Government of India

Hundreds of Muslims have gathered in Ujjain, in India's Madhya Pradesh, to protest the partial demolition of a mosque they say is more than 600 years old. The BJP-led state government says the action was needed to widen roads ahead of a major Hindu pilgrimage expected in 2028. Protesters view the demolition as an attack on their religious heritage.

Live breaking news coverage brings together several major stories: a political row involving the Election Commission of India drawing in Prime Minister Modi's government, a new attack claimed by Yemen's Houthis, and escalating tensions between the United States and Iran. The combination of domestic political controversy and fast-moving Middle East conflict is driving audiences to follow rolling updates.

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has warned that India's semiconductor ambitions will face cyberattacks, fake news campaigns and even physical attacks as the country expands its chip manufacturing push. Citing past incidents during Apple's rollout in India, including cut power lines and deliberate food poisoning of workers, he said sabotage attempts should be expected and that the government is prepared to counter them.

India has proposed banning junk food sales in school canteens and within 50 meters of schools, in an effort to curb rising obesity and diabetes rates among children. The proposal would restrict children's access to unhealthy foods during and around school hours. Commentators are discussing whether the measure can reverse worsening childhood health trends in the country.

India's rupee and government bonds remain under pressure as elevated oil prices and firm global yields weigh on the country's markets. Higher crude costs strain India's import bill and inflation outlook, while rising international yields reduce the appeal of local debt. Analysts say both pressures may keep the rupee weak and bond yields elevated until global conditions ease.

India's Congress party is holding protests across the country, including gatherings at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, in what organisers describe as a pan-India agitation against the Modi government. Supporters are using devotional songs and bhajan-style gatherings as a form of demonstration, drawing comparisons to earlier protest movements at the site. The protests have drawn wide attention online.

Reports say central government employees in India will receive their salaries by September 25 this month, earlier than the usual end-of-month payout. The news is spreading widely among staff tracking their pay dates, though the reason for the early release has not been detailed in the circulating reports.

Discussion around India's 8th Pay Commission is turning to whether central government civilian employees will also receive benefits on the lines of OROP, the One Rank One Pension scheme currently applied to ex-servicemen. Employee groups have raised demands that any new pay structure address parity and pension-related grievances alongside the expected salary revisions.