Govt to borrow Rs 6.77 lakh crore in Oct-Mar, Rs 10,000 cr via Sovereign Green Bonds

Tata Motors announced leadership change on Friday and named Shailesh Chandra as managing director and CEO.

“Appointment of Shailesh Chandra as an Additional Director, Managing Director & CEO as well as KMP of the Company effective October 1, 2025, for a period of 3 years,” the official release stated.

Dhiman Gupta has been named CFO, Tata Motors said.

The central government will raise Rs 6.77 lakh crore through market borrowing in the second half of the current fiscal, trimming its full-year borrowing target by Rs 10,000 crore.

“The Government of India plans to borrow Rs 6.77 lakh crore in the second half of the fiscal year 2025-26 (H2: FY 2025-26) through dated securities, including Rs 10,000 crore through issuance of Sovereign Green Bonds (SGrBs),” a finance ministry statement said.

In the first half, the government had planned to borrow Rs 8 lakh crore, of which it borrowed Rs 7.95 lakh crore.

The gross market borrowing of Rs 6.77 lakh crore will be completed through 22 weekly auctions till March 6, 2026.

In the Union Budget 2025-26, the Centre had pegged gross borrowing at Rs 14.82 lakh crore. However, it borrowed Rs 5,000 crore less than planned in the April–September period and has now lowered its October–March estimate by the same amount.

As a result, the government’s gross borrowing for FY26 is projected at Rs 14.72 lakh crore, slightly below the Budget estimate.

Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil says, “Bihar is going to polls and for the election arrangements, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, and J P Nadda have assigned responsibilities to different people in different states for the elections. I had previously been the in-charge for Bihar in 2015 and now I have been appointed again…”

Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif responds when asked about cross-border terrorism as he enters the UN.

“We are defeating cross-border terrorism. We are defeating them,” he said.

India captain Suryakumar Yadav was recently found guilty by the ICC of breaching the code of conduct for his comments that alluded to the military skirmish between India and Pakistan, after their group match in the Asia Cup on September 14.

It is understood Suryakumar’s not-guilty plea was rejected by ICC match referee Richie Richardson. The exact sanction he was given could not be confirmed, but it is likely to be demerit points and/or a fine. Indian management has appealed against the verdict. A decision on their appeal is presently awaited.

On ‘I Love Mohammad’ protests in Bareilly, UP Congress President Ajay Rai says, “Everyone should love their God. I love Mohammad. I love Mahadev. I love Ganesh Ji. I love Jesus Christ. I love Guru Nanak. I love Gautam Buddha. I love Mahavira…”

Delhi Minister Parvesh Verma said that earlier people in the national capital were receiving water bills worth lakhs of rupees.

“The reason was that the interest rate on each billing cycle was 5%. Some billing cycles are monthly and some are bi-monthly… The monthly cycle had 5% compound interest system… We have reduced that interest rate to 2%…” he said.

Addressing a public meeting, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said, “BJP asks us what Congress did in 70 years… I am answering that Congress has strengthened your rights. Your vote has strengthened. Congress built big industries and educational institutions. When Congress was in power in Bihar, big institutions were built. Many big dams and roads were built… “

“This was an educated society. People from here became IAS and IFS… Today, there is no employment… I travel all over the country. My house was being built in Himachal Pradesh. Where were the labourers from?… All the buildings that are built in Delhi, where are the labourers from?… In Kerala, I was walking on the road. I stopped and asked a labourer who was digging the road where he was from?… The entire population is migrating. Not a single job has been left here for you…” she said.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, in an indirect attack on Pakistan, said that the progress in SAARC has been held up because of only “one particular country”.

“As far as SAARC is concerned, we have made our position very clear. There is one particular country responsible for holding back progress in SAARC, and you know which country…” he added.

Internet services have been suspended in Leh with immediate effect, reports IANS.

India’s forex reserves drop by USD 396 million to USD 702.57 billion for the week ended September 19, says RBI.

Protestors gather outside Ala Hazrat Dargah & IMC chief Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan’s house holding ‘I Love Mohammad’ placards after the Friday prayers in Bareily, UP.

A heavy security is deployed at both spots.

J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah responds to the arrest of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk in Ladakh.

He said, “…What compels the central government to go back on its promises after making them? Before the Hill Council elections, a Union minister went there because people had decided to boycott the polls. To persuade them to participate, some assurances were given. People not only took part in large numbers but also ensured BJP’s success. Yet, those promises remain unfulfilled. This is exactly what happened with us as well, promises were made to encourage people’s participation in elections, on the basis of which we formed a government, but I don’t know why the Centre fails to honour its commitments.”

The Ministry of External Affairs has rejected NATO chief’s remark that India has asked Russia to explain its Ukraine strategy.

In a statement on Friday, the MEA said, “NATO chief’s statement is factually incorrect and entirely baseless. We expect the leadership of an important institution like NATO to exercise greater responsibility and accuracy in public statements.”

Union Minister Chirag Paswan on Friday said, “I believe that Bihar will once again be ruled by the NDA. There is also an NDA government at the centre.”

“When the NDA government comes to power in Bihar for the next five years, we will work together like hand and glove… We are contesting these elections under the leadership of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, and under his leadership, Bihar will accelerate its development for the next five years,” he added.

Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla witnessed the final flight of the iconic fighter jet MiG-21 at the Chandigarh Air Force base today. Speaking to ANI, Shukla said “I am happy to be here… I have spent a lot of time here and have a lot of memories here…it holds a major memory in my heart.”

Activist Sonam Wangchuk arrested by police over Ladakh violence.

In a huge setback, the Allahabad HC has rejected Rahul Gandhi’s review petition in ‘Sikh turban’ remark row, paving way for a case to continue in the matter.

The Information & Broadcasting ministry, in a statement on Ladakh, said, “LAHDC Leh mourns the loss of four young lives; extends deepest condolences and urges a full investigation. The HCEC reminds everyone that Ladakh’s youth are hardworking, responsible, and peace‑loving. The office of HCEC appeals to the young people and all stakeholders of Ladakh to remain calm, not to fall prey to misleading information, and to uphold peace.”

Supreme Court on Friday permitted manufacturers who have a certificate of green crackers as certified by NEERI and PESO to manufacture crackers, but the same shall be subject to an undertaking that they should not sell any crackers in the Delhi-NCR area until further order of the court.

Calcutta High Court grants bail to former Minister Partha Chatterjee in teacher recruitment corruption case.

Responding to a media query about alliance in Bihar polls, AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi said, “We took the step to have an alliance, and this is not a sign of weakness. We are a political party and have to contest in election… One-sided love is not applicable in politics. It sounds cool in movies only.”

On the farewell ceremony of MiG-21, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that the aircraft “has been a witness to numerous heroic deeds”.

“Its contribution has not been limited to a single event or a single war. From the war of 1971 to the Kargil conflict, or from the Balakot airstrike to Operation Sindoor, there has not been a moment when the MiG-21 has not provided tremendous strength to our armed forces…” the minister said.

PM Narendra Modi addressed Bihar women while launching ‘Mukhyamantri Mahila Rozgar Yojana’, and said,” The women of Bihar now have two brothers, Modi and Nitish ji, working tirelessly for their welfare and empowerment.”

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will be in Bihar today, said state Congress President Rajesh Ram.

“…Today Priyanka Gandhi is coming to Bihar… She will interact with women at Sadakat Ashram, listen to their problems, and after that, there is the Har Ghar Samman Conference in Motihari, in which she will participate. The Congress Party continuously raises issues of public interest… The people here are fed up with unemployment and hooliganism and are turning towards the Congress and the INDIA alliance. People are looking towards Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi with hopeful eyes…” he added.

Former Director of Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Sameer Wankhede, has not been granted any relief from Delhi High Court today in defamation case against Aryan Khan’s Netflix show ‘The Bads of Bollywood’.

The HC said that the suit is not maintainable, and asked, “Why is this suit filed in Delhi?”

The decommissioning ceremony of the Indian Air Force’s MIG-21 fighter aircraft fleet is underway. MiG-21s were inducted into the Indian Air Force in 1963, and will be decommissioned today after 63 years of service.

PM Modi will launch Bihar’s Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana today. Under the scheme, Rs 10,000 will be transferred to the bank accounts of 75 lakh women in the state.

On the occasion of former PM Manmohan Singh’s 93rd birth anniversary, PM Narendra Modi honoured the late politician’s memory and legacy.

“Tributes to former PM Dr. Manmohan Singh Ji on his birth anniversary. We recall his contributions to our nation during his long years in public life,” he wrote on X.