Observer Voice

Nushrratt Bharuccha’s team has released an official statement regarding the actress’s health following an accident during her recent trip to Bali, Indonesia. The statement, issued on October 2, confirms that Bharuccha has suffered a fracture in her spine and is currently hospitalized in Bali. The actress had traveled to the island for a combination of work and leisure, but reports of her hospitalization emerged shortly after her arrival.

Samantha Ruth Prabhu has achieved a significant legal victory in her ongoing battle against the unauthorized use of her identity online. The Bombay High Court granted her interim protection, prohibiting AI platforms, e-commerce sites, and digital media companies from using her name, image, and voice without her consent. Additionally, the court has ordered the removal of any unauthorized content featuring the actress.

The Odisha Sub-ordinate Staff Selection Commission (OSSSC) has announced the schedule for the Physical Standard Measurement (PSM) and Physical Efficiency Test (PET). The testing will begin on October 12, 2026, for candidates selected for Forester, Forest Guard, and Excise Constable positions. A total of 4,683 candidates have been shortlisted to participate in this physical testing round. The OSSSC PET Admit Card 2026 will be released shortly on the official website.

The Uttar Pradesh Police Recruitment and Promotion Board has released the UP Police Constable PET Admit Card 2026. Candidates appearing for the Physical Efficiency Test (PET) under Direct Recruitment-2025 for Constable Civilian Police posts can now download their hall tickets from the official website. The board released revised test dates and venues after postponing the earlier schedule due to rain and waterlogging at the grounds.

The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has raised the wage ceiling for provident fund calculations from Rs 15,000 to Rs 25,000, effective September 17. This change is expected to extend mandatory coverage to over 10 million additional workers and promote workforce formalisation across various sectors. ‘Don’t cut salaries’ The Ministry of Labour and Employment has directed employers not to reduce employees’ statutory wages due to the increased EPFO wage ceiling.

Lower gold prices are attracting physical buyers back into key Asian markets, particularly in India and Singapore. This week, gold prices in India fell to Rs 145,538 per 10 grams, marking the lowest level in nearly two months. The price correction has led to increased buying interest, although some consumers are still waiting for prices to drop further. Demand for gold in India has improved as prices declined, according to Harshad Ajmera of Kolkata-based wholesaler JJ Gold House.

PHOTO CREDIT : WIKIMEDIA COMMONS Gold hallmarking has become more expensive, raising concerns about potential fraud in the jewelry market. The increase in hallmarking charges has prompted fears that some jewelers may resort to using counterfeit hallmarking stamps. This issue is particularly pressing in tier-2, tier-3, and tier-4 cities, where consumer awareness about hallmarking remains low. Consumers are now responsible for the higher hallmarking costs when purchasing jewelry.

At a time when global layoffs in the IT sector are frequent, the Indian IT job market is experiencing a structural shift. New roles are emerging, while traditional positions are becoming obsolete due to advancements in artificial intelligence. Hiring is expected to remain subdued in FY27, with companies selectively backfilling attrition rather than replacing positions on a one-for-one basis.

CREDIT : Free Press Journal India’s Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections surpassed the Rs 2 lakh crore mark in September, reaching Rs 2.04 lakh crore, a 14.7% increase from the previous year. This growth was fueled by higher revenues from both domestic transactions and imports. Revenue from domestic transactions rose by 10.1% to Rs 1.38 lakh crore, while GST from imports surged by 25.9% to Rs 65,525 crore.

India’s economy is projected to grow by 7.3% in the September quarter of the current financial year, according to the finance ministry’s Monthly Economic Review released on Thursday. This marks a slowdown from the 7.8% growth recorded in the April-June period. The ministry’s nowcasting measure, introduced in the Economic Survey earlier this year, indicates that the economy has started FY27 on a solid footing despite global uncertainties.