Prime Minister Praises Brave Pilot as IISc Tops Global University List

UPDATE - follow-up to Today News Headlines for School Assembly, October 1, 2026: ECI removes Form 6 changes from finalised states, India bags 60 medals at Asian Games: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has praised Indian Flydubai pilot Captain Smit Machchhar for stopping a co-pilot who allegedly tried to crash Flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv.

Education and Tech Updates

IISc Bengaluru has secured the 254th global spot to become India's top-ranked institution in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2027. The global list covers 2,297 universities across 118 countries, with India boasting 143 universities on the list. Meanwhile, IIT Madras and BITS Pilani have signed a five-year agreement to boost academic and research teamwork.

Payments and Markets

Apple has launched Apple Pay in India to let users make contactless payments on iPhones, iPads, and Apple Watches using Axis Bank Visa and Mastercard credit cards. Gold prices on September 30 stood at Rs 14,957 per gram for 24-carat gold, Rs 13,710 for 22-carat gold, and Rs 11,218 for 18-carat gold.

Context

Global university rankings and major tech payment rollouts regularly track how Indian institutions and consumers connect with worldwide standards. These developments highlight ongoing shifts in higher education competitiveness and digital finance adoption across the country.