Latest news from India as of Friday, October 24, 2025

  Major Accidents and Tragedies:  

A tragic bus accident occurred in Andhra Pradesh's Kurnool district where a Bengaluru-bound private bus caught fire after colliding with a motorbike, resulting in at least 12 to 25 fatalities and multiple injuries. Prime Minister Modi and the President have condoled the deaths. Separately, a 25-year-old elephant died of electrocution in Coimbatore after knocking down an electric pole.

 Politics and Elections:  

The Bihar Assembly elections are a major focus, with Prime Minister Modi kickstarting election campaigns in Samastipur. The Mahagathbandhan is set to release its manifesto on October 28, with government jobs among its key promises. There are ongoing political exchanges and promises being made by various parties. Prime Minister Modi will participate in the ASEAN summit virtually, choosing not to travel to Malaysia. This decision has drawn comments from the Congress party. The Union government has asked the Chief Justice of India to recommend a successor. 

New IT rules are being implemented that limit social media takedown orders to senior government and police officials. Sports:  In women's cricket, Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal's centuries powered India into the semifinals of the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 after a commanding win against New Zealand.

 Other Significant Developments: 

Delhi continues to experience "very poor" air quality, marking the fourth consecutive day after Diwali. There are discussions about artificial rain plans to address the pollution. Veteran advertising executive Piyush Pandey, known for iconic Indian campaigns, passed away at 70. India and Bhutan have reviewed their bilateral security cooperation and border management. 

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chief announced that 90% of the development work for the Gaganyaan mission is complete. The tri-services are set to acquire new systems and platforms worth ₹79,000 crore. An Indian-origin man in New York is facing 15 years in jail for allegedly stealing over $50,000 in state funds by moonlighting.