Delhi Police has withdrawn Jantar Mantar’s status as a designated protest site and named three alternative venues for demonstrations in the national capital.

The police announced the decision on Monday under new guidelines issued through Delhi Police Standing Order No. L&O/48/2026.

According to the Delhi Police, the decision follows recommendations from a committee constituted by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to identify suitable alternative venues for public protests and demonstrations.

“The Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, had constituted a Committee to examine alternative proper venues for citizens’ right for organising protest/demonstrations in place of the existing ‘designated site’,” the official statement said.

The police added that the committee’s recommendations prompted the authorities to withdraw Jantar Mantar’s status as a designated protest venue.

The revised guidelines identify three locations for future protests: Ramlila Ground, Burari Ground and CBD Ground in East Delhi.

The Delhi Police said it would issue a detailed, revised standard operating procedure (SOP) for organising protests and demonstrations at these three venues separately. The new order partially modifies Standing Order No. L&O/48/22, dated April 28, 2022.

The announcement comes amid political tensions in the national capital over the Election Commission of India (ECI). The Congress-led INDIA bloc had planned a march towards the Supreme Court to protest against the poll body and demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.

Meanwhile, the Delhi Police continued security arrangements around Jantar Mantar. Police personnel remained stationed at key intersections, while barricades blocked access roads to the area on Sunday to regulate movement and prevent unauthorised gatherings.

The Delhi Traffic Police also warned commuters about possible disruptions across New Delhi and central Delhi on Monday as authorities prepared for the Opposition’s planned demonstration.

According to the traffic advisory, the police may impose restrictions or divert traffic at around 30 locations to maintain security and manage congestion during the protest.

Several major roads and intersections could experience delays, including the Dhaula Kuan flyover, Jhandewalan, Patel Chowk, Panchkuian, Connaught Place, Mandi House, Lodhi Road flyover, Bhikaji Cama Place and Moti Bagh flyover.

Commuters may also encounter restrictions or delays along Jantar Mantar Road, Ashoka Road, Sansad Marg and Tolstoy Marg.

The Delhi Police has advised commuters to account for possible traffic disruptions and plan their journeys accordingly as security arrangements and traffic management measures continue across the capital.

Abhishek Sharma smashed 69 off 30 balls, and India’s bowlers defended a total of 223 to beat West Indies by 14 runs in the third T20I at Holkar Stadium on Sunday. The victory gave India a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.

Arshdeep Singh claimed 3-44, while Naman Dhir picked up two wickets. Arshdeep dismissed the in-form Shai Hope, and India’s other bowlers contained the West Indies big-hitters to prevent them from completing another successful chase.

Shamar Springer’s explosive 11-ball 35 not out gave the visitors a late surge, but India held their nerve as West Indies finished at 209/7. The victory also marked the first win for a team batting first in the white-ball series. India had threatened to approach 250 after Abhishek’s 30-ball 69, but soft dismissals and running errors during the second half of their innings limited them to 223.

India began their defence with Mayank Yadav conceding just one run in the opening over. Arshdeep struck in the next over when Hope attempted an ambitious slog and lost his off stump for one.

Shimron Hetmyer then launched a counterattack. After a quiet start, he struck a boundary off Mayank in the third over. Abhishek subsequently dropped a straightforward catch at short third man when Hetmyer had five runs, giving the batter another opportunity to accelerate.

Hetmyer capitalised on the reprieve by smashing Arshdeep for a six and two fours in the fourth over, which yielded 19 runs. Mayank and Prince also conceded boundaries as West Indies reached 54/1 at the end of the Powerplay, trailing India’s 87/1 at the same stage by 33 runs.

Hetmyer continued his assault against Dhir, hitting the off-spinner for a four and a six. However, Dhir dismissed him for 43 with a slower delivery that skidded off the surface and beat his defence.

Kamil Pooran struggled to find his timing, and the mounting pressure forced Rovman Powell into an attacking shot against Axar Patel. Powell attempted to loft a quicker delivery without reaching the pitch of the ball, allowing the deep-cover fielder to take the catch for five.

Pooran later shifted gears against Dhir, smashing three sixes over cow corner, wide long-off and square leg. Dhir ended the assault when Pooran attempted another pick-up shot but failed to get underneath the ball and holed out in the deep for 42.

Sherfane Rutherford and Quention Sampson tried to revive the innings with a series of powerful boundaries. However, Nitish Kumar Reddy ended their stand when Sampson miscued a shot to the long-off fielder.

Arshdeep then delivered a decisive blow in the 18th over, dismissing Keemo Paul and Rutherford within four balls. His double strike left West Indies with little chance of winning, despite Springer’s late fireworks. Springer smashed three sixes and a four off Axar in the final over, but the late assault could not change the outcome.

Earlier, Abhishek’s blistering half-century and an aggressive 108-run partnership with Ishan Kishan put India on course for a total close to 250. Abhishek struck six fours and five sixes, while Kishan supported him with attacking strokeplay. However, regular wickets, soft dismissals and costly mix-ups allowed West Indies to regain control and restrict India to 223.

India, batting first, managed just 11 runs in the opening two overs. Roston Chase conceded four runs in the first over before Shamar Joseph dismissed Sanju Samson in the second. Samson mistimed a flick off a 150.8 kmph delivery and sent the ball to mid-wicket, where the fielder completed the catch for three.

Abhishek transformed the innings in the third over against Chase. He opened with an inside-out drive through cover-point for four, followed it with another inside-out shot over cover for six and finished the over with a second six over point.

Kishan then attacked Paul with three fours, before he and Abhishek took apart Springer in the fifth over. Kishan chipped a delivery over point for four, while Abhishek struck two consecutive fours over cover before smashing a length ball over the same region for six. India collected 21 runs from the over.

Joseph suffered a similar punishment in his next over, conceding another 21 runs. Kishan began with a boundary through the off side, and Abhishek followed with a six over cover and a four over mid-wicket. He then pulled the ball towards deep mid-wicket for two runs to complete his 14th T20I half-century in just 18 balls.

Abhishek continued to attack by backing away and squeezing a four past point. India finished the Powerplay at 87/1, firmly in control of the innings.

During his explosive knock, Abhishek also became the fastest batter to reach 2,000 T20I runs in terms of balls faced, achieving the milestone in 1,024 deliveries. He and Kishan continued to find boundaries until Chase turned the game around.

Chase broke their 108-run second-wicket partnership in the ninth over. He cramped Kishan for room with an incoming delivery as the batter stepped out, and Hope completed the stumping. Chase then trapped India captain Shreyas Iyer lbw for one in the same over.

Abhishek departed for 69 after top-edging a pull shot to Springer, who completed the catch. Gudakesh Motie then claimed his 50th T20I wicket when Dhir holed out to long-off.

With India losing momentum, Tilak Varma and Reddy attempted to rebuild the innings. Both batters struck two fours off Joseph in the 13th over, but Paul dismissed Reddy for 21 with a catch behind the stumps.

India then suffered two costly run-outs following communication errors. Axar flicked a delivery from Motie towards deep square leg and initially appeared to have found the boundary. Believing the ball had reached the ropes, he bumped fists with Varma while attempting a second run.

However, Pooran kept the ball in play, and Hope’s throw to Motie caught Varma short of his crease. The dismissal ended Varma’s innings at 28.

Axar also fell victim to a run-out. He pushed a Springer delivery towards point but initially showed no interest in taking a run, unaware that Arshdeep had already moved halfway down the pitch. Axar eventually set off, but Paul and Springer combined to complete the run-out, dismissing him for 20.

Springer trapped Arshdeep lbw, further slowing India’s progress. Prince then added valuable runs by heaving, scooping and edging Joseph for three boundaries. Joseph finally ended the innings by bowling Mayank with a sharp yorker.

Despite India’s late collapse, Abhishek’s explosive innings and Arshdeep’s decisive bowling helped the hosts secure a 14-run victory and move ahead 2-1 in the five-match T20I series.

Brief Scores:
India 223 all out in 20 overs (Abhishek Sharma 69, Ishan Kishan 37; Roston Chase 2-38, Shamar Springer 2-50)
West Indies 209/7 in 20 overs (Shimron Hetmyer 43, Kamil Pooran 42; Arshdeep Singh 3-44, Naman Dhir 2-39)

Gujarati singer Ishani Dave is set to bring the spirit of Navratri alive with her Garba track ‘Ghor Andhari’, which celebrates the divine presence of Ambe Maa.

The song blends the richness of Gujarati folk traditions with devotional fervour and festive energy. It aims to connect with Garba enthusiasts while preserving the cultural essence of the festival.

Speaking about the song, Ishani Dave said, “Navratri is not just a festival for me. It is a part of my roots, my faith, and my upbringing. ‘Ghor Andhari’ is my humble offering to Ambe Maa, born from the devotion, traditions, and Garba that have passed down through generations.”

“With this song, we wanted to bring those timeless roots into a joyful, fresh sound that speaks to today’s generation while keeping the soul of our traditional Garba intact. I hope listeners feel the devotion to Maa, the joy of Garba, and that beautiful connection to our roots every time they hear ‘Ghor Andhari’,” she added.

Composer Maulik Mehta said the team aimed to capture Garba’s spiritual power while giving the track a fresh and uplifting sound.

“Working on ‘Ghor Andhari’ was about channelling the spiritual power of Garba while keeping the sound fresh and uplifting. Ishani’s voice brings authenticity and emotional depth to the song, and together we wanted to create something that resonates deeply with both traditional and modern audiences,” Mehta said.

Sujal Parekh, Chief Business Officer at Zee Music Company, highlighted Garba’s cultural significance during Navratri and the song’s appeal to Gujarati audiences worldwide.

“Navratri is an emotion for every Gujarati, and Garba is at the heart of that celebration. With ‘Ghor Andhari’, we wanted to bring together devotion, tradition, and the energy of Garba in a song that people can enjoy and sing along to during Navratri. Ishani’s voice adds a beautiful touch to the song, and we hope ‘Ghor Andhari’ becomes a part of celebrations across Gujarat and wherever Gujaratis celebrate around the world,” Parekh said.

Composed by Maulik Mehta and penned by lyricist Pratik Ahir, ‘Ghor Andhari’ features Ishani Dave’s powerful vocals and combines traditional Gujarati folk influences with vibrant Garba rhythms. The devotional single captures Navratri’s spiritual essence while retaining the festive energy that makes Garba an integral part of the celebrations.

Zee Music Gujarati has released ‘Ghor Andhari’ for listeners to enjoy during the Navratri season.

West Indies captain Shai Hope credited strong partnerships and Sherfane Rutherford’s explosive batting for his team’s six-wicket victory over India in the second T20I at the JSCA International Stadium Complex in Ranchi on Friday, as the visitors chased a daunting target of 250 runs.

Hope smashed a blistering 45-ball century, while Rutherford hammered 84 off just 37 deliveries to help the West Indies complete the second-highest successful run chase in men’s T20I cricket. The visitors reached 252/4 with two overs to spare.

Reflecting on the early setbacks that reduced the West Indies to 5/2, Hope admitted that the chase looked challenging. However, he said teams always believed they could reach big totals when playing in India.

“It was always going to be a tough chase. But when you chase here in India, you always give yourself a chance. You always think you’re in the game, regardless of what score is on the board. But five for two was always going to be challenging,” Hope said after winning the Player of the Match award.

Hope said his partnership with Rovman Powell helped the West Indies regain momentum before Rutherford’s counter-attacking knock gave the visitors the decisive push.

“When we got that partnership going, Rovman and I gave the innings some impetus. Then Sherfane came in and did what he did. He played really well with the bat and gave us the spark we needed to get over the line,” Hope said.

He also stressed the importance of building partnerships, saying batters sometimes needed to trust their partners rather than take unnecessary risks.

“I really believe we need to bat a lot better in partnerships. It’s something we tend to lack every now and again. But sometimes you just have to sit back and watch your partner play shots. In that situation, as long as we kept up with the required rate, I didn’t need to take unnecessary risks. I thought we were going really nicely, so it was about calculating the chase as best we could,” he said.

Hope also praised his SS bats and said he focused on backing himself and choosing the best scoring option whenever the ball entered his hitting zone.

“All those SS bats I have are pretty good. The ball seemed to travel quite a bit here. The boundaries were a little bigger, but you just have to back yourself. Once the ball is in your zone, you look for the best option to find the boundary, and it worked well today. As I said before, I needed some luck to go my way, and today was one of those days,” he added.

The West Indies captain attributed his recent run of form to thorough preparation and efforts to stay mentally fresh rather than any special comfort playing in India.

“When you’re scoring runs, you’re just happy. Maybe I could say I’m enjoying a good run of form right now, but I think the way I’m preparing and trying to stay mentally fresh and ready is giving me the best chance to perform. I just hope it continues for as long as possible,” he said.

Despite his remarkable century, Hope said he would not allow the success to affect his mindset.

Meanwhile, India captain Shreyas Iyer said the dew factor made it difficult to determine a par score after the West Indies chased down India’s imposing total of 249/5.

“Honestly speaking, you cannot put a number to it because when the dew factor comes in, it plays a massive role. Even 249 was chased with two overs to spare. So you cannot give a number or anticipate that this is the total we should aim for,” Iyer said after the match.

India head coach Gautam Gambhir urged his team to address its bowling shortcomings and called for a more competitive contest between bat and ball after the West Indies pulled off the record chase.

“You don’t shrug off any defeat. If you want to keep improving, you don’t want to put anything under the carpet. We are a world-champion team, so we want to keep improving,” Gambhir said at the post-match press conference.

He acknowledged the difficulty of bowling on flat pitches with dew but said India needed to find solutions, especially after the West Indies lost two wickets in the opening over and three during the powerplay.

“These are obviously tough conditions to bowl in. We know flat wickets with dew make it difficult, but we need to figure things out and find a way. Especially when the opposition had lost two wickets in the first over and then lost three wickets in the powerplay,” he said.

Gambhir also praised Hope and Rutherford for their performances, describing them as world-class batters in the T20 format.

“It was tough on us, but we’re going to keep improving,” he added.

The victory gave the West Indies a 1-0 lead in the series. The visitors staged a remarkable recovery after Mayank Yadav’s three-wicket burst initially put India in control of the chase.

Actress Madhuri Dixit Nene paid tribute to veteran actor Nana Patekar, who was scheduled to appear in the grand premiere episode of the Marathi game show ‘Kon Honar Crorepati’ over the weekend. Madhuri hosts the show, which will premiere on October 12.

Madhuri, who shared screen space with Nana in the 1998 film ‘Wajood’, remembered him as a great artist with a powerful personality. She said his passing marked the loss of a treasured and legendary actor for the film industry.

Actress Sonali Bendre and Nana Patekar were scheduled to appear as the show’s first celebrity guests. The makers also expect several prominent Maharashtrian celebrities to join the show in the coming months.

Sharing her condolences on Instagram, Madhuri wrote, “A great artist, a powerful personality and an unforgettable voice… With Nana Patekar’s passing, the film industry has lost a treasured and legendary actor. My heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones. A heartfelt tribute.”

Reports of Nana Patekar’s sudden demise emerged on October 8. He was 75.

According to a statement attributed to Manipal Hospital in Goa, the veteran actor was found unconscious at his residence in Dona Paula, Goa, and was rushed to the hospital. Doctors declared him brought dead.

Nana and Madhuri worked together in ‘Wajood’, an action film that N. Chandra directed and produced in 1998. The film follows Malhar, who falls in love with Apoorva and believes that her engagement to Nihal has taken place against her wishes. Malhar protests against the engagement, but the police arrest him, eventually pushing him towards a life of crime.

‘Kon Honar Crorepati’ will premiere on October 12 on Sony Marathi and Sony LIV. The show promises to celebrate knowledge, ambition and inspiring personal journeys, highlighting how the pursuit of knowledge can open doors to new opportunities.

The Marathi programme follows the format of the popular Hindi quiz show ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati’, which Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan hosts.

Madhuri has previously appeared as a judge and special guest on several television reality shows. Hosting ‘Kon Honar Crorepati’ marks a new chapter in her television career.

Veteran actor Sachin Khedekar has hosted ‘Kon Honar Crorepati’ for several previous seasons.

Sonali Bendre, who is also scheduled to appear in the premiere episode, has expressed her admiration for Madhuri. Her appearance, along with Nana Patekar’s planned participation, had added to the anticipation surrounding the new season.

The Indian rupee appreciated by 23 paise to 96.65 against the US dollar in early trade on Friday, supported by a slight weakening of the US dollar and suspected intervention by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

The rupee opened on a positive note as the dollar index slipped towards 102 and Brent crude prices fell to around $103 per barrel. US President Donald Trump said the US would not attack Iran before the midterm elections, easing some concerns in the market.

At the interbank foreign exchange market, the rupee opened at 96.74 before strengthening to 96.65, gaining 23 paise over its previous close.

Market experts said the US dollar index extended its losses towards 102 as US Treasury yields declined following a well-received 30-year bond auction. The auction indicated continued investor demand for long-term government debt.

They added that lower crude oil prices eased inflation concerns after Trump cited productive discussions between the US and Iran and ruled out an attack before the midterm elections.

Markets assigned an 82 per cent probability to the Federal Reserve keeping interest rates unchanged this month, while the probability of a rate hike in December stood near 81 per cent, according to the experts.

Meanwhile, Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller said further rate increases would likely be necessary to bring inflation back to the central bank’s 2 per cent target. However, he emphasised that policymakers retained flexibility over the pace of monetary tightening.

On Thursday, the rupee had depreciated by 13 paise to close at 96.88 against the US dollar.

Indian equity markets also opened higher on Friday, supported by buying in information technology stocks.

The Sensex rose 183.43 points, or 0.26 per cent, at the opening, while the Nifty started the session at 22,314.95, up 83.15 points, or 0.37 per cent.

Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) sold equities worth Rs 12,943 crore on Thursday, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs) bought shares worth Rs 10,703 crore.

FIIs have sold equities worth Rs 36,210 crore through exchanges so far in October.

India’s IT industry body Nasscom said on Thursday that relatively few employees transition from H-1B visas to permanent residency through the Permanent Labor Certification (PERM) process. It added that Indian technology companies would continue to comply with applicable US laws and regulations.

Nasscom issued the statement after the US administration suspended six major outsourcing companies, including India’s Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Wipro and HCL, from the permanent labour certification programme. The action also covered Cognizant and Capgemini.

The industry body said the decision affects a specific immigration pathway. However, it reiterated that immigration and skilled talent mobility represent two distinct issues and require separate consideration.

“The H-1B visa programme has historically played an important role in addressing short-term skill gaps in the US, and it will continue to help meet short-term talent needs. However, over the past few years, Indian technology companies have significantly reduced their dependence on H-1B visas while steadily expanding local hiring and building a strong domestic workforce in the US,” Nasscom said.

The industry body added that Indian IT companies work with most Fortune 500 companies in the US, helping them innovate, expand and create more local jobs.

“Consequently, the number of employees transitioning from H-1B visas to permanent residency through the PERM process is also relatively limited. Indian technology companies operate across more than 80 countries and have consistently demonstrated their commitment to complying with local laws and regulatory requirements. We are confident that they will continue to adhere to applicable regulations in the US as well,” Nasscom said.

US Labour Secretary Keith Sonderling announced the suspension of the six outsourcing companies following investigations by the Department of Labor’s Inspector General.

The action prevents the companies from submitting new permanent labour certification applications and halts the processing of their pending applications.

States have welcomed the decisions made at the 57th meeting of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council on Thursday.

They described the latest reforms as an important step towards simplifying the tax regime, easing compliance and resolving concerns among businesses and taxpayers.

Finance ministers and chief ministers from several states praised the meeting’s focus on procedural and structural reforms. They said the changes would make the GST framework more efficient and improve the ease of doing business.

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the GST Council brings states together to discuss ways to simplify the tax framework and make it more convenient for citizens.

She said the Council also discussed ways to improve GST implementation and make the system more effective for taxpayers.

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant also welcomed the reforms. He said the measures would reduce difficulties for people and make the GST system more convenient.

West Bengal Finance Minister Swapan Dasgupta said GST continues to benefit states such as West Bengal, where the tax contributes a significant share of state revenue.

He said the latest structural reforms focused on rationalising provisions and improving the ease of doing business. According to him, these measures would benefit states in the long run by making the system easier to navigate.

Dasgupta acknowledged that the state had faced challenges in ensuring compliance with GST rules. However, he said awareness of compliance requirements had improved. He also described the Council’s discussions as highly positive.

Uttar Pradesh Finance Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna said the GST Council consistently provides a suitable platform for resolving business grievances and simplifying procedures.

He praised the Central government and Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for their efforts to make the GST system more taxpayer-friendly and protect businesses from unnecessary difficulties.

Khanna also recalled the rate rationalisation exercise at the September 3 meeting. He said the move had provided relief to ordinary citizens without compromising government revenue.

He said the latest meeting focused on simplifying business procedures, particularly in areas where taxpayers had encountered difficulties.

“From registration to refunds, wherever businesses were facing problems, the processes have now been simplified,” Khanna said.

He described the measures as a major Diwali gift for the business community. He also welcomed the steps aimed at protecting businesses from unnecessary arrests under the GST law.

Khanna said the government had adopted a two-pronged approach: first, it provided relief to consumers through rate rationalisation and then addressed business concerns through procedural reforms.

Montana Governor Greg Gianforte, who is visiting India with a delegation of more than 30 professionals from higher education and advanced technology, said on Wednesday that he held “very, very productive meetings” on quantum technology, photonics, aerospace and defence technology.

“We’re looking for business-to-business collaboration so that we can produce better products and expand economic opportunities for both India and the United States,” Gianforte told.

Gianforte identified quantum technology and photonics as two of the most promising areas for cooperation between India and Montana.

“Some of the most exciting areas for us on this trip are the work being done here in India and in Montana in quantum technology and photonics. We’re having university-to-university discussions and private-sector-to-private-sector discussions,” he said.

The Montana Governor said India has developed significant expertise in quantum technology and photonics, which also remain key areas of focus in Montana.

“We’re looking for university-to-university collaboration on research. We have institutions in Montana that spend hundreds of millions of dollars on research in these areas that are of interest to both India and the United States,” he said.

Gianforte also highlighted opportunities for private-sector collaboration. He pointed to the aerospace sector as an example, noting that India operates a large number of Boeing aircraft while Montana-based companies manufacture parts for those aircraft.

“So, collaboration is a great opportunity,” he said.

He also identified precision agriculture as another potential area of cooperation, as technology can help farmers increase productivity.

“Precision agriculture is another area where technology is helping our farmers become more productive. We also have the dean of our School of Agriculture with us on this trip, and I think we’re going to uncover some great opportunities for collaboration,” Gianforte said.

Montana Delegation Explores Multiple Sectors

Gianforte said the trade mission includes 36 members and focuses on sectors where Montana and India share common interests.

“Let me talk specifically about what we’re trying to accomplish on this trade mission. Again, we have 36 individuals with us. We’re looking at areas of common interest, including aerospace, defence technology, precision agriculture and bioscience,” he said.

The Governor also stressed the importance of strengthening India-US trade ties. He said US Ambassador Sergio Gor had assured him that India and the United States were close to finalising a bilateral trade deal.

Gianforte said Montana wants stronger and more predictable trade relations with India, particularly in agriculture.

“India values its farmers very highly, as it should. We value our farmers in the United States very highly as well. We’ve seen great fluctuations in the purchasing of pulse crops in India. We want to have long-term relationships,” he said.

“Particularly in Montana, relationships are important. So, getting this trade deal done, with reciprocal and fair trade, is really essential for us to continue to expand and deepen the relationship between our two countries,” Gianforte added.

Trade Certainty Key to Deeper Economic Ties

Gianforte said businesses in both countries need certainty to invest and build long-term economic partnerships.

He stressed that completing an India-US trade agreement would provide businesses with greater confidence and encourage deeper commercial ties.

“It’s important that the India-US trade deal gets done, as Indian businesses and American businesses need certainty. Without certainty, it becomes more difficult to build deep economic ties between the two countries,” he said.

“We need a reciprocal relationship that gives businesses confidence that we can do business with each other and that both sides are taken care of,” Gianforte added.

The Montana delegation’s visit aims to strengthen cooperation across technology, education, agriculture, aerospace, defence and bioscience while creating new opportunities for businesses and institutions in India and Montana.

The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences on Wednesday awarded the 2026 Nobel Prize in Chemistry to French chemist Henri B. Kagan and Japanese chemist Kenso Soai for their pioneering discoveries of non-linear effects and autocatalysis in asymmetric organic synthesis.

The Academy honoured the two scientists for discoveries that helped solve a century-old mystery: how molecular asymmetry, or homochirality, emerged in nature.

Kagan and Soai will share a cash prize of 12 million Swedish kronor.

Many molecules, including amino acids, exist in two mirror-image forms. Although these variants share similar chemical properties, living organisms overwhelmingly use only one form.
Scientists have spent decades trying to understand how nature developed this remarkable selectivity.

According to the Nobel Committee, chemists traditionally produced equal amounts of both mirror-image molecules during laboratory synthesis. Kagan and Soai’s discoveries showed how chemical reactions can instead favour one molecular mirror image, producing it predominantly or even exclusively.

“Henri Kagan and Kenso Soai have provided a solution to a chemical mystery that is over a century old: how homochirality can emerge spontaneously. The chemical reactions they have developed are spectacular,” said Heiner Linke, Chair of the Nobel Committee for Chemistry.

Kagan made a major breakthrough in 1986 when he developed a new method for influencing chemical reactions. His approach enabled scientists to produce a much greater excess of one molecular mirror image than they had previously considered possible.

Soai built on Kagan’s work and demonstrated a groundbreaking chemical reaction in 1995 that could potentially become homochiral.

In 2003, Soai achieved another landmark result by demonstrating a reaction that produced only one of two possible mirror-image forms. Scientists had previously observed such selectivity only in biological systems.

The Academy said the laureates’ discoveries have significantly influenced modern chemistry, particularly pharmaceutical development. Drug manufacturers often need to produce the correct molecular mirror image because different forms can produce different effects in the human body.

Henri B. Kagan

Henri B. Kagan was born in 1930 in Boulogne-Billancourt, France. He earned his PhD from the Collège de France in 1960 and later became Professor Emeritus at the former Université Paris-Sud.

Kenso Soai

Kenso Soai was born in 1950 in Hiroshima, Japan. He received his PhD from the University of Tokyo in 1979 and later became Professor Emeritus at Tokyo University of Science.

The work of Kagan and Soai has helped scientists better understand how chemical systems can break symmetry and favour one molecular form over another, offering important insights into one of chemistry’s longstanding questions.