Patange and educationist Suvarna Rawal, he told the Legislative Assembly.
Trump says 11 jets downed during India-Pakistan hostilities last year
U.S. President Donald Trump has repeated his claim of settling the conflict between India and Pakistan, adding that 11 jets were shot down during the four-day hostilities in May last year. Speaking on board Air Force One on Wednesday (July 8, 2026), Mr. Trump said he should have won the Nobel Peace Prize “more than anybody” for settling eight wars, including the one between India and Pakistan.
Supreme Court considers larger Bench reference on written grounds of arrest in honeymoon murder case
The Supreme Court on Thursday (July 9, 2026) indicated that the Meghalaya government’s appeal against the grant of bail to Sonam Raghuvanshi, accused of murdering her newlywed husband Raja Raghuvanshi during their honeymoon in Meghalaya, may have to be referred to a larger Bench in view of conflicting decisions of coordinate Benches on whether the grounds of arrest must necessarily be furnished to an accused in writing.
A Bench comprising Justices Manoj Misra and Shree Chandrashekhar was hearing the State government’s appeal against a June 29 order of the Meghalaya High Court, which had upheld a Shillong trial court’s decision granting bail to Ms. Raghuvanshi on the ground that the police had failed to effectively communicate the grounds of her arrest.
Keralite’s death in Sri Lanka prison riots leaves his native village searching for answers
The news of Sarathchandran Unnithan’s death in the prison riots in Sri Lanka has barely reached his native village of Keezhcherimel, near Chengannur, in Alappuzha of Kerala, where many remain unaware of the tragedy.
Even the local police and authorities have little information about the 73-year-old or the circumstances surrounding his death. According to local residents, it has been more than four decades since Unnithan and his family moved to Chennai and severed most of their ties with their ancestral village.
Monsoon covers entire country, a day later than normal
The southwest monsoon covered the entire country on Thursday (July 9, 2026), a day later than its normal date, after advancing into the remaining parts of the north Arabian Sea, Rajasthan, Haryana and Punjab, India Meteorological Department (IMD) officials said.
The nationwide coverage came 35 days after the monsoon reached Kerala on June 5. While the advance was slower than in recent years, the July 9 date is not unusual historically. Since 1971, the monsoon has covered the country on dates ranging from June 16 in 2013 to August 15 in 2002, according to IMD data.
