Category: India

BJP MP Kangana Ranaut alleged that Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi behaves in a manner that makes women MPs uncomfortable in Parliament.

BJP MP and actor-turned-politician Kangana Ranaut on Wednesday sparked a fresh political controversy after alleging that Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi behaves in a manner that makes women MPs uncomfortable in Parliament.

Speaking to reporters outside Parliament, Ranaut criticised Gandhi’s conduct, saying, “It is very uncomfortable the way he conducts himself.” She further added that he should take cues from his sister, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, whose behaviour she described as “very good.”

“Tapori ki tarah aate hai,” she said.

The Supreme Court’s stinging remarks came while it was hearing the ED’s petition alleging interference by Mamata Banerjee and her government during its January 8 raids on the office of political consultancy firm I-PAC.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday came down heavily on the Bengal government in the I-PAC case, saying Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee interrupting ED raids in the state was not a “happy situation”. A bench of justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and NV Anjaria said central probe agencies could not be left without any remedy in such instances.

“The case here is that some Chief Minister allegedly barges into a government office and interferes with the Central government agency’s work. What is the remedy then? What happens if some other CM does it again? We have to respond to an organic situation where some remedy has to be there,” the court said, indicating that it might frame SOPs for such situations.

Representing the Bengal government, senior advocate Shyam Divan, however, argued that the Constitution does provide a remedy. He suggested that the Centre could initiate appropriate proceedings rather than departments acting independently and invoking writ jurisdiction.

WHAT IS THE I-PAC CASE?

The Supreme Court was hearing the ED’s petition alleging interference by Mamata and the government during its January 8 raids on the office of political consultancy firm I-PAC in Kolkata, as well as the residence of its chief, Prateek Jain. The raids were in connection with a money laundering probe linked to the alleged coal scam.

High drama unfolded on January 8 after Banerjee rushed to Jain’s residence and walked out carrying a laptop, a phone and several files even as the raids were on. She then headed straight to I-PAC’s Salt Lake office, where a second ED team was carrying out searches, and came out with several files.

The ED called it a “gross abuse of power”. However, Mamata claimed that the raids were politically motivated and engineered by the BJP ahead of the high-stakes Bengal elections. Bengal goes to the polls on April 23 and 29.

‘YOU CAN’T DICTATE TO US’

Now, coming back to the hearing in the Supreme Court. At the outset, the court turned down a plea by Bengal seeking adjournment of the hearing on the ED’s plea. Advocate Divan, representing Bengal, sought additional time to file a response to the counter-affidavit filed by the ED.

However, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the ED, swiftly opposed the request. He called it a tactic to delay the hearing and pointed out that the ED rejoinder was filed four weeks ago.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/law-news/story/mamata-banerjee-ed-raids-ipac-case-supreme-court-hearing-2883803-2026-03-18

Congress president Kharge on Wednesday said in Rajya Sabha sarcastically that former PM and JD(S) leader HD Deve Gowda “loved Congress but married Modi”.

Responding to Congress president’s “love us, married Modi” jibe, former prime minister and Janata Dal (Secular) supremo HD Deve Gowda on Wednesday said he did love the Grand Old party but had to take a “divorce” from the “abusive relationship.”

Bidding farewell to retiring Rajya Sabha MP HD Deve Gowda, Kharge extended well wishes as well as a jibe over his association with the PM Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

Kharge was delivering a farewell speech for the 37 retiring MPs including Deve Gowda, Ramdas Athawale, Priyanka Chaturvedi, Tiruchi Siva, Amarendra Dhari Singh, and Abhishek Manu Singhvi and others.

Recalling his association with former prime minister Deve Gowda of over 54 years, Kharge took a veiled “shaadi (marriage)” dig, indicating that the Janata Dal (Secular) leader formed relations with one alliance and went ahead with someone else – PM Modi – ultimately.

“I have known Deve Gowda for more than 54 years, and I have worked with him a lot. Later, I don’t know what happened. Wo mohabbat humare saath kiye, shaadi Modi sahab ke sath [he loved us but got married to Modi]’,” Kharge said, leaving the House, including PM Modi, in splits.

VanDyke identified himself as a security analyst, documentary filmmaker, and war correspondent, but sources suggest there are more layers to the shadowy figure.

The arrest of an American national in India has uncovered several crucial leads in a high-level investigation encompassing national security angles. Matthew VanDyke was among seven foreigners who were arrested two days earlier in connection with an alleged conspiracy hatched against India.

The accused had crossed into Myanmar illegally via India to train ethnic armed groups there and some banned groups in India too, India’s top anti-terror body, the National Investigation Agency (NIA), had said.

Scanning his social media footage and mobile phone, officials have now found that VanDyke had previously been linked to numerous military conflicts and operations abroad, while the investigation now aims to ascertain how he managed to reach the northeast and with what mission.

The American embassy confirmed it is aware of the situation but refused to divulge further details.

VanDyke: Modern Warfare Operative

VanDyke identified himself as a security analyst, documentary filmmaker, and war correspondent, but sources suggest there are more layers to the shadowy figure.

The American was a mercenary military instructor with reported former associations with the US military, sources said. He served in Iraq among other combat zones. He also provided “special forces-style” training that encompasses disciplines such as guerrilla warfare, tactical operations, drone usage, and modern warfare techniques, sources added.

VanDyke’s Early Days

VanDyke gained prominence during the Libyan Civil War. He reportedly embarked on a motorcycle journey across North Africa and the Middle East after completing university. During this period, he forged friendship with the people of Libya. When the revolution erupted there, he joined the rebel fighters. He was arrested and held captive for about six months. However, he managed to escape and returned to the US after the war ended in 2011.

He then planned to produce a documentary on the Syrian revolution that started soon after. However, the execution of US journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff, both his friends, by ISIS, made him change his plan and focus on training armed groups. He then founded the Sons of Liberty International (SOLI) to train and advise armed groups around the world.

‘Appeal To Mercenaries’

During the investigation, officials came across several recordings in which VanDyke was reportedly heard making statements that backed rebellions across the world. He stated that his objective was not just to deploy foreign fighters into combat, but rather to train local populations to fight for themselves.

VanDyke had even issued global appeals to mercenaries to join insurgent groups in Venezuela, Myanmar, and Iran.

His arrest in India assumes significance since he is believed to be linked to armed networks active in the Northeast. VanDyke is also believed to have been providing training in drone operations and modern warfare techniques.

His arrest throws up major security questions, especially if the Indian territory was being used as a transit corridor and if he had any link to anti-India and banned groups. Espionage and intelligence-gathering angles are also being probed.

3 Major Theories

Three major potential theories are being examined in connection with VanDyke’s arrest, sources suggest. The first points to a larger international initiative, possibly a broader strategy to destabilise India. This hypothesis stems from allegations against the CIA of conducting covert operations across the globe.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/conspiring-against-india-inside-american-mercenary-matthew-vandykes-arrest-11234193?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

Bordoloi, often called Shashi Tharoor of the northeast for his erudition, resigned from his Lok Sabha seat yesterday and is now set to contest the assembly elections on a BJP ticket.

The departure of Assam Congress leaders Bhupen Borah and now Pradyut Bordoloi, which has added to the challenges of the Congress ahead of the state election, has sparked an internal debate in the state unit on why the party’s senior leaders could not prevent it. While many question the role of the state party chief, others question how such an event could transpire under the watch of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.

Sources close to her have pointed out that the senior leader has been serving as the Chairperson of the Screening Committee and her role has been limited to the selection of candidates.

Bordoloi, often called Shashi Tharoor of the northeast for his erudition, resigned from his Lok Sabha seat yesterday and is now set to contest the assembly elections on a BJP ticket. He is the last in a long line of leaders from Assam Congress who have made a beeline for the BJP since Himanta Biswa Sarma changed camp.

Though Bordoloi has said his decision was the result of a slow estrangement and regular humiliations within the party and not so much about the election nomination, the perception that the latter is the key reason, persists.

Bordoloi had quit, sources said, after the Congress decided to give a ticket to an MLA with alleged underworld links for the coming assembly election. The candidature is yet to be announced.

Lahorighat MLA Asif Mohammad Nazar was allegedly linked to Emdadul Islam, who, Bordoloi said, was involved in a murderous attack on him and other party leaders in April 2025. The man was charge-sheeted and once he was out on bail, was felicitated by Nazar. On multiple occasions Islam was seen in the presence of Gaurav Gogoi, Bordoloi has said.

The MP said he had opposed Nazar’s renomination during a screening committee meeting chaired by Priyanka Gandhi. But his reservations on the matter were rubbished at a committee meeting in New Delhi in presence of Gogoi, he claimed.

Bordoloi had indicated that this last humiliation was the trigger for his decision — which pointed to the screening committee – especially since he had written to the state Congress warning that he would resign if Nazar was re-nominated.

Congress sources said Gandhi Vadra has executed her task as the chairperson of the Screening Committee competently. The names of most candidates have already been announced, including the decision to grant a ticket to Pradyut Bordoloi’s son, though it is not known if he would accept.

Calling Bordoloi’s decision “unfortunate”, Gaurav Gogoi asserted that the Congress had given him everything.

“Just two years ago, the Congress party offered him the opportunity to contest the Lok Sabha ticket from Nagaon. He is a sitting Member of Parliament; the people of Nagaon voted for him. And in this present election, the Congress party offered an opportunity to a member of his family to contest the Vidhan Sabha elections. If our current Nagaon Lok Sabha Member of Parliament wants Himanta Biswa Sarma to continue as the Chief Minister, well, that is his decision, which is rather unfortunate,” Gogoi said.

In private conversations, Congress MPs have alluded to the role of the Enforcement Directorate and other government agencies in the matter.

The state Congress now has a list of leaders whose departures they have to explain: Bhupen Borah’s departure from the party on February 22, the defection of three MLAs from the Congress to the BJP on March 5, the switch of former Assam Congress Working President Rana Goswami to the BJP, the exit of former Assam Youth Congress President Ankita Das and Joint General Secretary Parba Das Kalita.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/assam-assembly-elections-2026-gaurav-gogoi-string-of-exits-in-assam-raises-poll-stakes-for-congress-priyanka-gandhi-11235282?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

Ashoka demanded the suspension of a few secretaries.

Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly, R Ashoka made a strong comment against IAS officers, saying that it stands for “I Am Sorry”.

On March 16, Home Minister G Parameshwara, in the Assembly, tabled 84 answers against 230 ‘unstarred’ questions raised by lawmakers, due to which Speaker UT Khader walked out of the Assembly out of anger over the government not sufficiently answering questions.

Following the incident, Ashoka said, “This is the fifth time! Even after warnings, they have not improved. They come like Gods, they go home like Gods.”

Moreover, he demanded the suspension of a few secretaries from the Assembly. “There are a few IAS officers who haven’t come to office for 8-9 months. I’ll show records. They’ll have time to play golf, but not to provide answers to the legislature? Why should they be in service? IAS stands for I Am Sorry,” Ashoka said.

Meanwhile, Khader said he had issued “clear orders” from his chair four times. “This House isn’t for ministers. This is for lawmakers who meet once in three months to discuss their issues. All of them ask questions. Only 15 questions become ‘starred’ (they are answered on the floor of the House). If the remaining (unstarred) questions go unanswered, why should they come to this House?” Khader said.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/karnataka/ias-stands-for-i-am-sorry-lop-ashoka-in-karnataka-assembly-3935319

Her health deteriorated after she had her tooth extracted at a private clinic in Hariharganj town. She was rushed to the Community Health Center. However, doctors could not save her.

A woman died under suspicious circumstances on Tuesday following a tooth extraction procedure at a private clinic in Jharkhand’s Palamu district. The owner of the clinic absconded following the patient’s death.

According to police officials, the deceased, identified as Vijayanti Devi, was a resident of Kasimpur in Bihar’s Aurangabad district. Her health deteriorated after she had a tooth extracted at a private clinic in Hariharganj town. She was rushed to the Community Health Center, but doctors could not save her.

Following the woman’s death, the clinic’s proprietor, Dr Ashraf Ali, absconded. Hariharganj Police continues to search for Dr Ali.

After the deceased’s family members filed a written complaint, accusing the doctor of gross negligence, local authorities sealed the private clinic.

Police officials are investigating the matter and are likely to file a First Information Report soon.

While the reason behind the woman’s death remains unclear, deaths by medical negligence are not unheard of across India.

In December 2025, a woman in Uttar Pradesh’s Barabanki died after a quack doctor performed her kidney stone surgery while watching a YouTube video.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/jharkhand-bihar-woman-dies-after-tooth-extraction-procedure-dental-clinic-owner-on-the-run-2883487-2026-03-18

Air travel rules are set for a shake-up as the government cracks down on hidden charges and pushes airlines to prioritise passengers. What changes for your next flight and what airlines must now do.

Air travellers in India may soon see a major relief in hidden costs, with the government stepping in to curb extra charges on seat selection and tighten passenger rights across airlines.

60% SEATS TO BE FREE FOR SELECTION

In a significant move, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has directed airline operators to ensure that at least 60 per cent of seats on any flight are allocated free of cost for selection.

The order, issued through the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, aims to make air travel more accessible and transparent.

Several airlines had been charging additional fees for preferred seat selection after ticket booking or during web check-in. The new direction seeks to address these practices and ensure “fair access” for passengers.

PASSENGERS ON SAME BOOKING TO SIT TOGETHER

The ministry has also asked airlines to ensure that passengers travelling on the same PNR are seated together, preferably in adjacent seats.

This is expected to bring relief to families and groups who often had to pay extra to secure seats next to each other.

CLEAR RULES FOR BAGGAGE, PETS AND SERVICES

The DGCA has been asked to issue further instructions to improve passenger experience across multiple areas.

Airlines will need to facilitate the carriage of sports equipment and musical instruments in a transparent and passenger-friendly manner, while adhering to safety norms.

A deadly meningitis outbreak in the UK has triggered rapid contact tracing and preventive treatment. Experts say this public health tool is crucial to contain infections, identify exposed individuals and stop outbreaks before they spread further.

A recent meningitis outbreak in Canterbury, UK, has put the spotlight back on one of public health’s most critical tools, contact tracing. The cluster, linked to a university setting and social venues, has led to two deaths and multiple hospitalisations, prompting urgent intervention by health authorities. Officials from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) quickly moved to identify individuals who had close contact with infected patients, including those who attended a popular nightclub and shared social spaces. These contacts were advised to take precautionary antibiotics to prevent further spread.

This response highlights a key reality: Infectious diseases like meningococcal meningitis can spread rapidly in close-contact settings such as universities, dormitories and social gatherings. Early identification of exposed individuals can mean the difference between a contained outbreak and a wider public health emergency.

Experts say contact tracing, systematically identifying, informing and managing people who may have been exposed, is a cornerstone of outbreak control. As seen in the UK response, it allows authorities to act quickly, break transmission chains and protect vulnerable populations from life-threatening infections.

What Is Contact Tracing And How Does It Work?

Contact tracing is a public health strategy used to identify people who may have been exposed to an infectious disease and take steps to prevent further spread.

The process typically involves:

• Identifying confirmed cases
• Mapping their recent interactions
• Notifying close contacts
• Providing testing, treatment or preventive care

For diseases like meningococcal infection, close contacts include individuals who have had prolonged or intimate exposure, such as household members, close friends or people sharing confined spaces. In the UK outbreak, this included students, classmates and individuals who attended shared social venues. Authorities moved quickly to offer antibiotics to these groups, a standard preventive strategy for meningococcal disease.

Why Contact Tracing Is Critical In Meningitis Outbreaks

Meningococcal disease, caused by Neisseria meningitidis, is rare but can become life-threatening within hours if not treated promptly. It spreads through close contact, such as coughing, sneezing, kissing or sharing utensils, making densely populated environments particularly vulnerable.

Contact tracing is especially important in such outbreaks because:

1. It Identifies High-Risk Individuals Quickly: Close contacts are at the highest risk of developing the disease. Early identification allows for immediate preventive treatment, such as antibiotics.
2. It Breaks Chains Of Transmission: By isolating cases and treating exposed individuals, contact tracing interrupts the spread of infection before it escalates.
3. It Enables Targeted Public Health Action: Instead of broad restrictions, authorities can focus interventions on specific groups, reducing disruption while maintaining effectiveness.

Lessons From The UK Outbreak

The response to the UK meningitis cluster demonstrates how contact tracing works in real-world scenarios.

Health authorities:

• Identified clusters linked to educational institutions and social venues
• Traced individuals who had close contact with infected cases
• Provided preventive antibiotics to exposed individuals
• Issued public health guidance to tens of thousands of students and staff

Such measures are crucial because meningococcal disease often affects young people in shared living environments, where transmission risk is higher. Importantly, experts emphasise that the risk to the general population remains low, with close contacts being the most vulnerable group.

Officials said the survivor comes from a poor family and her father died some time ago.

At 11, most children wouldn’t even know what an acid attack is. This 11-year-old, however, became a victim of one.

The survivor, a Class 6 student of a school in Wadgaon Pan in Maharashtra’s Ahilyanagar, was returning home after classes got over on Tuesday morning when an unidentified man threw acid on her face and fled.

On hearing the child’s screams, locals gathered at the spot, and she was immediately rushed to the Pravaranagar Hospital in Loni for medical treatment.

Officials said the survivor comes from a poor family and her father died some time ago. She now lives with her grandparents and mother, who works as a daily wage labourer to support the family.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/ahilyanagar-acid-thrown-on-face-of-11-year-old-returning-from-school-in-maharashtra-11229103

During her visit to KIIT, Nita Ambani engaged with students and played with a toddler.

Nita Ambani interacted with students during her visit to the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, on March 16. In one particularly sweet moment, she took a toddler into her arms and played with her, easily slipping from humanitarian into grandma mode.

Why was Nita Ambani at KIIT?

Nita Ambani, the founder-chairperson of Reliance Foundation, visited the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) on March 16. She was conferred with an Honorary Doctorate and received the prestigious Humanitarian Award 2025 by the Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) during her visit.

According to Kalinga TV, Mrs Ambani was originally scheduled to spend just two hours at the institute. However, she ended up spending eight hours there as she interacted with faculty and students. She also watched cultural performances and danced with students.

Nita Ambani plays with toddler

During her visit to the KIIT campus, Nita Ambani interacted with students of KIIT International School as well. Videos shared online show the school students, dressed in blue uniforms, welcoming the billionaire philanthropist to their midst.

At one point, she approached a little girl who was in her teacher’s arms. Nita Ambani quickly slipped into grandma mode as she approached the little girl and took her into her own arms. “Oh wow, come here. Baby coming? Coming, coming, coming,” she gushed as she held the girl.

A video shared online shows her gushing over the toddler. “You know I also have four little babies,” said Nita Ambani. “She’s so cute. What’s her name?” she asked. She was informed that the little girl is called Mishti.

Nita Ambani is a grandmother to four — her elder son Akash Ambani has two children with his wife Shloka, while her daughter Isha Ambani Piramal is also a mother to twins. Ever the doting grandmother, she has been spotted playing with her grandkids on multiple occasions.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/trending/nita-ambani-s-ultra-sweet-moment-with-toddler-wins-hearts-she-s-so-cute-101773807931539.html

The Indian government opposed the reopening, arguing that protective measures would prevent breaches of assurances given by India. Nirav’s lawyers referenced another case involving Sanjay Bhandari, who was spared extradition due to similar human rights concerns, highlighting systemic torture risks in Indian custody.

Fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi has moved an application seeking permission to reopen his extradition appeal concluded in the High Court in London, claiming that he faces a “real risk of torture” during interrogations by the

investigating agencies in India.

Lord Jeremy Stuart-Smith and Justice Robert Jay, presiding over the appeal at the Royal Courts of Justice, reserved their judgment at the end of a day-long hearing on Tuesday, PTI reported.

“This case is of extreme importance, to Mr Modi and to the Indian officials who have travelled from India. We will deliver the judgment as soon as possible,” said Stuart-Smith.

The Indian government, represented by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), argued against the grounds for reopening a matter in which Nirav Modi’s extradition had been ordered nearly six years ago.

CPS barrister Helen Malcolm appealed to the court to adopt a common sense approach as the case is entirely exceptional and significant protective factors exist which will ensure the assurances given by the government of India are not breached, not least due to the prospect of adversely impacting future extradition proceedings between India and the UK.

Activist Sonam Wangchuk hailed the revocation of his detention under the National Security Act as a positive step towards rebuilding trust between the government and the people of Ladakh.

Activist Sonam Wangchuk on Tuesday described the revocation of his detention under the National Security Act (NSA) as a “win-win” outcome and said the Centre had extended a hand to build trust and enable meaningful dialogue with the people of Ladakh. Speaking at a press conference in New Delhi alongside his wife and HIAL co-founder Gitanjali J Angmo, Wangchuk said the protests in Ladakh have focused on initiating a constructive dialogue with the government. “We were sure of a victory in the court, but a win was not enough. I wanted a win-win,” he said.

He called the government’s decision an effort to rebuild trust and move toward a solution through talks.

“They have offered a constructive, meaningful dialogue. This is what we have wanted, and we had to struggle so much, walk to Delhi, sit on ‘anshan’ (fast). All movements in Ladakh are for starting the dialogue process,” he said.

“Usually, you see people picking up guns and the government appealing for dialogue. Here, people are urging the government to start a dialogue,” he added.

Asked about his next steps, Wangchuk said he would return to Ladakh and consult leaders of the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), which have led protests over the past five years. The groups are demanding statehood for Ladakh and inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.

On whether he would resume agitation, Wangchuk said he preferred dialogue over protest.

“I have always said I don’t want to sit on hunger strike; I am forced to do it. Now that the government is extending its hand, we hope a good example is set,” he said.

Wangchuk, 59, had been detained on September 26 last year under the stringent NSA, two days after violent protests during the agitation left four people dead. He was released from Jodhpur Central Jail on Saturday after the Union government revoked his detention.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/india/sonam-wangchuk-first-remarks-after-release-win-win-centre-signals-ladakh-dialogue-article-153856221

The deal is ready. It has not been called off and there is nothing like a stand-off between the two nations, said Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal.

The United States is trying to create a tariff architecture globally, so, it’s better to sign the trade deal once they set the framework, said India’s Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal on the India-US trade deal on Monday. The trade agreement, announced in the first week of February, was to be signed in March. However, the tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump on other nations over “unfair trade” were recently struck by the US court as “unlawful”.

Subsequently, the US President announced a 10 per cent uniform tariff on import from all nations under Article 122 of US Constitution. “Actual signing of the deal will be done when new architecture of tariffs will be created by the US. We’ll wait for tariff clarity first,” said Agrawal. He, however, added, “The deal is ready. It has not been called off and there is nothing like a stand-off between the two nations.”

Agrawal made the remarks while presenting India’s trade deficit data for February. As per government data, India’s trade deficit narrowed in February even as the country’s imports jumped significantly. While India’s exports stood at $36.61 billion in February, dropping marginally by 0.81 per cent compared with a year ago, the country’s imports jumped 24.11 per cent to $63.71 billion.

Even with higher imports, the trade deficit — difference between imports and exports — reduced to $27.1 billion in February. For February, analysts had expected the trade gap to be around $28.8 billion. In January, the deficit was much higher at $34.68 billion.

The February numbers come at a time when major trade routes have been disrupted due to the ongoing conflict in Iran, which began on February 280. The conflict has disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow sea route that carries a large share of the world’s oil and gas supplies. Freight costs have also risen, adding uncertainty to global trade. Therefore, economists say that India’s trade deficit for the month of March could be much higher.

Notably, India depends heavily on energy imports. It buys more than 80 per cent of its crude oil and about 60 per cent of its cooking gas from overseas, with a large share coming from the Middle East. Since the beginning of the fresh conflict in Iran, India has increased its oil import from Russia, but not at the same discounted price as before.

According to a Financial Times report, India is now paying about $10-20 more per barrel for Russian oil. Commerce Secretary Agrawal also said that the increase is linked to disruptions in global energy supply caused by the ongoing conflict. Earlier this month, the US granted a 30-day waiver to India to buy “sanctioned” Russian oil.

The conflict has not just raised our import bill but also affected exports of goods such as rice to countries like Iran, Iraq, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. India’s exports could slow in March due to logistical problems linked to the crisis in the Middle East, said Agrawal.

US Remains India’s Largest Export Market

For the broader April-February period of the current financial year (2025-26), India’s exports rose 1.84 per cent to $402.93 billion, according to the commerce ministry. Imports also increased during the period, climbing 8.53 per cent to $713.53 billion.

The United States remained India’s largest export market during this period. Exports to the US rose from $76.36 billion in April-February FY25 to $79.29 billion in April-February FY26. After the US, the United Arab Emirates was the second-largest destination for Indian exports, followed by China.

Gold Imports Show Mixed Trend

The data also showed an interesting trend in gold imports. In terms of quantity, India imported 8 per cent less gold between April 2025 and January 2026. But in terms of value, the gold import bill rose 20.06 per cent during the same period. This happened because global gold prices have increased.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/better-to-sign-when-us-sets-global-tariff-architecture-india-on-trade-deal-11222211

Haarish Ali, a resident of Saharanpur district, was arrested in Moradabad on Sunday during an ongoing probe into activities of ISIS-linked online networks operating in India, a statement from the ATS said.

The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has arrested a 19-year-old student pursuing dentistry for allegedly having links with an online module of the banned terror outfit ISIS, officials said on Monday.

Haarish Ali, a resident of Saharanpur district, was arrested in Moradabad on Sunday during an ongoing probe into activities of ISIS-linked online networks operating in India, a statement from the ATS said.

The second-year BDS student is alleged to have been associated with ISIS handlers and sympathisers through social media platforms such as Instagram and encrypted applications like Session and Discord, officials said.

According to the ATS, intelligence inputs indicated that some individuals in Uttar Pradesh and other parts of the country were creating online groups to propagate ISIS ideology aimed at establishing a Sharia-based caliphate system and recruit people to strengthen the terror outfit in India.

The groups were allegedly used to share propaganda materials, extremist literature and instructions related to ISIS activities.

Based on the inputs, a case was registered at the ATS police station in Lucknow under relevant sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the statement said.

During the investigation, it was found that the accused allegedly created several groups using pseudonyms and virtual private networks (VPNs) to recruit like-minded individuals and circulate ISIS propaganda, it said.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/19-year-old-dental-student-haarish-ali-arrested-by-anti-terrorism-squad-ats-for-links-with-isis-online-module-in-uttar-pradesh-11225638

A controversy over the secrecy of votes has delayed the counting process in the Haryana Rajya Sabha Election, with complaints filed by both the Congress and the BJ against each other’s MLAs.

A controversy over the secrecy of votes has delayed the counting process in the Haryana Rajya Sabha Election, with complaints filed by both the Congress and the BJ against each other’s MLAs.

Speaking to NDTV, Haryana Cabinet Minister Krishan Bedi explained the sequence of events that led to the delay in counting.

According to Bedi, a Congress MLA filed a complaint with the Returning Officer against Haryana Minister Anil Vij, alleging that he violated the rules of voting secrecy. In response, Haryana Minister Gaurav Gautam lodged a complaint against Congress MLA Paramveer Singh, while Bedi himself filed a complaint against Congress MLA Bharat Beniwal.

After the voting concluded, the Returning Officer heard arguments from all parties. Following discussions, the officer decided to refer the matter to the Election Commission of India for further examination. The counting of votes will begin only after the Commission gives its direction.

Bedi claimed that Congress MLA Paramveer Singh showed his ballot to Haryana Congress in-charge BK Hariprasad but did not fold the ballot paper afterwards, which he alleged violated secrecy norms.

He also alleged that former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, who was acting as a polling agent, touched the ballot paper when Congress MLA Bharat Beniwal showed him his vote, another alleged breach of voting secrecy. According to Bedi, video footage reportedly shows Hooda touching Beniwal’s ballot.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/haryana-rajya-sabha-polls-voting-secrecy-row-delays-counting-11224618

Despite support from Asaduddin Owaisi’s AIMIM and the BSP, the Mahagathbandhan could not muster the required figure of 41

In the Rajya Sabha elections being held for five seats in Bihar, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is considered certain to win all five. However, despite support from Asaduddin Owaisi’s AIMIM and the BSP, the Mahagathbandhan could not muster the required figure of 41.

Three Congress MLAs and one RJD MLA did not turn up to vote.

Surendra Prasad Kushwaha

He’s a first-time MLA from Bihar’s Valmiki Nagar. In 2015, he contested on a ticket from Upendra Kushwaha’s Rashtriya Lok Samta Party (RLSP). He was defeated by independent candidate Rinku Singh.

Rinku later joined the JD(U), while Surendra Kushwaha joined the Congress. In the 2020 election, he defeated the JD(U) candidate by 1,675 votes. However, he had already been trying to move into the NDA camp.

During the Rajya Sabha election, Alok Singh, the state president of Upendra Kushwaha’s new party Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM), had met him. Surendra Kushwaha is also a member of the Bihar assembly’s petition committee.

Manoj Bishwas

Bishwas, the first-time MLA from Forbesganj, entered the house with a margin of just 221 votes. His party affiliations have shifted over the years: JD(U) block president in 2019, then RJD, and this time a Congress candidate. In the run-up to the election, he was seen as close to Purnia MP Pappu Yadav.

Manohar Prasad Singh

Manohar Prasad Singh has won the Manihari seat for a fourth time. A member of the Scheduled Tribes community, he was first elected on a JD(U) ticket. When the Mahagathbandhan was formed in 2015 and the seat fell to the Congress, he crossed over at Nitish Kumar’s urging and contested on the new ticket. He has remained a Congress MLA since, though his political proximity to JD(U) leaders continued through these terms.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/bihar-rajya-sabha-elections-2026-the-4-mahagathbandhan-mlas-who-skipped-rajya-sabha-voting-in-bihar-11223048

Hardeep Singh Puri’s daughter moves Delhi HC in a Rs 10 crore defamation case seeking removal of content linking her to Jeffrey Epstein.

Himayani Puri, daughter of Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, has moved the Delhi High Court seeking removal of online content that allegedly links her to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. In her plea, she has sought a permanent injunction and Rs 10 crore in damages from several social media entities and unidentified individuals named as John Doe defendants.

According to the petition, the defendants have fabricated and disseminated baseless allegations suggesting that Puri maintained direct or indirect business, financial, personal, or “network” links with Jeffrey Epstein and his criminal activities.

The plea further states that some publications falsely claimed that Puri or Realm Partners LLC – the firm where she worked – received funding, financial benefits, or tainted money from Epstein or his associates. It also alleges that certain posts claimed that Robert Millard acted with Puri to engineer the collapse of Lehman Brothers.

Puri has told the court that these allegations are “entirely false, malicious, and devoid of any factual foundation.”

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/india/hardeep-singh-puri-daughter-moves-delhi-hc-over-epstein-link-seeks-rs-10-crore-damages-article-153846277

A massive fire broke out in parts of three hotels in Pahalgam’s Larri Pora area of Jammu and Kashmir. The buildings have sustained heavy damage, with a gas cylinder blast worsening the situation and hampering firefighting and relief efforts, according to a Fire Department official.

A massive fire broke out in parts of three hotels in Pahalgam’s Larri Pora area of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday, triggering a swift response from fire and emergency services. Thick plumes of smoke were seen billowing from the affected structures as flames spread rapidly across sections of the properties.

Fire tenders were rushed to the spot and efforts are currently underway to bring the blaze under control. No casualties have been reported so far.

“Two-three buildings have suffered extensive damages. Gas cylinder blast made the matters worse. It also prevented us from carrying out relief work,” Munzoor Ahmad, a Fire Department official, told news agency PTI.

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VIDEO | Jammu and Kashmir: Fire engulfs parts of three hotels in Pahalgam’s Larri Pora. Efforts underway to control the blaze. More details are awaited.#Pahalgam #JammuAndKashmir

(Full video available on PTI Videos – https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/Pe6d6Trmmg

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 17, 2026

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/india/pahalgam-fire-fire-engulfs-three-hotels-in-jammu-and-kashmir-pahalgam-efforts-on-to-douse-flames-article-153851293

In one of the most unexpected collaborations, singer and rapper Yo Yo Honey Singh recently collaborated with the Delhi Police to advise the Indian youth about staying away from drugs and addiction.

In a collaboration that absolutely no one saw coming- probably NOT even the collaborators themselves– a video was shared by the Delhi Police, in collaboration with singer and rapper Yo Yo Honey Singh– to “suggest and advise” the Indian youth about staying away from drugs! Wait, what? Yes, the clip began with footage of the singer singing at his concerts, which then moved on to him addressing the youth directly. In the video, the singer was seen asking the younger generation to “stay away from drugs”. The message was reportedly on behalf of the Delhi Police and the Narcotics Department of India.

The singer also stated that the country will only move forward if its youth decides to avoid getting into any kind of addiction.

“I want to give this suggestion and advice to the youth, on behalf of the Delhi Police and Narcotics Department of India– stay away from drugs and keep yourself safe from addiction. If our youth remain healthy, only then will our country move forward. Thank you so much,” the singer said in the video.

As per the post, the collaboration was under the “Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan”.

On Saturday, two Indian-flag LPG carriers—Shivalik and Nanda Devi—carrying about 92,712 tonnes of LPG crossed the war-hit Strait of Hormuz.

The Centre on Sunday said that an Indian-flagged crude tanker sailed out safely from the UAE’s Fujairah after loading oil, despite an attack on the oil terminal.

The vessel, Jag Laadki, carrying about 80,800 tonnes of Murban crude oil, departed Fujairah at 1030 hrs IST and is bound for India, with all crew members safe, the government said in an update on preparedness measures. This is the fourth Indian-flagged vessel to have come out of the war zone unharmed.

“On March 14, 2026, while the Indian-flag vessel Jag Laadki was loading crude oil at the Fujairah Single Point Mooring, the Fujairah oil terminal was attacked. The vessel sailed safely from Fujairah at 1030 hrs IST today (Sunday) carrying about 80,800 tonnes of Murban crude oil, and is bound for India,” the update said.

On Saturday, two Indian-flag LPG carriers—Shivalik and Nanda Devi—carrying about 92,712 tonnes of LPG crossed the war-hit Strait of Hormuz.

Shivalik is due to reach Mundra port in Gujarat on March 16, and Nanda Devi would dock at Kandla port on March 17, according to the update.

The government said Indian vessels and seafarers operating in the region remain safe, and maritime operations are being closely monitored. At present, 22 Indian-flagged vessels with 611 seafarers remain on the west side of the Persian Gulf region.

The Director General of Shipping has facilitated the safe repatriation of 276 Indian seafarers from the Gulf region so far, including 23 repatriations in the past 24 hours from airports and regional locations.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/indian-tanker-leaves-uaes-fujairah-safely-amid-attack-3933072

The ongoing shortage of commercial LPG cylinders in India, caused by energy supply disruptions from the Gulf, is impacting temples and religious institutions. Many have limited food offerings or sought alternative energy sources.

An ongoing shortage of commercial LPG cylinders, triggered by disruptions in energy supplies from the Gulf region, is beginning to affect temples and religious institutions across India, with several restricting food offerings to devotees while others turn to alternative fuel sources to continue services.

At Jagannath Mandir in Hauz Khas, New Delhi, temple authorities have temporarily stopped online bookings for Anna Prasad and sweets due to the cooking gas shortage.

In a notice issued to devotees, the temple management said, “Due to the current Government restrictions on cooking gas supply, the online booking of Anna Prasad and Sweets at Jagannath Mandir, Hauz Khas is temporarily closed until further orders. We regret the inconvenience and request your kind understanding and cooperation. Updates will be shared once the situation normalizes.”

The LPG crunch is linked to the ongoing conflict in West Asia, which has disrupted energy supplies passing through the Strait of Hormuz — a key global shipping route for oil and gas.

While some temples have been forced to scale down or suspend food services, others are finding ways to keep traditions alive.

Belur Math in West Bengal’s Howrah district has continued distributing bhog to thousands of devotees by relying on alternative energy sources such as biogas and solar power, according to news agency PTI. Belur Math, the headquarters of the Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission, serves meals daily to large numbers of visitors, residents and devotees as part of its long-standing tradition of community service inspired by the teachings of Swami Vivekananda.

A senior monk said the temple has managed to keep its kitchen functioning because it does not rely entirely on LPG cylinders.

“As we do not solely rely on LPG cylinders for cooking, we have been able to keep our commitment and service to devotees unhindered. We have fully tapped other energy resources,” the monk said, according to PTI.

“One of the key alternatives is a biogas plant that produces fuel from waste generated at our cowshed. The organic gas generated from cattle waste meets a substantial portion of the kitchen’s cooking requirements,” the monk said.

In addition, a large solar power installation on the campus generates electricity that is used for heating water and supporting electrical cooking processes.

However, the situation is more challenging for other temples that rely heavily on LPG.

In Uttar Pradesh, Congress leader Ajay Rai claimed that the LPG shortage had forced the closure of the “Maa Annapurna Ki Rasoi” in Kashi, which serves food to large numbers of people every day.

“What kind of blow is this to the centuries-old traditions of Kashi, Narendra Modi ji? It is a matter of deep anguish that, due to a severe shortage of LPG, even Kashi’s sacred ‘Maa Annapurna Ki Rasoi’ has been forced to shut down today. A door from where no one ever returned hungry, today even sadhus, saints, and devotees are being compelled to go back without a meal,” Rai wrote on X.

Temple officials also confirmed that cooking operations had been severely affected.

Mahant Shankar Giri Maharaj said that earlier the temple received one or two gas cylinders regularly but the supply has now stopped.

“One of our two operational units has been shut since morning, and the second unit is also on the verge of closure,” he said.

Before the crisis, the temple served meals to 20,000 to 25,000 people every day, but now arrangements could be made for only about 3,000 devotees, he said.

Local authorities, however, said the shortage claims were exaggerated. Varanasi District Magistrate Satyendra Kumar said there was no shortage of LPG in the city and assured that gas would be supplied to the temple soon. He also warned people against spreading “rumours” about a gas shortage, reports PTI.

The shortage is also affecting temples in Karnataka, where several major shrines have reported difficulties in preparing prasada for devotees.

About 15 major Muzrai temples in the state are facing operational challenges due to the shortage of commercial LPG cylinders, according to The Hindu.

At the well-known Banashankari temple in Bengaluru, which usually serves meals to 3,000 to 5,000 devotees daily, officials say the shortage has created difficulties in running the temple kitchen. “Due to the shortage, we are facing some difficulty in preparing prasada. However, we are making sure that devotees are served and will make arrangements somehow,” temple kitchen manager Devraj said.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/india/are-temple-prasad-and-bhog-services-disrupted-due-to-lpg-crisis-article-153835009

A Pakistani terrorist was gunned down by the security forces along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir.

The Indian Army successfully foiled an infiltration bid along the Line of Control in Uri sector of Jammu and Kashmir, eliminating a Pakistani terrorist. Warlike stores, including an AK rifle, pistols and large quantity of ammunition, were also recovered.

The Army on Sunday said that an infiltration bid along the LoC in Uri and a Pakistani terrorist was killed. “Based on a specific intelligence input provided by #JKP regarding an infiltration attempt, a joint operation was launched on intervening night of 14-15 Mar 26 in Gen area Buchhar, Uri sector,” Srinagar-based Chinar Corps of the Army posted on its X handle.

It said troops spotted suspicious movement of a terrorist in the thicket.

“The ambush was readjusted and the terrorist was challenged resulting in terrorist opening indiscriminate fire. In the Contact a Pak terrorist was eliminated. Warlike stores including an AK rifle, pistols and large quantity of ammunition have been recovered,” the army said. The operation is on going.

CEC Gyanesh Kumar said Bengal will go to polls in two phases, so it is “convenient” for people while government sources indicated logistical constraints and political calculations

The Election Commission of India has done away with the usual multiple-phase polling schedule in West Bengal, which will vote in two phases for the first time in 25 years.

The 2026 assembly election in West Bengal will be held in two phases on April 23 and 29, with the counting of votes on May 4. The Election Commission (EC) announced the polling schedule for West Bengal, Assam, Keralam, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry on Sunday.

Chief election commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar said Bengal will go to polls in two phases so it is “convenient” for the electorate.

“The commission held deliberations and discussions on this and it was decided to bring the two-phase (election) for West Bengal to make it convenient for people,” Gyanesh Kumar said during a press conference, when asked why the EC decided to change the polling norm in Bengal.

Government sources, however, indicated logistical constraints as well as political calculations as a reason behind the shift to a two-phase polling schedule in Bengal.

For nearly two decades, elections in the politically volatile eastern state have been synonymous with long, staggered polling schedules. Since 2006, the polls have unfolded in five or more phases.

HOW HAS POLLING LOOKED SO FAR IN BENGAL?

After 2006, assembly elections in Bengal have almost always been stretched across multiple phases because of the state’s complex security and logistical requirements.

Since that year, the state has never seen fewer than five phases in the assembly polls.

2006 assembly election: 5 phases

2011 assembly election: 6 phases

2016 assembly election: 7 phases

2021 assembly election: 8 phases

Hence, the current development is significant. For the first time in nearly 25 years, polling in Bengal is being held in only two phases. This is a massive change from the multi-phase polling the state is used to.

Multi-phase polling was largely conducted due to security concerns and the logistical challenge of deploying central forces across a politically volatile state, as cited by the EC. Against this backdrop, the change in the norm is a departure from the polling body’s earlier stance on the law-and-order situation.

WHY THIS DEPARTURE FROM THE NORM?

Bengal will vote in such a compressed schedule for the first time in 25 years, signalling either a significant shift in the EC’s assessment of the law-and-order situation or a recalibration of election management and machinery in one of India’s most politically charged states.

According to sources in the government, the shift to a two-phase election in West Bengal reflects both logistical constraints and political calculations.

The sources said initially, a single-phase poll was discussed but that would have required at least 4,000 companies of central forces to secure around 80,000 polling booths across the state. This is a deployment neither the Centre nor the state could realistically sustain.

They said the ongoing legal tussle over the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls has complicated the election timeline. The judiciary is expected to quickly conclude appeals to avoid uncertainty before the date of nomination and the constitutional deadline of May 4, by which time a new government must be in place. Hence, no stakeholder wants the process to drift towards President’s Rule, they added.

A senior officer said in this context, the EC has opted for two phases requiring roughly more than 2,000 companies of paramilitary forces at a time, making deployment manageable.

Source : https://www.news18.com/elections/bengal-election-two-phase-voting-first-time-25-years-why-did-ec-do-away-long-staggered-polling-ws-l-9961843.html

After 13 years in a coma, Harish Rana was shifted to AIIMS for court-approved passive euthanasia. Doctors will gradually withdraw life support under supervision, ending his prolonged vegetative state.

After 13 years in a vegetative state, 32-year-old Harish Rana was on Saturday shifted from Ghaziabad to AIIMS Delhi following a Supreme Court order permitting passive euthanasia. Doctors will now gradually withdraw life support under medical supervision, aiming to end his prolonged suffering.

A video circulating on social media captured a deeply emotional farewell at Rana’s home in Ghaziabad. Shot Friday, it showed a Brahma Kumaris sister with tearful eyes offering final words: “Forgive everyone, ask forgiveness from all, now it’s time to go. It’s okay”.

Harish’s family, particularly his father Ashok Rana, has been devotedly caring for him for over a decade. Members of the Rajnagar Extension AOA and local society recall the family’s unwavering service, aided by their long association with the Brahma Kumaris center. On March 13, spiritual leader Sister Kumari Lovely Didi visited the Rana household, performing a ritual tilak and praying for him.

The case marked India’s first court-sanctioned passive euthanasia. Harish’s prolonged condition followed a severe brain injury from a fall 13 years ago. While medical experts agreed his state was irreversible, the Supreme Court had to clarify that withdrawal of nutrition and medical tubes– beyond ventilator support — could legally constitute passive euthanasia.

A bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and KV Viswanathan delivered the historic verdict, enabling the family to end life support in a hospital setting, allowing Harish Rana to die with dignity. The case has sparked fresh debate in medical and legal circles about end-of-life rights in India.

Rana, an engineering student at Panjab University and a football-loving sporty young man, suffered head injuries after falling from the fourth floor of his paying guest accommodation in 2013 and has been in a coma since.

Shortly after the ruling, the father of Harish Rana said that the Supreme Court permitting the withdrawal of artificial life support to his son won’t bring any personal benefit to the family but in the larger public interest, the decision could help others facing similar situations.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/harish-rana-passive-euthanasia-viral-goodbye-video-as-man-in-coma-dignified-death-supreme-court-2882461-2026-03-15

The subsequent discovery of a lengthy suicide note provided a harrowing account of the “cruelty and coercion” he reportedly faced at the hands of his peers since January 2026.

The investigation into the tragic death of a final-year MBBS student at AIIMS Rajkot has taken a significant turn. Following a detailed 17-page suicide note, the Gandhigram Police have arrested five fellow medical students on charges of mental and physical torture that allegedly led to the victim’s suicide.

The victim, a native of Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, was found dead near a railway track on March 14, 2026. The subsequent discovery of a lengthy suicide note provided a harrowing account of the “cruelty and coercion” he reportedly faced at the hands of his peers since January 2026.

According to the complaint filed by the victim’s father, the five accused—who hail from Rajasthan, Haryana, and Bharuch—allegedly targeted the victim over a perceived relationship with a female student. The victim’s note detailed a specific incident of physical assault on January 27 and described a persistent atmosphere of intimidation.

ACP Chintan Patel of the SC/ST Cell confirmed that the five students have been booked under the following: BNS Section 108: Abetment of suicide, section 3(5): Acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention, the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

The investigation revealed that this was not the first time the victim had reached out for help. In January, he reportedly attempted suicide and named the same five individuals. However, no formal police action was taken at that time, as the family did not press charges—a missed opportunity that has now come under heavy scrutiny.

The arrests coincide with the commencement of the final-year MBBS examinations. Following their production in court, the accused filed a petition requesting permission to appear for their papers.

The court has granted permission for the students to take their exams, but under strict conditions: that they will remain in police custody and that they will be transported to and from the examination hall under heavy police escort.

Source :https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/17-page-suicide-note-by-aiims-rajkot-student-leads-to-arrest-of-5-students-11219718

Restaurants and eateries, which represent one of the largest commercial consumers, have been allotted the largest share at 42 per cent of the regulated supply.

The Delhi government issued an order on Saturday, capping the daily regulated distribution of commercial LPG cylinders at roughly 20 per cent of the city’s average consumption.

The directive follows instructions from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas and intends to ensure that essential services continue to receive fuel amid the escalating military conflict between Iran and the US that has put international supply routes in distress.

“Delhi typically records a daily sale of around 9,000 commercial LPG cylinders (19-kg equivalent). Under the new system, approximately 1,800 cylinders per day will be distributed through a priority-based allocation mechanism coordinated with the three oil marketing companies (OMCs),” said the order issued by the Department of Food, Supplies and Consumer Affairs.

Under the distribution framework, sectors have been classified into eight priority categories.

“Educational institutions, hospitals, railways and airports have been placed in the highest priority bracket and will be supplied up to 100 per cent of their requirement due to the essential nature of their services,” the order said, adding that government departments and public sector institutions operating canteens fall under the second priority category.

Restaurants and eateries, which represent one of the largest commercial consumers, have been allotted the largest share at 42 per cent of the regulated supply.

Under the policy, hotels, hospitality units and guest houses have been assigned a smaller quota, while dairies, bakeries and sweet shops also feature among the higher consumption categories.

Caterers and banquet halls, along with sectors such as dry cleaning, packaging units, pharmaceutical units and sports facilities, have been included in subsequent priority groups.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/delhi/delhi-govt-caps-commercial-lpg-supply-at-20-of-average-consumption-announces-priority-allocation-3932125#google_vignette

Fathali, however, did not specify the number of vessels that have been allowed to pass through.

Amid the escalating conflict in West Asia, Iranian ambassador to India, Mohammad Fathali, on Saturday said Iran has “allowed some ships” to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic trade route.

He, however, did not specify the number of vessels that have been allowed to pass through.

During an interactive session held at the India Today Conclave 2026, Fathali was asked if Iran has “allowed passage to Indian ships” stranded in the Strait of Hormuz and for how many days, given the looming LPG shortage, and the series of telephonic conversations between the foreign ministers of the two countries.

“Yes, we have allowed, but let me not tell how many,” he said.

During the session, Fathali made the remarks largely in Persian, which was interpreted in English by Javad Hosseini, the deputy chief of mission at the Iranian embassy in India.

As several India-flagged vessels remain stranded in the Strait of Hormuz due to the ongoing conflict in West Asia, Fathali on Friday had told reporters that “we will try our best” to resolve the issue.

Earlier in the day, a senior official in the shipping ministry said two Indian ships — Shivalik and Nanda Devi — carrying LPG from the Gulf countries crossed the Strait of Hormuz early on Saturday morning, raising the number of Indian vessels safely passing through the war-hit, narrow shipping lane to three.

The remaining 22 ships on the west side of the strait are on standby as the Indian government engages with governments in the region to ensure their safe passage.

India imports 60 per cent of its LPG needs, with 85-90 per cent of this being sourced from Gulf countries like Saudi Arabia and the UAE, which use the Strait of Hormuz as a transit for shipping oil and gas. The strait has been effectively closed since the first week of March.

The Strait of Hormuz is a strategic narrow sea lane between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.

During the interactive session, Fathali also emphasised that Iran and India have historical relations, and added, “I believe Iran and India also have common interests.” “I also believe if there is any rift or gap between these two countries, their enemies will use it… Both sides have the maturity that they can handle these political and social issues together and solve everything,” he said.

He was also asked about the phone call on Thursday night between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, during which they discussed the “serious situation” in West Asia.

“We are now supporting each other,” Fathali said, and asserted that Indians also feel the pain Iranians are suffering. “We have to enhance the relationship between India and Iran.

The Iranian envoy, when asked if the country anticipated such an attack, said, “Iran is ready for negotiations and the war. But we prefer negotiations… We had entered into negotiations. But, despite well intentions…” Fathali said Iran is “ready for this war”, and reiterated that “you can start, but you cannot finish”.

The West Asia conflict began after the US and Israel launched a major military attack on Iran on February 28, killing 86-year-old Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Iran, in retaliation, attacked several Gulf nations hosting American military bases, impacting global aviation operations, oil prices and triggering a looming energy crisis.

On the killing of Khamenei, the envoy said, “We have lost our great figure, our great leader, and I want to say that… great father.” “His Eminence stood on the right side of history… Iranian people and all free nations are deeply saddened over this martyrdom,” he added.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/we-have-allowed-some-ships-iranian-envoy-fathali-on-passage-of-vessels-via-strait-of-hormuz-3932185

During a gathering in poll-bound Assam, Prime Minister Narendra Modi says it was expected that the Congress would play the role of a responsible political party, but it failed yet again to prioritise national interest

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday (March 14, 2026) said the Congress was capitalising on the war in West Asia to create panic in India.

Addressing a gathering after inaugurating and initiating various development projects in poll-bound Assam’s Silchar, he said the Centre was working hard to minimise the impact of the war on the citizens of the country.

Silchar is the epicentre of Barak Valley, where the journey of the Bharatiya Janata Party to become a major political force in the Northeast began in the 1990s.

“We expected Congress to play the role of a responsible political party, but it failed yet again to prioritise national interest. Congress is trying hard to ensure people in the country panic and get trapped in a difficult situation, so that it can go after Modi,” the Prime Minister said.

“Congress has no vision for the country and every citizen in Assam should be wary of the party,” he added.

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From Silchar, several projects aimed at strengthening connectivity and boosting the agricultural education ecosystem in the region are being launched. https://t.co/2L9UA2W8ok

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 14, 2026

Mr. Modi said every State in the country has been teaching Congress a lesson after it got ejected from Assam. “Congress is losing one election after another,” he said.

Mr. Modi, who initiated and inaugurated a slew of Assam-specific projects from Guwahati on Friday (March 13, 2026), laid the foundation stone for the ₹24,000-crore Shillong-Silchar High-Speed Corridor. He said the access-controlled corridor, the first of its kind in the Northeast, would help the region gain faster access to the vast markets of Southeast Asia.

“Barak Valley was the hub of trade and culture until Congress partitioned the country in such a way that it cut off the region’s access to the sea. Congress has deliberately kept the region backward, while BJP has been trying to make it grow,” he said, alluding to the foundation stone he laid for an agricultural university at Patharkandi in Barak Valley’s Sribhumi district.

Mr. Modi further said that the BJP believed in prioritising the needs of those who have been left behind in the race for development. “Border villages were once considered the last villages, but our government views them as the first villages of the nation,” he said.

The Prime Minister noted that the Vibrant Village Programme, expanded from Cachar district, changed lives in border habitations significantly. He said that the historical neglect of these areas was now being replaced by proactive development and strategic focus.

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Kokrajhar is closely associated with the glorious Bodo culture. Addressing a programme via video conferencing during the launch of development projects aimed at boosting the region’s growth.
https://t.co/bPn06JBhwj

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 13, 2026

Source : https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/assam/assam-assembly-elections-pm-modi-in-silchar-projects-unveiled/article70742757.ece

 

A Bangladeshi national, Philip Sangma, has been arrested in West Bengal for allegedly facilitating the illegal border crossing of the suspects involved in the killing of Osman Hadi in Bangladesh.

West Bengal Police’s Special Task Force (STF) has arrested a Bangladeshi national in connection with the murder of the 32-year-old Bangladeshi political activist Sharif Osman Hadi in Dhaka in December 2025, marking a significant breakthrough in the investigation. The accused, identified as Philip Sangma, is suspected to be a key middleman who facilitated illegal border crossings.

The arrest follows the interrogation of the primary suspects in the case, Faisal and Alamgir. During questioning in STF custody, the duo revealed that they had illegally entered India from Bangladesh through the Meghalaya border with the assistance of Sangma, a resident of Haluaghat in Bangladesh.

Acting on a tip-off, West Bengal Police commandos conducted a pre-dawn raid on Saturday near the Shantipur Bypass area and took Sangma into custody. During preliminary questioning, he confessed to operating a cross-border trafficking network that facilitated the movement of individuals between Haluaghat in Bangladesh and Dalupara in Meghalaya in exchange for money, according to police sources.

Sangma also admitted to helping Faisal and Alamgir infiltrate Indian territory through the forested terrain of Meghalaya. According to investigators, he later crossed into India himself to evade mounting pressure from the Bangladesh Police. At the time of his arrest, he was allegedly coordinating with Faisal and Alamgir to plan their illegal return to Bangladesh.

Philip Sangma was produced before a court on Saturday. The STF has been granted police custody of the accused to further probe the extent of the trafficking network and examine its possible links to other criminal activities. Investigators believe Sangma’s testimony will play a key role in reconstructing the movements of the suspects involved in the high-profile murder case.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/bangladeshi-trafficker-held-in-bengal-for-helping-killers-of-activist-osman-hadi-cross-border-2882012-2026-03-14

The veiled swipe referenced Arvind Kejriwal given a clean chit by a court in Delhi in the liquor policy case last month. During the hearing, the judge tore into the CBI and said the entire case was based on conjecture and surmise, lacking any admissible evidence.

Aam Aadmi Party supremo and ex-Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal slammed the central government on Saturday following the cancellation of detention of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk after nearly six months. Taking to X, Kejriwal said that the turn of events caused the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-headed government to stand “exposed once again”.

“A scientist and climate activist who had dedicated his life to the nation was arrested without any evidence. The months he spent in jail were not only a personal loss for him but also a loss to the country. This sheer dictatorship must be called out and stopped immediately,” the AAP chief tweeted.

The veiled swipe referenced Kejriwal given a clean chit by a court in Delhi in the liquor policy case. During the hearing, the judge tore into the CBI and said the entire case was based on conjecture and surmise, lacking any admissible evidence.

Wangchuk was detained in September last year under the stringent National Security Act (NSA), two days after protests over statehood demands for Ladakh and its inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution triggered massive unrest in the Union Territory. Over 45 people were wounded, including 22 police personnel.

He was kept in Jodhpur Central Jail, where he had already undergone almost half of the detention under the NSA, according to the Centre’s statement. He was released at around 1.30 pm earlier in the day.

In its statement, the central government said it remains committed to fostering an environment of stability, peace and mutual trust in Ladakh to enable constructive and meaningful dialogue with all stakeholders.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/arvind-kejriwal-slams-narendra-modi-government-sonam-wangchuk-detention-cancelled-central-government-exposed-once-again-2882092-2026-03-14

Family members alleged that the company forced Deonandan Prasad Singh to rejoin duty three days before the war began when the United States and Israel attacked Iran on February 28.

A 54-year-old seafarer from Kandivli, Deonandan Prasad Singh, was killed after the Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker MT Safesea Vishnu, on which he was serving, came under attack near Khor Al Zubair Port close to Basra, Iraq, on Wednesday. The information was confirmed by the director general of shipping under the ministry of port, shipping and waterways.

In a press release issued on March 12, the ministry confirmed the death of one Indian seafarer. An official said Singh, who was serving as the additional chief engineer (superintendent) on the vessel, died following the attack.

A ministry official said Singh sustained severe injuries during the incident and later succumbed to them. Authorities and relevant maritime agencies have been informed, and an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the attack is underway.

Family alleges he was forced to rejoin ship amid war

Singh’s family said he had been on shore duty for more than seven years after leaving sailing work. He had earlier served on the engineering side for nearly 25 years.

Family members alleged that the company forced him to rejoin a ship three days before the war began when the United States and Israel attacked Iran on February 28.

“Singh was killed almost two weeks after he joined the vessel in Iraq. It is sort of forcing him to join as he had signed the agreement with the company and in a corporate world one has to abide by the company’s rules and regulations. Despite having stopped sailing and having taken a shore desk job, he was sent to die. The company forced him to join the ship as per the contract clause he had signed and he joined the ship in Iraq three days before the war began,” a family member said as quoted by Times of India.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/indian-seafarer-from-mumbai-killed-in-iranian-strike-on-us-tanker-family-says-he-was-forced-to-join-war-9959891.html

 

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints, through which a significant portion of global oil supplies passes each day.

Several Indian Navy warships are stationed near the Persian Gulf and are on standby to assist merchant vessels heading towards India, sources confirmed on Sunday.

According to news agency ANI, sources said the warships remain ready to provide any assistance or help required by merchant vessels.

The development comes after Iranian authorities granted transit through the Strait of Hormuz to two Indian-flagged vessels carrying liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). One of them is the Shivalik, which, according to a vessel traffic monitoring site, was last reported in the Gulf of Oman and is expected to reach its destination by March 21.

The operation comes at a time when the region has witnessed rising maritime risks linked to the broader conflict in West Asia.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints, through which a significant portion of global oil supplies passes each day.

On Friday, the Union Ports, Shipping and Waterways Ministry issued an update on the maritime situation in the Persian Gulf region and the measures being taken to ensure the safety of Indian seafarers and vessels.

The ministry said that 24 Indian-flagged vessels with 668 Indian seafarers were operating in the Persian Gulf. It added that 76 Indian seafarers remain on three vessels east of the Strait of Hormuz.

The ministry stated that DG Shipping continues to coordinate with ship owners, RPSL agencies and Indian missions, while all Indian vessels and crew are being actively monitored. It added that since the activation of the 24-hour control room, DG Shipping has handled over 2,425 calls and 4,441 emails, and has facilitated the safe repatriation of more than 223 stranded Indian seafarers.

Source : https://www.news18.com/world/indian-navy-deploys-warships-near-persian-gulf-to-assist-merchant-vessels-report-ws-kl-9961110.html

Central government has included a US based quadrivalent vaccine, Gardasil in the national immunisation program

As the UT administration launches a fresh push to vaccinate girls against cervical cancer, Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine hesitancy persists, fuelled by the contentious history of Gardasil vaccine in India. To combat the high burden of cervical cancer, India’s second most common cancer in women, the central government launched a nationwide free HPV vaccination campaign on February 28. The initiative targets girls aged 14, providing a single-dose free of cost vaccine in government hospitals to reduce cancer incidence.

Central government has included a US based quadrivalent vaccine, Gardasil in the national immunisation program. Despite the free availability of vaccine in Government Multi Specialty Hospital (GMSH-16), low response has been seen. On the launch of campaign, only 13 girls came forward for the vaccine. The reason for its unpopularity remains the online campaign calling it harmful and lacking a long term placebo controlled trial of the vaccine to show its efficacy. Gardasil, a vaccine manufactured by Bill Gates owned company Merck & Co. has been engulfed with controversies in India. In 2013, a parliamentary standing committee report on Gardasil vaccine trials had found serious ethical, consent and regulatory violations.

Debunking the misinformation around HPV vaccine, Dr Bhawna Rai, professor, department of radiotherapy and oncology, PGIMER emphasised on getting girls HPV vaccine as India ranks fourth in cervical cancer related morbidity and it can be reduced by this vaccine. “Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women in India.” Dr Rai explained, “human papillomavirus is transmitted through sexual contact and there is no usage of vaccine once the person has been exposed to these viruses. So, it is ideal to give vaccine before one becomes sexually active. Vaccine builds the immunity, by creating antibodies which prevent human papillomaviruses from making carcinogenic changes. Gardasil vaccine included in immunisation program protect against four strains of human papillomaviruses, these are HPV 16, 18 that are responsible for 80% of cervical cancers and strains 6 and 11.”

Dr Rashmi Bagga, professor, department of obstetrics and gynaecology, PGIMER added all females including those having HPV vaccinated, should do Pap smear every three years till the age of 65. Pap smear is a routine five minute screening for cervical cancer that detects precancerous, abnormal cells or HPV in cervix. The test cost ₹100 in PGI.

India accounts for 25% of global cervical cancer deaths. In the world, one in every five women who suffers from cervical cancer is from India and the nation ranks fourth in cervical cancer-related morbidity.

Dr Shweta Tehlan, senior consultant of gynaec, oncology and robotic surgery in Fortis hospital explained, “Gardasil has been in use for more than 15 years and multiple trials on its efficacy has been done. The vaccine helps in building antibodies against these viruses. The vaccine is recommended between 9 to 14 years of age as antibodies response is high in teenage. The vaccine is being given in countries like United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia, etc. World Health Organisation has recommended the single dosage of Gardasil. The vaccine can be given upto age 45 but its effectiveness reduces with age. For younger girls, one dosage of HPV vaccine is enough.”

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/chandigarh-news/no-more-chhota-bhai-amit-shah-says-bjp-to-go-solo-in-2027-punjab-polls-101773483453580.html

The drizzle was accompanied by gusty winds, lightning and a mild chill in the air, offering residents some relief.

Residents of Delhi-NCR woke up to light rain and thunderstorms on Sunday, bringing relief from high temperatures across the national capital and neighbouring areas. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for Delhi, warning of moderate rain, gusty winds and lightning.

The temperature recorded at Safdarjung, the city’s base station, was 22 degrees Celsius as of 7:30 am. The drizzle was accompanied by gusty winds, lightning and a mild chill in the air, offering residents some relief.

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#WATCH | Delhi: Rain lashes several parts of the national capital.

(Visuals from Pandit Pant Marg) pic.twitter.com/xicQKSN43u

— ANI (@ANI) March 15, 2026

Orange alert in Delhi and Ghaziabad, yellow in Noida

While an orange alert has been declared in the national capital as well as Ghaziabad, a yellow alert has been issued for the neighbouring Noida region.

This indicates light to moderate rain and a maximum surface wind speed of less than 40 kmph, according to the IMD.

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VIDEO | Delhi woke up to light drizzle across various parts of the city; visuals from Firozeshah Road.

(Full video available on PTI Videos – https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/WVFIOw7KPa

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 15, 2026

‘Season’s first pre-monsoon rain’

Mahesh Palawat, vice president of meteorology and climate change at Skymet Weather, told news agency PTI on Saturday that some areas of Punjab, Haryana and Delhi may receive rain during the next two days.

“Due to a western disturbance approaching the western Himalayas, cyclonic activity has developed over central Pakistan adjoining Punjab and Haryana. As a result, parts of Punjab, Haryana and Delhi are likely to witness rainfall over the next two days. This is expected to be the season’s first pre-monsoon rain, which has arrived about 10 days earlier than usual,” he said.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/lifestyle/health/nutrition-scientist-reacts-to-emma-stones-bafta-look-shares-concern-over-clinical-signs-of-malnutrition-101773493628660.html

 

Pawan Khera’s post also referred to India’s vote in the United Nations, supporting a resolution seeking an “immediate cessation of all attacks by the Islamic Republic of Iran.” He questioned India’s continued silence to condemn the US-Israeli strikes on Iran.

The Congress on Friday hit out at External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar over his call with his Iranian counterpart on Thursday evening, claiming that he was “dragging his feet” in informing the public about his conversation and was compelled to mention it today only because the Iranian Foreign Ministry released a statement on the call on Friday.

In a post on ‘X’, Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera highlighted the stark contrast in the statements from both sides. While the Iranian foreign ministry’s statement, his post said, emphasised the need for bilateral and multilateral organisations and forums like BRICS “to condemn the military aggression against Iran,” Jaishankar’s tweet about the call on Friday just mentioned that both ministers “discussed bilateral matters as also BRICS related issues”.

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Notice how the EAM was practically dragging his feet in informing the public about his conversation with Iran’s Foreign Minister that happened last night.

He was finally compelled to mention it today only because the Iranian Foreign Ministry’s statement about their conversation… https://t.co/eU68ZNiLPd pic.twitter.com/AD7CT6Mrw3

— Pawan Khera 🇮🇳 (@Pawankhera) March 13, 2026

Notably, India is currently chairing the Brics and is scheduled to host the summit later this year.

Khera’s post also referred to India’s vote in the United Nations, supporting a resolution seeking an “immediate cessation of all attacks by the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

The UN resolution, which had a total of 135 co-sponsors, reiterated its strong support for the territorial integrity, sovereignty and political independence of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan. It also condemned the “egregious attacks by Iran” in the “strongest terms.”

Moreover, he questioned India’s continued silence to condemn the US-Israeli strikes on Iran.

“Interestingly, India has shown little urgency in demanding the cessation of all attacks by the United States of America and Israel, even though it is Iran where close to 170 schoolgirls have been killed in a single air strike,” he wrote in his post, calling it a “sad ebb in India’s foreign policy”.

A girls’ school in Minab, in southern Iran, was hit on February 28 during the first day of US and Israeli attacks on the country. The US military is investigating the incident.

CONGRESS’S STANCE ON IRAN WAR

The Congress has questioned the Modi government’s silence on the US-Israeli strikes on Iran as well as the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in an airstrike on February 28.

While several world leaders expressed condolences on the death of the 86-year-old Shiite leader, India remained silent for five days. It was only on March 5 that India’s Foreign Secretary, Vikram Mishri, visited the Iranian Embassy in Delhi and condoled the passing away of Khamenei. This was the first official response from the government on his death.

Nevertheless, neither the Prime Minister nor the External Affairs Minister have officially condoled the death so far. Congress MP Jairam Ramesh on Thursday hit out at the government for failing to condole Khamenei’s death.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/iran-war-congress-s-jaishankar-on-dragging-his-feet-over-call-with-fm-2881572-2026-03-13

 

An undercover investigation has exposed a widespread LPG black market in Delhi, where cylinders are hoarded, sold without booking slips and even partially emptied before delivery, raising serious concerns over supply diversion, consumer exploitation and safety risks.

An undercover investigation has exposed a thriving illegal LPG cylinder trade operating across several parts of Delhi, where gas cylinders are being hoarded, sold without booking slips and even tampered with before reaching consumers.

The probe found that black-market dealers were storing dozens of cylinders in residential houses, selling them at inflated prices and siphoning off small quantities of gas from each cylinder before delivery. The revelations come amid rising consumer anxiety over cooking gas availability following the Gulf crisis and changes in delivery timelines.

RISING CONCERNS OVER LPG AVAILABILITY

The investigation comes at a time when concerns over LPG supply have been mounting among households and commercial establishments.

On March 11, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas announced that the minimum delivery period for domestic LPG cylinders would increase from 21 days to 25 days. The government also maintained the existing annual cap of 15 cylinders per household.

Officials described the decision as a temporary step to manage demand during supply concerns. The government has maintained that there is no actual shortage of LPG or fuel oil.

However, reports of long queues outside gas agencies and restaurants shutting down due to the lack of commercial cylinders have begun emerging from several metropolitan cities.

Against this backdrop, the investigation uncovered what appears to be an organised black-marketing network operating across Delhi-NCR.

DOZENS OF CYLINDERS HIDDEN INSIDE NARELA HOUSE

The first location investigated was Swatantra Nagar in Narela in north Delhi.

House L-762, located behind a private school, appeared like a normal residential building from the outside. A small grocery shop was operating at the entrance, with routine activity in the neighbourhood.

Inside the house, however, reporters discovered around 50 LPG cylinders stacked together, suggesting the premises was being used as a storage point for illegal cylinder trading.

The team initially encountered a man named Gopal, who denied that cylinders were available for sale. When asked whether a cylinder could be purchased, he suggested the reporters return in the evening if supply arrived.

But when reporters pointed out the cylinders visible inside the premises, his response changed. He said cylinders could not be issued without a valid booking slip.

After some hesitation, Gopal introduced the reporters to a man locally known as Inne, who allegedly runs the operation.

Inside a room stacked with cylinders, Inne was seen holding a bundle of delivery slips. He insisted that cylinders were given only against slips, but also hinted that slips could be reassigned to different customers.

He refused digital payments and insisted that transactions must be done in cash.

According to him, online payments could not be accepted because the sale involved using another customer’s booking slip.

During the conversation, it also emerged that the group was primarily dealing in Indane cylinders and refused to exchange them with Bharat Gas cylinders brought by the reporters.

CYLINDER HOARDING UNCOVERED IN JASOLA VIHAR

The investigation then moved to Jasola Vihar in south Delhi, where two authorised LPG agencies operate.

At the agency, staff refused to issue cylinders without a booking receipt.

However, only a few metres away, reporters found several cylinders stored in small shanties in a nearby lane.

When questioned, a delivery worker named Praveen initially claimed the cylinders were empty and meant for customer deliveries.

After further questioning, he admitted the cylinders belonged to his employer and advised reporters to contact his boss, Sunny.

The reporters called Sunny and explained that they had an empty cylinder but no booking slip.

Sunny asked which company the cylinder belonged to and whether any booking receipt was available. Despite being told there was no receipt, he agreed to arrange a cylinder if the price was right.

The reporters eventually purchased a domestic LPG cylinder for Rs 1,500, even though the official price was Rs 913.

Praveen also admitted that he siphoned off small quantities of gas from cylinders before delivery.

He said roughly half a kilogram to three-quarters of a kilogram of gas was usually removed from each cylinder.

This means customers buying such cylinders are paying higher prices while receiving partially filled cylinders.

SANGAM VIHAR EMERGES AS ANOTHER HOTSPOT

A similar pattern was observed in Sangam Vihar in south Delhi.

At a local gas agency, staff again refused to provide cylinders without valid booking slips and told customers to collect cylinders only from their registered agency.

However, just a short distance away, cylinders were being openly sold in small shops.

One dealer, Harish, initially denied having extra cylinders but later offered a 19 kilogram commercial cylinder for Rs 4,200.

He then asked reporters to confirm the deal with his mother, who repeated the same price and claimed the cylinder was fully filled.

She told reporters that they had purchased two cylinders earlier and had already sold one.

ANOTHER DEALER SELLS CYLINDER FOR RS 2,000

The investigation also led reporters to another dealer named Prince.

When contacted by phone, Prince arrived at his shop with an associate. The shutters were kept mostly closed, reportedly to avoid attracting police attention.

When the shutter was slightly lifted, several cylinders could be seen inside.

Prince’s associate initially claimed there was no stock and that the visible cylinders were empty.

Later, he said two cylinders could be arranged by evening.

The reporters eventually purchased one cylinder for Rs 2,000 and paid through UPI.

ILLEGAL REFILLING RACKET UNCOVERED

The investigation also exposed a widespread practice of illegally refilling smaller LPG cylinders.

These cylinders, typically holding 4 to 6 kilograms of gas, are commonly used by roadside tea stalls, small eateries and low-income households without formal LPG connections.

Local shopkeepers openly offered to refill such cylinders at Rs 150 per kilogram.

Customers were told they could refill as little as one or two kilograms depending on their requirement.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/investigation-uncovers-organised-black-market-lpg-trade-amid-supply-concerns-in-delhi-cylinders-hoarded-sold-illegally-gas-siphoned-2881703-2026-03-13

The case, registered on December 6, 2025, by Union Bank of India, alleges criminal conspiracy and cheating. Jai Anmol was questioned about loans worth Rs 5,572 crore taken by the company from multiple banks, including Union Bank, which were later declared non-performing assets.

Jai Anmol Anil Ambani, son of industrialist Anil Ambani, was questioned for nearly six and a half hours by the Central Bureau of Investigation in Delhi on Friday in connection with a Rs 228 crore bank fraud case linked to Reliance Home Finance Ltd.

According to officials, Jai Anmol Ambani appeared before the investigating officer at the CBI headquarters in New Delhi after being summoned as part of the ongoing probe. He was examined for around 6.5 hours during the questioning.

Sources said the agency has asked him to appear again before the investigating officer on Saturday for further questioning.

CASE REGISTERED ON UNION BANK COMPLAINT

The CBI registered the case on December 6, 2025, against Reliance Home Finance Ltd., Jai Anmol Ambani, former CEO and whole-time director Ravindra Sudhalkar, along with unknown persons and unidentified public servants.

The case was filed following a complaint by Union Bank of India, which alleged criminal conspiracy, cheating and criminal misconduct that resulted in a wrongful loss of Rs 228.06 crore to the bank, which was then Andhra Bank.

LOAN ACCOUNT LATER CLASSIFIED AS FRAUD

Investigators said the loan account of Reliance Home Finance Ltd. was declared a non-performing asset on September 30, 2019.

The account was later classified as fraud on October 10, 2024, by Union Bank of India.

India has granted temporary immigration relief to foreigners unable to leave due to the West Asia conflict, offering one-month visa extensions, waiving overstay fines and issuing free exit or landing permits.

India will grant one-month visa extensions and waive overstay penalties for foreign nationals stranded in the country because of travel disruptions linked to the ongoing conflict in West Asia.

In a post on X, the Consulate General of India in Dubai announced that the relief measures were being introduced to help travellers unable to leave India as flights and routes across parts of the Gulf region remain affected.

“Extension of Regular Indian Visa/E-Visa and waiver of over stay penalty to foreigners stuck in India due to the ongoing developments in West Asia,” the consulate said while outlining the temporary immigration relief.

According to the announcement, all types of Indian visas and e-visas that are expiring or due to expire soon will be extended for one month on a gratis basis. The extension will be granted by jurisdictional Foreigners Regional Registration Offices (FRROs) on a case-to-case basis for affected nationals.

Authorities also said penalties for overstaying after February 28, 2026 due to the ongoing developments in West Asia will be waived.

“Taking into account the conflict situation in the Gulf region, the following has been decided,” the consulate said in the statement.

Under the new measures, exit permits will be issued free of charge to foreign nationals affected by the travel disruption so they can leave India once routes reopen.

Officials also clarified that not applying for visa extensions or exit permits during this period will not be treated as a violation of migration laws, acknowledging the extraordinary circumstances created by the regional conflict.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/indians-in-dubai-get-30-day-visa-extension-overstay-penalty-waived-amid-middle-east-tension-2881715-2026-03-13

A 25-year-old man in Ujjain was arrested after CCTV footage showed him stealing a married neighbour’s undergarments. Police said he confessed to the act, claiming he was obsessed with her.

Police in Madhya Pradesh’s Ujjain have arrested a 25-year-old man after CCTV footage caught him repeatedly stealing a married woman’s undergarments from outside her home, in a bizarre case that has left residents of the area shocked.

The incident took place in the Chimanganj police station area, where a family had complained that women’s undergarments kept out to dry outside their house were going missing.

According to police, the complaint came from a family living in the Dhancha Bhavan area. They told authorities that clothes washed and hung on a rope outside their house were being stolen repeatedly at night. Suspecting foul play, the family checked their CCTV footage and later handed it over to the police.

The footage showed a young man approaching the house late at night. After looking around to make sure no one was watching, he removed the woman’s undergarments from the clothesline and quickly fled the spot.

Based on the CCTV evidence, police identified and arrested Ankit Malviya, 25, who lives in the same locality and is a neighbour of the complainant.

During questioning, the accused allegedly confessed that he was obsessed with the married woman and had developed a one-sided love for her. Police said he admitted stealing the undergarments out of that obsession.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/ujjain-man-arrested-for-stealing-married-neighbors-undergarments-over-one-sided-love-2881738-2026-03-14

As missiles and drones are seen flying over the region, the captain says they are awaiting a possible escort from the Indian Navy, while anxious family members in Mumbai appeal for the government’s help to bring them home safely.

The ongoing tensions amid the US-Israel-Iran conflict are now directly affecting Indian homes, with a tanker captain and his crew stranded near the Strait of Hormuz. Captain Virendra Vishwakarma, a resident of Dahisar East in Mumbai, has been stuck near the strategic waterway since March 2 along with 33 crew members aboard an LPG tanker.

Speaking from the vessel, Vishwakarma said the crew is witnessing missile and drone activity in the skies almost daily and hopes the Indian Navy will escort the tanker safely back to India. “We see missiles and drones flying overhead almost every day and hear sirens constantly. We are worried that anything could happen at any time,” he said.

TANKER CARRYING LPG FOR INDIA

The tanker, carrying enough liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to fill about 3.6 million domestic cylinders, is currently stranded at Mina Saqr Port, a deep-water seaport in Ras Al Khaimah, part of the United Arab Emirates.

The ship had been loaded at Mina Al Ahmadi Port and was headed to Deendayal Port, previously known as Kandla Port, in Gujarat’s Kutch district.

Vishwakarma said the crew currently has food supplies sufficient for around 60 days, and the ship’s operator, GESCO, is coordinating with authorities.

“Our company is helping us and has assured us it is in touch with the navy and the relevant ministries to arrange for our safe return,” he said.

FAMILIES ANXIOUS BACK HOME

Back in Mumbai, the captain’s family says the uncertainty has taken a heavy emotional toll. His wife Nilpa Vishwakarma said she has barely slept in days, worrying about her husband and the crew amid the escalating conflict in the region. “I pray every day that my husband and his crew return home safely. I haven’t been able to sleep for several days,” she said.

She added that the family remains in touch through WhatsApp audio and video calls, but the ship’s internet connection is unreliable. “My two children and I speak to him whenever the internet works. Sometimes the connection drops, and then we just keep waiting to hear from him again,” she said.

With the situation in the Strait of Hormuz remaining tense, the crew continues to wait for a safe passage under naval protection to bring the tanker and its cargo back to Indian waters.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/indian-captain-33-crew-stranded-strait-of-hormuz-sailors-families-appeal-government-help-lpg-tanker-iran-war-2881749-2026-03-14

In a drone strike in Sohar, Oman, two Indian nationals were killed, marking the first Indian fatalities on land since the Iran-US conflict began on February 28

Two Indian nationals were killed and 10 others injured in a drone strike in Oman’s Sohar city on Friday that marked the first Indian fatalities on land since the Iran-US conflict erupted on February 28. Joint secretary (Gulf) in the Ministry of External Affairs Aseem Mahajan confirmed the killing of the two Indians in Oman at an inter-ministerial media briefing on the crisis in West Asia. He also said that 150,000 Indian nationals have returned to India from West Asia after the conflict began.

“I wish to share with you an incident that happened in Sohar city today. There was an attack and in this incident two Indian nationals have died,” he said.

“We express our deepest condolences to their families. Of the 11 injured (in the attack), 10 are Indians. Out of them, five have been discharged after receiving treatment, and five others are receiving treatment in local hospitals,” Mahajan said.

“None of them is reported to have serious injuries. Our mission is in close touch with the concerned company and local authorities and is rendering all assistance,” he said.

IndiGo will introduce fuel surcharges on domestic and international routes from March 14, following a similar move by Air India. Airlines cite a steep surge in Aviation Turbine Fuel prices, which form nearly 40% of operating costs. Several global carriers are also implementing surcharges, likely pushing airfares higher during the upcoming travel season.

IndiGo announced the introduction of fuel surcharge on domestic and international routes from March 14, following the Air India Group which announced the expansion of fuel surcharge on March 10. Several major Indian and international airlines are set to implement or increase fuel surcharges in the upcoming weeks, signaling a sharp rise in airfares for the spring and summer travel seasons.

ATF Prices Surge

The move comes as the aviation industry grapples with a sudden spike in Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) prices, driven by escalating geopolitical tensions in the Gulf region. The International Air Transport Association’s Jet Fuel Price Monitor indicates that fuel prices in Asia have increased by 84.8% compared to the prior month and 89.9% from the past year’s average.

IndiGo Surcharge Slabs

The revelation happens when a man discusses with the auto driver about how expensive it is to live in Mumbai.

A video from Mumbai has caught widespread attention online, showing an auto-rickshaw driver talking about his earnings. The revelation happens when a man discusses with the auto driver about how expensive it is to live in Mumbai.

But what happens next takes him and the social media viewers by complete surprise.

Mumbai Auto Driver’s Earnings Leave Internet Surprised

In the video, the man can be heard discussing the cost of living in the city. He says, “So meri abhi bhaiya se baat hori thi, mai bol raha tha ki Mumbai sehar bada mehnga hai. Toh wo kehte hai ki mehnga par yaha par paisa itna hai, barasata hai – bas pakadne wale ki dikkat hai (I was just talking to this brother and saying that Mumbai is very expensive. He replied that yes it is costly, but money also ‘rains’ here — the only problem is finding someone who can catch it).”

During the conversation, the auto driver reveals that he earns around Rs 2500 on average per day. He further says, “Kharcha nikal ke (after expenses).”

The statement leaves the man visibly shocked. Reacting to the figure, he says, “Rs 2500 bhai! Mai nhi kamata tha B.Tech ke bad jab pehli naukri lagi thi (Brother, I wasn’t earning this much even after my B.Tech when I got my first job).”

He then does a calculation and adds, “Rs 75,000 nikal kar bhaiya kama rahe hai. Ghar baithe rehna hai ya Mumbai mein auto chalani hai? Mai toh kehra hu yahi ajao, auto chala lo badhiya hai… roz networking karoge. Tum ek cubical mein baithe ho…far better than that (Brother is earning around Rs 75,000. Do you want to sit at home or drive an auto in Mumbai? I’m saying just come here and drive an auto – it’s great. You’ll do networking every day. You’re sitting in a cubicle…this is far better than that).”

The overlay text on the video reads, “In India, Rs 30K job is considered respectable. An auto driver earning Rs 75K isn’t. Strange definition of success.”

Watch The Clip Here

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What Are People Saying Online

Since being shared online, the clip has racked up nearly one million views and triggered a wave of reactions from viewers.

One user jokingly asked, “Bhaiyaa ke pass team member ki vacancy hai kya?? (Does brother have a vacancy for a team member?)/”

Another added, “Maa… autowaali banna hai mujhe! (Mom… I want to become an auto driver!).”

“City mai auto wale sach mai kamate hai itna maybe is se jyada (Auto drivers in big cities really do earn this much, maybe even more),” someone else remarked.

“Ab hui na baat. Corporate job alag karunga aur auto alag chalaunga. Isko moonlighting consider karenge kya? (Now that’s interesting. I’ll keep my corporate job and drive a separate car. Will this be considered moonlighting)?” an individual stated.

“IITian ki starting salary se bhi zyada hai yeh toh (This is even more than the starting salary of some IIT graduates),” a viewer wrote.

Source : https://www.news18.com/viral/mumbai-auto-driver-claims-he-earns-rs-2500-daily-after-expenses-video-aa-9959778.html

 

Sources said an LPG vessel is also expected to pass through the Strait at 9.30am IST, and will similarly be guided by Indian naval assets once it clears the sensitive maritime zone

An Indian LPG carrier Shivalik, carrying over 40,000 metric tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), has successfully moved into the open sea after transiting the Strait of Hormuz, sources have told CNN-News18. The vessel is currently being escorted by the Indian Navy and is expected to reach India in about two days, likely docking at Mumbai or Kandla port.

Sources said another LPG vessel is also expected to pass through the strait at around 9.30am IST, and will similarly be guided by Indian naval assets once it clears the sensitive maritime zone.

The movement of Shivalik comes after intense diplomatic engagement between India and Iran to ensure safe passage for Indian-flagged ships amid the ongoing regional crisis. Earlier reports had indicated that India was in talks with Iran to secure passage for up to eight LPG tankers stranded in the Gulf region due to the conflict.

According to sources, negotiations helped facilitate the first movement of vessels, with CNN-News18 earlier reporting that transit would begin soon after talks progressed.

Diplomatic Push for Tanker Movement

India has been actively engaging Tehran to allow its energy shipments to pass through the strategic waterway. The discussions come as several Indian LPG carriers were stuck in the Persian Gulf after shipping through the strait was disrupted due to the West Asia war.

Reports indicate that Iran has permitted select Indian-flagged LPG carriers to transit the strait, including Shivalik and another vessel, as a special exemption during the ongoing tensions.

Crisis in the Strait of Hormuz

The development comes against the backdrop of the ongoing Strait of Hormuz crisis, which began after escalating hostilities involving Iran, the United States, and Israel in late February. The tensions led to severe disruptions in shipping through the critical energy corridor.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important maritime chokepoints, handling roughly 20 per cent of global oil and gas shipments, making any disruption a major concern for global energy markets and for import-dependent countries like India.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/indian-lpg-vessel-shivalik-reaches-open-sea-with-navy-escort-another-to-cross-hormuz-soon-exclusive-ws-kl-9959825.html

India’s crude oil supplies remain secure, Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, told reporters at a briefing.

Amid the ongoing West Asia conflict, a senior Oil Ministry official on Wednesday said that there is no need for panic booking of LPG cylinders, and that the normal delivery cycle of two-and-a-half days is being maintained.

India’s crude oil supplies remain secure, Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, told reporters at a briefing.

“We import almost 60 % of our LPG and most of it, almost 90 % comes from the Strait of Hormuz. It’s a difficult situation, but the government is making every effort to ensure that the supply to the domestic consumers is ensured…We deliver almost 50 lakh cylinders on a daily basis. On the distribution side, no dry out has been reported. But there is a manifold increase in bookings because of the panic. We urge the citizens to avoid panic booking…State governments have been requested to identify the list of beneficiaries so that the delivery of the cylinder, commercial cylinder, can be made on a priority basis…”

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#WATCH | Delhi | Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary (Marketing & Oil Refinery), Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, says, “We import almost 60 % of our LPG and most of it, almost 90 % comes from the Strait of Hormuz. It’s a difficult situation, but the government is making every… pic.twitter.com/XnfORpuGsw

— ANI (@ANI) March 12, 2026

“India’s crude supply remains secure. Our daily consumption is about 55 lakh barrels…through diversified procurement, the volumes we have secured today exceed what would normally have arrived through the Strait of Hormuz during this period,” she said.

India imports crude from nearly 40 countries.

The oil marketing companies have secured various crude cargoes from different sources, and as a result of this diversification, about 70 per cent of India’s crude imports are now coming from routes outside the Strait of Hormuz, compared with about 55 per cent earlier, she added.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/about-70-of-crude-imports-from-non-hormuz-routes-oil-ministry-says-no-need-for-panic-supplies-remain-secure-3929400 

This was the first phone call between Modi and Pezeshkian after Israel and the United States launched attacks on Iran on February 28.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a phone call with President Masoud Pezeshkian of Iran and underlined the need for unhindered transit of goods and energy through the Persian Gulf.

“Expressed deep concern over the escalation of tensions and the loss of civilian lives as well as damage to civilian infrastructure,” Modi posted on X after speaking to Pezeshkian.

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Had a conversation with Iranian President, Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian, to discuss the serious situation in the region.

Expressed deep concern over the escalation of tensions and the loss of civilian lives as well as damage to civilian infrastructure.

The safety and security of…

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 12, 2026

This was the first phone call between Modi and Pezeshkian after Israel and the United States launched attacks on Iran on February 28, killing the Persian Gulf nation’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Modi. However, he had phone calls with the leaders of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Jordan, Oman and the United Arab Emirates, which had been at the receiving end of the counter-offensive by Iran. He had also spoken to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who had played host to him just days before starting the missile strikes on Iran.

“The safety and security of Indian nationals, along with the need for unhindered transit of goods and energy, remain India’s top priorities,” the prime minister told his counterpart in Tehran on Thursday, explaining New Delhi’s approach. “Reiterated India’s commitment to peace and stability and urged for dialogue and diplomacy,” he wrote on X.

At least three mariners from India were killed in attacks on merchant vessels in the Persian Gulf.

India refrained from condemning the missile strikes on Iran by Israel and the US, the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and the sinking of the Iranian Navy ship IRIS Dena in a submarine attack by the US in the Indian Ocean.

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri visited the Embassy of Iran in New Delhi on March 5 and signed the condolence register for the slain Supreme Leader of the West Asian Islamic Republic. He, however, just expressed condolences on behalf of the people and the Government of India on the demise of the religious leader, without any reference to how he had been killed. The Indian Navy issued a press release on its participation in the Search and Rescue operations after a US submarine torpedoed the IRIS Dena, an Iranian Navy frigate, off Galle in the Exclusive Economic Zone of Sri Lanka on March 4. But the press release by the Indian Navy avoided any reference to the role of the US in the sinking of the ship.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/pm-modi-speaks-to-iranian-president-stresses-need-for-unhindered-transit-of-goods-energy-3929959 

 

A 25-year-old woman was found dead in a hotel room in Old Delhi, prompting police to open a murder investigation. The incident occurred on March 12, after hotel staff reported that the room was locked from the inside. Upon forced entry, authorities found the woman partially covered, with blood on the bed and clothes.

A woman was found dead inside a hotel room in Old Delhi’s Lahori Gate on Thursday (March 12) under suspicious circumstances. The police have registered a murder case and launched a search for the man who had checked in with her, an official told PTI news agency.

The woman, who was around 25 years of age, lived with her parents, grandmother, and younger sister in northeast Delhi’s Maujpur area and worked at a private company in Chandni Chowk.

PM Modi on Thursday spoke to Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian and expressed deep concern over escalating tensions in West Asia. During the conversation with Pezeshkian, PM Modi also raised concern over the safety of Indian nationals in Iran.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday spoke to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian over the escalating conflict in West Asia. During the conversation, PM Modi expressed concern over the escalation of tensions and the loss of civilian lives as well as damage to civilian infrastructure. He also raised concerns over the safety and security of Indian nationals in Iran.

In an X post, the Prime Minister also stated that the safety and security of Indian nationals and the need for unhindered transit of goods and energy is India’s top priority. During the conversation, the PM reiterated India’s commitment to peace and stability and urged for dialogue and diplomacy.

“Had a conversation with Iranian President, Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian, to discuss the serious situation in the region. Expressed deep concern over the escalation of tensions and the loss of civilian lives as well as damage to civilian infrastructure,” PM Modi said on X.

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Had a conversation with Iranian President, Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian, to discuss the serious situation in the region.

Expressed deep concern over the escalation of tensions and the loss of civilian lives as well as damage to civilian infrastructure.

The safety and security of…

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 12, 2026

“The safety and security of Indian nationals, along with the need for unhindered transit of goods and energy, remain India’s top priorities. Reiterated India’s commitment to peace and stability and urged for dialogue and diplomacy,” he added.

 

The Government of Uttar Pradesh on Thursday said petrol, diesel and LPG stocks are adequate across the state and warned of strict action against rumour-mongers and black marketers. CM Yogi Adityanath ordered inspections of petrol pumps and gas agencies after reports of LPG shortages, protests and delayed cylinder deliveries surfaced in several cities.

The Uttar Pradesh government on Thursday asserted that there is adequate stock of petrol, diesel and domestic LPG cylinders across the state and warned of strict action against those spreading rumours or indulging in black marketing. The statement came amid reports of LPG shortages and protests in several cities.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath directed officials to maintain strict vigilance over the supply chain of petroleum products and cooking gas. He asked the administration to take strong action against anyone attempting to create artificial scarcity through hoarding, black marketing or by spreading misleading information.

Officials said adequate supplies of petrol and diesel are available in every district and domestic gas cylinders are also stocked sufficiently. The administration has begun inspections of petrol pumps and LPG agencies to ensure smooth distribution and prevent irregularities.

However, reports from several parts of the state suggest that the shortage of LPG cylinders has begun to affect daily life. In many cities, consumers said they are not receiving cylinders even four to five days after booking. Long queues have been reported outside gas agencies.

Cases of alleged black marketing have also surfaced. In Gorakhpur, authorities sealed two gas agencies over allegations of black marketing of LPG cylinders and arrested the owner.

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UP: A large crowd gathered at a Bharat Gas warehouse in Zeera Basti, Ballia, with people queuing from early morning to collect LPG cylinders after home delivery reportedly stopped. pic.twitter.com/Cm7QdEXL6e

— IANS (@ians_india) March 12, 2026

In Lucknow, workers of the Samajwadi Party staged a protest over the alleged shortage of LPG cylinders. During the demonstration, protesters raised slogans targeting the central government. When police tried to disperse them, several protesters lay down on the road. Police later dragged them into vehicles and took them to Eco Garden. Some workers were also seen climbing on police vehicles during the protest.

The shortage has also affected institutions. At King George’s Medical University in Lucknow, authorities said the supply disruption has impacted food preparation for patients. The hospital, which serves food to around 2,500 patients, has started reducing breakfast items and rotis and is currently managing with smaller five kilogram commercial cylinders.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/up-govt-claims-adequate-fuel-stock-as-lpg-shortage-triggers-queues-protests

 

The former J&K chief minister escaped unhurt after a 63-year-old local man, Kamal Singh Jamwal, fired at him from close range with a licensed pistol on Wednesday night

National Conference president and former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah has linked an attack on his life to the “deep-rooted hate in the country”. Abdullah spoke a day after a failed assassination attempt on him during a wedding function in the Greater Kailash area of Jammu.

Speaking to the media, Abdullah expressed gratitude for his survival and described what unfolded while he had a close shave.

“The biggest tragedy is the hate in the country has become deep-rooted. No religion teaches hate; all religions teach love and respect, and I feel we have left that religion,” Farooq Abdullah said.

“God saved me,” he said, adding that he initially mistook the gunshot for a firecracker. He described hearing the sound as he exited the venue and being quickly rushed to safety by his team.

On the security arrangements, he said that the police deployment was poor, and an investigation should be conducted into the matter.

“Such incidents are happening because we are living in an era of hatred,” he said.

Regarding the assailant, Abdullah said he bore no personal animosity with anyone. “I have never developed hate for anyone in my heart; I don’t know what was his grudge against me,” the veteran leader said.

He further said that “no matter how much security you increase, the killer always has an advantage. The problem is that we live in an era where terrorism is up in the sky, and we cannot control it.”

The NC chief reiterated his call for the restoration of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir and urged authorities to examine whether the claimed normalcy in the region truly exists.

Source : https://www.news18.com/politics/god-saved-me-farooq-abdullah-blames-deep-rooted-hate-in-country-for-assassination-attempt-9956963.html

Delhi’s LPG shortage forces restaurants to cut menus, ration gas, and adopt alternative cooking methods, risking closures amid rising black market prices.

The ongoing LPG shortage in the capital is forcing restaurants — from heritage sweet shops in Old Delhi to iconic cafés and neighbourhood eateries — to rethink how they cook, what they serve and, in some cases, whether they can stay open at all.

Several well-known establishments have begun trimming menus, rationing gas cylinders or experimenting with alternative cooking methods as supplies tighten and black market prices surge.

At Carnatic Cafe on Lodhi Road, management has started pruning the menu. Restaurant officials said they have discontinued dishes under the “Rice of the Day” section and temporarily removed the popular Patravali Thali.

“The supplier is not providing us with any solution and we are about to run out of supply. Dishes under the “Rice of the Day” section and the thali take a lot of gas to prepare. We are serving other items for now,” an official said.

In Old Delhi, at the 140-year-old Old Famous Jalebi Wala in Dariba Kalan, owner Kailash said LPG cylinders in the black market are now selling for around ₹3,000 per cylinder.

“Customers prefer hot jalebis, but we are requesting them to understand our situation. Earlier we used to fry in small batches, but now we fry two to three kilograms at one go,” he said.

At the famed Sita Ram Diwan Chand Chhole Bhature, owner Rajeev Kohli said the restaurant has begun using induction cooktops and are reducing the quantity of chhole prepared daily to conserve gas.

At the decades-old Dhaba Food in Connaught Place’s Shankar Market, a notice outside the shop on Thursday informed customers that only rajma chawal and kadhi chawal would be served.

“If we don’t get a cylinder, we will have to shut shop. We have never closed, except during the pandemic,” a staff member said.

A similar situation is unfolding at Lodhi Knights, a well-known shawarma joint in the Lodhi area. Owner Nehul Ahuja said the restaurant may shift to alternative cooking methods if the shortage persists.

“We are trying to adapt. For now, we have had to stop serving our Mughlai dishes, curries and even shawarmas — basically anything that requires long cooking time,” he said.

At Bengali Sweet Centre in South Extension-I, staff said the menu now changes depending on how much gas remains. “There’s only one cylinder now and soon that will also get over,” a staffer said, adding that items such as matar kulche and some deep-fried snacks have been stopped.

Restaurant chains are not faring any better. Sumit Gulati, owner of the Call Chotu chain, said shortages have affected both branch kitchens and the central kitchen in Saket.

“Our cylinder supply will be over within a day or two. We are now trying to transition to electric cooking. But many dishes such as butter chicken, noodles and manchurian require high-flame cooking. We will have to see what can be made on electric cooktops,” Gulati said.

Others are turning to traditional fuels. Vinod Chadha, owner of Moti Mahal in Daryaganj, said they have started using charcoal for dishes that require long simmering.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/delhi-news/butter-chicken-to-chhole-city-s-favourites-feel-heat-101773341573715.html

 

The deceased were identified as Thengin Baite of Thawai Kuki village in Kamjong district and Thangboimang Khongsai of Shangkai in Ukhrul district.

Two people who were reportedly abducted on Wednesday were found dead on Thursday, after 21 civilians who were allegedly captured in retaliation along the Ukhrul-Imphal route were safely released, chief minister Yumnam Khemchand informed the ongoing Manipur budget session.

He said the case will be handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

The deceased were identified as Thengin Baite of Thawai Kuki village in Kamjong district and Thangboimang Khongsai of Shangkai in Ukhrul district. The CM made the statement on Thursday during the seventh session of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly in Imphal.

Raising the issue through a calling attention motion, Congress MLA K Meghachandra sought clarification from Manipur home minister K Govindas regarding the government’s initiatives to prevent further escalation following reports of a heavy exchange of gunfire at Thawai village and the abduction of civilians along the Imphal-Ukhrul road. Responding to the motion, Govindas informed the House that a gunfight reportedly took place between two armed groups from around 6.30 am to 9 am on Wednesday in the Mapithel hill range of Ukhrul district. The gunfight occurred after two Kuki villagers were allegedly abducted by unidentified armed groups.

During the exchange of fire, one civilian, Lalminthang Haokip, 40, sustained a minor bullet injury and was evacuated to a health centre in Kangpokpi district for treatment, the minister said. He further informed the House that in retaliation, 21 civilians belonging to the Tangkhul Naga community who were travelling along the Ukhrul-Imphal road were abducted by some members of the Kuki community at Shangkai village in Ukhrul district.

Govindas said CM Khemchand held a meeting with governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla at Raj Bhavan in Imphal on Wednesday evening to discuss the situation.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/lifestyle/fashion/decoding-nita-ambani-s-herm-s-summer-2026-inspired-vacation-style-101773312881731.html

Bengaluru faces an LPG supply shortage, impacting auto drivers and eateries, with rising costs and disrupted services, prompting government action.

A tightening supply of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is beginning to ripple across daily life in Bengaluru, affecting auto drivers, eateries and government-run food canteens while authorities have stepped up monitoring of fuel stocks.

Auto-rickshaw drivers using LPG said a sudden price increase hit them, with auto LPG rates rising by about ₹10 per litre within two days. The hike has added to the financial strain on drivers already dealing with higher fuel costs.

Fuel station workers said they faced supply disruptions that limited how much LPG they could sell. One bunk employee said the situation had become uncertain in recent days. “We don’t know when the next load will arrive,” the staff member at fuel station in Banasawadi said.

The Govardhan LPG bunk in Yeshwanthpur shut operations due to a shortage of supplies. Staff said they had been receiving daily loads until Wednesday but none had arrived afterwards. “We are not sure when the next load will come,” a worker said, adding that the station, which previously operated around the clock, is now unable to function normally.

Another LPG bunk worker said deliveries have dropped sharply in recent days. “Earlier, we would receive as much as we requested. Now we are getting only half a ton,” he said. “We cannot continue selling with such limited supply for long. Auto drivers are already getting angry with us because of the shortage.”

CNG drivers face higher fuel costs

All victims reportedly bought milk from the same vendor, affecting residents in the Chowdeswaranagar and Swaroopnagar areas of Lalacheruvu. Alarms spread through the neighborhoods as acute renal failure claimed lives starting February 22.

The death toll from a suspected milk adulteration incident in Andhra Pradesh’s Rajamahendravaram has risen to 13, with seven others including three children still under treatment at local hospitals. Bandaru Veeralaxmi, 60, a Swaroopnagar resident who fell ill after consuming the milk on February 16, became the latest victim on Thursday.

All victims reportedly bought milk from the same vendor, affecting residents in the Chowdeswaranagar and Swaroopnagar areas of Lalacheruvu. Alarms spread through the neighborhoods as acute renal failure claimed lives starting February 22.

Medical tests revealed elevated blood urea and serum creatinine levels among the affected, pointing to toxic exposure. Preliminary investigation pinpoint milk as the primary source. The tainted supply came from Varalakshmi Milk Dairy in Narasapuram village, Korukonda mandal, reaching nearly 106 families before authorities halted distribution.

Milk, paneer, and curd samples have been sent to JNTU Kakinada and VIMTA Labs in Hyderabad for microbial, physio-chemical, and toxic adulterant analysis. Blood and urine samples from victims are undergoing detailed toxicological exams.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/andhra-pradesh/andhra-milk-contamination-death-toll-rises-to-13-seven-undergoing-treatment-3928775

Astrologer Prashanth Kini had in 2023 asked Sheikh Hasina to remain careful in the months of May, June, July and August 2024, claiming that she may face assassination attempts.

Amid reports of commercial LPG shortages that have affected restaurants, hotels and transport services in several Indian cities, an old social media post by an astrologer has suddenly resurfaced online. The tweet, shared months ago, has caught widespread attention online.

The shortage comes at a time when global energy supplies are disrupted due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

Astrologer’s Old Prediction About Energy Shortage Resurfaces

The post was originally shared in September 2025 by astrologer Prashanth Kini on X (formerly Twitter). In the tweet, he had predicted that India could face fuel and natural gas supply disruptions after March 2026.

In the post, the astrologer wrote: “India will face fuel and natural gas shortage after March 2026… Supply chain disrupt.”

As the LPG shortage began making headlines, Kini reshared the same tweet on March 11 and wrote: “This prediction I made almost 5 months back ….!!”

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This prediction i made almost
5 months back ….!! https://t.co/oxJxbjuaLl

— Prashanth Kini (@AstroPrashanth9) March 11, 2026

What Are People Saying Online

 

A woman claims in a clip that a US company pays large sums for stool donations used in medical research and treatments.

Conversations around unusual ways to earn money often grab people’s attention online. One such clip has sparked curiosity after a woman spoke about a surprising claim related to human health and medical research. In the short video, she talks about how some companies are willing to pay people for something most would never imagine selling.

The claim in the clip has left many viewers shocked and amused at the same time. While some people reacted with jokes, others were curious about the science behind the idea and how it is connected to modern medical treatments.

Woman Claims Donors Can Earn Money For Stool

The clip opens with a woman making a bold statement that quickly catches attention. She says, “What if I told you that you can get 1.5 crores for your poop? You heard me right.”

She then continues by explaining that a company in the United States is willing to pay people for stool donations. According to her, the payment could go up to Rs 41,000 for each donation and around Rs 1.5 crore in a year if someone donates regularly.

“This US company is willing to pay you 41,000 per poop and 1.5 crores a year for annual donations, and it doesn’t stop here,” she says in the clip.

Soon after, a line from the US company’s website appears on the screen that reads, “Make Money, Save Lives. Become a stool donor, for FMT (Fecal Microbiota Transplants) or research.” The message suggests that the company is legitimate and promotes stool donation for medical use.

The woman also claims that people who are very fit and active may earn even more. “For people who are very athletic and in great shape, they’re willing to pay up to $1 million per poop. This is because they believe that your poop can change someone’s life, and they aren’t crazy,” she adds.

She Explains The Science Behind The Claim

Later in the video, the speaker talks about the science connected to stool donation.

“Here’s the science. See, half your stool is gut bacteria, which play a very important role in your overall health, from digestion to metabolism to mental well-being, and such companies extract this good bacteria from healthy fit individuals, turn it into a capsule, and give it to people suffering from obesity, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), bipolar disorder.”

Stories from the ground reveal desperation and panic over the LPG refill shortage in India amid the Iran war. Scores of outlets have either increased food prices or shut down, resulting in work losses. People say the crisis is bringing scary memories of the Covid lockdown.

On Tuesday evening, when Promod Kumar stood in Noida’s Sector 16 frying samosas, there was a sense of uncertainty hanging over him. He wasn’t sure if he would be able to open his small food stall the next day. The LPG cylinder he usually bought from the black market had already shot up from Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500. Forced by the spike, he had increased the prices of his samosas by 50%. When Promod tried to place the next day’s cylinder order with his supplier, the response was uncertain. “I’ve spoken to someone who might bring one from Ghaziabad. If it doesn’t come, then we won’t open the shop,” he said. “Nearby, around Sector 18’s Atta Market, several dhabas and food joints have already begun shutting down,” he added.

The next morning, contrary to his fears, Promod was back at his stall. He was dishing out breakfast, but again at higher prices. “Got a cylinder for Rs 2,300,” he said. Promod isn’t alone. His neighbour, Shivpal Kumar, had increased the price of a cup of tea from Rs 10 to Rs 15. Shivpal claimed another vendor has hiked it to Rs 20.

Countless food businesses, big and small, are either on the brink of shutting down or have already closed because LPG cylinders are simply not available.

The shutting of eateries or slashing of menu has hit lakhs of gig workers who are losing out on work, according to a labour union. It said the LPG crisis had reduced delivery work by 50-60% in several cities.

The government has tried to reassure people that there were no supply constraints, but the situation on the ground and the panic in mind reveal an entirely different reality. At a dhaba in Noida Sector 22, a man waiting for his dinner roti on Wednesday night told India Today Digital, “It feels like the Covid lockdown. At least back then we were getting food. Corona, lockdown, demonetisation, it seems we are the ones who keep seeing all of this”.

The heat of the war between Iran, and the US and Israel, is being felt on India’s LPG supply chain. While households are still managing to get cylinders in five to seven days (thanks to the Centre’s “priority” for household consumers), the squeeze on commercial supply is far more severe. Hotel and restaurant associations across several states say they are running out of cylinders. Many eateries have shut, hopefully temporarily, and others might soon be forced to follow suit. For household consumers too, the strain is easily visible. The long queues outside LPG godowns and agencies, and the price of a cylinder touching Rs 3,000 on the black market, verified by India Today Digital, attest to that.

On Thursday, fights broke out outside several gas agencies across the Delhi NCR region as the LPG cylinder crunch deepened. Verbal and physical clashes erupted between customers and agency staff as well as among people standing in queues.

On Wednesday, government officials warned that panic bookings and hoarding are mainly triggered by misinformation. They urged the public to remain calm and avoid spreading false news about LPG shortages. India’s domestic LPG production has increased by 25% following government orders to boost output, officials said at a joint briefing by the Ministry of Shipping, Ministry of External Affairs, and Ministry of Petroleum.

LPG CONSUMERS ACROSS INDIA FEELING THE SQUEEZE DESPITE GOVERNMENT ASSURANCES

In Delhi NCR, the situation is similar, and reports of shortages are also coming in from Bengaluru and Mumbai. People in Jharkhand, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh are reporting the same stress. The problem became so dire for a woman from Basti in Uttar Pradesh that she said her “family has been cooking on firewood for a week because they could not get an LPG cylinder”.

Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Tuesday said that India was securing LPG from diverse sources and routes. He assured that there was no shortage of gas supply for domestic consumers.

On Monday, the Puri-led Petroleum Ministry invoked the Essential Commodities Act (ESMA) to divert hydrocarbon streams for LPG production, prevent hoarding and black-marketing, and prioritise supplies. The wait time for LPG refill booking was increased from 21 to 25 days and 30 days for double connections to curb panic buying. Days before the move, 14 days was taken to 21 days.

On March 7, the cost of the domestic 14.2-kg cylinders was increased by Rs 60. The price of commercial 19-kg cylinders was hiked by Rs 115.

Though the government increased the wait time and the price of LPG cylinders to curb bulk booking, the steps, instead, added to the panic among consumers. The panic among domestic consumers became visible since Monday in the form of long queues in front of gas agency offices and godowns.

INDIA SEEING AN LPG CYLINDER CRUNCH, REVEAL PROBLEMS IN BOOKING, DELIVERY DELAY, LONG QUEUES

India Today Digital on Monday reported that long queues of consumers clutching empty LPG cylinders were seen outside a Bharat Gas agency in Noida’s Sector 22. The report added that a person from a small town in Uttar Pradesh claimed she was forced to buy a domestic LPG cylinder on the black market for Rs 1,500 last week.

While restaurants with commercial connections are already bearing the brunt, as the government’s focus on ensuring supply to domestic consumers rather than commercial cylinders. But households too are facing delivery delays, now running into a week in some cases, along with problems with booking online. There are also reports of shortages and long queues outside gas agencies and godowns in several cities, including Noida and Lucknow.

The picture on the ground, as of Wednesday, suggests that disruptions continue and panic even among household consumers has increased. Outside the same gas agency in Noida Sector 22, the queue increased multifold. At least 50 people had lined up on Wednesday morning.

Confusion over bookings and patchy services added an extra layer to the panic.

A person employed at Rail Bhawan in central Delhi, who waited at an Indane gas agency in Noida Sector 56 on Tuesday for a refill request since 8 am, was visibly angry after spending hours in a queue. He said he had already spent the previous day trying to get hold of an LPG refill. When the agency opened at around 9.30 am, he was told that his number had already been registered. But he didn’t have any booking number, neither did the agency have one.

According to him, he had placed the booking request around Holi and nearly seven days had passed without him receiving a cylinder despite running around and missing work. “Ab main ye karoon ya office karoon? (Do I work or keep doing this?” he said in frustration. In the end, he called a delivery guy and was assured a cylinder for Rs 1,800 on the black market.

While the government employee missed a couple of days at work, others — lakhs of them have reportedly lost work due to the LPG shortage. They are gig workers. Approximately 1.2-1.5 crore Indians worked as freelance and platform workers in 2025-26.

In a letter to Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Wednesday, the Gig and Platform Service Workers Union warned that the LPG crisis has already “slashed delivery gigs by 50-60% in cities like Mumbai, Delhi NCR, Bangalore, Chennai, Pune, Jaipur”. Calling it “a war-fuelled disaster destroying our livelihoods”, the union said thousands of platform workers who depend on daily orders are now facing loss of work and income collapse.

DHABAS, FOOD CARTS HYPE UP LPG PRICES ON BLACK MARKET

Many dhabas, food carts and even restaurants rely on household connection cylinders, the red 14.4 kg ones, procured routinely through the black market. The demand from them has further aggravated the situation.

On Thursday morning, outside a gas agency in Noida’s Sector 22, a crowd of at least 100 people had gathered, forming long queues for LPG cylinders. Amid the chaos, a scuffle broke out as people rained punches on each other while some people tried to cut in. Later, arguments broke out again over separate queues were formed for women. Though this time it remained verbal. The agency staffers said they stopped taking new refill orders. Many in the crowd complained that it had already been more than a week since they had booked a cylinder.

“Bhaisahab, you people go home and come back after three-four days nothing will be available now,” an agent was heard telling the crowd on Thursday morning.

A video on social media, reportedly from UP’s Gorakhpur, went viral on Wednesday, showing people beating up a gas agency staffer after he pulled down the shutter and refused to take new orders. A woman fainted amid the chaos.

Another woman fainted on the same day in eastern Bihar’s Katihar district.

The government continues to insist that there is no shortage of LPG cylinders for domestic use. However, a Noida-based Bharat Gas delivery agent, who did not wish to be identified, on Tuesday afternoon told India Today Digital that “while their godown in Noida earlier received five trucks with refills a day, it was now down to just one… Now, whatever cylinders are available, are also being sought by dhaba and restaurant owners. To keep their businesses running and continue employing cooks and other staff, many are paying higher prices on the black market.”

While Promod Kumar in Noida Sector 16 has increased the price of his snacks, his neighbour Samsher, who sells veg biryani in the area, said he was asked to pay Rs 3,000 for a cylinder on the black market. He echoed the same sense of anxiety expressed by Promod.

Around six kilometres away in Noida Sector 22, the proprietor of a popular dhaba told India Today Digital on Tuesday night that he had not yet increased the cost of food and was still gauging the situation. “I bought a cylinder today itself for Rs 2,300, but it is only a matter of time,” he said. “We have stopped making tawa paratha and rotis. Only the wood-fired tandoor is running.”

His main concern, he said, was how long such arrangements could be sustained. “I have placed a booking through my connection today, but people are saying it might take seven days. Another question is who to prioritise. If a cylinder comes, should I use it for the restaurant or at home?”

Around 500 kilometres to the east in Ayodhya, Ram Rasoi at Amawa Temple is looking at options like electric, coal and firewood, if LPG cylinder supplies are tightened further.

“Those who need one should book, and they are booking it. But even those who don’t need it right now are also booking,” an agent of Indane’s agency in Noida Sector 26 told India Today Digital.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/lpg-cylinder-shortage-gas-india-delhi-noida-up-black-market-restaurants-domestic-supply-2880420-2026-03-12

The senior fellow at the Asia Pacific Foundation said that, while on one hand, India maintains strong ties with Israel, it also has good ties with Iran, keeping in mind New Delhi’s interests in the Middle East. Hence, it won’t be easy for India to perfect a balancing act during the ongoing war.

India faces a difficult diplomatic balancing act amid escalating Middle East tensions involving Iran, Israel and the US, geopolitical expert and author Michael Kugelman told India Today TV. Kugelman said New Delhi must tread carefully to protect its strategic interests, maintain key partnerships and safeguard energy security while adhering to its long-standing doctrine of strategic autonomy.

Kugelman argued that India is in a tough spot because it maintains close ties with several actors, some of them rivals, directly affected by the conflict.

“Balancing would, of course, reflect India’s foreign policy when it comes to strategic autonomy,” Kugelman said, noting that maintaining such balance will be difficult in the current climate.

“India’s in a tough spot because we see how important India’s relationship with Israel has become over the last years”.

This comes a day after India Today reported that Iran’s measured approach toward India highlights Tehran’s strategic interest in keeping New Delhi engaged, even amid escalating regional rivalries.

India’s condolence over Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s death exemplifies its longstanding diplomatic practice of respectful engagement during geopolitical tensions.

The situation was further complicated by US sanctions on the Chabahar Port, a key project India is developing as a strategic trade gateway.

Despite reduced investments under Washington’s “maximum pressure” campaign, Iran refrained from harsh criticism, with former official Abbas Araghchi noting the cuts were “disappointing” but expressing hope for continued work.

Tehran’s engagement reflects three priorities: securing energy supplies, protecting India’s diaspora interests, and respecting India’s non-alignment policy.

Over the past decade, India’s relationship with Israel has deepened considerably, particularly in defence cooperation. The partnership has become increasingly important as New Delhi looks to strengthen its military capabilities, including acquiring advanced air defence systems from Israel.

Kugelman further pointed out that Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Israel shortly before the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran, underlining the growing closeness between the two countries.

According to Kugelman, developments such as Operation Sindoor have further strengthened the importance of India-Israel defence cooperation, wherein Israeli air defence technology helped India thwart Pakistani drone and missile strikes.

However, Israel is only one part of India’s complex strategic calculus. Kugelman noted that India also maintains strong ties with Gulf countries within the Gulf Cooperation Council, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

These relationships are critical for energy supplies and for the welfare of millions of Indian nationals living and working across the region.

“We know that given how volatile and potentially explosive this conflict is, and given how much India could be impacted for so many reasons, mainly based on energy equities and, of course, the several million Indians in the GCC region, India has to be very careful about how it messages itself on this war,” Kugelman said.

While India’s ties with Iran have cooled in recent years—especially after New Delhi sharply reduced imports of Iranian crude oil—Kugelman said Tehran remains an important partner in India’s broader regional engagement.

Despite the reduced energy trade, “it’s still an important and friendly relationship,” he said, adding that this makes India’s diplomatic balancing act even more delicate.

The conflict is already having tangible implications for India.

INDIA-CHINA ECONOMIC COOPERATION

Reports claim that the country is grappling with a severe commercial liquefied petroleum gas crisis, prompting the government to invoke the Essential Commodities Act to prioritise domestic supply and increase production.

Although about 70 per cent of India’s fuel imports now bypass the Strait of Hormuz, roughly 90 per cent of LPG shipments still pass through the strategic waterway, leaving the country exposed to disruptions.

Against this backdrop, India has also taken steps to ease economic restrictions on Chinese investment.

The Union Cabinet recently relaxed foreign direct investment norms for companies from China in sectors such as electronics and solar manufacturing.

Kugelman described this move as an example of India’s “strategic pragmatism”.

He said the gradual easing of tensions between India and China predates the current conflict, pointing to earlier developments such as the 2024 border agreement and discussions about resuming direct flights between the two countries.

“I think that India’s being very pragmatic and this reflects a common trend in its foreign policy,” Kugelman said. While the Middle East conflict adds economic pressures—particularly related to energy security—he emphasised that India’s outreach to China is part of a broader strategic recalibration rather than a sudden shift.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/middle-east-war-geopolitical-expert-author-micheal-kugleman-delhi-balancing-act-india-tough-spot-2880663-2026-03-12

The gunman, who was caught on camera attempting to shoot former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah at a wedding in Jammu, revealed he had been plotting the attack on the 88-year-old National Conference chief for the past 20 years.

A man, who was caught on camera trying to shoot former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah, at a wedding in Jammu on Wednesday, told the police that he had been planning to kill the 88-year-old National Conference (NC) chief for the past 20 years. Police ruled out a terror angle in the incident and said the shooter appeared to be drunk at the time of the incident.

Officials told India Today TV that the shooter, identified as 63-year-old Jammu resident Kamal Singh Jamwal, told the police that the firearm used by him was his licenced gun. “I wanted to kill Farooq Abdullah for the past 20 years. It was my personal agenda. The weapon is my own, issued to me,” he said, adding that he was “lucky to survive.”

CCTV footage from the wedding shows Jamwal approaching Abdullah from behind and pointing a gun at him from point-blank range before firing a shot. The shot missed the target and the gunman was immediately overpowered by the former Chief Minister’s security detail before he could cause any harm.

According to officials, Abdullah and Choudhary had come to greet a National Conference leader on the occasion of his son’s wedding. Officials said the two leaders had been at the venue for more than an hour before the firing occurred.

Later, the shooter on camera confessed to the police that he had been trying to kill Abdullah for the past 20 years.

Jamwal owns a few shops in the old part of Jammu. He told investigators that he survives on rent from his shops. “Today, I got the opportunity, but he (Farooq Abdullah) was lucky to survive,” he told the police after the failed attack on the NC chief.

J&K DEPUTY CM SURVIVED SHOOTING

Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary was also present at the spot when the incident took place. He miraculously survived the shooting.

The pistol used in the incident was seized from the possession of the gunman, the police said in a statement cited by news agency PTI.

Jamwal was found in a drunken state, police said, adding that the gunman appeared to be under the influence of alcohol at the time of the incident. He was also beaten by people, including some NC workers, present at the venue after the attempt on Farooq Abdullah’s life.

EYEWITNESS ACCOUNT

Rakesh Singh, an eyewitness cited by PTI, said the incident occurred when Abdullah and other prominent guests were leaving the wedding venue.

“Abdullah had dinner with the guests. He was moving out of the venue when the gunman opened fire, but luckily, he was not hurt. The shooter claimed to be the chairman of some hitherto unknown ‘Jagran Manch’ and was drunk,” he said.

OMAR ABDULLAH REACTS

Portuguese travel vlogger Ines Faria shared a video alleging harassment during a train journey in India. She said men in a 3AC coach stared at her, changed seats and followed her toward the washroom. After reporting the issue, railway staff moved her to another compartment. RailwaySeva later asked for travel details to investigate.

A video shared by Portuguese travel vlogger Ines Faria has sparked widespread discussion about traveller safety on Indian public transport after she documented a disturbing encounter during a train journey.

The vlogger said she was travelling in a 3AC coach on an express train in India when a group of men allegedly began staring at her and repeatedly changing seats to watch her. According to her social media post shared on Tuesday, the behaviour made her increasingly uncomfortable during the journey.

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“We were on a 3AC train in India, which is usually very safe and the class we normally take. But during this ride, a group of boys sitting across from us kept staring, changing seats and watching us constantly. It started to feel really uncomfortable,” she wrote while sharing the video online.

Man Followed Her To The Washroom Area

Farooq Abdullah narrowly escaped an assassination attempt at a wedding in Jammu. The assailant, 63-year-old Kamal Singh Jamwal, fired a shot at Abdullah but missed before being apprehended by security personnel.

National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah and Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary had a narrow escape after a gunman opened fire on them at a marriage function in Jammu on Wednesday night. Abdullah, 88, survived the alleged assassination attempt as the shooter fired at him from behind when he was leaving a marriage function at the posh Greater Kailash area on the outskirts of Jammu.

According to party MLA Ajaz Ahmed Jan, when Abdullah and others were departing from the function, the accused came from behind and placed a revolver on his back. He then fired his shot, which he missed.

“The people who were with Doctor Sahib’s (Farooq Abdullah) security people caught him in a moment, made him fall, pressed him, and, with great difficulty, we took the pistol from him. Then we left from there and came back home,” Jan said.

“It is a very unfortunate part that the gun reached inside the wedding, but let’s be thankful that everyone is fine. Farooq Abdullah is absolutely fine. He has gone to his room to rest,” Jan said.

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J&K| Firing at wedding attended by Farooq Abdullah and Deputy CM Surinder Choudhary. pic.twitter.com/mOq0AN5S45

— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) March 11, 2026

 

Vidhan Bhavan, the Maharashtra legislature complex at Nariman Point in Mumbai, was emptied due to a bomb threat on Thursday morning.

Vidhan Bhavan, the Maharashtra legislature complex at Nariman Point in Mumbai, was emptied due to a bomb threat on Thursday morning.

The budget session of the state legislature is in progress. Proceedings in the Assembly were to start at 9.45 am, while the Council is scheduled to start at 10 am.

Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Satyanarayan termed the threat a hoax.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/lifestyle/fashion/newlywed-rashmika-mandanna-boulder-sized-ring-with-simple-look-steals-the-show-at-airport-with-vijay-deverakonda-101773281663768.html

Uttam Nagar fire: Authorities added that the locality where the fire broke out is a few kilometres away from the area that witnessed tension earlier this month.

A massive fire broke out at a fish market in Matiala near Uttam Nagar in west Delhi around midnight between Wednesday and Thursday, prompting a large firefighting operation, officials said.

According to the Delhi Fire Service (DFS), a call regarding the blaze at the fish market in Matiala was received at 11.55 pm, following which 23 fire tenders were rushed to the spot.

The Liberia-flagged Shenlong Suezmax loaded crude from the Saudi port Ras Tanura on March 1 and embarked two days later.

A Liberian flagged tanker hauling Saudi Arabian crude, captained by an Indian, cleared the Strait of Hormuz two days ago and has berthed at the port of Mumbai, becoming the first India-destined vessel to safely transit the waterway, where maritime traffic has all but halted since the US and Israel attacked Iran.

The Liberia-flagged Shenlong Suezmax loaded crude from the Saudi port Ras Tanura on March 1 and embarked two days later. Its last signaled location was inside the strait on March 8, according to maritime data firms Llyod’s List Intelligence and TankerTrackers.

Iran has struck merchant ships and threatened not to let oil transit the water channel, other than those headed to China, effectively making one of the world’s most vital trade routes impassable. Nearly a fifth of the world’s crude passes the strait.

The Mumbai-headed vessel then went “dark”, suggesting it had turned off its transponders and AIS, or automatic identification system, to avoid detection as it navigated the perilous stretch before re-appearing on tracking databases on March 9, a person familiar with the matter said.

It reached the Mumbai port at 1 pm on Wednesday and was berthed at 6.06 pm port officials said.

“The ship Shenlong is carrying 1,35,335 metric tonnes of crude of oil. She is berthed at Jawahar Dweep and has started discharging the crude cargo,” Praveen Singh, deputy conservator of Mumbai Port Authority (MbPA) said. The crude will go to refineries in Mahul, in eastern Mumbai.

The shipping ministry did not immediately respond to a request for details of the tanker, which is owned by Shenlong Shipping Ltd and managed by the Athens-based Dynacom Tanker Management Ltd.

“There are 29 Indian, Pakistani and Filipino crew on board, while the ship’s captain is Sukshant Singh Sandhu. The ship will take nearly 36 hours to discharge the cargo,” said Jitendra Jadhav who works for Atlantic Global Shipping, which is handling Shenlong in Mumbai.

The tanker’s safe passage is likely to ease some of the mounting concerns in Asia’s third-largest economy over energy shortages, as over half of India’s crude and gas supplies pass through the strait.

However, 28 Indian-flagged vessels are still in or near the waterway since the war broke out, according to India’s directorate general of shipping.

As many as eight Indian-flagged ships that were east of in the Strait of Hormuz when the war broke out have moved to safer seas. According to the situation report released by the director general of shipping, over the last few days, seven of these vessels — Desh Mahima, Desh Abhiman, Swarna Kamal, Vishva Prerna, Jag Viraat, Jag Lokesh and LNGC Aseem — have made their way to the Arabian Sea. Another vessel, the Jag Lakshya has proceeded for Angola.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/lifestyle/art-culture/photos-iran-golestan-palace-before-and-after-us-israel-bombing-from-heavenly-ceiling-to-shattered-mirrors-tehran-attack-101773211174275.html

 

‘All refineries are working at 100 per cent capacity at the moment, and 60 lakh cylinders are supplied daily in the country,’ sources said.

Staring at an LPG shortage due to the Iran crisis, the government has asked refineries to increase production, leading to 10 per cent more gas reserves in the country, ministry sources said on Tuesday.

Stating that there is “no shortage of gas reserves” for domestic consumers in the country’s refineries, ministry sources said that the short-term shortage was diffused by increased production. To deal with LPG shortage-related issues, the Centre has now constituted a three-member committee. This committee has begun receiving public feedback and is developing strategies based on that.

“The gas shortage is being diverted from the industry. We are taking a few crucial steps to offset any shortage, and unless this is a long-drawn affair in West Asia, our endeavour is to ensure that prices remain stabilised,” ministry officials said.

Reacting to reports of problems with commercial cylinders, government sources said that most commercial setups have now switched to induction plates, but any problems are still being addressed.

Among the steps, officials said, is increasing the booking period between two cylinders in households from 21 days to 25 days. “Stock used to arrive at distributors within two and a half days, but today it is just two and a half days from when the crisis started for us. All refineries are working at 100 per cent capacity at the moment, and 60 lakh cylinders are supplied daily in the country,” sources said.

Officials also added that the increase of Rs 60 per cylinder levied last week was not due to the current situation, but due to last year’s under coverage.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/centre-forms-3-member-panel-to-oversee-lpg-crisis-even-as-it-reiterates-no-shortage-of-gas-reserves-3927031#google_vignette

This development comes as actor-politician Vijay has been asked to appear before the agency for the third time.

The stampede at the TVK rally in Karur, which killed 41 people, has come back to haunt the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) issued a notice to the party’s strongman V Senthil Balaji to join the probe.

This development comes as actor-politician Vijay has been asked to appear before the agency for the third time, seen as an attempt to bring the issue to the fore ahead of the elections and exert pressure on the fledgling party. Vijay has sought 15 days’ time to appear before the agency citing his party work ahead of the April-May assembly elections.

Balaji being asked to appear on March 17 is a significant development since he was not named in the case by the CBI or in the FIR filed by the Tamil Nadu police. TVK has been wildly alleging that Balaji was responsible for the stampede by pointing to his arrival at a hospital where people fainted at the rally were taken within minutes of the incident.

“I will appear before the CBI on March 17 and provide appropriate explanations to their questions,” Balaji said in an X post on Tuesday.

Investigations into the stampede gained political traction in October when TVK publicly accused the DMK of being behind the incident, which is why the party approached the Supreme Court seeking an independent probe.

Further, in January, state BJP chief Nainar Nagenthiran told a party rally, where Union Minister Amit Shah was present that Senthil Balaji’s role—as the DMK’s strongman in western Tamil Nadu—in the stampede could not be ruled out.

Issuing summons to both Vijay and Balaji, who hails from Karur, is seen as an attempt to bring the issue to the fore ahead of the assembly elections. The BJP and AIADMK have been asking the DMK dispensation to take responsibility for the incident. However, the AIADMK changed its stance and now blames TVK after Vijay began criticizing the party publicly.

The summons will also give enough fodder to the AIADMK and BJP to attack the DMK, which claims it will certainly win the 2026 elections.

During the first two rounds of questioning, sources told DH that CBI sleuths wanted to know why Vijay arrived late at the venue, why he continued his speech, why the rally began late, and why he didn’t stay back when he knew something was amiss.

Other questions included whether TVK expected the crowd to swell and what arrangements the party made for the public meeting. It is believed that Vijay maintained that neither his party nor he was responsible for the stampede and instead blamed the district administration. It is understood that Vijay also told the CBI sleuths that he left Karur for Chennai because he feared his presence would escalate the situation.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/tamil-nadu/karur-stampede-dmk-mla-v-senthil-balaji-summoned-by-cbi-cases-take-political-centre-stage-3927154

The social science textbook for Class 8 stated that corruption, a massive backlog of cases and the lack of an adequate number of judges are among the challenges faced by the judicial system

The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) on Tuesday issued an unconditional apology and withdrew a Class 8 social science textbook after the Supreme Court objected to a chapter discussing judicial corruption.

The social science textbook for Class 8 had stated that corruption, a massive backlog of cases and the lack of an adequate number of judges were among the challenges faced by the judicial system.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the NCERT said, “The National Council of Educational Research and Training has recently published a social science textbook, ‘Exploring Society: India and Beyond’ Grade 8 (Part 2), which contained Chapter 4 titled ‘The Role of Judiciary in our Society’.”

“The director and members of NCERT hereby tender an unconditional and unqualified apology for the said chapter four. The entire book has been withdrawn and is not available,” it added.

A three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi had taken suo motu cognisance of the “objectionable” statements about the judiciary in NCERT textbooks after senior advocate Kapil Sibal, alongside Abhishek Singhvi, mentioned the matter for urgent consideration.

CJI Kant strongly objected to the chapter on judicial corruption in the NCERT’s Class 8 curriculum, saying nobody on earth would be allowed to defame the judiciary and taint its integrity.

The Supreme Court imposed a “complete blanket ban” on any further publication, reprinting or digital dissemination of the NCERT’s Class 8 social science book as it contains “offending” content on corruption in the judiciary, saying “a gunshot has been fired and the institution is bleeding.”

Source : https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/ncert-issues-apology-withdraws-class-8-book-after-judicial-corruption-chapter-row/cid/2150674#goog_rewarded

Charlier Evans said that the ease of accessing treatment and the combination of traditional and modern medicine in India left him impressed.

An American traveller exploring India has caught the internet’s attention after praising the country’s healthcare system, calling Indian medicine “truly god-tier” following his recovery from an illness during his trip.

Charlie Evans, who has been travelling across India for several months, shared his experience in an Instagram post. He said that the ease of accessing treatment and the combination of traditional and modern medicine in India left him impressed.

“I am an American and I have been living in India for the past 148 days. In the past week, I have been to the hospital twice. I am going to tell you what happened and why Indian medicine is far superior to medicine in the West,” he said in the clip.

He explained that he first fell sick a few weeks into his trip while travelling in Rajasthan. Suspecting that he had strep throat, he delayed visiting a hospital until he returned to Rishikesh, a decision he later said was a mistake, as going to a hospital in India is extremely easy.

‘Indian medicines better than West’

Evans said that he first visited a pharmacy where he bought Ayurvedic medicines such as Yogi Kanthika tablets for his throat and cough drops. “We don’t have these in the USA, but these are amazing,” he said, adding that he felt the ingredients used in Indian medicines were better than those available back home.

Evans also spoke about the role of home remedies in Indian households. He said friends introduced him to herbal remedies that helped ease his symptoms.

“When you live in India, you have Indian friends who give you herbal remedies. Sometimes you don’t even need the pharmacy or the emergency room because your Indian buddies already have something that helps,” he said.

Praising the country’s healthcare approach, Evans said the mix of Ayurveda, home remedies and modern medicine helped him recover quickly.

“Indian medicine is truly god-tier. First time getting sick in India and wow, what an eye-opener. From comforting home remedies and Ayurveda to modern medicines, everything worked together to get me back on my feet fast,” he wrote in the caption of the video.

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Social media reactions

The clip quickly gained traction online, with many social media users agreeing with his observations.

“Here, you can just walk to the hospital and do walk-in treatment for anything. In the USA, you gotta get a doctor, and all he recommends is so weird, and the insurance there is so expensive. In India, you can be covered for 200 dollars for a year, but in the US, 1000 a month lol,” one user commented.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/trending/us-man-calls-indian-medicine-god-tier-says-healthcare-is-far-superior-to-west-101773160191161.html

 

India is set to enhance Indonesia’s military capabilities by supplying three batteries of the BrahMos Cruise missile, with delivery expected by 2028 following a contract signed in December 2025. The deal, valued at $300 million, reflects India’s growing defence manufacturing prowess and aligns with previous agreements.

The batteries of the unbeatable Brahmos Cruise missile will strengthen the offensive capabilities of the Indonesian Armed Forces by 2028. As per the exclusive details with the Times Now, India will be supplying all the batteries of the missile with in 36 months of signing the contract.

Calling it a reinforcement of India’s indigenous defence manufacturing capability, the source said, The contract was signed in December 2025 thus the supply of the equipment is to culminate by 2028, added sources. “Indonesia has signed a contract amounting to USD 300 million for three batteries to be deployed in Coastal Dedence as they are of same version as have been exported to Philippines.”

The missile deal with Philippines was first major defence deal for India under which it received the first batch of BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles in April, 2024. While the deal with the Philippines was announced in January 2022 for the supply of the missile, the process between India and Indonesia had started around that time.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/india/india-will-supply-indonesia-all-batteries-of-brahmos-missiles-by-2029-exclusive-article-153802736

Marking International Women’s Day, Sunetra Pawar said the new scheme was aimed at helping women employees avoid Mumbai’s peak-hour traffic and ease daily commuting.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar chose her maiden speech in the legislative council to introduce a “come early, go early” scheme for women government employees working in Mumbai. Marking International Women’s Day, Sunetra said the move was aimed at helping women working within the jurisdiction of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) avoid Mumbai’s peak-hour traffic and ease daily commuting.

As per the scheme, women employees can arrive at work between 9.15 am and 9.45 am and leave earlier in the evening by the same number of minutes they report early. Sunetra, who took over as Deputy CM after the tragic death of her husband, Ajit Pawar, in a plane crash, also highlighted the state’s aggressive stance on women’s safety and welfare.

WOMEN SCHEMES IN SPOTLIGHT

She said that Operation Muskan and Operation Shodh have helped trace thousands of missing women and children till early 2026. To bolster this, she further stressed that 51 Bharosa Cells and special Missing Cells were now functioning across all districts.

On welfare measures, Pawar pointed out that women employees were now entitled to 180 days of maternity leave, along with the option of an additional year of leave on half pay. This, she said, was to ensure that women do not have to choose between their jobs and childcare.

On the economic front, Sunetra pointed to a suite of initiatives, including the Ladki Bahin and Lakhpati Didi schemes, alongside the Fourth Women’s Policy, which focuses on principles like ending sexual and gender-based violence, education, health, nutrition, etc.

Moreover, platforms like Umed Mall and Mahalakshmi Saras, she said, were helping self-help groups sell their products online and reach more buyers.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/maharashtra-mumbai-come-early-go-early-scheme-women-sunetra-pawar-2879969-2026-03-10

Dozens of students in Tamil Nadu were taken to hospital after a food contamination scare at a Coimbatore Corporation school.

At least 44 students from a government school in Tamil Nadu were rushed to hospital on March 10 after a lizard was discovered in the midday meal served to them, triggering panic among children and staff.

The incident took place at a Corporation Middle School under the Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation’s West Zone, where students from Classes 4, 5 and 6 were eating their midday meal when the contamination was noticed.

According to officials, a total of 44 students, 31 boys and 13 girls, were affected. Once the presence of a lizard in the food was detected, authorities immediately arranged ambulances and shifted the children to the District Government Medical College Hospital for treatment.

OFFICIALS VISIT HOSPITAL

The affected students, who are currently undergoing treatment, were later visited by Coimbatore City Mayor K Ranganayaki Ramachandran and Municipal Commissioner M Sivaguru Prabhakaran.

The two officials met the children and spoke to doctors at the hospital to review the treatment being provided.

Authorities have not yet provided further details on the health condition of the students.

POLITICAL REACTIONS

The incident drew strong reactions from political leaders, with BJP leader Vinoj P Selvam calling the development “shocking and heartbreaking”.

In a message posted on X, he said, “The news that 44 students who ate midday meals at Kovai Kaundampalayam Municipal Corporation Middle School were admitted to the hospital, reportedly due to a lizard falling into the food, is shocking and heartbreaking. I pray that the students recover fully soon.”

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கோவை கவுண்டம்பாளையம் மாநகராட்சி நடுநிலைப்பள்ளியில் பல்லி விழுந்ததாகக் கூறப்படும் மதிய உணவு சாப்பிட்ட 44 மாணவர்கள் மருத்துவமனையில் அனுமதிக்கப்பட்டுள்ள செய்தி அதிர்ச்சியையும் வேதனையையும் தருகிறது.மாணவர்கள் விரைவில் பூரண நலம் பெற வேண்டும் என வேண்டுகிறேன்.

கடந்த
பிப்ரவரி மாதமும்… https://t.co/DrJMYADE1j

— Vinoj P Selvam (@VinojBJP) March 10, 2026

Selvam also referred to a similar episode reported in February near Pollachi, where students at the Dasanayakanpalayam school were affected by health issues after consuming the midday meal.

“Such incidents have been on the rise over the past five years, which highlights the government’s negligence,” he said.

CALL FOR INSPECTION OF SCHOOL MEALS

The BJP leader criticised the state government over food quality in schools and called for immediate inspections.

“I strongly condemn this government, which is incapable of addressing the minister who gives a scientific explanation that ‘ink has seeped into the egg’ when asked about providing rotten eggs to students, or the officials who engage in corruption in children’s food,” he said.

Selvam added that the government should “immediately initiate an inspection of the quality and hygiene of the food provided to students in all schools”.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/44-students-hospitalised-after-lizard-found-in-tamil-nadu-school-midday-meal-2880038-2026-03-10

The PIB Fact Check unit has flagged a deepfake video of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar as part of a wider Pakistan-linked misinformation campaign during the West Asia crisis.

As tensions escalate in West Asia, India is confronting a surge in online misinformation campaigns largely traced to Pakistan-based social media accounts, with authorities warning that coordinated propaganda using AI-generated deepfakes and edited videos is increasingly targeting the country’s political leadership, armed forces and diplomatic positions.

Government fact-checking agencies say the activity has intensified in recent days, coinciding with heightened geopolitical tensions in the region. Officials view the trend as part of a broader information warfare effort aimed at shaping narratives about India’s position on the ongoing West Asia conflict.

DEEPFAKE OF JAISHANKAR FLAGGED

The Press Information Bureau Fact Check unit recently flagged a digitally manipulated video of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar that circulated widely online.

The clip falsely claimed that the minister had said India would not tolerate Muslim countries “harassing Israel” and also alleged that Israel had provided $3 billion to the Afghan Taliban at India’s request. The PIB clarified that the video was fabricated and that the minister had made no such statements.

In a post on social media on March 10, the PIB Fact Check unit said, “Pakistani propaganda accounts are sharing a digitally manipulated video of the External Affairs Minister with false claims alleging that he said India would not tolerate Muslim countries harassing Israel and that Israel recently granted $3 billion to the Taliban at India’s request.”

Officials say the incident is part of a wider pattern of misinformation campaigns that seek to misrepresent India’s diplomatic stance and influence public opinion during periods of international tension.

RISE IN MISINFORMATION CASES

According to government data, the PIB Fact Check unit has debunked more than 2,400 pieces of fake or misleading information over the past four years. Of these, more than 800 were identified in the last year alone, with many relating to national security and foreign policy issues.

Fact-checking agencies say misinformation tends to spike sharply during crises.

During the 2025 military tensions that followed India’s response to the Pahalgam terror attack under “Operation Sindoor,” authorities blocked more than 1,400 URLs that were spreading anti-India propaganda. Officials said most of these originated from Pakistan-linked networks.

Fact-checkers say many such posts are designed to create panic, amplify confusion and shape public perception during sensitive moments.

PATTERN OF AI-GENERATED PROPAGANDA

The deepfake involving Jaishankar is not an isolated incident. Another AI-generated video circulated earlier falsely portrayed an Indian Air Force officer criticising aircraft maintenance standards and blaming the government for rising accidents.

The video gained traction on social media before it was debunked by the PIB Fact Check unit.

Investigations have also found repeated use of AI-cloned voices and manipulated footage of India’s military leadership to promote misleading narratives about defence preparedness and internal dissent.

OLD FOOTAGE USED TO CREATE FALSE CLAIMS

Authorities say misinformation campaigns often rely not only on deepfakes but also on repurposed videos and images.

In one instance, footage of the 2020 Beirut port explosion was circulated online with claims that it showed a Pakistani missile strike on India. Fact-checkers later confirmed that the video had been falsely linked to India.

Similarly, during Operation Sindoor, viral posts claiming drone interceptions, destruction of military bases and closure of Indian airports were later exposed as fabricated.

‘HYBRID WARFARE’ IN THE DIGITAL SPACE

Security analysts describe such campaigns as a form of hybrid warfare in which information manipulation accompanies geopolitical crises.

Research on digital conflict ecosystems shows that AI-generated videos, recycled battlefield footage and edited clips can spread rapidly during conflicts, making real-time verification difficult.

In response, the Indian government has expanded fact-checking efforts involving the Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Defence and the Press Information Bureau to monitor viral content and issue clarifications quickly.

Officials say these agencies work continuously to counter misinformation and prevent panic among the public.

Source :https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/pakistan-deepfakes-digital-propaganda-india-west-asia-crisis-2879939-2026-03-10

The UP ATS action came after intelligence inputs that the naval personnel was sharing sensitive information with Pakistan’s ISI.

A serving Indian Navy Lance Naik has been arrested for allegedly spying for Pakistan’s intelligence agency ISI and sharing sensitive naval information, officials said on Tuesday.

The arrest was made by the Uttar Pradesh Anti Terrorism Squad following intelligence inputs about suspected espionage activities linked to the naval personnel.

The accused, identified as Adarsh Kumar, also known as Lucky, is a resident of Kagarol in Uttar Pradesh’s Agra district and was posted at the Indian Navy’s Southern Command base in Kochi, Kerala.

SENSITIVE INFORMATION SHARED WITH ISI

According to investigators, Kumar had allegedly been passing sensitive information related to the Navy to handlers linked to Pakistan’s Inter Services Intelligence.

Officials said he shared photographs and details of important naval information with the ISI through digital communication.

The probe has also found that Kumar transferred money from his personal account to the handler he was in contact with.

ARREST AFTER INTELLIGENCE INPUT

Authorities said the Uttar Pradesh ATS acted after receiving specific inputs about espionage activities involving the naval personnel.

Following verification of the information, the agency moved to arrest Kumar and began questioning him about his contacts and the information that may have been shared.

POSTED AT KOCHI NAVAL BASE

At the time of the alleged espionage activity, Kumar was serving at the Indian Navy’s base in Kochi under the Southern Command.

Officials said further investigation is underway to determine the extent of information shared and whether others may have been involved in the espionage network.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/uttar-pradesh/story/indian-navy-lance-naik-arrested-spying-pakistan-isi-sensitive-naval-information-2880059-2026-03-10

The unrest began on Monday after former Phulbari legislator Estamur Momin was allegedly assaulted by protesters, who have been demanding that non-tribals should refrain from contesting or participating in the Garo Hills council elections.

Two people were killed after security forces opened fire to disperse violent mobs in Meghalaya’s West Garo Hills district early Tuesday, as tensions escalated over the nomination process for the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) elections.

The incident took place in the Chibinang area, where clashes broke out between tribal and non-tribal groups, a report by news agency PTI said. West Garo Hills Superintendent of Police Abraham T Sangma said the firing occurred when security forces tried to disperse an unlawful gathering.

“The two persons who died were residents of Chibinang. There was a clash between tribals and non-tribals regarding the GHADC elections, and the firing occurred while we were dispersing an unlawful assembly,” Sangma told PTI.

Authorities said the situation is currently under control. However, the district administration imposed a curfew across West Garo Hills from midnight on March 10 to prevent further escalation.

The Army was also called in to help restore normalcy.

Defence spokesperson Lt Col Mahender Rawat confirmed that Army units had been deployed in the district. “Army columns deployed in West Garo Hills on the request of civil administration and conducting a flag march,” Rawat told PTI.

He declined to specify the number of columns deployed. A standard Army column typically consists of 60–80 personnel.

Earlier, West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Vibhor Aggarwal had written to the Commanding Officer of the 101 Area under the Eastern Command, requesting the Army to conduct a flag march in sensitive areas.

In the communication, Aggarwal said the district had witnessed disturbances amid opposition to the participation of non-tribals in the GHADC elections.

“The presence of the armed forces through a flag march will greatly help in reassuring the public, preventing any further untoward incidents, and restoring confidence among the residents,” he said.

He also noted that recent unrest had triggered “communal tensions between two groups and public unrest,” adding that a visible security presence would demonstrate preparedness to maintain peace and stability.

VIOLENCE LINKED TO COUNCIL POLLS

The unrest began on Monday after former Phulbari legislator Estamur Momin was allegedly assaulted by protesters when he reached the deputy commissioner’s office in Tura to file his nomination for the GHADC polls scheduled for April 10.

Protesters have been demanding that non-tribals should refrain from contesting or participating in the council elections.

Following the violence, authorities suspended mobile internet services in West Garo Hills for 48 hours starting March 10 to prevent the spread of misinformation on social media. Voice calls and SMS services remain operational.

Security has also been strengthened at nomination centres. The filing of nomination papers for the GHADC elections will continue till March 16, while scrutiny of nominations is scheduled for March 17.

Uttar Pradesh STF arrested Arif Hussain, wanted in a cow slaughter case and carrying a Rs 50,000 reward, from Chandauli district after he remained absconding for a long time. The investigation continues.

The Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) has arrested a man wanted in a cow slaughter case who had been absconding for a long time and carried a reward of Rs50,000 on his arrest, officials said.

The accused, identified as Arif Hussain, son of Najakat Hussain, was arrested from Chandauli district in Uttar Pradesh following a sustained search operation by the STF.

According to officials, Hussain had been on the run for a considerable period, prompting police to announce a reward of Rs 50,000 for information leading to his arrest.

STF teams had been actively tracking the accused in connection with the case before finally apprehending him in Chandauli, officials said.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/uttar-pradesh-stf-arrests-rs-50000-reward-cow-slaughter-accused-in-chandauli-2880079-2026-03-11

‘Ministry has issued orders to oil refineries for higher LPG production and using such extra production for domestic LPG use,’ Puri posted on X.

With hotels and restaurants have facing shortage of LPG supply, Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Monday said a committee of three Executive Director (EDs) of Oil Marketing Companies have been constituted to review the representations for LPG supply to restaurants/hotels/other industries and ensure smooth supply.

“In light of current geopolitical disruptions to fuel supply and constraints on supply of LPG, Ministry has issued orders to oil refineries for higher LPG production and using such extra production for domestic LPG use,” Puri posted on X.

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In light of current geopolitical disruptions to fuel supply and constraints on supply of LPG, Ministry has issued orders to oil refineries for higher LPG production and using such extra production for domestic LPG use.

The ministry has prioritised domestic LPG supply to…

— Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas #MoPNG (@PetroleumMin) March 9, 2026

“The ministry has prioritised domestic LPG supply to households and introduced 25 day inter- booking period to avoid hoarding/black marketing. Non domestic supplies from imported LPG is being prioritised to essential non domestic sectors such as Hospitals and Educational institutions,” he said.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/west-asia-conflict-centre-orders-refineries-to-boost-lpg-production-for-domestic-use-amid-reports-of-shortage-3925954 

Who doesn’t love that soothing face massage after a long week? It feels relaxing and refreshing. But what if that “relaxation” could secretly be putting your eyesight at risk? Yes, it sounds shocking, but recent warnings from an ophthalmologist in Agra suggest that certain face massages, especially those using high-frequency massage guns, could actually lead to cataracts.

The idea seems far-fetched at first because how could a simple facial harm your eyes? But when you see how some modern salons use powerful massagers right near the eye, the danger becomes clear.

High-Frequency Massages And Real-Life Risks

The doctor shared a case of a young man who developed a cataract in his right eye. Curious about the cause, the doctor asked about his daily routine. “History mein ye samajh aya ki ye hafte mein 2-3 baar face massage karane poch jate the aur jaha bhi inka salon hai, wo high frequency massage gun aur massagers use karta tha (It was understood from his history that he used to get a facial 2-3 times a week, and at his salon, they used high-frequency massage guns and massagers),” he said.

Shockingly, the young man’s massage sessions involved placing the massager directly over his eyes. The doctor explained, “Uski jo high frequency hai, wo eye mein shockwaves ki tarah act kar rahi thi. Aur us shockwaves ki uski aankh mein traumatic cataract hogaya (The high-frequency vibrations acted like shockwaves in his eye, which led to a traumatic cataract).”

“On the internet, we checked, and we were surprised to see that there were so many cases,” the doctor further said.

It turns out that this isn’t an isolated incident; high-intensity vibrations near the eyes have been linked to several eye injuries, which include sudden cataract formation.

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The Hidden Danger Explained

In the caption, the doctor explained about it in detail: “When high-intensity vibrations are applied near the eyes, they create Shockwaves that travel through the eyeball. This leads to what doctors call a “Coup and Contrecoup” injury.

The Lens: Can become cloudy almost instantly (Cataract).

The Retina: The delicate “wallpaper” of your eye can detach, leading to permanent vision loss.”

Source : https://www.news18.com/viral/agra-doctor-explains-high-frequency-face-massagers-cause-cataract-video-aa-ws-l-9951694.html

 

Resident welfare associations (RWAs) across Delhi said the findings in HT’s report highlight the need for a citywide water quality audit.

Delhi government on Monday initiated a water quality sampling exercise across locations where contamination was detected in a recent independent testing exercise conducted by HT.

Of the 18 water samples collected by HT from across the city, eight – or around 44% – were found to contain either total coliform bacteria or E. coli, indicators of possible contamination. The exercise highlighted the need for constant and extensive monitoring of water supply, particularly in light of the ageing condition of the pipeline network.

Water minister Parvesh Verma has directed the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) to ramp up testing and take corrective measures in areas flagged in the report, said officials from Verma’s office.

DJB chief executive officer Kaushal Raj Sharma said on Monday that a re-sampling exercise will be carried out on Tuesday morning and rectification measures will be undertaken wherever contamination is detected. “DJB teams have been instructed to immediately take samples from all affected areas and identify the source of contamination. Corrective action will follow wherever issues are found,” he said.

“We are committed to helping residents facing contamination issues and all such cases should be brought to our notice. Contamination sources will be identified and corrective measures undertaken,” Sharma said.

Officials said the board is implementing a long-term plan to tackle contamination complaints across the city, including replacing ageing pipelines and cleaning trunk sewer lines. Delhi’s water supply network spans over 15,400km, carrying treated water from nine water treatment plants to homes across the Capital. However, more than 5,200km of these pipelines are over 30 years old, while another 2,700km are between 20 and 30 years old. Under a ₹10,000-crore plan, DJB aims to bring contamination complaints down to zero over the next four years.

According to officials, the contamination issue is being addressed through a three-pronged strategy. First, the board has begun replacing old water supply lines in 10 assembly constituencies that fall under the Chandrawal water treatment plant command area. “We have set a target to initiate replacement work in all assemblies by the end of this year,” a DJB official said.

The second major reason, officials said, is heavy silting in trunk sewer lines that can lead to backflow during supply hours. “We have divided 100km of trunk sewer lines into packages and all of them will be desilted before the monsoon,” the official said. “In Rajouri Garden, the backflow from sewer lines may be the reason behind contamination.” Third, officials said the board receives between 60 and 70 complaints daily and is working to reduce the response time to address them.

The CM’s office did not respond to requests for comment.

For many residents living in the affected localities, the findings only confirmed a problem they say they have faced for months – and in some cases even years.

“Many people have fallen sick in the past few weeks. Diarrhoea, typhoid, hepatitis… multiple people are suffering from these currently,” said 66-year-old Lalit Goyal, a resident of East Vinod Nagar, where the water sample showed a total coliform level of 6 colony-forming units (cfu). “My children live here and I am worried they will fall sick,” he said.

The water sample collected from J-Block in Rajouri Garden showed the highest contamination levels in the exercise, with a coliform value of 920 cfu per 100ml and E. coli at 270.

Hemant Monga, 62, a resident and RWA member in the area, said locals have been complaining to authorities for months.“It has been almost 10 months now that we have been facing this issue, but DJB officials have been saying they are still searching for the fault,” Monga said. “It is clear that sewage is mixing into the water and the pipeline needs to be replaced,” he said.

He also alleged that people identifying as DJB officials visited the area on Monday and told residents they should not have shared samples with the media. “DJB officials said that there was no need to inform the media and they would start the work soon. We had filed multiple complaints with DJB earlier but no action was taken,” he said.

When asked, DJB officials said directions have been issued that residents must not be harassed.

At Mayur Vihar Phase-III’s DDA D-2 flats, where tests showed total coliform levels of 620 cfu and E. coli at 200, residents said the problem has still not been resolved. “We are still getting dirty water. Soon after the story, DJB officials reached out and said they wanted to test water samples . We welcome that because we want a permanent solution,” said Vijay Singh Rawat, general secretary of the local RWA.

In Vikaspuri’s Budhela village, 55-year-old Surender Kumar linked his liver problems and his father’s death to contaminated water. Residents suspect a damaged sewer pipeline near ongoing construction.

Dwarka Sector-16B resident Sandip Singh said his family relies on bottled water due to young children. Dayanand Piwal, 71, of Devli village noted that while most households use RO systems, not everyone can afford purifiers.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/delhi-news/delhi-water-crisis-govt-orders-water-re-sampling-delhi-jal-board-corrective-measures-after-report-ht-impact-101773104476725.html

A major study published in Neurology found that lifelong mentally stimulating activities, such as reading, chess, and puzzles, may delay Alzheimer’s disease by about five years and mild cognitive impairment by seven. Researchers tracking nearly 2,000 older adults found that people with more cognitively engaging lifestyles maintained better brain health, supporting the theory that mental activity builds “cognitive reserve.”

Something as simple as just reading a book or playing chess can protect your brain from Alzheimer’s disease. A major new study suggests that mentally stimulating activities that you do throughout life may significantly delay the onset of cognitive impairment, offering fresh hope in the fight against age-related memory loss. Published in the journal Neurology, the study followed almost 2,000 adult men and women with an average age of 80 years, making it one of the largest studies to examine how lifelong mental engagement influences brain health.

The results were striking. Researchers found that those who consistently engaged in mentally stimulating activities throughout life developed Alzheimer’s disease around five years later than those with the lowest levels of cognitive engagement.

For mild cognitive impairment, often considered an early stage of dementia, the difference was even greater- a seven-year delay. Participants in the most cognitively enriched group developed Alzheimer’s at an average age of 94 years, compared with 88 years for those in the least engaged group. “I was positively surprised,” said Andrea Zammit, assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioural sciences at Rush University Medical Center and co-author of the study.

Seven workers died after an under-construction wall collapsed at Signature Global Society in Gurugram on Monday evening, trapping up to 15 labourers under rubble. All were rushed to hospital.

Seven workers died after a wall collapsed at a construction site in Gurugram, Haryana, officials confirmed on Tuesday. The wall came down on Monday evening at around 8 pm at the Signature Global Society in the Sidhrawali area. Between 12 and 15 labourers were trapped under the rubble. Rescue teams pulled the workers out and took them to a hospital in Bhiwadi. Doctors declared seven of them dead on arrival. Officials are investigating the cause of the collapse.

Police have identified the deceased individuals as Satish, Bhagirath, Milan, Shiv Shankar, Mangal and Parmeshwar. They added that the condition of four — Chotelal, Deendayal, Shivkant and Indrajeet — is critical.

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#WATCH | Haryana | Visuals from outside the residential society where several labourers are feared dead after a wall of an under-construction building collapsed last night in the Sidhrawali area of Gurugram pic.twitter.com/aZtZHQYXZA

— ANI (@ANI) March 10, 2026

Compensation Announced

Meanwhile, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh each for the families of those who lost their lives in a tragic fire at a factory in Safidon, Jind. The Chief Minister also sanctioned Rs 2 lakh for those who sustained injuries in the incident.

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STORY | 7 killed as wall collapses at Gurugram

Seven workers were killed after an under-construction wall collapsed in this Haryana district, officials said on Tuesday. The incident occurred on Monday evening at the Signature Global Society in Gurugram’s Sidhrawali area, they… pic.twitter.com/4rSBrq9JCD

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 10, 2026

According to the Haryana detailed project report, CM Nayab Singh Saini expressed deep condolences over the tragic accident at the Safidon factory. Praying for departed souls, he expressed his deepest condolences to the bereaved families. The Chief Minister wished for the speedy recovery of the injured.

The Chief Minister directed the district administration to conduct a detailed investigation to determine the cause of the accident. The administration must ensure that such incidents do not recur in the future.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/city/gurugram/gurugram-midnight-mishap-7-labourers-dead-4-critical-after-under-construction-wall-collapses-article-153797339

 

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee alleged BJP workers distributed rally leaflets at her sit-in protest in Kolkata and asked supporters to catch them. Police later arrested two people for allegedly distributing the pamphlets. Meanwhile, BJP leader Sukanta Majumdar rejected Mamata’s claim that PM Narendra Modi insulted President Droupadi Murmu.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) were distributing leaflets at the site of her sit-in protest in Kolkata.

Talking to the gathering, Mamata urged people to catch those BJP people who are distributing leaflets from her protest site and hand them over to the police.

“The BJP people can distribute their leaflets from other places and not from my sit-in-demonstration area. If anyone is coming here then they should peacefully join the protest for the people,” said Mamata.

Notably, two people were arrested by police for allegedly distributing BJP’s Brigade rally leaflet.

Meanwhile, BJP on the other hand had cleared the allegation levied against Prime Minister Narendra Modi by Mamata over alleged insult to the President.

BJP MP and MoS Sukanta Majumdar said that there is no such rule that everyone has to stand while the President is delivering speech or giving Bharat Ratna.

“We stand when the President enters but then when she delivers her speech the rest of the people sit and hear,” said Majumdar.

Incidentally, on Sunday showing a photo of Modi sitting and President Droupadi Murmu standing, Mamata had criticized Modi.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/west-bengal-cm-mamata-banerjee-alleges-bjp-distributing-leaflets-at-protest-site-urges-supporters-to-catch-them-and-inform-police

 

India’s Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar reassured the Indian public that the government was monitoring the situation in the Middle East and that the safety of Indian nationals was its priority, amid criticism.

The direction came during the hearing of an acid attack survivor, Shaheen Malik’s plea. Malik mentioned in her petition that it often gets difficult for the survivors to open bank accounts, obtain Aadhaar cards, register or update property, due to the impact of acid attacks.

The Supreme Court on Monday asked all the states and union territories to frame a policy to provide government jobs to all acid attack victims. If jobs can’t be provided, then the states and union territories were asked to frame a policy to pay a subsistence allowance to the survivors.

“All states/Union territories will show cause why a scheme for the rehabilitation of victims of acid attacks through jobs in government departments/agencies has not been formulated,” the bench of the Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi said. Adding further, it mentioned, “If there are logistical issues in providing government employment to victims of acid attacks, the state governments could formulate a policy to pay a subsistence allowance to acid attack victims.”

The direction came while hearing the case of Shaheen Malik, an acid attack survivor. Malik, who was represented by senior advocate Sidharth Luthra pro bono (free of charge) on the court’s request, mentioned in her petition that acid attack survivors often face hardships in opening bank accounts, obtaining Aadhaar cards, registering or updating property, and purchasing mobile SIM cards.

In addition to this, the problems of KYC registration for acid attack survivors were also raised in court. It was said that the survivors go through extreme difficulties for KYC registration as the process involves digitally detailing pupils, blinking, and fingerprinting to prove life, which often becomes impossible for acid attack victims.

Several acid attack survivors earlier requested the Supreme Court to order the Central government to adopt an inclusive and alternative digital KYC process, given their difficulties and constraints.

Earlier this year, the Court flagged the need for harsher punishment in acid attack cases, suggesting that the assets of the accused should be attached and auctioned off to compensate the victims. The observations came during the hearing of the same Shaheen Malik plea, who approached the Supreme Court after a trial court acquitted the accused in her case.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/law-news/story/frame-policy-government-jobs-allowance-acid-attack-victims-supreme-court-to-states-2879394-2026-03-09

Sharjeel Imam is among several accused booked in the larger conspiracy case linked to the communal violence that erupted in northeast Delhi in February 2020. He was granted interim bail for 10 days on Monday.

A Delhi court has granted 10-day interim bail to student activist Sharjeel Imam, an accused in the 2020 northeast Delhi riots conspiracy case, to attend his brother’s wedding and take care of his ailing mother.

The development comes months after the Supreme Court in January refused to grant bail to Imam and co-accused Umar Khalid in the 2020 Delhi riots case.

Sharjeel Imam is among several accused booked in the larger conspiracy case linked to the communal violence that erupted in northeast Delhi in February 2020. The riots had left 53 people dead and over 700 injured.

The case is being investigated by the Delhi Police, which has alleged that the violence was the result of a “pre-planned and well-designed” conspiracy aimed at disrupting public order during protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

In January, the Supreme Court had denied bail to Sharjeel Imam and Umar Khalid, with a bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and NV Anjaria observing that the prosecution had placed sufficient material on record to establish a prima facie case indicating their involvement in the alleged criminal conspiracy.

At the same time, the court had granted bail to five other accused in the case — Gulfisha Fatima, Meeran Haider, Shifa Ur Rehman, Mohd Saleem Khan and Shadab Ahmed — noting that their roles differed from those attributed to Khalid and Imam.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/law-news/story/delhi-riots-case-accused-sharjeel-imam-granted-10-day-bail-to-attend-brothers-wedding-2879403-2026-03-09

An exclusive Right To Information response accessed by India Today reveals that only two MPs in the current Lok Sabha have chosen not to draw their salary. While one MP belongs to the BJP, the other is from the Congress.

Members of Parliament are often seen coming together across party lines when it comes to increasing their salaries and perks. But there are some who do not want a paisa in remuneration. A Right To Information response reveals that only two MPs in the current Lok Sabha have chosen not to draw their salary – one from the BJP and the other from the Congress.

The two MPs represent constituencies separated by 2,575 kilometres – the distance between Kurukshetra and Imphal. However, one of them has gone a step further: he has chosen not to take even the government perks and allowances that come with the office.

According to the RTI reply from the Lok Sabha Secretariat, made in resposne to a query posed by India Today, the two MPs are Naveen Jindal, MP from Kurukshetra, and Dr Bimol Akoijam Angomcha, MP from Inner Manipur. Moreover, Jindal has also chosen not to avail his official allowances or perks.

According to their election affidavits, the two MPs come from very different financial backgrounds. Naveen Jindal, the MP from Kurukshetra, has declared assets worth Rs 1,241 crore, while Dr Bimol Akoijam Angomcha, who represents Inner Manipur, has declared assets of about Rs 97 lakh.

Jindal is also among the wealthiest members of the 18th Lok Sabha. Yet, he is not the richest. That distinction belongs to Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani, the Telugu Desam MP from Guntur, who has declared assets worth over Rs 5,705 crore. He is followed by BJP MP Konda Vishweshwar Reddy, who has declared assets worth over Rs 4,568 crore.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/lok-sabha-mp-rti-naveen-jindal-bimol-akoijam-congress-bjp-salary-perks-2879460-2026-03-09

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced a monthly financial assistance scheme for women, highlighting his government’s commitment to welfare and development.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday claimed that opposition parties were rattled by his government’s announcement of a monthly financial assistance scheme for women, saying their criticism reflects fear of the Aam Aadmi Party returning to power in the 2027 Assembly elections.

Speaking in the Punjab Assembly during the Budget Session while replying to the debate on the motion of thanks to the governor’s address, Mann said his government had treated its election manifesto as a “sacred commitment” and fulfilled the promises made to people.

He accused the Shiromani Akali Dal, the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Indian National Congress of repeatedly betraying the public by failing to deliver on their electoral assurances.

RS 1,000 SCHEME FOR WOMEN

Defending the newly announced financial support programme for women, Mann said it was aimed at giving dignity and economic support to families.

Under the Mukh Mantri Mavaan Dhian Yojna, women aged above 18 from the general category will receive Rs 1,000 per month, while women from the Scheduled Caste category will receive Rs 1,500 per month.

“For ordinary people, especially the poor, Rs 1,000-Rs 1,500 is a significant amount. This amount is a mark of respect for mothers and daughters, and the smile on women’s faces due to this scheme gives me great satisfaction,” Mann said.

He announced that registration for the scheme will begin on April 13.

WELFARE SCHEMES AND JOBS

The chief minister said the state government had launched several welfare initiatives, including free electricity, free bus travel and health coverage for families.

He also referred to the recruitment of 63,943 youths over the past four years.

“There was a time when no one even read election manifestos because traditional parties released them merely as a formality a few days before elections,” Mann said.

“Traditional parties used to talk about religion and caste in their manifestos, but AAP’s national convenor Arvind Kejriwal made a historic initiative by including quality health and education for the common people in the manifesto,” he added.

AFFORDABLE RATION SCHEME

Mann also spoke about the Meri Rasoi scheme aimed at easing the burden on families struggling with rising prices.

“Under the Meri Rasoi scheme, 40 lakh families will receive sugar, pulses, mustard oil and salt in their ration, and a budget of Rs 1,000 crore has been allocated for this scheme,” he said.

HEALTH SECTOR PUSH

The chief minister said public trust in 881 Aam Aadmi Clinics across the state had grown steadily, with the number of outpatient visits crossing 5 crore.

He added that the government had introduced the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna to provide free treatment to every family, offering cashless healthcare coverage of up to Rs 10 lakh.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the Indian cricket team after their emphatic win over New Zealand in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 final. India posted 255 runs, with Sanju Samson scoring 89, before bowling New Zealand out for 159. Modi praised the team’s skill, determination and teamwork in a celebratory message on X.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday congratulated the Indian cricket team after their emphatic victory over New Zealand in the final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

Taking to X, the Prime Minister praised the team’s performance and lauded their determination throughout the tournament following India’s commanding win in the summit clash.

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Champions!

Congratulations to the Indian team on winning the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup!

This remarkable triumph reflects exceptional skills, determination and teamwork. They have shown outstanding grit through the tournament.

This victory has filled every Indian heart with…

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 8, 2026

“Champions! Congratulations to the Indian team on winning the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup! This remarkable triumph reflects exceptional skill, determination and teamwork. They have shown outstanding grit through the tournament. This victory has filled every Indian heart with pride and joy. Well done, Team India!” Modi wrote.

In the final, India were asked to bat first after losing the toss and posted a formidable total of 255 runs, putting New Zealand under immense pressure in the chase.

India’s innings was powered by a brilliant knock from Sanju Samson, who scored 89 runs. Abhishek Sharma added 52, while Ishan Kishan contributed 54 runs, helping India set a daunting target for the Black Caps.

In reply, New Zealand struggled to keep up with the required run rate and were bowled out for 159 runs in 19 overs, handing India a comprehensive victory.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/well-done-team-india-pm-modi-praises-men-in-blue-after-beating-new-zealand-in-t20-world-cup-final

 

The Indian embassy in Riyadh said that it has been in touch with the concerned Saudi authorities regarding this issue.

The Indian embassy in Riyadh clarified on Monday that no Indian national was killed after a projectile fell on a residential area in Saudi Arabia the previous day, adding that the mission is in touch with Saudi authorities.

Earlier on Sunday, a Saudi Civil Defense official, said in a statement that the two individuals killed in the incident in Al-Kharj city included an Indian and a Bangladeshi national.

“It is a matter of relief that there has been no Indian fatality in the unfortunate incident at Al Kharj yesterday evening,’ the Indian embassy in Riyadh said in a post on X.

The Indian mission said it has been in touch with the concerned Saudi authorities regarding this issue.

“Counsellor (CW) Shri Y. Sabir visited Al Kharj last night and met the injured Indian national involved in this unfortunate incident. He is currently receiving treatment at a government hospital in Al Kharj,” it added.

In a social media post earlier, the Saudi authorities stated that the Civil Defense responded to the fall of a military projectile on a residential location belonging to a maintenance and cleaning company in Al-Kharj Governorate.

“The incident resulted in the death of two individuals of Indian and Bangladeshi nationalities, and injuries to 12 Bangladeshi residents, in addition to material damage,” the authorities added.

The Saudi spokesperson further stated that the attempts to target civilian infrastructure constitute a blatant violation of international humanitarian law. “The spokesperson stressed that attempts to target civilian facilities constitute a blatant violation of international humanitarian law, adding that the approved procedures in such cases have been implemented,” the statement added.

On Sunday, the the Indian embassy issued an advisory for its nationals, urging them to continue keeping vigil and adhere to safety guidelines. It asked the Indian nationals to follow advisories issued by local authorities sincerely.

“In view of the prevailing situation in the region and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, all Indian Nationals currently in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are advised to continue to remain vigilant, strictly adhere to the safety guidelines prevalent in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and follow advisories issued by the local authorities and the Embassy,” the embassy said in a post on X.

Escalating US-Iran war

The latest development comes against the backdrop of the escalating tensions in the Middle East, with the conflict widening with each day. Iran and the United States continue to remain at loggerheads as air strikes and attacks occur persistently.

Iranian attacks have heavily targeted the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and other Gulf nations, as the war expands.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/lifestyle/health/celebrity-nutritionist-rujuta-diwekar-applauds-this-bollywood-actor-pathbreaking-pregnancy-weight-loss-journey-post-baby-101773041533169.html

A Mumbai man visited the famous Rameshwaram Cafe on Saturday, only to run into India’s richest man, Mukesh Ambani.

A Mumbai man visited the famous Rameshwaram Cafe on Saturday, only to run into India’s richest man, Mukesh Ambani. The Reliance Industries chairman dropped into the Churchgate eatery with his son and daughter-in-law earlier this week, leaving bystanders surprised.

Prafful Paithane, a Mumbai-based content creator, was among those who were at Rameshwaram Cafe when the Ambanis entered. He recorded a video of the high-profile billionaire family that is steadily going viral online.

Ambanis at Rameshwaram Cafe

Paithane’s video shows the Ambani convoy stopping outside The Rameshwaram Cafe in Mumbai’s Churchgate area. It then cuts to Mukesh Ambani walking into the iconic eatery, surrounded by security personnel. The billionaire was seen dressed simply in black trousers and a beige shirt. He folded his hands to greet the crowd that gathered to catch a glimpse of India’s richest man.

Prafful Paithane also filmed the moment when Anant Ambani entered the cafe, followed by wife Radhika Ambani and Bollywood actress Janhvi Kapoor. Anant is the younger son of Mukesh and Nita Ambani.

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“Just a normal day in Mumbai casually running into Janhvi Kapoor & Radhika Ambani, Anant Ambani, Mukesh Ambani,” he captioned the clip.

Rajas Jain (@rjrajas) also shared videos of the Ambani family at Rameshwaram Cafe.

“The Rameshwaram Cafe was truly honoured to host the Ambani family today at our newly launched Mumbai outlet. It was a pleasure welcoming Mukesh Ambani, Anant Ambani, Radhika Merchant and Janhvi Kapoor for lunch. A memorable moment for all of us at The Rameshwaram Cafe,” he wrote.

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Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/trending/man-runs-into-mukesh-ambani-anant-and-radhika-ambani-at-rameshwaram-cafe-just-a-normal-day-in-mumbai-101773018845621.html 

 

Low-cost drones are reshaping warfare, as seen in Ukraine for the last four years, and now in the Iran war. Iran’s low-cost Shahed drones have inspired the US’s LUCAS. In India, low-cost, deep-strike drone projects like Sheshnag-150 and Project KAL are picking pace.

In Iran’s war with the US and Israel, low-cost drones have given Tehran unprecedented leverage. Iran’s Shahed-136 drone has been the inspiration for indigenous models, costing between $20,000 and $50,000 per unit. In fact, the US’s Low-cost Uncrewed Combat Attack System, aka LUCAS drone, is based on the same design as Shahed. India, too, is ramping up its firepower capability with indigenous long-range strike drones.

Before proving its mettle in the current war, Iran’s Shahed-136 drone made its mark in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, forcing Kyiv to spend millions in intercepting them. That Iran, a country without an effective air force, could hit deep inside countries, reveals the power of its drones and missiles. The US’s low-cost LUCAS drones look very similar to Iran’s Shahed-136.

Before the Ukraine-Russia war, it was the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh that showed how drones and loitering munitions could tilt the balance of military power. Azerbaijan won the war and its extensive use of drones, especially those from Israel and Turkey, is credited for its victory.

The newer dimension to this is low-cost drones that push the enemy into a financial and material attrition. For example, the Shahed-136 kamikaze drones cost anywhere between $20,000 to $50,000 each. But the US and Israel are spending millions on intercepting them. Each Patriot missile costs $4 million, while some interceptors could cost up to $12 million.

Therefore, low-cost drones and interceptors have become vital in modern warfare.

India has two low-cost long-range striking drone projects. While the Sheshnag-150 is being developed by Bengaluru-based startup NewSpace Research and Technologies (NRT), the second is Project KAL, by Noida-based IG Defence, The two would give the Indian armed forces a cost-effective edge to carry out precision attacks.

India has several indigenous drones already in operation or inducted with its armed forces. While major high-end platforms like Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE), and High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) UAVs are in trials or development, smaller tactical, surveillance, swarm, and combat drones from Indian private firms and DRDO have been delivered, inducted, and used operationally, including in exercises and real scenarios.

WHAT ARE INDIA’S SESHNAG AND PROJECT KAL STRIKE DRONES?

India’s armed forces have inducted several indigenous attack drones, primarily loitering munitions, for precision strikes. One such indigenous drone is the Nagastra-1 from Solar Industries, inducted since 2024 with batches delivered. These one-way systems enable infantry-level precision attacks with minimal collateral damage.

The SkyStriker ‘suicide drones’, developed by Bengaluru-based Alpha Design (ADTL) in collaboration with Israel’s Elbit Systems, also made their operational debut during Operation Sindoor in the forward areas of Jammu and Kashmir.

However, low-cost Shahed-type drones are now being developed in India.

Project KAL, is reportedly in its early stages, and is designed as a deep-penetration strike drone with a range of up to 1,000 km and an endurance of three to five hours. It can fly into enemy territory, spot targets, adjust its path, and deliver a high-explosive payload.

Meanwhile, the Sheshnag-150, named after the mythological multi-headed serpent king, is a long-range swarming attack drone, with autonomous systems capable of deep strikes and saturation attacks.

Weighing about 150 kg, Sheshnag also boasts a 1,000-1,200 km range, and can 25-40 kg payload, and over five hours of flight time. What sets it apart is its AI-powered swarm tech — multiple drones can team up autonomously to evade defences and hit targets together. Sheshnaag-150 first flew in February 2025, and the project gained urgency after Operation Sindoor last year.

NRT’s Sheshnag series also include shorter-range versions like SN-20, that can go up to 20 km, and SN-50, which can carry out attacks up to 50 km.

VEM Technologies is also developing a similar low-cost drone, according to reports. However, the specifics remain undisclosed.

Last year, IG Drones successfully completed First-Person View (FPV) drone trials in high-altitude regions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China. The trials featured its cutting-edge Striker FPV drone, designed for tactical combat, surveillance, and intelligence-gathering missions.

HOW IRAN’S SHAHED DRONES HAVE INSPIRED LOW-COST DRONES GLOBALLY

Iran’s Shahed-136 drone has been the inspiration for the indigenous models as they cost just $20,000-$50,000 per unit, and can overwhelm expensive air defences when launched in swarms. In the Russia-Ukraine war, these drones, rebranded as Geran-2 by Russia, have targeted power grids and military sites, forcing Ukraine to spend millions on intercepts. Their simple design, long range (up to 2,500 km), and 40-50 kg warhead make them a game-changer in asymmetric battles.

Even the US has developed a drone based on the same design as Shahed — the Low-cost Uncrewed Combat Attack System, aka LUCAS drone. Priced at around $35,000, LUCAS has been used in strikes against Iranian itself. This shows how effective these low-cost drones are.

To give you an idea, let’s take the example of the MQ-9B SkyGuardian or SeaGuardian variant, made by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems. Though it features longer endurance, of over 40 hours, higher altitude capabilities, certifiable for civil airspace integration, and enhanced sensors and payload options, a single unit of the MQ-9B typically costs $30-80 million, based on the configuration.

For that price, around 600 to 1,500 Shahed-136 drones could be produced.

US Central Command chief, Admiral Brad Cooper, called it “indispensable”, saying it turns Iran’s own weapon against them.

Defence experts and journalists have weighed in on the drones’ potential.

Indian Army veteran and drone expert Anshuman Narang, in an X post, urged the Indian forces to operationalise the indigenous Shahed-style drones “at the earliest”.

The Indian Army is raising specialised drone warfare units equipped with indigenous UAVs.

Aviation enthusiast Arihant Ray, said on his X account, “India’s own Shahed 136/Geran drone equivalent is here. Meet Sheshnaag… We can mass produce this and use them in swarm to saturate, degrade and destroy individual units of hostile IADS.”

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/iran-war-middle-east-crisis-pushes-india-to-fast-track-long-range-strike-drones-shahed-136-project-kal-sheshnag-2879136-2026-03-09

Vaikunth Dham, which typically handles around 20 cremations daily, has enough gas left only for two cremations according to officials.

Pune’s Vaikunth Dham, Maharashtra’s largest crematorium, has temporarily halted all gas-based cremations due to an acute shortage of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), officials confirmed. The disruption, which affects the facility’s three gas-fired furnaces, comes amid the ongoing military conflict in the Middle East, which has impacted LPG supplies across India.

All cremations at the facility are now being conducted using electric pyres.

According to Nilesh Kalekar, Executive Engineer of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), the crematorium currently has enough LPG left for only two cremations, with each requiring approximately 18 kilograms.

Spread over nearly 17 acres in Pune’s Navi Peth, Vaikunth Dham typically handles around 20 cremations daily.

The PMC has issued an official notice informing citizens that gas-based cremation units will remain closed until further orders, and all funeral services will continue through electric furnaces.

The shortage stems from a directive by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas issued on March 5, prioritising domestic LPG supply over commercial use.

The notification requires available propane and butane to be allocated primarily for households, ensuring that domestic consumers face no disruption despite geopolitical tensions affecting fuel imports.

As a result, Vaikunth Dham has not received fresh LPG supplies, forcing a temporary closure of its gas pyres.

PMC officials emphasised that alternative cremation options remain fully functional.

The crematorium’s five electric furnaces and wood-fired facilities equipped with air pollution control systems will continue operations, ensuring continuity of essential services without inconveniencing citizens.

“The transition to electric pyres is aimed at maintaining funeral services amid the gas shortage,” Kalekar said.

GOVERNMENT ASSURANCE ON GAS SUPPLY

Responding to public concerns over fuel availability last week, Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri reassured citizens that domestic LPG supply remained uninterrupted and that India had sufficient energy stocks.

Indian Oil Corporation echoed this, stating that fuel distribution networks are functioning normally and urging the public to avoid panic buying.

Government sources added that India remains in a “very comfortable position” regarding crude oil, petroleum products, and LPG.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/middle-east-war-lpg-shortage-pune-vaikunth-dham-crematorium-electric-cremations-fuel-supply-issues-2879186-2026-03-09

The second half of the Budget session will resume today with a stormy start, with Opposition MPs set to push a motion seeking the removal of Speaker Om Birla. Meanwhile, the government is expected to brief both the Houses on the escalating Middle East conflict, with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar delivering a statement.

The second half of the Budget session of Parliament resumes today with a confrontational start as the Lok Sabha is set to take up an opposition-backed motion seeking the removal of Speaker Om Birla, while the escalating US-Israel-Iran war is also expected to dominate proceedings.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will brief Parliament on the rapidly intensifying crisis in the Middle East, which began on February 28, according to the revised list of business for the day. The Budget session will go on till April 2.

Meanwhile, a motion against Birla, signed by 118 Opposition MPs, accuses him of acting in a “blatantly partisan” manner while conducting proceedings in the House. Following the notice, Birla recused himself from presiding over the Lok Sabha and is expected to return to the chair only after the matter is decided.

Despite the political heat, the NDA holds a comfortable majority, making it unlikely that the motion will succeed. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has publicly backed Birla, saying the Speaker has upheld the principles of the Constitution and parliamentary democracy.

The government is also closely monitoring the safety of Indian citizens across the Gulf as the war in the Middle East enters its tenth day. In recent days, PM Modi has spoken with several regional leaders, including Haitham bin Tarik, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Mohammed bin Salman, emphasising the safety and welfare of the large Indian diaspora.

Opposition parties are expected to question the government over India’s diplomatic position, rising oil prices and possible disruptions to global energy supplies. The war has also drawn in groups such as Hezbollah in Lebanon, widening the regional crisis.

Apart from foreign policy issues, domestic political disputes are also set to erupt. Opposition parties plan to raise concerns over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal, while the BJP may counter with allegations related to protocol during Droupadi Murmu’s recent visit to the state.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/parliament-budget-session-resumes-amid-speaker-om-birla-removal-motion-and-west-asia-crisis-briefing-by-s-jaishankar-2879144-2026-03-09

 

Tamil Nadu’s political scene heats up as AIADMK defends actor-turned-politician Vijay against DMK’s alleged smear campaign ahead of his first election.

Tamil Nadu’s political arena saw fresh sparring after the AIADMK came out in support of actor-turned-politician Vijay, accusing the ruling DMK of attempting to damage his reputation as he prepares for his first electoral battle.

The defence of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam leader came after a petition related to his divorce case surfaced in public discourse, triggering political reactions in the state.

AIADMK ALLEGES SMEAR CAMPAIGN

AIADMK leader Sellur Raju alleged that the controversy was being pushed deliberately by the DMK in an attempt to weaken Vijay’s growing political presence.

“This is DMK deliberately doing anything to come back to power,” he said.

“This is being spread to tarnish the image of brother Vijay,” Raju added, accusing the ruling party of orchestrating the issue to discredit the actor-turned-politician.

BJP QUESTIONS VIJAY’S POLITICAL IMPACT

Meanwhile, Union minister L Murugan said Vijay would soon face the real test of electoral politics in Tamil Nadu.

“He has entered politics and will face his first election,” Murugan said.

“He hasn’t proven anything in Tamil Nadu elections over what impact he will have or the votes he will get,” he added.

Murugan also drew comparisons with other film stars who entered politics in the past.

“You would have seen the crowds which gathered for Chiranjeevi or Vijayakanth, but where are they now,” he said.

“The crowd that gathers to see a cinema star is different from a crowd that gathers with a political thought.”

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/tamil-nadu/story/aiadmk-defends-vijay-amid-dmks-alleged-smear-campaign-ahead-of-tamil-nadu-elections-2024-2879118-2026-03-08

The party also wants to raise urban governance issues with a focus on Indore and Ahmedabad where public health issues had grabbed headlines.

Congress will demand a discussion on the developments in West Asia following the US – Israel attack on Iran and India’s foreign policy “deviations” during the second leg of Parliament’s Budget Session starting Monday, even as government indicated to the Opposition that External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will make a statement on the issue.

The main Opposition party also said it will also demand a debate on the impact of the Indo-US interim trade deal on farmers in the session that will end on April 2.

The decision was taken at a meeting of Congress Parliamentary Strategy Group chaired by top leader Sonia Gandhi at her residence and attended by party chief Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and others.

Congress General Secretary (Communications) and Rajya Sabha Chief Whip Jairam Ramesh said it has been “let known” that Jaishankar will make a statement in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha on West Asia situation.

He said the problem with such Ministerial statements are that they “convey little of value over and above that is already known and more importantly MPs are not given an opportunity to seek clarifications or ask questions”.

“What the Opposition wants is a full-fledged debate. On April 8 2003 there was a spirited debate in the Lok Sabha on the US invasion of Iraq and a resolution was even passed condemning it. This was when. Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who knew his ‘raj dharma’, was the PM,” he said.

After the meeting, Congress Rajya Sabha Whip and Working Committee member Syed Naseer Hussain told reporters that the meeting discussed national and international issues and decided on the issues to be taken on priority.

“We discussed the developments in West Asia, the crisis there and India’s foreign policy as also its impact on international trade and energy. We also discussed the impact of the Indo-US interim trade deal on farmers,” he said.

He said the party wants a discussion on both the issues during the session.

The meeting also deliberated on the delay in granting statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, the demands raised people in Ladakh and the green signal for development projects in ecologically sensitive Andaman and Nicobar Islands by the National Green Tribunal.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/congress-to-raise-indias-foreign-policy-deviationsin-parliaments-budget-session-after-us-israel-attack-on-iran-3924370

Modi, for the second consecutive day, attacked the Trinamool Congress on the alleged insult of Murmu by the TMC government in West Bengal during her visit to the state.

Kolkata: The spat between the Trinamool Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party over President Droupadi Murmu’s visit to West Bengal escalated, with the state’s Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday citing an old picture to turn the tables on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and to accuse him of insulting the first citizen of the nation.

Modi, for the second consecutive day, attacked the Trinamool Congress on the alleged insult of Murmu by the TMC government in West Bengal during her visit to the state on Saturday. He called the TMC ‘arrogant’ and accused Mamata Banerjee’s party and the government of insulting a woman tribal leader holding the office of the president. Mamata, however, displayed a March 31, 2024, picture to allege that Modi, himself, had insulted Murmu by remaining seated even when the president had stood up to confer the Bharat Ratna on L K Advani at the residence of the former deputy prime minister and the veteran BJP leader.

“The picture shows that the prime minister is seated while the president is standing. We never do that. It is the BJP which has the tradition of insulting the president, not us,” she said, displaying the picture from the podium at the site of her sit-in protest in Kolkata against the Election Commission over the Special Intensive Revision of the electoral rolls in West Bengal.

Murmu on Saturday expressed displeasure over the shifting of the venue of a tribal community event attended by her in West Bengal. She called Mamata her “younger sister” but expressed her displeasure over the absence of the chief minister or any other minister of the state during her visit to the International Santhal Conference held at Gosaipur near the airport in Bagdogra in North Bengal. The event was originally scheduled to be held at Bidhannagar in Darjeeling. She went on to suggest that the state government possibly had little interest in the welfare of tribal communities, and that was why it sought to stop people from coming to the event by shifting the venue.

Modi took to X on Saturday, highlighted the tribal identity of Murmu and criticised the TMC, terming the insult of the president “shameful and unprecedented”. The prime minister used an event on the occasion of International Women’s Day on Sunday to speak on the issue once again. “The Nari Shakti of the country will never forgive the TMC for insulting the president, who is also a tribal woman leader.

The TMC government’s actions not only resulted in the mismanagement of the tribal community event but also constituted an affront to the president, the Constitution and the noble tradition of democracy in the country, Modi said on Sunday.

With the assembly elections in West Bengal just a few weeks away, the BJP deployed its tribal leaders in the state and beyond to slam the TMC for the insult of the president and for the alleged boycott by the ruling party in the state of the event of the Santhals.

The TMC also deployed its ministers, legislators and parliamentarians for the counter-offensive against the BJP, and for highlighting the initiatives by the state government for the welfare of the tribal communities.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/west-bengal/west-bengal-cm-mamata-banerjee-counters-bjp-attack-with-photo-of-pm-modi-seated-while-president-murmu-stands-3924468

India confirmed on Saturday that it is continuing to import Russian oil following a temporary waiver granted by the United States.

The Centre on Saturday said that India continues to buy crude oil from any source offering the most competitive prices, as tensions prevail along the Strait of Hormuz route because of the Iran-US-Israel war.

India’s energy supplies remain secure despite the disruptions, the government said.

“Despite rising tensions on the Hormuz Route, India’s energy supply remains secure and stable. India has diversified its crude oil sources from 27 to 40 countries, ensuring multiple alternative supply routes. In the national interest, India purchases oil from wherever the most competitive and affordable rates are available,” the Centre said in a statement.

India also confirmed on Saturday that it is continuing to import Russian oil following a temporary waiver granted by the United States. The waiver was issued because of the war in the Middle East. The Centre has said that New Delhi does not require permission from any country to make such purchases.

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#HormuzRoute पर बढ़ते तनाव के बावजूद भारत की ऊर्जा आपूर्ति सुरक्षित और स्थिर है।

भारत ने अपने कच्चे तेल के स्रोत 27 से बढ़ाकर 40 देशों तक विविधीकृत किए हैं, जिससे आपूर्ति के कई वैकल्पिक मार्ग सुनिश्चित हुए हैं।

राष्ट्रीय हित में भारत वहीं से तेल खरीदता है जहाँ सबसे प्रतिस्पर्धी… pic.twitter.com/N9Dmy05puz

— पीआईबी हिंदी (@PIBHindi) March 7, 2026

“India has never depended on permission from any country to buy Russian oil,” the Centre said. “India is still importing Russian oil even in February 2026, and Russia is still India’s largest crude oil supplier. For three years of the Russia-Ukraine war, India kept buying Russian oil despite US and EU objections. Imports increased significantly after 2022 due to discounted prices and refinery demand.”

According to the Centre, India holds more than 250 million barrels of crude oil and petroleum products in reserves and across its supply chain. This provides a buffer equivalent to seven or eight weeks of consumption. India’s total refining capacity stands at 258 million metric tonnes per annum, which exceeds current domestic demand.

The US-Israel military actions against Iran and Tehran’s retaliatory strikes across the Gulf have disrupted global energy flows and shipping routes, pushing oil prices sharply higher.

On Thursday, the United States temporarily eased sanctions on Russia so that oil from the country already loaded on vessels at sea could be sold to India.

“Suggesting a short-term waiver ‘enables’ these purchases overlooks that the trade has continued consistently. India is a net exporter of refined products to the world – a position that reinforces, not undermines, its energy security,” the Centre said.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/iran-israel-live-updates-crude-oil-strait-of-hormuz-never-depended-on-permission-india-on-trumps-30-day-russian-oil-waiver-11181752?pfrom=home-ndtv_topstories