Morning Brief: 10 Kuki Militants Gunned Down In Manipur; Only Six Indian Universities Among Asia's Top 100; Adani Plans $5 Billion Foray Into Metals Sector

Dear reader, make sense of the day’s news with Swarajya's roundup of what’s making headlines this morning. 

Kuki Militants Gunned Down In Manipur

At least 10 Kuki militants were killed on Monday in Manipur’s Jiribam district after they attacked a CRPF camp, reports say.

Following the attack, CRPF forces retaliated, eliminating the militants and recovering several weapons from their possession. A CRPF soldier was critically injured in the incident and is currently under treatment. Earlier, Kuki militants had also attacked the Borobekra Police Station, leading to a retaliatory response from the police.

The Kukis had arrived heavily armed, carrying over 100 weapons, including light machine guns (LMGs) and INSAS rifles, all of which were later recovered.

IIT-Delhi Rises To Top Among Indian Universities In 2025 Rankings

IIT-Delhi has emerged as the top-ranked Indian university in the 2025 QS Asia University Rankings, placing 44th in the continent—an improvement of two spots from last year. This position puts IIT-Delhi ahead of IIT-Bombay, which fell eight places to 48th. Factors contributing to IIT-Delhi’s rise include impactful research, a strengthened academic reputation, and an increased proportion of PhD-holding faculty members.

IIT-Delhi’s emphasis on technological advancement, startups, and problem-solving initiatives has significantly boosted its standing, according to Prof Vivek Buwa, head of the institute's ranking cell. Among other top-ranked Indian institutions, IIT-Madras now stands at 56th, having dropped three places, while IISc Bangalore and IIT-Kanpur also saw slight declines, ranking 62nd and 67th, respectively.

Overall, only six Indian universities placed among Asia's top 100.

Adani Group Plans $5 Billion Foray Into India’s Metals Sector

The Adani Group is planning a $5 billion investment in India’s metals industry, two years after entering the country’s cement sector, according to Mint. Over the next 3-5 years, Adani’s natural resources division will allocate funds for mining, refining, and production of copper, iron, steel, and aluminium. This move is set to disrupt India’s metals sector and compete with established players like Vedanta, Hindalco Industries, and Tata Group. Adani has already become India’s second-largest cement manufacturer within two years of its entry. The group’s foray into metals marks another major step in its ambitious expansion across diverse industries.

Other Updates

Apple Aims For One-Third Of iPhone Production In India

Apple and its suppliers aim to assemble 32 percent of global iPhone production volume and 26 percent of its value in India by 2026-27, according to the Business Standard. This target is set to be achieved a year after the end of the five-year production-linked incentive scheme for mobile devices.

If global iPhone sales remain steady through 2023-24, this could result in a production value of over $34 billion. Apple’s growing involvement in India reflects its strategy to diversify its supply chain away from China. The continued expansion in India, even after business incentives end, highlights the success of this approach.

Record Inflows Into Indian Equity Mutual Funds In October

Inflows into India’s equity mutual funds reached a record Rs 41,887 crore ($5 billion) in October, marking a 22 percent rise from the previous month. This surge helped offset significant foreign outflows, continuing the longest streak of monthly inflows, now at 44 months. Large-cap mutual funds saw double the inflows compared to the prior month. Despite a recent 8 percent dip in local equity markets from late September’s peaks, investor sentiment remains positive about the Indian economy. Many believe the stock market will provide good mid- to long-term returns.

Trump Names Mike Waltz As National Security Advisor

US President-elect Donald Trump has selected Florida Representative Mike Waltz as his National Security Advisor. Waltz, a 50-year-old retired Army National Guard officer and war veteran, is known for his hawkish stance on national security, aligning with Trump’s vision to bolster American security. A three-term GOP representative from Florida, Waltz was recently re-elected and made history as the first Green Beret elected to the US House.

As co-chair of the Caucus on India and Indian Americans, Waltz was instrumental in organising Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address at Capitol Hill in 2023.

From The States

Jharkhand: Opinion Poll Predicts Victory For BJP-Led NDA

The Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is projected to secure 45-50 seats in the 2024 Jharkhand Assembly elections, according to a Matrize survey. In comparison, the ruling INDIA bloc, consisting of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, Congress, and Rashtriya Janata Dal, is expected to win only 18-25 seats, falling short of the 41-seat majority mark. The NDA, which includes BJP, AJSU, JD(U), and LJP, is set to contest 81 seats in total, with the BJP taking 68, while AJSU, JD(U), and LJP contest 10, 2, and 1 seats, respectively. The remaining seats are likely to be claimed by independents.

Maharashtra: PM Modi, Rahul Gandhi Target Vidarbha 

As campaigning for Maharashtra’s Assembly election enters its final stretch, both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi are set to address key rallies in Vidarbha, a region that could play a decisive role in the outcome.

Modi will hold public meetings in Chimur, Solapur, and Pune, with his focus on strengthening the BJP’s presence in both eastern and western Maharashtra. Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi will also be in Vidarbha, participating in a rally in Chikhli and later addressing a gathering in Gondiya.

Gandhi’s visit follows his earlier trip to Nagpur, where he launched the MVA’s campaign and visited Deekshabhoomi, where B R Ambedkar converted to Buddhism in 1956.

Vidarbha is crucial to the election, with 36 of the 76 direct contests between Congress and BJP taking place in the region, which has a total of 62 Assembly constituencies.

Mumbai: Milind Deora Calls Aaditya Thackeray 'Outsider' 

Milind Deora on Monday labeled Aaditya Thackeray an "outsider" in their high-stakes electoral contest for the Worli Assembly seat, framing it as a "political battle." Deora, who joined the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena after leaving Congress in January, accused Aaditya of stalling Mumbai and Maharashtra's progress through "speed-breaker politics."

Facing Aaditya, son of former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, Deora highlighted his own deep local roots, stating that he was born, lives, and works in south Mumbai, making Worli his "janmabhoomi" and "karmabhoomi." Deora recognised Aaditya as a formidable opponent, but stressed the need for local representation to tackle local issues effectively.

Aaditya Thackeray being labeled an outsider in Mumbai is notable, especially since Shiv Sena has long built its political identity on the insider vs outsider narrative.

Stay tuned for more insights throughout the day.