ECI removes Form 6 changes from finalised states, India bags 60 medals at Asian Games

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on September 30, 2026, removed the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) declaration from the statutory voter enrolment form, Form 6, in finalised states across India. This decision follows objections from two Election Commissioners, Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, who had termed the declaration ‘illegal’.

The ECI clarified that while the declaration attached to Form 6 for SIR has been upheld by the Supreme Court, forms prescribed under the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, will be used for periods outside the SIR exercise. The SIR exercise has been completed in 20 States and Union Territories, including Bihar and West Bengal.

Changes to Voter Enrolment Form 6

The removal of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) declaration from Form 6 in finalised states addresses concerns raised by Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi. They had previously stated that the SIR declaration in Form 6 was ‘illegal’. The ECI, however, reiterated that its SIR decisions, including orders issued on June 24, 2025, and subsequent schedules on October 27, 2025, and May 14, 2026, were approved unanimously.

The ECI has extended deadlines for claims and objections in Delhi until October 30, 2026, with disposal by November 30, 2026. In Maharashtra, the filing deadline was extended to October 12, 2026, and the disposal deadline to November 10, 2026.

India’s Performance at Asian Games 2026

India has secured a total of 60 medals by day 12 of the 2026 Asian Games, placing the country in seventh position. The medal tally includes 10 gold, 21 silver, and 29 bronze medals. Indian archers significantly contributed to the gold medal count, winning three gold medals in the men’s, women’s, and mixed compound team events.

The Indian women’s archery team, comprising Jyothi Surekha Vennam, Prithika Pradeep, and Chikitha Thaniparthi, defeated China with a score of 238-234. In mixed compound archery, Chikitha Thaniparthi and Sahil Jadhav secured a gold medal by defeating South Korea in a shoot-off. Shooter Neeru Dhanda and Kynan Chenai also won a gold medal in mixed trap.

Technology and Economic Updates

Apple has launched its payment service, Apple Pay, in India. This service enables contactless payments on iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch devices. Initially, Apple Pay supports Axis Bank Visa and Mastercard credit cards, with Mac support expected to be introduced soon.

In other news, a Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militant, Mohammad Asif alias Hashim Moosa, was neutralised in an overnight encounter in Jammu and Kashmir’s Budgam. Geopolitical developments include the Iranian Foreign Ministry warning the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of “highly dangerous consequences” following Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit, while a senior Saudi official denied reports of any meeting with Israel. The United States (US) forces have withdrawn all American troops from Iraq, concluding a 12-year mission to combat the Islamic State group, with the last US troop departing an air base in northern Iraq under an agreement between Baghdad and Washington.

Gold Prices in India

As of September 30, 2026, the price of 24 carat gold in India was reported at Rs 14,957 per gram, based on what Good Returns. For 22 carat gold, the price stood at Rs 13,710 per gram. These figures reflect the market rates on the specified date.

Also, the price for 18 carat gold in India on September 30, 2026, was Rs 11,218 per gram. These prices provide a snapshot of the gold market in India at the close of September.

Written by Nishit Kumar

Nishit Kumar is a senior EdTech industry leader with over a decade of experience in building and scaling education platforms, shaping their product, content, and growth strategy. At FindMyCollege, Nishit oversees content and editorial strategy, guiding topic selection and content frameworks to ensure accuracy, relevance, and student-first value across the website.

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