Category: India

The PFBR marks a technological leap from India’s first-stage reactors, the Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs), which form the backbone of the country’s nuclear fleet.

After more than two decades of painstaking scientific effort, India has crossed one of the most consequential milestones in its civil nuclear programme. The Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) at Kalpakkam in Tamil Nadu has achieved first criticality, the moment when a sustained nuclear fission reaction is established.

With this, India decisively advances into the second stage of its three-stage nuclear power programme, a vision first articulated by the Father of India’s atomic program Dr Homi J Bhabha more than half a century ago.

Calling the achievement historic, Dr Sreekumar G Pillai, Director of the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR), Kalpakkam said the moment represents far more than the commissioning of a reactor.

The massive pink-coloured building next to the Bay of Bengal houses a major technological breakthrough, glimpses of which NDTV got during rare access to the facility.

“This attainment of the first criticality of the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor is a defining milestone in India’s nuclear power programme,” Dr Pillai told NDTV. “It represents the realization of the visionary three-stage nuclear programme conceived by Dr Bhabha, aimed at ensuring long-term energy security through optimal utilization of limited uranium and vast thorium resources.”

The PFBR, located at Kalpakkam, is the country’s first commercial-scale fast breeder reactor and among the very few such reactors operating anywhere in the world. With Russia being the only other country running a commercial fast breeder reactor at Yekaterinburg, India now joins an extremely exclusive technological club.

A Project Built on Institutional Memory

The PFBR is the product of sustained institutional effort spanning generations of scientists, engineers and policymakers. According to Dr Pillai, the achievement would not have been possible without consistent political backing and scientific leadership.

“This achievement has been made possible due to the sustained support and guidance of the Government of India,” he said. “The leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji and the proactive role of the Prime Minister’s Office have ensured policy continuity, strategic direction and timely decision making.”

He also credited Dr Jitendra Singh, Minister of State for Atomic Energy, for strengthening programme execution, and acknowledged the role of former and current leaders of the Department of Atomic Energy.

“The scientific leadership of Dr Ajit Kumar Mohanty has been instrumental in guiding the Department of Atomic Energy towards advanced reactor deployment and closure of the second-stage fuel cycle,” Dr Pillai said. “The visionary contributions of Dr Anil Kakodkar were fundamental in shaping and advancing the fast breeder reactor programme.”

Why It Took 20 Years

The PFBR project has often been described as delayed. Dr Pillai rejects that framing, calling the journey a necessary learning curve.

“We were waiting for this moment for the last 10 to 15 years,” he said. “There were a number of difficulties which we faced, mainly with respect to handling sodium at high temperature, materials reliability, control systems and sensors which had to be developed for a high-temperature sodium environment.”

Liquid sodium is used as the coolant in fast breeder reactors. It allows efficient heat transfer but reacts violently with water and air, demanding extraordinary engineering precision.

“This was the first time such equipment was being designed and operated at this scale in the country,” Dr Pillai explained. “It required elaborate testing and generation of data where no past experience was available.”

The commissioning phase also took longer than anticipated. “During testing, we had to generate large amounts of data. This data does not exist in international literature and cannot be obtained from any other reactor,” he said.

Far from being a setback, Dr Pillai described the process as invaluable learning. “I would say it is a learning experience. It has generated knowledge that is unique to India.”

Fast And Breeder, Explained Simply

The PFBR marks a technological leap from India’s first-stage reactors, the Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs), which form the backbone of the country’s nuclear fleet.

“In the first stage, PHWRs use natural uranium,” Dr Pillai said. “During operation, they also produce plutonium-239, which is not available naturally.”

That plutonium is recovered through reprocessing and used as fuel in the fast breeder reactor.

“Fast reactors operate in a fast neutron spectrum. The neutrons are not slowed down,” he explained. “The unique advantage is that the reactor produces more fissile material than what is fed into it.”

This is why it is called a breeder reactor.

“The breeding ratio is greater than one,” Dr Pillai said. “What you feed into the reactor, you get more Plutonium out of it.”

To a lay audience, the concept sounds almost magical. Burning fuel and ending up with more fuel than you started with.

“It is a real thing,” Dr Pillai said. “With the current oxide fuel, we expect a breeding ratio of about 1.03 to 1.05. With metallic fuels under research, it can go even higher.”

The Closed Fuel Cycle Advantage

India’s success with fast breeders is inseparable from its mastery of the closed fuel cycle.

“Plutonium is not available naturally,” Dr Pillai said. “All thermal reactors produce plutonium, but only countries that reprocess spent fuel can use it for fast breeder reactors.”

India has built indigenous reprocessing capability over decades, starting in the early 1960s.

“We started reprocessing activities in the early 1960s,” Dr Pillai said. “From Trombay to Tarapur and Kalpakkam, we have matured the PUREX process and scaled it up.”

Today, India has sufficient reprocessing capacity to support the PFBR and the next set of fast reactors.

“There is no issue of plutonium availability,” he said. “The PFBR itself will generate enough spent fuel to support FBR-1 and FBR-2.”

Safety and Regulation

Safety concerns often arise because fast reactors use liquid sodium. Dr Pillai was categorical in his reassurance.

“IGCAR has decades of experience in handling sodium,” he said. “We have developed sensors, materials and special powders to mitigate risks.”

The PFBR follows the defence-in-depth philosophy used globally in nuclear safety. “There are multiple layers of containment to ensure sodium remains within the system,” he explained.

India’s Atomic Energy Regulatory Board played a key role. “There were no international safety codes available for fast reactors at this scale,” Dr Pillai said. “AERB was fully involved in developing safety guides and regulatory requirements.”

What Comes Next

With first criticality achieved, the reactor will now go through physics experiments and gradual power escalation under regulatory oversight. “It may take six to eight months to reach commercial power production,” Dr Pillai said.

Preparatory work for two more fast breeder reactors, FBR-1 and FBR-2, at Kalpakkam is already underway.

“All lessons learned from PFBR will be incorporated,” he said. “This will significantly reduce construction and commissioning time.”

Gateway to Thorium and Energy Independence

Perhaps the most profound significance of PFBR lies in what it enables next. India has limited uranium but vast thorium reserves. “When thorium is used as a blanket material in fast breeder reactors, it produces uranium-233,” Dr Pillai explained. “That is the fuel for the third stage.

This makes PFBR the essential bridge to India’s long-term energy future. “Yes, this milestone will help India attain energy independence in the long run,” he said.

Often the PFBR is described as the ‘Akshay Patra of Energy’, the mythical vessel of endless sustenance. Dr Pillai agreed.

“Once the PFBR reaches equilibrium, there is no need to look for fuel from external sources,” he said. “The reactor sustains itself and generates excess fuel. It truly is an Akshay Patra.”

In an era of climate change, PFBR also offers low-carbon baseload electricity. “This is a stepping stone towards achieving net zero by 2070,” Dr Pillai said.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/india-achieves-nuclear-criticality-top-scientist-calls-it-akshay-patra-moment-prototype-fast-breeder-reactor-pfbr-at-kalpakkam-in-tamil-nadu-11336682?pfrom=home-ndtv_topstories

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, after more than 20 years in the state, said he is voluntarily moving to Delhi to serve as a Rajya Sabha member. He announced plans to hand over Bihar’s administration to new leaders, with NDA likely forming the next government by April 15. Vijay Chaudhary reaffirmed following the ‘Nitish model’ in Bihar.

In a bid to scotch all speculations that he is moving to Rajya Sabha unwillingly, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday said that he worked in Bihar for a long time and now he was returning to Delhi.

After reaching Delhi from Patna to take oath as a Rajya Sabha member on Friday, Nitish said, “I have accomplished a great deal of work there (in Bihar) over these many years… More than 20 years. Now, I will work here (Delhi). I have decided that I will live here and relinquish the role (the post of Chief Minister) there.”

“I have left that place (Bihar) to come here… I will hand it over to new people. I have done so much work there… Now I felt a desire to stay right here, and that is exactly what I am doing. Within three or four days, we will set things in motion for a new arrangement (formation of a new government) in Bihar,” he remarked.

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Delhi: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar says, “I have come to take the oath… we have been there (Bihar) for over 20 years, and once again, we will be here (Delhi).” pic.twitter.com/MDmOxiiBxQ

— IANS (@ians_india) April 9, 2026

To a query on the future role of his son, Nishant Kumar, Nitish said that his party leaders would provide details concerning him.

Meanwhile, senior JD (U) leader and Bihar minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary stated: “The new government in Bihar will be formed by the NDA, and it will function strictly along the path laid out by Nitish-ji. For the past 20 years, Bihar has progressed by following the ‘Nitish model’. We must carry forward the legacy of Nitish Kumar.”

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/i-have-worked-in-bihar-for-20-years-now-i-will-work-in-delhi-too-nitish-kumar

 

Ahead of West Bengal polls, PM Modi promised BJP will restore law and order, hold corrupt officials accountable, implement the 7th Pay Commission, boost fishery schemes, and grant refugees constitutional rights while driving out infiltrators. He criticised TMC for inaction and illegal arms production. Mamata Banerjee called BJP ‘autocratic’ and vowed to protect genuine voters.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi made six big guarantees to the people of Bengal at several election campaigns ahead of Assembly elections in the state.

Speaking at multiple venues for the election campaigns, Modi mentioned that the new Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government will replace the atmosphere of ‘fear’ with ‘trust’.

Modi also stated that the union government had taken steps to boost the fisheries and mentioned that the Bengal government didn’t implement it.

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हल्दिया की धरती से पश्चिम बंगाल के विकास और सोनार बांग्ला के संकल्प के साथ पीएम मोदी की 6 गारंटियां…

बंगाल बदलेगा, विश्वास के साथ आगे बढ़ेगा। pic.twitter.com/WKtiStT58h

— BJP (@BJP4India) April 9, 2026

“Everywhere there is ‘Make in India’ products but in Bengal crude bombs and illegal arms are being made. There is no industry here. There is an increase in fish production supported by the PM Matsya Sampada Yojana. But TMC has a problem with it because it carries the ‘PM’ tag. What Nandigram did with Mamata five years back, this year the same magic will be seen in Bhabanipur,” Modi added.

Modi’s guarantee

Health teams have launched an investigation, collected samples, and provided preventive treatment to over 200 others who consumed the snacks.

In a suspected case of food poisoning, nearly 100 people fell ill after consuming a local snack at a religious programme in a village in Ahmedabad district, an official said on Thursday.

Dr Chintan Desai, district epidemic medical officer, said 96 residents of Rajpura village were taken to hospital in the wee hours of Thursday after they fell sick on consuming ‘sev-khamani’ (a Gujarati snack) at the religious event on Wednesday night.

He said while 38 of the affected people were still admitted to the hospital, others were discharged after treatment.

All those hospitalised are in stable condition, Desai informed.

A health department team rushed to the village after cases of vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhoea were reported in the wee hours.

Apart from the 96 people who were taken to the hospital, 214 other villagers who consumed the snack were given preventive treatment, Desai said.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/nearly-100-fall-ill-after-consuming-snacks-at-religious-event-in-ahmedabad-village-2894040-2026-04-09

The police in Andhra Pradesh arrested a 38-year-old single mother, who allegedly recruited 42 women through IS-linked online groups. The police said Sayeeda Begum, who is also an Instagram influencer, was being groomed to head a women’s terror wing called “Khawateen”.

The Andhra Pradesh Police arrested 38-year-old Sayeeda Begum, a single mother from Hyderabad with 38,000 Instagram followers, for her alleged role in an interstate terror module.

Police said she was involved in online radicalisation and the recruitment of young people across several states, reported news agency PTI.

After nabbing Sayeeda on March 25, the Vijayawada Police uncovered that there were allegedly plans to form a separate women’s wing of a terror outfit called “Khawateen” and make her its leader. The plan was to train women recruits in the use of firearms, sniper rifles, and explosives to carry out attacks across India. Sayeeda, who also worked as a domestic help, is suspected of assisting terrorists in recruiting women into the network, and she had recruited 42 women, according to a report in Hyderabad-based newspaper, Deccan Chronicle.

According to the FIR, Sayeeda was an active member of online groups promoting videos of al-Qaeda terrorist Osama Bin Laden and the speeches of radical Islamic preachers like Zakir Naik and Israr Ahmed. It also noted that the online groups propagated materials and videos related to ISIS and al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS).

An intelligence official told the news agency PTI that the group Sayeeda was operating with had links to Pakistani handlers and terrorist groups like ISIS and al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS). Sayeeda operated with Rahamathullah Sharif, the prime accused, who reportedly was in charge of the group, and his associates, who were also arrested in March.

Sayeeda has denied all the allegations put forward by the police, and her lawyer says she did not create groups but was added to them without her knowledge. According to the police, Sayeeda told them that she had received a link on Instagram and WhatsApp some 7-8 months ago, which turned out to be from a religious group posting videos promoting ISIS.

An intelligence officer told The Hindu newspaper that “Sayeeda Begum is a native of Chanchalguda of Hyderabad. She was deserted by her husband. She was staying with her parents, along with her six-year-old son”.

The India Express newspaper reported, citing an investigating officer, that Sayeeda encouraged members of her online groups to share “jihadi” videos and literature.

Sayeeda lived with her parents and her young child in a modest two-room rented house in Hyderabad’s Chanchalguda area.

“She worked as a domestic help in two or three homes to support her family,” a neighbour of Sayeeda told The Indian Express. The neighbour also described her as reserved and that she kept to herself and rarely interacted with others. “Her mother had once mentioned that she spent most of her time on her phone,” he added.

Sayeeda was married to a painter, and after their son was born, she never returned to her husband and divorced him four years ago.

To support herself and her parents, she started working as a domestic help. She first started making Reels about preparing food at her house.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/sayeeda-begum-hyderabad-influencer-terror-module-vijayawada-isis-al-qaeda-osama-bin-laden-zakir-naik-2893925-2026-04-09

Shashi Tharoor argued Pakistan is acting as a US-aligned ‘diplomatic fig leaf’ in the Iran conflict, likely providing cover for Washington while facilitating talks.

Pakistan, which is projected to have played the role of a mediator between the US and Iran to end the war in West Asia, is in fact serving as a diplomatic “fig leaf”, a cover to help Washington avoid an embarrassing endgame, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said, pointing to signals from Islamabad that appeared closely aligned with US messaging.

“Now it seems Pakistan is the fig leaf that the two countries have resorted to,” Tharoor said, aligning with the argument that the real negotiations and decisions may be driven by other parties, with Pakistan providing diplomatic cover.

According to Tharoor, who spoke to India Today on the West Asia crisis, there is “every reason to imagine that Pakistan is kind of a diplomatic fig leaf”.

“Because the prime minister of Pakistan issued a tweet in which he clearly was pasting, cutting and pasting a draft sent from Washington using the same language that President Trump’s communications was using,” he added, backing his argument.

Following the ceasefire announcement on Wednesday, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif briefly posted a message on X with the heading “Draft – Pakistan’s PM Message on X”, prompting speculation that it may have originated in Washington. Although the label was quickly removed, the wording remained unchanged.

However, Tharoor, who spent three decades at the United Nations, also noted that Pakistan may hold certain advantages in the current context, including a willingness to provide diplomatic cover that allows both the US and Iran to de-escalate without appearing to concede directly to each other.

On India’s role, Tharoor argued that New Delhi must step in, even if mediation efforts are routed through Pakistan. “But even then, it doesn’t matter because, for us, we have a sense of regional responsibility,” he said.

“If Pakistan can play that role in a way that others can’t, why should we resent that?” the Congress MP asked, calling for a “statesmanlike attitude”. He stressed that the war has directly impacted India’s economy and energy security, adding, “Life is not always a zero-sum game.”

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/us-iran-ceasefire-peace-talks-pakistan-islamabad-shashi-tharoor-middle-east-war-2893883-2026-04-09

 

Over a week back, the Aam Aadmi Party replaced Raghav Chadha as the deputy leader in Rajya Sabha and named Ashok Kumar Mittal in his place.

Ever since rift appeared between Aam Aadmi Party’s Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha and other leaders of the party, all eyes remain on what the former’s next move would be.

Giving a hint towards that, Chadha shared an Instagram reel on his account’s story and called it an “interesting thought”.

He shared a reel by a user named Rihan who goes by username ‘seedhathok’, in which the creator suggested that Chadha should now float his own party which would garner him more support.

Addressing Chadha straight, he says, “At this point, everyone wants that Raghav Chadha should make his own party called Gen-Z party or any other name that he finds suitable”.

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“However, if he joins some other party, he may not get this kind of support he is getting right now. Or maybe, he might actually get some hate. That is why, starting his own party would be a good decision. He will get the support of the youth and win one-sided”.

Sharing this reel, Chadha called the creator’s idea an “interesting thought”.

However, he has not yet announced anything formally on what he will do next.

Raghav Chadha vs AAP

Over a week back, the Aam Aadmi Party replaced Raghav Chadha as the deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha and named Ashok Kumar Mittal as the new deputy in the Upper House. He was also blocked from speaking in Parliament from the party’s quota, just when he was gaining popularity on social media for raising what many said were middle-class issues in the Parliament.

However, party accused Chadha of going soft against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and using party’s time for raising issues such as samosa’s prices on airports, which also led to a flurry of memes on social media.

One of the major points of contentions, amongst many which were in play behind the scenes of the breakup between AAP and Chadha, was the impeachment motion submitted by Opposition parties against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

AAP leader Saurabh Bhardwaj said that Chadha refused to sign the motion. Another AAP leader, Atishi, directly questioned Chadha: “Why are you so afraid of the BJP? Why are you afraid of questioning PM Narendra Modi?”

“Have you ever questioned the attack on democracy? Have you ever questioned voter deletion, or wrongly-made votes?” she added.

Both the leaders also questioned Chadha’s absence during Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest by ED, following which, the party was on streets protesting.

In response, Chadha said that he was he was being “silenced” by the party.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/interesting-thought-raghav-chadha-hints-towards-next-move-by-sharing-a-reel-new-party-amid-rift-with-aap-101775687034699.html

 

Relations will not be “held hostage” to one issue, say Bangladeshi sources privy to the discussion, referring to the issue of Sheikh Hasina’s presence in India

India will engage the ‘new government’ of Bangladesh and the two sides will ‘deepen’ bilateral ties, said the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Wednesday (April 8, 2026) after External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar hosted Foreign Minister of Bangladesh Khalilur Rahman and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humayun Kobir in New Delhi. Following the talks, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) of Bangladesh said Mr. Khalilur Rahman conveyed Dhaka’s desire to conduct foreign policy in accordance with the principle of “Bangladesh First” and called for the extradition of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. However, sources in the Bangladesh side privy to the discussion told The Hindu that broader bilateral relations would not be “held hostage” by Ms. Hasina’s presence in India.

“The External Affairs Minister reiterated India’s desire to engage constructively with the new government and further strengthen bilateral ties. The two sides agreed to explore proposals for deepening the partnership through the relevant bilateral mechanisms,” the MEA said in a statement after the two teams wrapped up their meeting. The statement said the two sides had agreed on “follow-on official meetings” that were expected to take place at an early date. Mr. Jaishankar said the two sides “discussed strengthening our bilateral relation in its various facets” and discussed regional and global developments. “Agreed to remain in close touch,” he said.

Security concerns

During the talks in Delhi, the delegation is understood to have allayed security concerns for India, saying Bangladesh would not allow its soil to be used against Indian interests, nor would the new government seek security pacts with other countries, including the U.S., China or Pakistan. Bangladesh’s Foreign Ministry said Mr. Khalilur Rahman “thanked” the Indian government for “apprehending the suspected killers” of young Islamist leader Osman Hadi and “reiterated” Dhaka’s request for extradition of Ms. Hasina and former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, both of whom were given death sentence by the ICT in Dhaka.

However, Bangladeshi sources privy to the discussion said Dhaka did not want relations to be “held hostage” to the issue of Ms. Hasina’s presence in India but they would seek assurances that her public statements would be curtailed, and she would not be allowed to “use Indian territory” for political purposes. They also raised their disappointment over the cancellation of IPL contract for Mustafizur Rahman, popular cricketer of Bangladesh, over India’s concerns regarding rights of minority communities from the T20 World Cup in January. Bangladeshi officials indicated that they will work to keep sporting ties on track and cited that the Bangladesh Cricket Board has decided to invite the Indian team to play a test series later this year.

Mr. Khalilur Rahman, who arrived here on Tuesday (April 7, 2026), is the first high-level dignitary to be welcomed here for a bilateral engagement from Bangladesh since the fall of Ms. Hasina’s government on August 5, 2024. He visited India in November 2025 while serving the interim government led by Muhammed Yunus as the National Security Adviser of Bangladesh. According to the MoFA of Bangladesh, the Indian side has given indication that issuance of Indian visas that has remained slow for more than one and half years will be addressed soon. “During the discussions, Mr. Jaishankar said Indian visas to Bangladeshis, particularly medical and business visas, would be eased in the coming weeks,” said the MoFA in a press note.

Source : https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-to-engage-new-government-of-bangladesh-constructively-to-deepen-ties-says-jaishankar/article70839690.ece

The matter came up as the Supreme Court’s nine-judge Constitution Bench questioned the maintainability of petitions filed by non-devotees in the Sabarimala case

The central government during a Supreme Court hearing on the Sabarimala issue on Wednesday questioned the relevance of public interest litigations (PILs) and asserted that it’s time to remove them. In response, the Supreme Court indicated to the Centre that there was no need to go down that path as the courts are already cautious while receiving PILs.

The Centre raised the matter after Supreme Court judge Justice BV Nagarathana asked why petitions filed by non-devotees have been admitted in the Sabarimala issue.

The case is over a constitutional challenge – on the balance between women’s rights and religious freedom – to the temple’s ban on girls and women aged 10-50.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, while arguing in reference to the Sabarimala case review petitions, urged the Supreme Court’s nine-judge constitutional bench to go through his written submissions on the relevance of PILs.

In written submissions filed in the Supreme Court, the central government has said time has come to remove PIL as a concept.

“It is submitted that the time has come not merely to recalibrate public interest litigation, but to remove it. PIL was conceived as an exceptional constitutional device for an era in which vast sections of the population were structurally unable to access courts because of poverty, illiteracy, disability, detention, social exclusion, and the sheer absence of institutional legal support,” the written submissions by the central government stated.

Mehta cited the Bandhua Mukti Morcha case and said the PIL jurisdiction began at a time when access to justice was limited. He said that with technological advancements and increased accessibility, including e-filing, people can approach courts directly now.

“Even a letter can reach the court today,” he said.

Highlighting the role of legal aid bodies, Mehta said institutions like the National Legal Services Authority and District Legal Services Authorities are available to help those without means.

“In this day and age, why should such PILs be entertained?” he said, adding many PILs today are “motivated” and filed at the behest of undisclosed interests.

Chief Justice of India Surya Kant told the Centre that recently the courts have become very cautious in entertaining PILs.

“The answer is very simple. Nowadays… and ‘nowadays’ does not mean only the last few years… these Courts themselves have been very, very careful in entertaining PILs. We have laid down parameters to test them. Every day, we examine the real cause. There are several factors we now apply while testing a PIL,” Chief Justice Kant said.

“If you sit in court No. 1, you would have seen how many PILs we actually entertain. Notices are issued only when there is substance. Perhaps from 2006 to now, 2026… over these two decades, the situation has evolved, and the court has become more cautious. The point is this: on a general principle of PIL, we may not even need to hear you. We agree with you that the court has to be very cautious in entertaining PILs today, particularly when people come with different kinds of agendas,” Chief Justice Kant told Mehta.

The matter came up as the Supreme Court’s nine-judge Constitution Bench questioned the maintainability of petitions filed by non-devotees in the Sabarimala case. Justice Nagarathna observed that the original writ petitioners were not devotees of Lord Ayyappa and suggested that such petitions may not have been fit to be entertained at all.

She said no genuine devotee would have challenged the practice and indicated that a petition by non-devotees ought to have been dismissed at the threshold, drawing on principles like Order VII Rule 11 of the Civil Procedure Code, which allows rejection of cases that lack cause of action.

When told that the petition was filed by the Indian Young Lawyers Association, Justice Nagarathna questioned whether a “stranger” to a religious denomination could challenge its practices.

Chief Justice Kant noted that such concerns should have been addressed earlier and pointed out that the 2018 Sabarimala judgment allowed judicial intervention in matters involving grave constitutional issues regardless of locus.

While Mehta cited Justice Indu Malhotra’s minority view in the Sabarimala verdict against outsider petitions, lawyer Indira Jaising said the bench is addressing broader constitutional questions beyond Sabarimala, including issues affecting women’s rights across religious communities, such as rights of Parsi women and femal genital mutilation practice in Dawoodi Bohra community.

Reasons Behind Centre’s Stance Against PILs

The Centre has contended that the justification for PILs rested on a real and pressing access deficit. “The said deficit, though not entirely eliminated, has been substantially addressed through the development of legal aid mechanisms, institutional support structures, and wider channels of access to justice. The constitutional exception has therefore outlived the factual conditions that were once thought to justify it,” the submission stated.

“The catastrophic expansion of the PIL docket demonstrates that the exception has swallowed the rule. The increase from 25,000 filings per year in 1985 to 70,836 in 2019, coupled with this Hon’ble Court’s own recognition that only ‘even a minuscule percentage’ of such petitions are genuine, shows that the PIL jurisdiction now operates in a factual vacuum,” the central government told the Supreme Court.

“A jurisdiction created to remedy exceptional barriers to justice has instead become a vehicle for agenda-driven litigation, institutional overreach, and judicial diversion from cases brought by directly affected parties,” the submissions stated.

The government said the problem is that the existence of the jurisdiction itself incentivises misuse, invites surrogate litigation, and normalises the displacement of the real aggrieved party from the centre of constitutional adjudication.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/centre-says-time-to-remove-pil-as-a-concept-supreme-court-says-we-are-cautious-11330343?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

Jasveen Sangha, 42, a dual citizen of the United States and Britain, was jailed on Wednesday for her role in the actor’s 2023 overdose death.

An Indian-origin British-American drug dealer, known as the “Ketamine Queen” for supplying narcotics to Hollywood elites, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for selling the ketamine that led to the death of Friends star Matthew Perry.

Jasveen Sangha, 42, a dual citizen of the United States and Britain, was jailed on Wednesday for her role in the actor’s 2023 overdose death.

Born in London and of Punjabi origin, Sangha was one of five people charged in connection with the death of the Canadian-American actor, who was found unresponsive in the hot tub of his luxury Los Angeles home.

Federal prosecutors said Sangha ran a large-scale drug operation from her upscale apartment in Los Angeles, supplying ketamine, methamphetamine and other narcotics to wealthy clients in the heart of America’s entertainment industry.

“To cultivate her business, (Sangha) marketed herself as an exclusive dealer who catered to high-profile Hollywood clientele,” prosecutors wrote in sentencing papers.

“As she told one customer in 2020, ‘I’m really select with people,’ and ‘it’s a very VIP circle of celebs.'”

Ketamine Sales To Matthew Perry

According to US attorneys, Sangha worked with a man named Erik Fleming to supply ketamine to Matthew Perry. The charges were based in part on Sangha’s plea agreement.

Prosecutors said that in the month Perry died, Sangha and Fleming sold him 51 vials of ketamine. The drugs were given to Kenneth Iwamasa, Perry’s live-in personal assistant, who then provided them to the actor.

Perry, best known for playing Chandler Bing on Friends, was found dead at his Los Angeles home in 2023. His death deeply shocked fans around the world.

After learning from breaking news reports that Perry had died, Sangha contacted Fleming using the encrypted messaging app Signal, according to prosecutors.

“Delete all our messages,” Sangha told Fleming.

Prosecutors said this showed an attempt to conceal evidence soon after becoming aware of the actor’s death.

In a sentencing memo filed last month, prosecutors said Sangha had been running a “high-volume drug trafficking business out of her North Hollywood residence” since at least 2019. From there, she stored, packaged and distributed drugs including ketamine and methamphetamine.

They also said Sangha continued to sell “dangerous drugs” even after learning that ketamine she sold contributed to two overdose deaths.

Apart from Perry, prosecutors linked her to the 2019 death of Los Angeles resident Cody McLaury. McLaury died hours after Sangha sold him four vials of ketamine, they said.

Privileged Background

Prosecutors argued that Sangha came from a privileged background and was well educated, yet chose to sell drugs out of “greed, glamour, and access.”

She graduated from Calabasas High School in 2001, earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Irvine in 2005, and later completed an MBA from Hult Business School in 2010.

“This was not desperation,” prosecutors said, pointing to her education and lifestyle.

Defense Seeks Leniency

Sangha’s defense team argued that she had accepted responsibility and did not try to downplay her actions. She is represented by defense attorneys Mark Geragos and Alexandra Kazarian.

They told the court that Sangha had no criminal history before her arrest and had taken part in recovery and rehabilitation programmes while in custody. Her defence asked for her release with time served.

“Sangha’s demonstrated rehabilitation, including two years of sustained sobriety, consistent engagement in recovery programming, and strong community support, reflects a meaningful commitment to change and a low risk of recidivism,” the defense wrote in court documents.

Known to her customers as the “Ketamine Queen,” Sangha pleaded guilty to five federal charges related to Perry’s overdose death. She has been in federal custody since her arrest in August 2024.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/ketamine-queen-jasveen-sangha-the-indian-origin-dealer-jailed-for-friends-actor-matthew-perrys-death-11331628?pfrom=home-ndtv_topstories

 

Many social media users, including those from India, praised the Nepali man for holding the tourists accountable on the spot rather than ignoring the act.

A video from Nepal has sparked widespread debate online after a local man confronted a group of Indian tourists for spitting gutka on a public road. The confrontation took place when a Nepali resident noticed Indian tourists spitting gutka from a moving vehicle onto a street. The local man stopped the tourists and firmly scolded them, stating, “Yeh India nahi hai bhai…Nepal hai…Paani daalo jaldi. (This is not India, brother, this is Nepal. Pour water quickly.)”

The tourists appeared visibly embarrassed, apologised repeatedly, and were made to clean the stains by pouring water on the road. The man filming the incident noted the irony of tourists from a “big country” like India spreading dirt in another nation.

“Aap log India se ho…Itna bada desh se aate ho…idhar aake ganda kar diya (You guys come from such a big country and are spreading dirt here),” the local was heard saying. He again asks them to clean the spot properly instead of just saying sorry and moving on.

Watch the video here:

See more

The video has garnered millions of views and triggered a broader conversation about public behaviour. Many social media users, including those from India, praised the Nepali man for holding the tourists accountable on the spot rather than ignoring the act.

Others felt the Nepali man’s reaction was excessive and urged him to avoid generalising all Indians.

One user wrote, “When Nepalese come to our country, work here, and stay here, we don’t disrespect you or your country. Yes, they are wrong, but they are apologizing. Still, it seems very intentional how you are blaming the entire country. This clearly shows hate. Also, the people in the comment section are also supporting this. This is so sad how you are behaving with guests in your country. If they would have argued, then I would have understood, but they are clearly saying, ‘Sorry.”

Another said, “This is love for the nation, so take it positively.” A third added, “He quickly started apologizing. So nice.”

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/offbeat/nepali-man-makes-indian-tourists-clean-gutka-spit-from-street-video-sparks-debate-11331640?pfrom=home-ndtv_topstories

 

A Pune doctor lost Rs 12.31 crore in an online share trading scam involving a fake app and WhatsApp group.

A 75-year-old doctor from Pune was cheated out of Rs 12.31 crore in an online share trading scam, with fraudsters allegedly coercing him into making multiple investments, police have said.

According to police, the senior citizen received a message from an unidentified number in the last week of January containing a list of “recommended” stocks along with a link.

On clicking the link, he was added to a WhatsApp group where the administrators claimed to be senior executives of a global financial management firm. One of them also purportedly claimed to be an author on stock market dynamics, police said on Wednesday.

Investigators said the group was used to build credibility, with members, believed to be part of the racket, posting messages showing substantial profits from investments.

“After expressing interest, the doctor was directed to a fraudulent trading application resembling the name of a reputed international firm. He was asked to share personal and financial details before being instructed to transfer funds to multiple bank accounts,” police said, adding that the amounts transferred were reflected as investments on the fake platform, along with fabricated profits.

Between March 7 and March 18, the victim made eight transactions totalling Rs 12.31 crore. When he hesitated to invest further, the accused allegedly threatened to seize his properties, forcing him to continue transferring money, police added.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/pune-news/pune-doctor-75-loses-over-rs-12-crore-in-online-trading-scam-11331702?pfrom=home-ndtv_topstories

“The capital cannot be moved even an inch now,” CM Chandrababu Naidu has asserted even as the Opposition YSRCP remains unyielding on the Amaravati plan

For the second time in under two years, Amaravati burst into celebrations last week as Parliament passed a legislation, followed by President Droupadi Murmu’ assent to it, to accord a 217 sq km expanse in Guntur district the statutory status of being Andhra Pradesh’s sole and permanent capital.

The first time was in June 2024 when the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief Chandrababu Naidu, rode to power in Andhra Pradesh, dislodging the Jagan Mohan Reddy government that had stalled Naidu’s dream capital project.

Amaravati is now perhaps India’s only state capital to have been specifically designated as such through an amendment to a law—the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act of 2014.

The rejoicing in Amaravati on April 2 was only natural as its residents had, back in 2015 during Naidu’s previous chief ministerial term, parted with around 33,000 acres of fertile land abutting the Krishna river. Betting on Naidu’s grand new capital and the promise of good returns, the locals would eventually see the mega project practically discarded once Jagan Reddy assumed command in 2019.

Andhra Pradesh had long needed a new capital as its bifurcation in 2014 placed Hyderabad with the new state of Telangana. Although this growth propeller IT hub, as per the AP Reorganisation Act, was designated as the joint capital of the two states till 2024, Naidu sensed the need for Andhra to have its own capital at the earliest. As the first chief minister of the truncated Andhra, he selected the region between Vijayawada and Guntur cities as the location for capital Amaravati.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Amaravati project in October 2015 at Uddandarayunipalem, one of the 29 villages that gave up land in a pooling scheme. Construction was on track when the power shift after the 2019 polls stalled work. From architecture to infra, several firms, including the renowned Singapore Consortium, were disengaged by the Jagan Reddy government and even nearly-complete buildings were abandoned.

Jagan Reddy had opposed the choice of Amaravati and, alternatively, announced a decentralised and controversial three-capital structure for Andhra. Under this plan, the state executive was to be located in Visakhapatnam in northern Andhra and the judiciary at Kurnool in Rayalaseema. Amaravati was to just seat the legislature.

However, throughout Jagan Reddy’s five-year-long rule, Amaravati farmers and their families agitated against his three-capital move, which was anyway stuck because of legal challenges. Their 1,631 days-long protest ended on June 12, 2024—the day Naidu was sworn in as chief minister again.

Last year, Naidu brought the greenfield capital project back in the forefront, and Modi reinaugurated the works in May. Construction resumed and is progressing briskly to meet Naidu’s target of core infrastructure completion by 2028.

However, TDP leaders and locals are hounded by fears of the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party’s resurgence and the consequential threat of Jagan Reddy raking up his aversion to Amaravati.

It is under these circumstances that the TDP, the BJP’s biggest ally in the NDA, pushed the Modi government to enshrine Amaravati capital status. On March 28, the Andhra Pradesh legislative assembly unanimously adopted a resolution requesting the central government to amend Section 5 of the AP Reorganisation Act to include the word “at Amaravati” and to add the words “and Amaravati includes the capital city areas notified under the AP Capital Region Development Authority Act 2014”.

Within days, the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha passed the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Act, 2026 by voice vote, with the YSRCP being the only noticeable opposer.

“The capital cannot be moved even an inch from here now,” Naidu asserted, calling the passage of the Act a historic moment and thanking Modi and home minister Amit Shah for the legislation.

“Amaravati’s self-respect has triumphed. Today, the capital has received an irreversible legal status backed by Parliament,” Naidu said on April 2 as he, accompanied by wife Bhuvaneswari, visited Uddandarayunipalem, the foundation-stone site of Amaravati, attended a ‘deepa-harathi’ and prostrated at the heap of earth, collected from across the country, for the 2015 event.

“After facing numerous conspiracies, we have reclaimed our capital,” Naidu said as he lambasted the YSRCP.

But the Opposition party’s chief Jagan Reddy is apparently not relenting even now. While Naidu describes Amaravati as ‘praja-rajadhani’ (people’s capital), the former chief minister terms Amaravati as “the capital of corruption”.

Addressing the media, Jagan Reddy reiterated his stand that “Chandrababu had engineered unprecedented, impractical policies and chose Amaravati as the location in order to enrich himself and his coterie”. He wondered from where the Rs 2 lakh crore needed for the Amaravati project would be secured and how long it would take to complete the capital.

The YSRCP chief warned that Naidu was pushing Andhra into a debt trap to satisfy his self-worth. “When Chandrababu Naidu boasts that the capital city is a self-financed model, why were loans taken, allocations made in the Budget? It all pointedly speaks of the rampant corruption and layers of scams involved, from land acquisition to tendering process, and the exorbitant rates being given to favoured contractors,” Jagan Reddy alleged, stating that his priority instead was people’s welfare.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india-today-insight/story/jagan-reddy-looming-how-chandrababu-secured-legal-status-for-capital-amaravati-2892727-2026-04-07

India achieved stunning success at the Kalpakkam nuclear plant, which even the US and France failed to. Only Russia has a commercially running Fast Breeder Reactor (FBR). The Kalpakkam FBR will use India’s huge reserves of Thorium to power millions of households, and reduce the country’s energy imports.

India has pulled off what some of the world’s biggest nuclear powers — the United States and France — could not, despite pumping in billions of dollars. On April 6, the 500 MWe Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) at Kalpakkam in Tamil Nadu achieved first criticality, which means the reactor started a self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction for the first time. We reported on the scientific achievement at Kalpakkam earlier, but here we will tell you why this feat is stunning, and why every Indian should be proud of it. We will also tell you how millions of Indians will benefit from it.

It is not just another reactor attaining criticality. With the development, India gained a capability that even the US, France and Japan failed to sustain. They surrendered. Only Russia currently operates fast breeder reactors at commercial scale. China is still taking baby steps to operationalise the technology at a commercial scale. China does have the small experimental CEFR reactor and the CFR-600 prototype.

“Once fully operational, India will become only the second country in the world after Russia to operate a commercial fast breeder reactor,” a statement by the Press Information Bureau (PIB) noted.

The achievement is crucial because India has little uranium, which is an essential fuel for nuclear reactors. However, the self-sustaining technology will help India use thorium. The country has some of the world’s largest thorium reserves, found on the sandy shores of Odisha, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh.

The Kalpakkam reactor beautifully blends the two realities of little uranium and abundant thorium reserves. The reactor, powered by uranium in the first stage, can be sustained by throium-blended fuel in the later stages. This will end India’s dependency on uranium imports.

The reactors at Kalpakkam can produce more nuclear fuel than they consume. They can also help India eventually tap thorium to power the country for centuries. That makes it a strategic win as much as a scientific one.

“India has officially entered the second stage of its three-stage nuclear power programme, a vision first conceived by Dr Homi Jehangir Bhabha, the architect of India’s nuclear programme,” added the PIB statement.

WHAT HAPPENED AT KALPAKKAM?

The indigenous Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) at India’s Kalpakkam facility attained first criticality at 8.25 pm on April 6.

This means the reactor core began a controlled and self-sustaining fission chain reaction. The reactor uses mixed oxide fuel, or MOX fuel, and liquid sodium as coolant. It would now go through low-power tests before reaching full commercial operation later this year.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi called it a “defining step” in India’s civil nuclear journey. He said the Fast Breeder Reactor (FBR) reflected the country’s scientific and engineering capabilities and would help India move towards using its vast thorium reserves.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) on Wednesday congratulated India, PM Modi and Indian scientists and engineers “on this important technological achievement after many years of development”.

“This reactor will use much less nuclear fuel than other reactors and lay a pathway towards a closed fuel cycle,” the IEA posted on X.

WHY IS THE FBR SUCH A BIG DEAL FOR INDIA?

A fast breeder reactor (FBR) is different from a conventional nuclear reactor. Most reactors consume uranium fuel. An FBR produces more fissile fuel than it burns. Fissile fuel is nuclear material that can split and release energy in a chain reaction.

That is important for India because the country does not have large uranium reserves. But it does have one of the world’s biggest thorium deposits, especially along the coasts of Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Tamil Nadu.

The FBR is central to India’s three-stage nuclear programme first envisioned by Bhabha in the 1950s.

In the first stage, India uses natural uranium in reactors to make electricity. Those reactors also produce plutonium.

In the second stage, reactors like the FBR use that plutonium as fuel and also create even more fuel than they consume.

This is important because it helps India move to the third stage, where it can use its huge thorium reserves to produce uranium-233 for future reactors.

India, after decades of persistence and investment, succeeded in delivering a breakthrough. But why couldn’t nuclear pioneers like the US and France give up?

WHY DID THE US, FRANCE FAIL TO FIRE FAST BREEDER REACTORS?

The US was among the first countries to try fast breeder reactors. It built the Fermi 1 reactor near Detroit in the 1960s. But in 1966, a loose plate blocked coolant flow and caused a partial meltdown in the reactor. The project never recovered.

The US later planned the bigger Clinch River Breeder Reactor. But the project was cancelled in 1983 because of high costs, technical problems and safety concerns linked to sodium coolant.

Cheap uranium at its disposal also played a role in reducing the urgency for the US to continue breeder technology.

Like the US, France also invested heavily in technology. It planned the 1,200 MW Superphenix reactor. It was meant to become the world’s first large commercial breeder reactor. Instead, it became one of the biggest failures in nuclear history.

Superphenix suffered sodium leaks, fires, corrosion problems and political opposition. It ran only for a few months in more than a decade of existence before being shut down permanently in 1998.

Japan’s Monju reactor faced similar problems. It was hit by a sodium leak and fire in 1995. When it restarted years later, another accident hit the reactor. It operated for barely 250 days across more than two decades before the Japanese government shut it down for good in 2016.

WHY KALPAKKAM SUCCESS MATTERS FOR INDIA’S ENERGY SECURITY?

India currently produces only around 8 GW of nuclear power. But it wants to reach 100 GW by 2047, in line with the Indian government’s Viksit Bharat roadmap.

The FBR strengthens India’s aim of energy security because it reduces reliance on imported uranium and fossil fuels.

It gives India the luxury of relying on clean baseload power. Once operationalised commercially, it would protect India from global fuel price shocks and disruptions like the one right now because of the war in the Middle East.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/indias-kalpakkam-prototype-fast-breeder-reactor-achieves-criticality-2893305-2026-04-09

Tension is palpable among residents of Malda’s Mahisbathani village, where 3,700 names out of 27,000 voters have been struck off in the post-SIR adjudication process. As per electoral rules, voters whose names have been deleted can approach the appellate tribunal, but they will not be able to participate in the first phase of voting.

The fate of nearly 4,000 voters in a village in West Bengal’s Malda hangs in the balance, with the voter list for the first phase already frozen, leaving them — like lakhs of others across the state — unable to cast their vote on April 23.

Their future as voters now remains uncertain, as the Supreme Court-mandated Appellate Tribunal will decide their status if they choose to appeal.

Whether they will be able to vote in the next elections — the 2029 Lok Sabha polls — will be decided by the tribunal once it begins functioning in full capacity.

Tension is palpable among residents of Malda’s Mahisbathani village, where 3,700 names out of 27,000 voters have been struck off in the post-SIR adjudication process.

As per Election Commission rules, voters whose names have been deleted can approach the appellate tribunal, but they will not be able to participate in the first phase of voting.

As a result, those whose names have been removed are uncertain about the future of their voter cards. There is also confusion among many residents in the area about how to apply in the next stage of the process.

Notably, the panchayat includes several villages such as Kadamtali, Rahutgram, Baluatola, and Sugabathan.

In the run-up to previous elections, these villages would come alive — party offices would open, walls would be painted with slogans, and the area would be filled with symbols, with candidates campaigning amid drums and fanfare.

But this time, that vibrancy is missing, leaving residents disheartened.

Residents of Kadamtala expressed disappointment, saying that elections usually bring a festive atmosphere to the village, but that is absent this time.

“Around 400-500 names have been removed from each booth in that village. In Booth No. 23 alone, 428 names have been deleted. So who will vote this time?,” asked one resident.

Similarly, a resident of an adjacent village said that names have been removed from multiple booths there as well. People are living in fear, unsure of the consequences of being unable to vote. He also alleged that most of those whose names were deleted in his village are Muslims.

Political parties in the area are deeply concerned over the removal of 3,700 names from the panchayat, claiming it has impacted their vote base.

Congress candidate Bhupendranath Haldar told the media that names were deliberately removed through a conspiracy, preventing people from exercising their voting rights, which he said is not a good sign for democracy.

The Trinamool Congress made similar allegations, claiming that the Election Commission has removed names across the state, causing hardship to ordinary people, though efforts are being made to restore names on the voter list.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/sir-west-bengal-malda-voter-list-removal-3700-names-affected-april-23-polls-2893483-2026-04-09

The coordinated action, carried out with the Anti-Gangster Task Force, also involved verification drives and preventive action against suspects.

As the ongoing anti-gangster crackdown entered its 77th day, Punjab Police on Wednesday conducted 501 raids at identified and mapped locations linked to associates of gangsters across the state, according to details shared by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

The operation led to the arrest of 202 individuals during the day-long crackdown, the party said in a post on X, highlighting the state government’s continued action against organised crime.

According to official information cited in the post, the campaign was launched earlier this year under the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann as part of a sustained effort to dismantle gangster networks and curb organised crime in the state.

Police teams from all districts, in coordination with the Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF), have been conducting simultaneous raids and intelligence-based operations across Punjab since the launch of the drive.

On Day 77, apart from the arrests, authorities also acted against proclaimed offenders and other suspects during the course of the operation. The raids were carried out at multiple locations identified through prior mapping and intelligence inputs.

Meanwhile, the anti-drug campaign ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ continued alongside the anti-gangster operations. On the same day, 112 alleged drug smugglers were arrested, with police recovering 5.8 kg of heroin, a quantity of intoxicant tablets and capsules, and cash believed to be linked to drug proceeds.

Officials said the twin drives are part of a broader strategy to target organised crime, narcotics networks, and their financial and logistical support systems across the state.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/punjab-police-conduct-501-raids-arrest-202-day-77-gangstran-te-vaar-campaign-aap-govt-cm-bhagwant-mann-2893434-2026-04-08

Bihar prepares for a new political chapter as Nitish Kumar takes Rajya Sabha oath on April 10. Newly elected MPs, including BJP and RLM leaders, will follow on April 16 amid crucial Delhi meetings.

Former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is set to take his oath as a Rajya Sabha member on April 10, marking the first step in the formation of Bihar’s new government.

Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary confirmed the schedule, noting that Nitish Kumar’s swearing-in will precede the oath of other newly elected MPs from the state.

“This is an important first step before the induction of the new government. Nitish Kumar’s Rajya Sabha oath will take place on April 10,” Chaudhary said.

NEWLY ELECTED BIHAR MPS TO TAKE OATH ON APRIL 16

Bihar’s newly elected Rajya Sabha MPs, including BJP national president Nitin Naveen and Sivesh Kumar, will take their oaths on April 16 during a special session of Parliament.

Alongside BJP leaders, Upendra Kushwaha, head of the RLM, will also be sworn in on the same day. All ceremonies will take place in the Rajya Sabha chamber.

BJP holds crucial Delhi meeting ahead of government formation

Sources in the BJP said a key meeting of Bihar BJP leaders will take place in Delhi on April 10, led by Nitin Naveen. The meeting will include senior central leaders and state BJP leadership.

Present will be Bihar BJP president Sanjay Sarawagi, deputy leader Samrat Chaudhary, Vijay Kumar Sinha, Nityanand Rai, Sanjay Jaiswal, regional organisation secretary Nagendra Ji, and state organisation secretary Bhiku Bhai Dalsania. Ministers Dilip Jaiswal and Mangal Pandey are also expected to attend.

The agenda includes seeking the name of the new Chief Minister from the state core committee, attempting to reach consensus, and deciding the next steps following Nitish Kumar’s resignation as Chief Minister.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/nitish-kumar-rajya-sabha-oath-april-10-bihar-bjp-meeting-government-formation-2893176-2026-04-08

 

CM Singh held an all-party meeting in Imphal on Tuesday evening in which it was decided to appeal to the public to stop violent protest and destruction of properties.

The Valley districts of Manipur was back in turmoil on Tuesday after two children of a BSF jawan were killed in their sleep in a bomb attack, leading to a violent protest during which two more persons were killed and five injured when security forces fired on the agitators.

Police said the bomb attack around 1 am, allegedly by the Kukis, targeted the house of Mangalngamba Oinam, a BSF jawan posted in Bihar, at Tronglaobi village in the Meitei-dominated Bishnupur district. It killed the jawan’s five-year-old son and a five-month baby daughter on the spot while leaving his wife seriously injured. The Kuki forums, however, denied their involvement in the attack.

According to local residents, a suspected projectile struck the house, causing a powerful explosion that instantly claimed the lives of the two children. The blast damaged the house and left nearby residents in a state of shock.

Bishnupur shares a boundary with Kuki-dominated Churachandpur district and has remained under the watch of security forces since the Meitei-Kuki conflict started in May 2023. The killing of the children angered locals, who tried to storm the Moirang police station and also set fire to several vehicles belonging to a CRPF camp at Moirang.

As the protest turned violent, the CRPF personnel opened fire in which seven people were wounded. Two of them succumbed to their injuries, Home Minister Konthoujam Govindas Singh told reporters in the state capital Imphal.

The protesters suspected the involvement of Kukis and questioned why the forces failed to protect the civilians.

As the situation remained volatile, the administration suspended the internet for three days in the five Valley districts: Imphal East, Imphal West, Kakching, Thoubal and Bishnupur. Curfew was also clamped in some areas and additional forces rushed.

The state’s new chief minister, Yumnam Khemchand Singh, who took charge on February 4, quickly decided to hand over the case related to the death of the children to the NIA and appealed to protesters to “remain calm and not to give in to emotions”. Singh held a meeting with the MLAs and the security top brass, during which orders were issued for a combing operation in search of the assailants.

The Kuki Zo Council (KZC) and the Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF), two influential forums of Kuki civil society organisations, denied the allegations about the involvement of Kukis in the bomb attack. “With buffer zones strictly guarded by security forces, it is highly implausible for any Kuki-Zo individual to infiltrate and carry out such an attack within the interior of Meitei localities,” the KZC said in a statement.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/manipur/more-violence-in-manipur-four-killed-several-injured-in-firing-after-mob-storms-crpf-camp-in-protest-cm-holds-all-party-meeting-3959230

An NRI on H-1B visa with over eight years of US experience plans to return to India due to visa stress and financial concerns

A Non-Resident Indian (NRI) on an H-1B visa in the US, with a work experience of more than eight years, said they were considering returning to India. The techie revealed that they had ‘reached a point’ where they could not handle the visa stress anymore and wanted to settle back home.

“I’ve reached a point where I just can’t handle the H-1B visa stress anymore. I’ve been on H-1B for 5 years, plus 3 years on OPT before that, so after 8+ working years total in the US, I’m still in a tough spot financially,” the NRI wrote in a Reddit post.

Despite not having considerable savings and not knowing what to expect, the NRI said they had decided to return to the country next year.

“Next April I decided, I’ll be heading back to India, and I honestly don’t know what to expect. I’m single, with no responsibilities or debt, but I also don’t have much savings. One thing I’m sure about I don’t want to go back to a regular 9-5 job in India,” the techie said.

The NRI sought the internet’s help, especially from those who had moved back home, regarding how to adjust and rebuild their lives.

“Would love advice from anyone who has moved back to India after living in the US for a long time how did you adjust? How do you rebuild your life there without taking up a traditional job?”

Social Media Reactions

As the post gained traction, social media users provided mixed responses, with a section stating that the techie needed more savings, while others highlighted that they might have to make adjustments in India.

“Don’t come to India unless you have at least a liquid net worth of 4-5 crores. I would think as a single person, it’s very doable,” said one user, while another added: “I returned after 12 long years in the US. It’s not easy to adjust in India. Don’t start driving on day 1, relax for a few months, stay most of the time indoors.”

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/offbeat/cant-handle-h-1b-visa-stress-anymore-nri-techie-plans-return-to-india-after-8-years-in-us-11324325?pfrom=home-ndtv_lateststories

Zhang’s post serves as a reminder to prioritise life and health, it also showcases the harsh reality of corporate job security.

Jason Zhang, a former Google employee, has shared his bittersweet experience of being laid off despite working hard and giving years to his job. He said he sacrificed personal time and delayed vacations, but none of it “really mattered” in the end, as his dedication didn’t shield him from being let go. In an Instagram post, he opened up about the layoff and said that companies can let their employees go at any time, which has become the “new normal”.

“I have always prioritised work in my life and honestly still do. I thought that if I just worked harder, put more hours in, delay that vacation, it’ll all be worth it,” he wrote as the caption of the video. “But despite that, none of it really mattered.”

“I delayed many things I wanted to do so I can put in more effort into my job, convinced that working harder means I am less likely to be let go,” the caption added. “But I’ve seen that to not be the case for many talented people I’ve worked with.”

He further noted that after he lost the job, he wanted to start building something for himself that “no one can take away”. He concluded the post with a question, “So if you knew you’d lose your job tomorrow, what would you do differently?”

Zhang’s experience is not unique. Many employees face burnout and exhaustion due to excessive work pressure, blurred boundaries, and a lack of genuine breaks.

Social Media Reaction

The video received significant traction with over 28,000 views. Users took to the comment section to share their experiences. “As a fellow creator – I want you to know that this is genuinely super inspiring and im going to get back to the things that actually matter to me,” one user wrote.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/offbeat/after-google-layoff-ex-employee-issues-wake-up-call-for-overworked-professionals-11324142?pfrom=home-ndtv_lateststories

The video shows the boy smoking cigarettes in public while a crowd watches and throws money

A video from Morbi, Gujarat, shows a young boy sitting in public and smoking cigarettes while people stand around him. The scene has shocked many viewers, especially as the boy appears underage. The clip is spreading online and drawing strong reactions from users across platforms.

The clip begins with the boy sitting in the middle of a crowd, holding a cigarette and smoking it. People around him watch closely, and some can be seen encouraging him while also throwing money in his direction. The place appears crowded, with several men standing nearby and observing what is happening.

As the video continues, another man steps forward and offers the boy one more cigarette. The boy takes it without hesitation and begins smoking it as well. For a moment, he is seen holding and smoking two cigarettes at the same time. The crowd remains gathered, watching the act unfold without stepping in to stop it.

The boy stays seated while people continue to surround him. Some appear to be treating the situation like a spectacle, while others simply stand and watch. The place looks busy, with no sign of anyone trying to remove the boy from the situation or question what is going on.

A few people in the background can be seen looking on quietly, while others move closer to get a better view.

Towards the end of the clip, a man reaches out and takes the cigarettes from the boy’s hands. By this point, a large number of people can be seen around him, forming a close circle.

The video ends with the boy still sitting there as the crowd remains nearby.

As more people watched the clip, many shared their thoughts online. A user said, “Isn’t there any limit to the stupidity? How can any sane person accept this?”

Source : https://www.news18.com/viral/cigarette-wale-baba-video-sparks-debate-over-underage-boy-smoking-in-public-clip-draws-strong-reaction-10020070.html

While most of the city was asleep, one biker took “mobile office” to a literal new level. At 12:15 am, a viral video captured him sitting on his motorcycle while working on a laptop. The glowing screen against the midnight backdrop has become a haunting symbol of the relentless hustle culture. It has also sparked a discussion about the unhealthy expectations that, at times, lead individuals to work during their daily or nightly commutes.

“Raat ke 12 baje bike pe romance nahi, Laptop ke saath finance chal raha hai,” the caption of the video, posted on Instagram, reads.

The footage captures a man on his motorcycle, intently focused on a laptop balanced before him. When a person off-camera remarks on his decision to work while on the move, the rider breaks his concentration to offer a weary, knowing smile. “12:15 am” is also visible across the screen, indicating the time when the moment was recorded.

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How did social media react?

An individual wrote, “Indian corporate world.” Another recalled, “Last week this was my situation.” A third commented, “Bhai ghar jake so ja (Brother go home and sleep).” Many reacted to the video with emojis.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/trending/man-on-bike-spotted-working-on-laptop-at-12-15-am-internet-reacts-to-viral-video-bhai-ghar-jake-so-ja-101775610319365.html

 

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi criticised US President Donald Trump’s warning that a civilisation could “die” if Iran misses a deadline, calling such language unacceptable. In a post on X, Gandhi said nuclear weapons can never be justified “under any circumstances”. His remarks come as US strikes hit Iran’s Kharg Island amid rising tensions, according to reports.

With US President Donald Trump threatening that a whole civilisation will die on Tuesday night, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said any language or action that contemplates the end of civilisation is unacceptable in the modern world and asserted that the use of nuclear weapons can never be justified.

In a post on X, Gandhi said, “Wars are tragic, yet they remain a reality. Any language or action that contemplates the end of civilisation is unacceptable in the modern world.” “The use of nuclear weapons can never be justified — under any circumstances,” the leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha said.

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Wars are tragic, yet they remain a reality.

Any language or action that contemplates the end of civilisation is unacceptable in the modern world.

The use of nuclear weapons can never be justified – under any circumstances.

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) April 7, 2026

His remarks came after Trump threatened that a whole civilisation will die on Tuesday night if Iran fails to meet his latest deadline to strike a deal that includes reopening the Strait of Hormuz, while the Islamic republic urged young people to form human chains around power plants and other potential targets.

Even before the deadline, airstrikes hit two bridges and a train station, and the United States targeted military infrastructure on the Kharg Island. It was the second time American forces struck the island, a key hub for Iranian oil production.

Since the war began, Trump has repeatedly imposed deadlines linked to threats, only to extend those. But the president has insisted that this is the final one and will expire at 8 pm in Washington, without a major diplomatic breakthrough.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/nuclear-weapons-never-justified-congress-leader-rahul-gandhi-slams-us-president-donald-trumps-threat-to-iran

 

Due to the shortage of staff in the municipal corporation, the civic body is managing arrangements through double shifts and increased workload. In some areas, extra labourers are being hired at daily wages ranging from Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500 to lift garbage.

The impact of elections in Assam and West Bengal is now evident in Lucknow’s sanitation system. Hundreds of sanitation workers living in slums have returned to their native villages with their families to cast their votes.

Due to the shortage of staff in the municipal corporation, the civic body is managing arrangements through double shifts and increased workload. In some areas, extra labourers are being hired at daily wages ranging from Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500 to lift garbage.

Most sanitation workers who have left are employed by the municipal corporation and have locked their homes before departing. This has caused a sudden shortage of workers in Lucknow, affecting waste management services.

In the Indira Nagar slum area, many huts remain locked as entire families leave to vote during elections. Residents report that garbage collection has suddenly stopped without prior information, leading to waste accumulation.

Local residents, including Simran from Aliganj, have noted that both municipal and private garbage collectors have ceased operations temporarily. Suraj Kumar shared that his collector informed him about travelling to Assam to vote and would return later, leaving residents to manage waste on their own.

Hotel owner Suraj also confirmed that garbage has piled up at his establishment with no clarity on when collection services will resume. Additional Municipal Commissioner Arvind Rao stated that a large number of sanitation workers have gone out for election-related duties in Assam, directly impacting cleanliness in the city.

Normally, around 1,430 vehicles and 3,500 workers are involved in sanitation work. Reports indicate that nearly 10,000 workers have left during the elections, affecting services in multiple areas. Earlier verification drives targeting lack of Aadhaar cards reportedly caused some workers to leave or be removed, contributing to an existing 60 to 70 per cent shortfall in manpower.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/lucknow-sanitation-workers-leave-assam-west-bengal-elections-garbage-backlog-2892990-2026-04-07

The video, which first surfaced on Monday, April 6, has triggered significant backlash as the River Ganga is considered highly sacred in Hinduism. The uproar has been sharp, with calls for legal action against the accused rising rapidly.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Tuesday shared on X a clip showing a large group of men drinking beer and dancing to loud music on a boat, highlighting widespread claims that the scene was from a ferry in the Ganga in Varanasi. The Arvind Kejriwal-led party hit out at Uttar Pradesh’s ruling BJP over the incident.

The video, which first surfaced on Monday, April 6, has triggered significant backlash as the River Ganga is considered highly sacred in Hinduism. The uproar has been sharp, with calls for legal action against the accused rising rapidly.

Insinuating that the BJP was responsible for hurting the religious sentiments of Hindus, the AAP, in its post, wondered if the authorities in Varanasi had granted “formal permission” for the party.

“This viral video is said to be from Varanasi, in which a DJ is playing on a large boat in the Ganga River and people are seen drinking alcohol and recording videos,” the AAP wrote while sharing the viral video on X.

It added, “The question is: Has the Uttar Pradesh government and the Varanasi administration officially granted permission for such liquor parties on the Ganga River?”

Meanwhile, the police in Varanasi took cognisance of the viral clip and registered a case in connection with the boat party.

A senior official said that the viral video at the centre of the controversy was under investigation and efforts were underway to identify the people appearing in it.

At least one person has since been arrested, according to the police.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/varanasi-beer-party-aap-hits-out-at-bjp-after-viral-video-purportedly-shows-men-partying-on-boat-in-ganga-uttar-pradesh-news-2892905-2026-04-07

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing rallies in Barpeta Road, Hojai, and Moran, accused Congress of echoing Pakistan’s narrative on national security. He highlighted past military operations, implementation of OROP for veterans, and contrasted BJP’s long-term development focus with Congress’ alleged short-term gains and corruption.

Turning up the heat in Assam’s election campaign, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday launched a sharp attack on the Congress, accusing it of echoing Pakistan’s narrative even on matters of national security.

Rallies and roadshows

Addressing a series of rallies and roadshows in Barpeta Road, Hojai and Moran on the BJP’s foundation day, Modi drew a contrast between his government’s security actions and the Opposition’s stance.

Referring to past military operations, including the 2016 surgical strikes and what he described as “Operation Sindoor”, Modi said, “When India acted against terror camps in Pakistan, Congress chose to question and weaken the country’s stand. They have repeatedly spoken in a tone that suits Pakistan.”

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কংগ্ৰেছ কেৱল দুৰ্নীতিগ্ৰস্তই নহয় কাম কৰিবলৈও অনিচ্ছুক। ফলত বছৰ বছৰ ধৰি অসমৰ বহু প্ৰকল্প স্থবিৰ হৈ থাকিল। আমি এই পৰিস্থিতি দ্ৰুতগতিত সলনি কৰি আছো। pic.twitter.com/CuZC1q3R7w

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 6, 2026

Calling it a serious concern, he added, “Such a Pakistan connection has always weighed heavily on the nation. It cannot be allowed.”

Governance attack

The Prime Minister also used the platform to sharpen his attack on the Congress over governance, accusing the party of focusing on short-term gains at the cost of long-term development.

“For decades, their decisions were guided by immediate political benefits. That approach encouraged corruption. Our government works with a long-term vision for the development of every section of society,” he said.

Campaign strategy

Modi also brought up the long-pending demand of ‘One Rank, One Pension’ (OROP) for armed forces veterans, alleging that previous governments had ignored it for years. “Our soldiers waited for justice for decades. It was our government that implemented OROP and honoured their service,” he said.

His remarks come at a time when the BJP is intensifying its campaign across Assam, projecting a mix of nationalism, development and welfare delivery as key planks.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/pm-modi-accuses-congress-of-echoing-pakistans-narrative-on-national-security-in-sharp-assam-election-attack

 

Police said the duo played a critical role in receiving arms consignments routed through Nepal, transporting them into India, reassembling dismantled weapons, and delivering them across the network. Their primary responsibility involved logistics, safe transport, and final supply of illegal weapons allegedly meant to fuel terror activities and create unrest.

In a major breakthrough against an alleged ISI-backed international arms smuggling and terror network, the Delhi Police Crime Branch has arrested two more key operatives, taking the total number of accused held in the case to 12.

The two accused, identified as Imran, 37, and Mohammad Kamran, 27, were detained at IGI Airport on April 2 on the basis of a lookout circular and were later formally arrested after sustained questioning. Investigators said both were closely linked to absconding mastermind Shahbaz Ansari and had been actively working for the module for nearly a year.

Police said the duo played a critical role in receiving arms consignments routed through Nepal, transporting them into India, reassembling dismantled weapons, and delivering them across the network. Their primary responsibility involved logistics, safe transport, and final supply of illegal weapons allegedly meant to fuel terror activities and create unrest.

The probe has revealed a sophisticated international smuggling route, with weapons allegedly sourced from Pakistan, routed through Thailand, and sent onward to Nepal to hide any direct India connection. From Nepal, the consignments were broken into parts and smuggled into India through illegal channels before being reassembled and stored at secret locations.

Investigators also uncovered professionally designed hidden cavities inside vehicles used for transportation. Police said the concealed compartments were built so expertly that they were nearly impossible to detect during routine checks. Similar cavities were found in a seized Maruti Swift allegedly used in the smuggling operation.

Based on disclosures made by the accused, the Crime Branch recovered a .30 bore Chinese pistol, a .32 bore revolver, and 11 cartridges. Earlier, police had already seized 23 sophisticated foreign-made weapons, 211 cartridges, and a sub-machine gun. Given the seriousness of the case, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, or UAPA, has been invoked against all the accused.

The biggest revelation in the investigation so far is the alleged direct link to Pakistan’s intelligence agency ISI. Officials said absconding kingpin Shahbaz Ansari was allegedly in touch with handlers based in Pakistan and Nepal, who instructed him to channel foreign weapons into India through his network of operatives.

Investigators now believe Shahbaz Ansari is currently hiding in Bangladesh. Police said interrogation of the 10 accused arrested earlier revealed that a major consignment seized on March 25, including weapons made in Brazil, Germany, and Turkey, had been sent by Ansari from Bangladesh.

Ansari, a resident of Bulandshahr in Uttar Pradesh, is considered one of India’s most wanted arms traffickers. He is accused of supplying weapons used in the killing of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala and has previously been arrested by the NIA in the same case. Officials said he later absconded after securing bail on medical grounds linked to his wife’s illness.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/delhi/story/delhi-police-arrest-key-operative-arms-smuggling-pakistan-isi-links-2892501-2026-04-07

Congress, buoyed by gains in Vidarbha and Nandurbar, is asserting independence within the MVA. Frustration over seat-sharing, UBT Sena’s BMC moves, and allies’ perceived proximity to the BJP have deepened a trust deficit, prompting the party to recalibrate its strategy.

The Baramati assembly by-election has evolved into more than just a local contest; it is now the epicentre of a shifting political paradigm in Maharashtra.

By fielding Akash More, an MPCC Secretary and son of ex-MLC Vijay Rao More, against Deputy CM Sunetra Pawar, the Congress party has signalled a bold departure from the traditional “unopposed” courtesy often extended in such sensitive seats.

More, who carries the legacy of his father and represents the influential Dhangar community, is not just a candidate; he is a symbol of Congress’s resolve to reclaim its ground in a state where it was once the undisputed leader.

This strategic move highlights a growing rift within the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). While the Congress scored the highest in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, its subsequent “miserable” performance in the 2024 Assembly polls while tied to the MVA has triggered an internal rethink.

Congress, buoyed by gains in Vidarbha and Nandurbar, is asserting independence within the MVA. Frustration over seat-sharing, UBT Sena’s BMC moves, and allies’ perceived proximity to the BJP have deepened a trust deficit, prompting the party to recalibrate its strategy.

The drama in Baramati is mirrored in Rahuri, where the suspense ended with Govindrao Mokate filing his nomination as the MVA candidate from NCP (SP).

This follows a high-stakes meeting where BJP State President Ravindra Chavan and Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil attempted to convince former Minister of State Prajakt Tanpure from NCP (SP) to allow an unopposed election.

Even CM Devendra Fadnavis intervened via telephone, yet Tanpure, who recently lost in 2024 and was rumoured to be joining the BJP, remains non-committal, citing the need to consult his supporters.

The internal friction within the MVA was most evident in the calculated absence of Maharashtra Congress President Harshvardhan Sapkal, who travelled to Kerala during the nomination process.

Sources suggest Sapkal avoided Baramati for three key reasons: out of courtesy to Sunetra Pawar after a personal phone call, to signal “generosity” toward allies who preferred an unopposed seat, and to avoid a show of strength that might trigger a sympathy wave for Ajit Pawar.

Reactions from allies remain cryptic. Sanjay Raut noted that Sunetra Pawar had spoken to Uddhav Thackeray, but emphasised that Congress’s decision was their own, stating, “There are many players in this; Baramati is the Pawar stronghold.”

Meanwhile, Sharad Pawar took a democratic stance, asserting that Congress has every right to field a candidate and there is no reason to demand an “unopposed” contest, recalling how Supriya Sule defeated Sunetra in the previous Lok Sabha bout.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/baramati-assembly-by-election-congress-fields-akash-more-against-deputy-cm-sunetra-pawar-2892488-2026-04-07

Besides allegations of sexual exploitation, Kharat has also been accused of financial misconduct, land grabbing, and illegal property deals in various locations. An ECIR was filed against him and his aides by the ED recently, on April 4.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has registered an Enforcement Case Information Report – the ED equivalent of a police FIR – against Nashik-based self-styled godman Ashok Kharat and others, taking cognisance of the multiple First Information Reports (FIRs) filed against them in Nashik and other cities.

The astrologer, who was arrested last month after a married woman claimed that he raped her repeatedly over three years, is accused of several other serious offences, including sexual intercourse through deceitful means, and violations under the Maharashtra Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice and other Inhuman, Evil and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Act, 2013.

Besides the aforementioned allegations, Kharat has also been accused of financial misconduct, land grabbing, and illegal property deals in various locations. The ECIR against him and his alleged associates was registered by the ED on April 4. The money-laundering investigation is likely to focus on allegations that several properties amassed by Kharat were acquired through fraudulent means and schemes.

The investigators are expected to prioritise identifying the proceeds of crime. According to sources, the probe agency also plans to take Kharat into custody to get further details of the alleged fraud perpetrated by him and information about his purported associates.

ED will soon initiate the probe with raids, sources said. Meanwhile, documents related to the primary charges against Kharat, which are being investigated by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Maharashtra Police, have already been shared with the ED.

ASHOK KHARAT CASE: BRIEF OVERVIEW

Ashok Kharat, also known as ‘Captain’ Kharat’, is a former merchant navy officer who has been arrested for allegedly raping a woman and exploiting others under the guise of religious practices.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/ashok-kharat-case-ed-launches-money-laundering-probe-against-nashik-self-styled-godman-others-maharashtra-news-2892217-2026-04-06

Amid LPG shortages triggered by the Israel-US-Iran conflict, a village in Uttar Pradesh’s Chandauli district has remained largely unaffected due to a community biogas plant set up in 2022 by a local resident.

Even as the ongoing Israel-US-Iran conflict continues to disrupt LPG supplies and trigger shortages across India, a small village in eastern Uttar Pradesh has remained largely unaffected, thanks to a community biogas initiative.

In Ekauni village in Uttar Pradesh’s Chandauli district, around 125 out of nearly 150 families are using biogas for cooking, insulating themselves from the ongoing LPG crisis that has forced people in many parts of the country to queue up for cylinders.

Residents here receive biogas supply for three hours in the morning and three hours in the evening, which they use for daily cooking needs. The system, set up four years ago, has now proven crucial during the current crisis.

The transformation began in 2022 when Chandra Prakash Singh, a local resident, established a biogas plant in the village and provided connections to households. At the time, neither he nor the villagers anticipated that such an initiative would one day help them navigate a nationwide LPG shortage triggered by geopolitical tensions.

Villagers say the decision has paid off. Kanchan Singh, a homemaker and biogas consumer, said that while earlier the connection felt like a routine utility, its importance has grown significantly during the LPG crunch. She noted that families now plan their cooking around supply hours but are relieved to avoid long queues and shortages. She also pointed out that alternatives like induction cooktops have become more expensive, making biogas a more convenient option.

Another resident, Akhilesh Singh, said the biogas facility has ensured uninterrupted cooking despite the LPG crisis. He highlighted that biogas is not only more affordable, costing nearly half of LPG, but also highly convenient. Without it, he said, villagers would have faced the same difficulties as others, including long waiting times for cylinders.

The idea for the plant stemmed from Singh’s background. After completing his BTech from Indore, he chose not to pursue a job and instead joined his father in managing their gaushala. What started with around 50 cows a decade ago has grown to about 200 under his efforts.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/biogas-up-village-shields-families-from-lpg-crisis-iran-war-2892209-2026-04-06

Abhey Singh, a former aerospace engineering student from the IIT Bombay, became a social media sensation last year during the Mahakumbh Mela.

Abhey Singh, popularly known as “IIT Baba” after gaining attention during the Mahakumbh Mela, has married an engineer from Karnataka.

According to a report by Dainik Jagran, Singh tied the knot with Pratika in Himachal Pradesh on February 15, coinciding with Mahashivratri. The couple later visited his hometown in Jhajjar, where the marriage came to light.

Pratika, an engineer from Bengaluru, said the two met around a year ago. What began as a friendship gradually turned into a relationship. She described Singh as simple, honest and truthful person, adding that they are happy together.

Speaking about their future plans, the couple told Dainik Jagran that they plan to establish a Sanatan-focused university that will combine modern education with spiritual teachings.

Following the wedding, Singh returned home with his wife, where his mother welcomed the couple with traditional rituals, including aarti and sweets. The house saw a steady stream of visitors eager to meet him and take photographs.

Who is Abhey Singh?

Singh, a former aerospace engineering student from the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT-B), became a social media sensation last year during the Mahakumbh Mela in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj. Originally from Haryana, he grabbed the attention of the devotees for his ability to articulate spiritual ideas in fluent English.

He has previously said that he left the path of science to pursue spirituality. He added that he lived in Mumbai for four years before shifting his focus to photography and the arts.

Today, Singh identifies as a devotee of Lord Shiva. He has often spoken about blending scientific understanding with spiritual exploration. “Science helps explain the physical world but its deeper study inevitably leads one towards spirituality. A true understanding of life ultimately brings one closer to spirituality,” he had said earlier.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/trending/mahakumbhs-viral-iit-baba-marries-bengaluru-engineer-in-himachal-pradesh-wedding-pic-goes-viral-101775490103431.html#google_vignette

Search for successor began in January after Wilson expressed his wish to not continue after his contract ends, HT has learnt. His term was to end next year.

Air India chief executive Campbell Wilson has resigned but will stay on with the company till a successor is found, according to four people familiar with the matter. The development sets the stage for a leadership transition at a time when the airline faces operational disruptions, rising costs and a likely record loss this year.

Wilson’s resignation was accepted at a board meeting last week, these people said. “He will continue to be in the system until the board finds his successor — to help in a smooth transition — whenever that happens, until September,” one of them said.

Campbell’s five-year term was scheduled to end in September next year.

Air India refused to comment on the matter.

The search for a successor had begun in January after Wilson had expressed his wish to not continue after his contract ends, people familiar with the matter said. He joined Air India in September 2022 on a five-year contract — after the airline was privatised in January that year — and that is now set to end a year before term.

Air India is in advanced talks with candidates and a critical meeting in this regard is scheduled next week, another person close to the development said.

However, when asked about the possible candidates, he said, “They are all full-service carrier CEOs. Naming someone is not correct at this stage.”

Comes amid turbulence

The airline is grappling with multiple challenges, the latest being airspace restrictions due to the West Asia crisis, aircraft supply constraints and rising costs, people aware of the matter said. The airspace curbs have forced the airline to take longer routes with fuel stops, significantly increasing operational costs, especially on international routes which form a large part of Air India’s network.

These challenges add to the fallout of the June 12, 2025 crash of one of the company’s Boeing Dreamliners (Flight AI 171), shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad airport, killing 241 people on board and on the ground.

Reports have said that the airlines losses could be as high as ₹20,000 crore in FY 2026.

An industry insider said, “The airline should look for someone with strong credibility, global experience in running a complex full-service carrier, familiarity with low-cost operations (for Air India Express), and who is within five years of retirement.”

The CEO of Air India Express, Aloke Singh’s tenure as a CEO expired on March 19. He announced this to the airline employees via an emial on March 2.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/air-india-ceo-campbell-wilson-resigns-to-stay-until-a-successor-is-hired-101775499863276.html

Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed that the 3-day India-Pakistan conflict was ended by him, though India has repeatedly denied the claim.

US President Donald Trump on Monday again claimed that he ended the India-Pakistan war, saying that he saved 30 to 50 million lives, amid the ongoing war with Iran that has been going on for 6 weeks.

The India-Pakistan conflict in May last year escalated when New Delhi conducted Operation Sindoor in response to the Pahalgam terror attack, targeting terrorists deep inside Pakistan’s territory. Trump has repeatedly claimed that the 3-day conflict was ended by him, though India has repeatedly denied the claim.

“I ended 8 wars, including India and Pakistan, so much so that the Prime Minister of Pakistan told me that I saved 30 to 50 million lives,” Trump said in the press conference at the White House.

He repeated the claim a second time in the same press conference, saying that he stopped 8 wars, including the India-Pakistan conflict, and lamented again about not winning the Nobel Peace Prize.

“We have one more to end by the way,” Trump said, though he did not specify if the war in Iran, Ukraine or another global conflict was on his radar.

Donald Trump grumbles about lack of support on Iran war

Donald Trump also continued to grumble about NATO allies’ refusal to get involved in reopening the Strait of Hormuz and their hesitance to assist US offensive operations against Iran.

But as he wrapped up his lengthy news conference Monday, he also fumed about the lack of support from Pacific allies.

“You know who else didn’t help us? South Korea didn’t help us. You know who else didn’t help us? Australia didn’t help us. You know who else didn’t help us? Japan. We’ve got 50,000 soldiers in Japan to protect them from North Korea. We have 45,000 soldiers in South Korea to protect us from Kim Jong Un, who I get along with very well,” Trump said.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/air-india-ceo-campbell-wilson-resigns-to-stay-until-a-successor-is-hired-101775499863276.html

An economist has sparked a discussion online after sharing that much of his current job involves editing AI-generated text rather than conducting research.

The rapid rise of artificial intelligence is reshaping how people work across industries, from coding and design to research and writing. As AI tools become more integrated into everyday workflows, many professionals are finding that their roles are evolving, not necessarily disappearing, but shifting in unexpected ways.

A US-based economist has now sparked discussion on this very shift, after revealing that much of his current job involves editing AI-generated text rather than conducting research.

Taking to X, Marshall Steinbaum, who holds a PhD in economics from the University of Chicago, shared that he now spends significant time refining outputs generated by AI tools. “I have a PhD in economics from the University of Chicago and my main work task these days is removing em-dashes from Claude output so it’s not overly obvious,” he wrote.

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I have a PhD in economics from the University of Chicago and my main work task these days is removing em-dashes from Claude output so it’s not overly obvious.

— Marshall Steinbaum 🔥 (@Econ_Marshall) April 6, 2026

How did social media react?

Steinbaum’s post quickly caught the attention of social media users, with many reflecting on the changing nature of work in the age of AI.

“Years of grad school. Dissertation. Defence committee. Tenure track. And now: Ctrl+H, em-dash, nothing, replace all. The invisible labour of the AI economy,” one user wrote.

Another commented on how perceptions of writing style are shifting. “The fact that we’ve all agreed that all em-dashed sentences are AI-generated is funny because now it’s in our subconscious to treat them as such,” the user wrote.

“When we thought AI would take our jobs, they failed to account for our invaluable role in em dash removal,” one user said, while another joked, “The irony of a phd economist becoming a human em-dash detector lmao.”

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/trending/us/phd-economist-says-his-work-now-involves-removing-em-dashes-from-ai-writing-invisible-labour-of-ai-economy-101775494660833.html

 

After 14 years in tech, this Oracle employee didn’t panic when the pink slip arrived. He had ₹60 lakh in FDs and zero EMIs. Here’s how

Old is sometimes gold, and this viral post proves why. Right now, when social media is replete with tales of laid of techies, many of whom are at the receiving end of Oracle layoffs, one former Oracle employee is breaking the internet for all the right reasons: a steady hand on the steering wheel.

After 14 years in the high-pressure tech industry, the professional found himself part of the recent wave of layoffs. But instead of fumbling, he packed his bags, left the “metro city flat” hustle behind, and moved back to his hometown of Bhubaneswar. His secret weapon is old-school financial discipline.

According to a post on X by his close friend, Nayak Satya, the techie bypassed modern investment hype and relied on the “boring” reliability of Post Office and Bank Fixed Deposits (FDs). “He had postal fixed deposits in two joint accounts ₹15 lakh each. One with his parents, and the other in his and his wife’s name. He also had one in his kids’ account. Together, these give him almost ₹28,000 in interest every month. He also had fixed deposits in some Indian banks worth around ₹30 lakh, which give him another ₹15,000 per month,” Nayak Satya wrote in the post on X.

With no EMIs to drain his savings and the comfort of his parents’ home, the techie didn’t wait for a recruiter to call. He turned his driving skill into a side hustle, signing up as an Uber driver in Bhubaneswar.

“He knows how to drive, so he immediately started working as an Uber driver at his own convenience, earning good,” Satya wrote. This move hasn’t just provided a steady income; it has given him the mental space to calmly plan his next chapter – a small business in his hometown.

The story has sparked a massive debate on X about the risks of high-growth investing versus the peace of “safe” money. “I was wondering, whether adding to FD will secure my future with small interest rates where as my friends do enjoy but this is an eye opener that, uncertainty does not knock at the door. So be it… Always save,” wrote one user.

Others noted the psychological shift required for a veteran IT professional to pick up a gig job. “Even though he started working as a Uber driver, his mind thoughts would always be revolving around IT firms, how soon to land in another opportunity even though it might not pay very high,” another X user opined.

However, the consensus remains that family support and “old school” moves are the ultimate stress-busters. “That’s a solid approach. Old school planning really pays off, no stress, just smart moves and family support. Respect to your friend for handling it so calmly,” commented another user.

Source : https://www.news18.com/viral/fired-oracle-employee-turns-uber-driver-planning-new-business-no-panic-no-stress-oracle-layoff10018062-10018062.html

The custodial torture dates back to June 19, 2020, when Jayaraj and Benicks, who ran a mobile shop, were arrested for allegedly keeping their shop open beyond permitted hours during the lockdown, a claim later found to be false.

A court in Tamil Nadu’s Madurai district on Monday awarded death sentence to nine policemen in the custodial deaths of trader P Jayaraj and his son J Benicks in Thoothukudi district that triggered nationwide outrage six years ago.

The nine policemen are Inspector Sridhar, Sub-Inspectors Balakrishnan and Raghu Ganesh, and police personnel Murugan, Samadurai, Muthuraja, Chelladurai, Thomas Francis, and Veilumuthu.

Underlining that this was a “case of abuse of authority”, the court maintained that there are many honest police officers in Tamil Nadu and that the ruling will not “instill fear among police”.

“Father and son stripped, ruthlessly assaulted… Heart shudders reading about it,” the court said.

Delivering the verdict, the court made scathing observations on the conduct of the accused policemen. It said the father and son were “stripped and ruthlessly assaulted in front of each other as an act of vendetta,” adding that “the heart shudders on reading about it.”

The court emphasised that the case was a clear instance of abuse of authority, noting that “those who receive public money as salary cannot cite stress as a reason” for such acts. It also remarked that but for the continuous monitoring by the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court, “the truth would have been buried.”

Terming the brutal custodial torture and subsequent death of traders as the “rarest of rare” cases, the CBI had pressed for the maximum penalty of a death sentence or life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.

The prosecution argued that the ghastly nature of the crime, supported by the testimonies of three direct witnesses, shocked the collective conscience of society. Highlighting the grave human rights violation, the CBI noted that the victims were subjected to merciless beatings with weapons, warranting the highest degree of punishment.

The custodial torture dates back to June 19, 2020, when Jayaraj and Benicks, who ran a mobile shop, were arrested for allegedly keeping their shop open beyond permitted hours during the lockdown, a claim later found to be false. The two were taken to the Sathankulam police station and later remanded to judicial custody. Within days, both died.

Relatives alleged that the men were assaulted through the night at the police station, pointing to injuries including rectal bleeding and other signs of severe physical abuse.

The Central Bureau of Investigation, or CBI, which later took over the probe from the state’s CB-CID following directions from the Madras High Court, arrested 10 policemen in connection with the case. Those arrested included an inspector, two sub-inspectors and several constables. The agency subsequently invoked murder charges against the accused officers.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/tamil-nadu-sathankulam-9-tamil-nadu-cops-get-death-sentence-over-father-son-custodial-torture-case-11318637?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

During the investigation, police uncovered a well-organised network operating across multiple states with links to international cyber fraud syndicates, particularly in Cambodia.

The Delhi Police has busted a major international cyber fraud syndicate — linked with over 2,000 complaints and scams worth over Rs 300 crore — with the arrest of its alleged mastermind and 10 others, an official said on Sunday.

During the investigation, police uncovered a well-organised network operating across multiple states with links to international cyber fraud syndicates, particularly in Cambodia.

“We have so far identified over 260 bank accounts linked to more than 100 fictitious companies used to channel the proceeds of crime. The total number of complaints linked to the syndicate stands at 2,567,” police said.

The key accused, Karan Kajaria, was apprehended at Kolkata airport on April 3 after a Look Out Circular was issued against him. He was brought to Delhi a day later for further investigation, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch) Aditya Gautam said.

The case came to light following a complaint by a city resident, Sultan, who alleged that he was duped of Rs 31.45 lakh after being lured into an investment scheme.

Police said the victim was persuaded to download a fake trading application and invest money with promises of high returns. However, when he attempted to withdraw the profits, the application stopped functioning, and the group became inaccessible.

“An FIR was registered at the cyber police station in northeast and later transferred to the crime branch for a detailed probe,” the officer said.

The syndicate created fake investment platforms and messaging groups to lure victims. They used mule bank accounts arranged through intermediaries and deployed malicious applications to capture sensitive banking details, including OTPs. Funds collected from victims were routed through a complex web of bank accounts and shell companies to conceal the trail, police said.

“Kajaria, who is believed to be the main coordinator, maintained direct links with foreign-based operators and facilitated the movement of funds through cryptocurrency channels,’ the DCP said.

He acted as a bridge between Indian operatives and international cyber criminals. He was also involved in procuring mule bank accounts and sharing sensitive banking details via encrypted social media platforms, the DCP added.

Police said Kajaria frequently travelled abroad to establish and strengthen links with overseas fraud networks and had attempted to evade arrest by staying outside India.

Technical surveillance helped investigators trace the network to Kolkata, where several bank accounts and shell entities were found to be operating. Upon his arrival in India, Kajaria was intercepted at the airport and taken into custody.

During interrogation, he allegedly confessed to his involvement in the syndicate, police said, adding that accounts linked to his network were associated with more than 2,500 complaints registered on the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal and fraud of Rs 300 crore, the DCP said.

The investigation revealed that the syndicate had been active for the past four to five years and operated on a large scale across multiple states.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/rs-300-crore-international-cyber-fraud-syndicate-busted-in-delhi-11315596

After Green Asha’s exit, only one LPG vessel, Jag Vikram, remains in the region and is awaiting further instructions from the Indian Navy.

After the LPG carrier Green Sanvi successfully transited the Strait of Hormuz on April 3, another vessel, Green Asha, crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, according to a report issued by the directorate general of shipping

After Green Asha’s exit, only one LPG vessel, Jag Vikram, remains in the region and is awaiting further instructions from the Indian Navy for its transit through the strait. Earlier, two LPG tankers had crossed the strait and reached India.

Green Sanvi, carrying 46,655 metric tonnes of LPG, is expected to arrive at Dahej, in Gujarat’s Bharuch district, on April 7. Meanwhile, LPG carrier BW TYR is currently in Mumbai, discharging cargo through ship-to-ship transfer operations at the city’s outer port limits. Another vessel, BW ELM, was diverted to Ennore in Chennai on April 4.

In the earlier week, Jag Vasant reached Kandla in Gujarat’s Kutch, carrying 47,612 metric tonnes of LPG, while Pine Gas delivered 45,000 metric tonnes at New Mangalore.

The shipping ministry’s report said that 16 Indian vessels are currently in the Persian Gulf (west of the Strait of Hormuz), four in the Gulf of Oman (east of the strait), one in the Gulf of Aden, and two in the Red Sea. Of these, five vessels in the Persian Gulf belong to the Shipping Corporation of India. Four vessels bound for West Asia are stationed at major Indian ports.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/another-lpg-carrier-green-asha-crosses-strait-of-hormuz-only-one-vessel-jag-vikram-remains-101775440626855.html

 

MK Stalin slammed the three-language formula under National Education Policy, saying it aims to impose Hindi on the people of Tamil Nadu.

Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin and Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan are engaged in a war of words over the three-language formula under the National Education Policy (NEP), ahead of the elections in the state this month.

Stalin slammed the formula, saying it aims to impose Hindi on the people of Tamil Nadu, adding that as long as the DMK is in power, he will not implement it in the state.

“As long as the DMK is in power, we will not allow the three-language policy in Tamil Nadu. The chances of victory look excellent. We will win all 234 constituencies,” Stalin told ANI on April 5.

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#WATCH | Madurai: On CBSE introducing three-language formula, Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin says, “As long as the DMK is in power, we will not allow three-language policy in Tamil Nadu. The chances of victory look excellent. We will win all 234 constituencies.” (05.04) pic.twitter.com/Da7dEnuqey

— ANI (@ANI) April 6, 2026

The remarks came a day after Stalin responded to Pradhan’s post on X, in which the Union minister defended the three-language formula. The Tamil Nadu chief minister said the policy attempts to dilute India’s linguistic diversity into a monochromatic, homogenised ‘One India’ framework.

Pradhan, Stalin’s war of words over NEP on X

Pradhan had said the new policy is a manifesto for linguistic liberation and that it does not mandate Hindi as one of the languages. “Portraying multilingualism as a threat is misplaced. Tamil is not weakened by the learning of additional languages; it is enriched when its speakers are multilingual, confident and linguistically empowered,” he wrote on X.

However, Stalin dismissed Pradhan’s claim that there is no Hindi imposition as ‘plainly dishonest’, arguing that linking crucial education funding to policy compliance removes any real element of choice.

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Hon’ble Thiru @dpradhanbjp,
Your remarks are deeply irresponsible and reckless, and reflect an entrenched disregard for India’s plurality, federal values, and respect for states. Tamil Nadu firmly rejects #ThreeLanguagePolicy. This is not about opposing languages, but about… https://t.co/yKvzEhnHBh

— M.K.Stalin – தமிழ்நாட்டை தலைகுனிய விடமாட்டேன் (@mkstalin) April 4, 2026

“The claim that there is ‘no Hindi imposition’ is plainly dishonest. When a policy structurally corners non-Hindi-speaking states like Tamil Nadu into adopting a third language with little real choice, and when crucial education funding is tied to compliance, it ceases to be a matter of choice,” he said.

Stalin slams Centre for withholding funds under Samagra Shiksha scheme

Stalin accused the Centre of punishing the state by withholding funds meant under ‘Samagra Shiksha scheme’ over its refusal to accept what he called Hindi imposition.

“It is nothing short of audacity to illegally withhold a humongous sum of ₹2,200 crore under the Samagra Shiksha scheme, effectively penalising Tamil Nadu for refusing to accept Hindi imposition. These are not discretionary grants but funds that rightfully belong to the people of Tamil Nadu, collected through taxes; they cannot be weaponised as a tool of coercion,” the CM added.

In an interview with ANI, Pradhan hit back at Stalin, saying he was trying to create fear among the people of Tamil Nadu, as the policy does not mandate Hindi.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/no-three-language-formula-in-tamil-nadu-till-dmk-in-power-says-mk-stalin-accuses-centre-of-hindi-imposition-101775440465472.html

 

Addressing his first election rally in Cooch Behar district after the announcement of polls last month, PM Modi said the entire country had seen how judicial officers were held hostage in Malda.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday launched a blistering attack on the TMC over the Malda incident in which judicial officers were gheraoed for hours by a mob, terming it an example of the ruling party’s “maha jungleraj” and alleged that the state’s ruling party was hell-bent on carrying out the “funeral procession” of law and order in Bengal.

Addressing his first election rally in Cooch Behar district after the announcement of polls last month, Modi said the entire country had seen how judicial officers were held hostage in Malda, and asked what kind of government could not ensure the safety of judges and constitutional procedures.

“We cannot expect such a government to keep the people of Bengal safe,” he said.

“When even judicial officers are not safe, how can you expect that common people will be safe under TMC rule? What happened in Malda is an example of TMC’s maha jungleraj,” Modi said.

In a broadside against the Mamata Banerjee government, Modi alleged the TMC government does not consider any constitutional institution to be significant.

“Democracy is bleeding every day on the sacred soil of Bengal under the ruthless TMC administration,” the Prime Minister asserted.

The situation here is so bad that the Supreme Court had to intervene, Modi said, alleging that the TMC is hell-bent on “murdering law and order”.

The remarks came days after seven judicial officers, including three women, were gheraoed for several hours inside the Kaliachak-II Block Development Office in Malda district by protesters over the alleged deletion of names from electoral rolls during the SIR exercise.

Using the Malda incident to sharpen the BJP’s attack on the ruling party, Modi alleged that the TMC government had endangered the future and identity of Bengal through appeasement politics and infiltration.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/what-happened-in-malda-is-example-of-trinamools-maha-jungleraj-pm-modi-11314554

Jag Vikram, carrying 20,000 tonnes of LPG, and three more foreign-flagged vessels cumulatively carrying 87,000 tonnes of LPG are awaiting a safe passage from the strait

Liquefied petroleum gas tanker Green Asha crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday (April 5, 2026). The India-flagged vessel is carrying 15,400 tonnes of LPG.

Green Asha is the eighth LPG carrier under the India flag that has exited the strait, which has been virtually shut by Iran ever since the U.S. and Israel attacked the country on February 28, triggering a global oil crisis. Before the war, India imported almost 90% of its LPG through the strait.

According to marinetraffic.com, the tanker left the Al Rams port in the United Arab Emirates on March 30 and was sailing at a speed of 12.8 knots (23.7 km per hour). It sailed close to the Iran coast, transiting between Larak, Hormuz, and Qeshm islands.

Green Asha is owned by MOL India Private Limited. According to sources, the ship was chartered by Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited and was originally intended for Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust in Mumbai.

On Saturday, the government had said that Green Sanvi, carrying 46,650 tonnes of LPG with 25 seafarers aboard, had transited the strait.

Another LPG tanker, Jag Vikram carrying around 20,000 tonnes of LPG, is stranded in the Gulf.

On March 19, The Hindu had reported that the government had identified 22 India-bound vessels in the Persian Gulf for evacuation through the Strait of Hormuz. Of these, 20 vessels were critical to India’s energy needs.

On March 19, The Hindu had reported that the government had identified 22 India-bound vessels in the Persian Gulf for evacuation through the Strait of Hormuz. Of these, 20 vessels were critical to India’s energy needs.

On Sunday, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said 17 India-flagged vessels, with 460 Indian seafarers aboard, remain in the western Persian Gulf region. The government said that “DG Shipping, in coordination with ship owners, RPSL agencies and Indian Missions, (is) actively monitoring the situation”.

The Shipping Ministry has taken steps to “safeguard Indian vessels and seafarers operating in the region” and all Indian sailors stuck in the conflict zone are safe with “no incident involving Indian-flagged vessels” reported in the past 24 hours, the government said.

Source : https://www.thehindu.com/business/Industry/india-flagged-lpg-tanker-green-asha-crosses-strait-of-hormuz/article70827444.ece

Kejriwal will appear before Delhi High Court to seek recusal of Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma in a case related to the excise policy case, after ED challenged his earlier acquittal.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and former Delhi Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal, is expected to personally appear before the Delhi High Court on Monday, seeking the recusal of Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma in proceedings linked to the alleged excise policy case.

The High Court is hearing appeals filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) against a trial court decision that discharged Kejriwal and 22 others, effectively ruling that there was insufficient ground to proceed with a trial. On February 27, the trial court had cleared all 23 accused in the corruption case tied to the now-scrapped liquor policy.

Multiple applications, including one submitted by Kejriwal, have requested that Justice Sharma step aside from the matter. These pleas are expected to be considered during Monday’s hearing. The case is currently assigned to Justice Sharma’s bench, which handles criminal matters involving legislators.

Earlier, on March 9, the High Court put on hold certain observations made by the trial court that recommended departmental action against the investigating officer. This interim order was passed without hearing the accused.

Justice Sharma cited “factual discrepancies” in the lower court’s ruling and noted that some findings—particularly those related to witness and approver statements at the charge stage—appeared prima facie flawed. Justice Sharma also requested that the trial court’s proceedings in the case of the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) should be deferred.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/arvind-kejriwal-seeks-judges-recusal-in-excise-policy-linked-case-set-to-argue-before-hc-today-ws-l-10016064.html

Arguing that Ujjain was the original hub of time calculation in the ancient world, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan floated establishing a new global time standard called Mahakal Standard Time to replace Greenwich Mean Time.

An ambitious proposal to reset the world’s clocks to an ancient Indian reference point was put forward by Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who called for replacing Greenwich Mean Time with a new ‘Mahakal Standard Time’ (MST).

On a visit to Madhya Pradesh’s Ujjain, Pradhan said the ancient city, long associated with astronomy and timekeeping, should be recognised as the global standard for calculating time instead of an imaginary line passing through a town in England that was determined by “colonisers”.

“Ujjain is the place where the Equator and the Tropic of Cancer meet and ancient world time calculations were made,” Pradhan said, as quoted by PTI. “Therefore, the time has come to logically establish ‘Mahakal Standard Time’ (MST) in place of ‘Greenwich Mean Time’ (GMT).”

The move would help “re-establish the country’s scientific pride globally”, he stated.

The BJP leader made the remarks after inaugurating the three-day Mahakal: The Master of Time International Conference at the city’s planetarium complex on Friday. He also unveiled the Ujjain Science Centre and launched a science exhibition.

Pradhan also called for undoing the legacy of colonial-era education policies, saying India must shed the “Macaulay mindset” within the next decade.

“Strengthening the Science Centre and Planetarium in Ujjain is a major step in this direction, enabling future generations to move forward with a scientific outlook. Ujjain is a place where the distance between spirituality and science disappears and a new vision is born,” he added.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, who accompanied Pradhan, supported the idea, saying Ujjain had historically been a global centre for astronomy.

“In Ujjain, timekeeping is not merely religious but also thoroughly scientific, as our ancestors established ages ago through texts like the Surya Siddhanta. Time and space are inextricably linked,” Yadav said.

The chief Minister noted that traditional Indian systems of time measurement were based on sunrise, sunset and planetary motion. This made them “more accurate than Greenwich Mean Time (GMT),” he claimed.

Yadav added his government aims to develop Ujjain as both a religious and scientific hub.

Congress spokesperson Rashid Alvi scoffed at Pradhan’s MST proposal. He said it reflected how bankrupt BJP’s development agenda is.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/mahakal-standard-time-proposed-to-replace-greenwich-mean-time-ujjain-2891790-2026-04-05

A video, sharp rebuttals, and a public clash. Raghav Chadha’s response to AAP’s accusations opens up a deeper rift within the party, raising questions about what led to this internal showdown.

The ongoing rift within the Aam Aadmi Party sharpened on Sunday as Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha pushed back against criticism from his own party, sharing a video to counter claims that he had failed to raise Punjab’s concerns in Parliament.

Posting a three-minute compilation of his speeches in the Rajya Sabha, Chadha sought to counter what he described as a coordinated narrative against him.

“To my colleagues in AAP who were forced to issue videos saying that ‘Raghav Chadha failed to raise Punjab’s issues in Parliament’, here is a small trailer Picture Abhi Baaki Hai,” he wrote.

“Punjab isn’t a talking point for me. It is my home, my duty, my soil, my soul.”

AAP LEADERSHIP’S SHARP CRITICISM

The Aam Aadmi Party leadership in Punjab had earlier taken aim at Chadha, accusing him of failing to raise key state issues in Parliament despite being elected by Punjab MLAs.

In a joint statement, Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, state unit chief Aman Arora, and senior leader Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal expressed dissatisfaction over what they described as his silence.

Cheema said Chadha had not raised “even a single sensitive issue” concerning Punjab in Parliament, adding that his “inaction” ran contrary to the party’s principles.

CHADHA’S COUNTER-OFFENSIVE

In response, Chadha used the video compilation to showcase his interventions on a wide range of issues, including air pollution, rising airfares, gig workers’ rights and the 28-day validity of mobile prepaid plans.

He maintained that his parliamentary record reflects consistent engagement with public concerns, including those affecting Punjab.

The MP also reiterated that his focus remains on the state and its people, signalling that he intends to continue raising such issues in Parliament.

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To my colleagues in AAP who were forced to issue videos saying that “Raghav Chadha failed to raise Punjab’s issues in Parliament”, here is a small trailer…Picture Abhi Baaki Hai.

Punjab isn’t a talking point for me. It is my home, my duty, my soil, my soul❤️ pic.twitter.com/qdTMHK4sqU

— Raghav Chadha (@raghav_chadha) April 5, 2026

KEY ISSUES FLAGGED BY AAP

The party pointed to several pending matters, including Rural Development Fund dues of around Rs 8,500 crore and GST-related losses estimated at nearly Rs 60,000 crore.

Leaders also referred to reduced GST compensation, funding gaps under the National Health Mission, and the Centre’s delay in releasing Rs 1,600 crore in flood relief announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi after last year’s floods.

Dhaliwal said flood-affected residents felt ignored, arguing that their concerns had not been raised at the national level.

The confrontation comes days after the Aam Aadmi Party removed Chadha from the post of Deputy Leader in the Rajya Sabha, signalling growing unease within the party.

The leadership also wrote to the Rajya Sabha Secretariat, requesting that Chadha not be allocated time to speak in Parliament.

The move marked a significant shift in the party’s stance towards one of its prominent faces in Parliament.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/aam-aadmi-party-rift-sharpens-as-rajya-sabha-mp-raghav-chadha-counters-punjab-criticism-with-speech-compilation-2891802-2026-04-05

 

According to sources, the idea is being considered for vulnerable stretches of the India-Bangladesh border where conventional fencing is not feasible. The 4,096-km-long border includes nearly 175 km of riverine and swampy terrain, making it difficult to curb infiltration, smuggling, and other illegal activities through physical barriers alone.

BSF sources have indicated that an internal discussion has taken place on the possibility of using snakes and crocodiles as a natural deterrent to prevent infiltration in riverine and marshy border areas along the India-Bangladesh border, though no official order has been issued so far.

According to the sources, the idea is being considered for vulnerable stretches of the India-Bangladesh border where conventional fencing is not feasible. The 4,096-km-long border includes nearly 175 km of riverine and swampy terrain, making it difficult to curb infiltration, smuggling, and other illegal activities through physical barriers alone.

As part of a deterrence-first approach to border security, officials have reportedly been asked to identify river stretches that may be suitable for such a plan. However, the proposal remains at the discussion stage, and it is still uncertain whether it will be implemented in the future.

At the same time, the BSF is strengthening border surveillance with advanced technology, including drones, sensors, cameras, and other modern security measures.

The move comes amid continued concerns over smuggling and infiltration along the eastern border. In January this year, in a major crackdown, BSF troops of the 32nd Battalion under the South Bengal Frontier intercepted a gold smuggler along the India-Bangladesh border in West Bengal’s Nadia district and seized gold biscuits worth around Rs 1 crore. Acting on specific intelligence, troops had cordoned off a sensitive stretch before spotting a suspicious individual near the international boundary fence. The suspect attempted to flee but was chased down and detained.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/bsf-considers-snakes-crocodiles-to-curb-infiltration-along-bangladesh-border-2892015-2026-04-06

According to eyewitness accounts, the cow’s hind legs were tied with a rope and fastened to the rear of the truck. The animal was then dragged along the asphalt, resulting in catastrophic injuries.

An alleged instance of animal cruelty has sparked intense public outrage in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district after a truck driver was caught on camera dragging a cow behind his vehicle for several meters. The incident occurred on National Highway-49, resulting in the driver’s immediate detention and the seizure of the heavy vehicle.

According to eyewitness accounts, the cow’s hind legs were tied with a rope and fastened to the rear of the truck. The animal was then dragged along the asphalt, resulting in catastrophic injuries.

A video of the ordeal, which quickly went viral across social media platforms, showed the cow in a critical state with one of its legs missing and the body severely mutilated from the friction of the road.

Preliminary statements from the police suggest a complex sequence of events leading up to the cruelty. Authorities noted that the cow had initially been involved in a collision with the truck after wandering onto the highway, an accident that reportedly resulted in the animal’s death.

Following the collision, locals allegedly instructed the driver to clear the carcass from the flow of traffic. However, instead of moving the body through proper disposal services, the driver chose to hitch the animal to his truck and drag it away from the scene.

The local community has expressed concerns over the lack of humanity displayed in the act, with many residents gathering to demand the strictest possible legal action against the accused.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/odisha-man-ties-cow-leg-to-truck-arrested-animal-cruelty-2892040-2026-04-06

Delhi Police’s Special Cell, in coordination with the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), arrested three youths in a multi-state operation for allegedly plotting blasts in the national capital and other parts of the country, with suspected links to ISIS.

The Delhi Police’s Special Cell, with assistance from the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), on Saturday conducted searches at two locations in Mumbai and a nearby district in connection with a case involving suspected links to online propaganda associated with the banned terror organisation Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), officials said.

In the multi-state operation, three youths were arrested for their alleged engagement with extremist content on social media platforms and for being part of a conspiracy to carry out blasts in Delhi and other states, which was foiled, officials added.

Two of the accused have been identified as Mohammad Hamad Siddiqui (19) from Kurla and Mosaib Ahmad (30), alias Sonu alias Kalam, from Khadavli in Thane district near Mumbai. The third accused, identified as Bada Imran, who is suspected to be one of the handlers linked to ISIS’s online propaganda network, was arrested from Odisha.

The operation was carried out across Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and other states as part of a coordinated probe into suspected online radicalisation and terror links, sources said.

According to officials familiar with the investigation, teams recovered materials including a toy train, electronic components such as wires and circuits, and other equipment suspected to have been used for assembling an Improvised Explosive Device (IED).Investigation reveal that the two Mumbai-based accused were attempting to fabricate an explosive device using a toy train as a vehicle, allegedly acting on instructions from Bada Imran.

The agency also recovered digital content related to the fabrication of low-intensity explosive devices, including instructions on procuring materials and assembling components. Sources said the material was sourced from online propaganda magazines linked to ISIS, which allegedly provided step-by-step guidance for manufacturing explosives using chemical components.

All three accused are currently in the custody of the Delhi Police Special Cell. Investigators said the youths may have been self-radicalised through online content and were allegedly part of encrypted messaging groups, including channels on Telegram. Sources added that the accused were also using Signal to communicate with each other and were allegedly involved in discussions related to a possible terror conspiracy targeting multiple locations in India. These groups are believed to include foreign nationals and individuals suspected to be handlers or facilitators associated with ISIS.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/isis-terror-plot-foiled-delhi-special-cell-arrests-2-in-mumbai-handler-held-in-odisha

Soon-to-be brides and grooms seeking shortcuts to shed pounds before the big day have become the latest consumer target for weight-loss drugs in India.

New Delhi wellness clinic Klarity Skin Clinic touts a “Mounjaro ​bride” package, while other clinics have woven weight-loss injections into “pre-wedding” transformation packages typically focused on skin treatments and hairstyle makeovers.

In a social media video, Klarity offers “guided nutrition, Mounjaro and ‌smart workouts” to prepare brides to walk down the aisle. The clinic did not respond to a request for comment.

Eight doctors interviewed by Reuters said they have been fielding inquiries from brides, and some grooms, about taking weight-loss drugs before taking their vows. Many asked for Eli Lilly’s (LLY.N), Mounjaro, the first GLP-1 medication to enter India’s market for both diabetes and weight loss. It has become more sought after than Novo Nordisk’s (NOVOb.CO), rival Wegovy, the doctors said.
“Over the last few months, over 20% of ​the queries we’ve received for obesity injections are from to-be brides, who also openly give us a timeline on how soon they are getting married,” said Rajat Goel, a bariatric surgeon ​at Hindivine Healthcare in New Delhi.

He said he prescribed the drugs only if patients were medically eligible, not for cosmetic use.

TRADITION AND SOCIETAL PRESSURE

Weddings in India ⁠are grand affairs for families that can afford them, with culture and tradition exerting a strong influence. Many marriages continue to be arranged by families, often bringing expectations around physical appearance and financial status.
Aditi, a ​26-year-old finance worker from Mumbai, consulted a doctor in November for a weight-loss prescription after exercise and diet failed to get the desired results.
“When I see the result, I feel happy,” Aditi said about losing ​10 kilograms (22 pounds) on Mounjaro before her February wedding. “If I am not happy, I don’t feel confident. I did not want to feel that way at the time of the wedding.”
She is one of the half a dozen brides, and one groom, who spoke to Reuters about pre-wedding use of weight-loss drugs, but asked not to use their family names due to social stigmas. They cited societal pressure to look a “certain way” at their wedding and most had discontinued the injections ​soon after.

Novo and Lilly launched their obesity drugs in India last year. The market is forecast to reach 80 billion rupees ($851.79 million) by 2030. Mounjaro sales doubled in the months after launch, making it the ​highest-selling drug in the world’s most populous nation.
Indian drugmakers began selling cheaper versions of Novo’s medicine last month after the patent on semaglutide, its active ingredient, expired, widening access.
The drugs are intended for adults classified as obese, or for ‌those considered overweight ⁠with a weight-related medical condition such as diabetes, hypertension or sleep apnea.
“Mounjaro has been approved by regulators for specific medical indications and is intended to be used only under the supervision of a qualified healthcare professional,” Lilly said in a statement.
The lowest Mounjaro injection pen dose sells for 13,125 rupees ($139.50) per month in India, while the highest dose costs 25,781 rupees.

Novo, which this week cut prices of Ozempic and Wegovy for the second time, is selling the lowest Wegovy dose for 5,660 rupees ($60.90) and the highest for 16,400 rupees a month.
Novo said it discourages any form of self-medication of semaglutide or deviation from the indicated use on label.

CHEAPER ​DRUGS, MISUSE CONCERNS

India could have more than 440 million ​overweight or obese people by 2050, one ⁠of the world’s highest totals, according to The Lancet.
Akshitha, who got married in Hyderabad last year, said the drugs helped her shed 15 kg (33 pounds), taking her weight to 76 kg before the wedding. A family doctor had suggested she try the injections when she worried about her weight, she said.
“There’s so much ​chaos before the wedding, with all the planning and preparation. I knew I would not get time to go to the gym and be on ​a diet. That’s when these ⁠drugs looked like a better option,” she said, adding she might consider using them again after a future pregnancy.
With local drugmakers flooding the market with cheaper weight-loss medicines, India’s drugs regulator has raised concerns about misuse and intensified scrutiny of unauthorized sales and promotion.

Source : https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/indias-mounjaro-brides-weight-loss-injections-become-part-pre-wedding-2026-04-03/

A 25-year-old British flight attendant working as cabin crew for a local airline in the UAE has been arrested and now faces serious charges for posting a photo of a drone strike

What would typically be considered real-time documentation of events is now under scrutiny in Dubai, after a 25-year-old British flight attendant working as cabin crew for a local airline in the UAE has been arrested and now faces serious cybercrime charges for posting a photo of a drone strike at Dubai Airport.

The incident is part of a wider crackdown, up to 70 British citizens (including tourists, expats, and cabin crew) are reportedly detained in the UAE for taking, filming, or sharing images related to recent Iranian drone and missile strikes. According to Gulf News as of March 18, at least 35 people were detained in one sweep alone, with additional arrests in separate cases, including foreign nationals and tourists.

What Exactly Happened?

According to the Daily Mail, the young man was concerned about safety following explosions near Dubai Airport. After the airline assured staff that the situation was not too dangerous, he took a photo of the heavily damaged area at the airport. He shared the image in a private WhatsApp group with colleagues, asking, “Is it safe to walk through the airport?”

Police later examined his phone, discovered the photo, and arrested him under the UAE’s strict cybercrime laws. He is now facing up to two years in prison and a fine of up to £40,000 (approximately 200,000 UAE dirhams which equates to approximately INR 50 Lakh).

Are Expats Being Targeted in This Crackdown?

The flight attendant’s case is not isolated. A separate 60-year-old British tourist (a London holidaymaker) was also arrested after taking a photo or video of an airstrike/missile strike. He reportedly deleted the image immediately when asked by police but was still detained.

With more than 88% of the UAE’s 11.5 million residents classified as expatriates — Indians alone accounting for roughly 4.1 million — the message is unmistakable, the authorities are policing the very workforce and consumer base that the country’s tourism and “influencer-friendly” brand so aggressively courts.

According to Detained in Dubai (a UK-based organisation providing legal assistance), around 21 people have been charged together under the UAE’s cybercrime laws for publishing or sharing material that could “disturb public security” or incite panic. The group claims the total number of affected Brits could be as high as 70.

The UAE’s Attorney-General has warned of “immediate criminal accountability”, stating that authorities will not tolerate any attempt to “exploit cyberspace” during a crisis. Among those charged is a 60-year-old British man in Dubai, a case that has already drawn international attention.

“There are countless images, videos and news reports circulating online about the conflict. People understandably assume that if something is already widely shared or published by media outlets, it must be acceptable to comment on or repost it. In the UAE, that assumption can be extremely dangerous,” Radha Stirling, CEO of Detained in Dubai told in a news release statement.

Campaign for Justice

A big campaign has now been launched demanding the release of the detained Britons. Activists and families argue the laws are overly draconian and are being used to suppress information about security incidents. Critics call it “pure censorship,” while human rights groups highlight harsh prison conditions, including limited consular access, sleep deprivation, and denial of medication for some detainees.

The UK Foreign Office is understood to be supporting the families, but many feel the response has been insufficient.

What Type Of Content Is Considered As An Offence?

Authorities have framed the violations under broader cybercrime and national security laws, but the offences fall into three clear categories. According to the state news agency WAM, the individuals charged fall into three distinct categories, each different in method, but treated with equal seriousness under the law.

1. Real Footage, Altered Narrative

2. Fabricated and AI-Driven Content

3. Content Framed as Propaganda

Many of those detained were not the original creators of the content they shared. Instead, they- reposted videos already circulating online, forwarded clips through messaging apps, shared updates without verifying context, the issue here is amplification.

Two machines, designed to remove floating garbage and dense aquatic weeds, were flagged off by Minister Parvesh Verma.

Delhi has deployed high-tech machines in the Najafgarh Drain, one of the city’s biggest pollution channels, in an effort to clean the Yamuna River at its source before the monsoon.

Two machines, designed to remove floating garbage and dense aquatic weeds simultaneously, were flagged off by Public Works, Irrigation and Flood Control Minister Parvesh Verma.

“Cleaning the Najafgarh Drain is directly linked to cleaning the Yamuna. We are now using modern, Made-in-India machines aligned with the vision of Swachh Bharat to deliver real, visible change. These dual-purpose harvesters are not just machines; they represent technology-led governance in action,” Verma said.

He added that the machines are designed to remove weeds and floating waste in one go, improving water flow and reducing waterlogging.

Najafgarh Drain: The Source Of Yamuna Pollution

The drain carries untreated waste, plastic and invasive vegetation into the Yamuna, making it a major contributor to the river’s pollution. Officials say cleaning it upstream could help reduce the waste flowing into the river while improving drainage across the city.

Rs 2.9 Crore Investment

Officials said the machines, powered by a 112 HP engine, can cut and remove dense vegetation such as water hyacinth along with floating trash. They have a storage capacity of about 14 cubic metres. Built for shallow waters, they use a conveyor system for continuous collection, enabling uninterrupted operations.

The machines have been procured for Rs 2.9 crore and are ready for use.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/yamuna-clean-up-goes-high-tech-delhi-to-deploy-multitasking-harvesters-11312142

India, the world’s third-biggest oil importer and consumer, has not received a cargo from Tehran since May 2019.

Indian refiners have purchased Iranian oil amid the Middle East conflict that has disrupted supplies through the Strait of Hormuz, the oil ministry said on Saturday.

The world’s third-biggest oil importer and consumer, India has not received a cargo from Tehran since May 2019, following US pressure not to buy Iranian crude, but supply disruptions from the war have hit the country.

“Amid Middle East supply disruptions, Indian refiners have secured their crude oil requirements, including from Iran; and there is no payment hurdle for Iranian crude imports,” the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said on X.

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The news reports and social media posts of an Iranian crude cargo being diverted from Vadinar, India to China due to “payment issues” are factually incorrect. 🇮🇳India imports crude oil from 40+ countries, with companies having full flexibility to source oil from different sources…

— Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas #MoPNG (@PetroleumMin) April 4, 2026

Last month, the United States temporarily removed sanctions on Iranian oil and refined products to ease supply shortages.

India has secured its full requirements of crude oil for the coming months, the ministry added.

“India imports crude oil from 40-plus countries, with companies having full flexibility to source oil from different sources and geographies based on commercial considerations.”

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/iran-israel-war-oil-sanctions-us-india-makes-first-iranian-oil-purchase-in-7-years-with-no-payment-hurdle-11312289

 

 

Families of Air India AI-171 crash victims have written to PM Narendra Modi seeking release of cockpit voice and flight data recorder details. Citing delays and poor communication, they said access is crucial to uncover the cause of the 2025 crash that killed 260 people and to get closure.

Families of those killed in the Air India Flight AI‑171 crash have written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, pressing for the immediate release of the aircraft’s Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and Flight Data Recorder (FDR) data as they seek clarity on the cause of the accident.

The appeal is associated with the ongoing frustration with the pace of the investigation and the level of communication from authorities and the airline.

In their letter, families described access to the black box recordings as “extremely important” to understanding the truth about what happened when the Boeing 787‑8 Dreamliner crashed shortly after taking off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (SVPIA) in Ahmedabad on June 12 last year.

The catastrophe claimed the lives of 241 people on board and 19 on the ground, with only one passenger surviving.

“We want to know the truth about what caused this crash and whether there was any technical problem,” the letter states, urging that if the data cannot be released publicly, it should at least be shared directly with affected families.

The letter is in the process of being sent to the Prime Minister.

Copies of the letter will also be sent to Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Union Aviation Minister K. Ram Mohan Naidu, Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) Director General G.V.G. Yugandhar, and Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) Director General Faiz Ahmed Kidwai.

The letter follows a meeting on Saturday attended in person by about 25 family members, with more than 30 participating online, at which relatives discussed unresolved concerns about the investigation and support from Air India and the Tata Group.

Participants said telephone calls often went unanswered and communication was largely restricted to email, a medium they said was not accessible for all.

“Many people in villages don’t even know how to use email,” one relative said, calling for a dedicated contact number or better support system.

Family members also raised questions about when they would receive the digital belongings of their loved ones and emphasised the need for respectful and direct engagement from authorities.

After the gathering, one family member told reporters that releasing the black box data was vital for understanding “the truth and circumstances surrounding this tragic incident.”

The formal investigation into the crash is being led by the AAIB under internationally accepted protocols.

Both the CVR and FDR were recovered from the wreckage days after the incident and transported to a laboratory in New Delhi for detailed examination.

An initial phase of data extraction was completed by late June, with technical experts analysing cockpit information and flight parameters to reconstruct the final moments before the accident.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/air-india-flight-ai-171-crash-victims-families-write-to-pm-modi-seeking-release-of-black-box-data

Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) has confirmed that there is no shortage of LPG cylinders in India, delivering approximately 28 lakh daily despite global tensions.

Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) has reassured the public that there is no shortage of LPG cylinders in the country, even as global tensions continue. The company said it is delivering around 28 lakh LPG cylinders every day, and domestic supply remains stable and fully adequate across India.

“IndianOil continues to ensure uninterrupted LPG supply to households across the nation. Delivering around 28 lakh LPG cylinders daily, operations remain steady and consistent with normal levels, even amid evolving geopolitical challenges,” the company stated on X.IOC urged people not to panic or start stockpiling cylinders. It confirmed that normal operations are running smoothly and there is no disruption in supply.

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IndianOil continues to ensure uninterrupted LPG supply to households across the nation.
Delivering around 28 lakh LPG cylinders daily, operations remain steady and consistent with normal levels, even amid evolving geopolitical challenges.#FuelingNationResponsibly #EnergySecurity… pic.twitter.com/BEs3gSKjtq

— Indian Oil Corp Ltd (@IndianOilcl) April 3, 2026

 

As cooking gas becomes scarce and expensive, and jobs linked to it begin to shrink, many migrants are once again packing their bags and heading home.

Five years after COVID-19 forced millions of migrant workers to leave cities and return to their villages, a fresh crisis is bringing back similar scenes. This time, it is the LPG shortage linked to the ongoing conflict in West Asia that is pushing workers out of metro cities. As cooking gas becomes scarce and expensive, and jobs linked to it begin to shrink, many migrants are once again packing their bags and heading home, echoing the disruption seen during the pandemic.

A crisis of LPG has pushed several migrant workers from Bihar to return to their hometowns. As restaurants reduce operations due to irregular gas supply, thousands employed in hotels and eateries are facing uncertainty and heading back to their villages.

At Danapur Railway Station in Patna, workers said they had no option but to leave as LPG had become difficult to access. Many complained of delayed deliveries or cylinders with less gas. Rising food prices at hotels have made eating outside unaffordable.

One worker said there was a cooking gas crisis which also led to food shortages. He added that people were forced to use wood for cooking. Another said without LPG, there was no work, leaving them with no choice but to return home.

“There is no gas, no work, and no way to cook. That is why we are going back to our village. Food outside is too expensive, and without LPG we cannot cook. We have no option but to leave,” said one migrant worker at Bihar’s Danapur Railway Station.

Another migrant worker said, “Even if work is there, how do we survive without cooking gas? Everything has become unaffordable.”

Impact seen across cities

The crisis has been reported in several parts of the country. Migrant workers are facing both livelihood and survival challenges. Many depend on LPG for cooking in shared housing, while their jobs in restaurants, street food stalls and small units rely heavily on gas supply.

In Mumbai, migrants have started leaving as they struggle with rising cooking costs and food prices. Passengers on trains such as the Kamayani Express to Uttar Pradesh, the Lokmanya Tilak Terminus-Rajgir Express to Bihar and the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus-Howrah Mail to West Bengal were tracked. Of 130 migrants interviewed at two major stations, 62 said they were returning due to the LPG shortage.

Vishesh Tyagi, a 24-year-old worker employed at a plumbing material factory. Tyagi had returned to Mumbai on March 19 after a short visit to Varanasi but decided to leave again within five days.He said he could not find a gas cylinder and could not afford to eat outside every day, leaving him with little reason to stay in the city.

The Tribune quoted Ram Bhawan Goswami, president of the Uttar Pradesh Kalyan Parishad (Amritsar), as saying that around 40,000 to 50,000 labourers out of nearly 35 lakh in Punjab return to their native places during this period every year. “The shortage of cooking gas is certainly forcing many more to join them this time,” he said.

At Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, Dhaba owner Suresh said, “We are facing a lot of problems because gas cylinders are getting expensive. If someone is selling on the black market, they are charging Rs 2,500. The situation is bad at the agency as well. They say that the gas will be available only if we had made a prior booking… We are facing a lot of loss…”

Sharp rise in LPG prices

Many workers said prices of small 5 kg cylinders had risen from around Rs 500 to Rs 550 to between Rs 1,100 and Rs 2,000. A standard 14.2-kg cylinder, which earlier cost Rs 900 to Rs 1,200, is now reportedly selling for Rs 3,200 to Rs 4,000 in some places.

Some workers claimed that LPG was being sold in the black market at around Rs 500 per kg, making it unaffordable for daily wage earners.

Surat sees large outflow of labour

In Surat, Gujarat, the shortage has led to a visible exodus of workers. Over 150,000 labourers have left the city in the past 30 days.

Workers said that even when jobs were available, they could not continue living in the city due to the high cost or lack of cooking gas.

“I have returned from Udhna, Surat. There was problem of gas (LPG) and there was not much work also. We were cooking food on wood fire,” says a daily wager as quoted by PTI.

“I have returned from Delhi, had gone there to work. But there was problem of gas, it was being sold (refilled) at Rs 450 (per kg), so I had to return. Gas was available but it was very costly which forced us to return,” says Kamlesh Kumar, another daily wager.

“We are going to the village because we have not been getting gas for the last few days. Our companies are also shutting down… We don’t have money, that’s why we are going back. Nobody is helping us here… We will return once the gas supply resumes. Many people are going back,” a migrant worker, Sachin, said.

Another migrant worker, Seema Devi, claimed that she has been trying to get gas for the past fifteen days without any results.

West Asia war behind supply disruptions

The ongoing shortage of LPG in India has been linked to the conflict in West Asia, now in its fifth week. The situation has disrupted global energy supply chains. India imports about 60 per cent of its LPG, much of it from West Asia.

A survey found that more than 40 per cent of households faced delays in receiving cylinders last week.

The shortage is not only affecting households but also businesses. The restaurant industry could face losses of up to Rs 79,000 crore as many outlets cut menus or temporarily shut due to irregular gas supply.

A migrant worker, Prashanth Sahu, as quoted by TOI, said, “After the second lockdown during Covid-19, my brother and I moved to Hyderabad from Odisha. We have settled here, and my children are studying in local schools. However, the owner of the restaurant where I work has downsized operations, and many of us have been informed that we may lose our jobs if the situation worsens. We did not receive our full salary in March, and now I am forced to consider returning to farming in Odisha. I am particularly worried about my children’s education.”

The crisis has gone beyond supply issues and is now affecting daily life. Delays in refills, rising black market prices and reduced job opportunities are forcing many migrant workers to reconsider staying in major cities.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/no-gas-no-work-how-lpg-crisis-is-forcing-migrant-workers-to-leave-cities-head-back-home-10013757.html

MP Shashi Tharoor narrowly escapes an attempted attack in Vandur; his gunman is injured, and five accused are arrested.

In a shocking late-night incident, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor narrowly escaped an attack in Kerala’s Malappuram while campaigning for the assembly election. According to local media reports, a group of men on motorcycles chased Tharoor’s car near Thiruvalli Chellithodu bridge while he was travelling to an election campaign event in Wandoor. His convoy was blocked, and the accused hurled abuses at his security. His gunman stepped in to protect but was injured during the scuffle.

Based on the gunman’s complaint, Wandoor Police registered a case. Police have registered a non-bailable case against the main accused, Ummar, who has been arrested. Two additional suspects were also detained, bringing the total number of accused to three. Authorities are investigating the motive and whether more people were involved in planning the attack.

Rajnath Singh laid the foundation stone for a Large Cavitation Tunnel at the Naval Science and Technological Laboratory in Visakhapatnam to boost indigenous naval research.

Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh on April 3, 2026 laid the foundation stone of a state-of-the-art Large Cavitation Tunnel (LCT) facility at the Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL) in Visakhapatnam, marking a major step towards strengthening India’s naval research and testing capabilities.

The facility, being developed under the aegis of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), is aimed at enhancing indigenous capabilities in hydrodynamic research and reducing dependence on foreign testing infrastructure. Singh said the project would enable India to design, develop and test equipment, systems and sub-systems domestically using its own resources.

Addressing scientists and personnel, the Defence Minister said that the initiative would position India as a strong naval power and a leader in defence technology. “Until now, even after successfully developing systems, we often had to look abroad for critical testing. This situation will now change,” he said, adding that the facility would act as a backbone for submarine and ship design, propulsion systems, noise reduction and stealth capabilities.

Singh described the project as a symbol of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat, linking self-reliance directly with national security. He credited domestic industry, academia, MSMEs, youth and researchers for driving India’s progress towards technological independence.

During the visit, Singh was briefed on ongoing projects by DRDO Chairman and Secretary, Department of Defence R&D, Samir V Kamat. He also visited the Seakeeping and Manoeuvring Basin, where advanced underwater systems such as torpedoes, naval mines, decoys and autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) were showcased.

A live demonstration of a swarm of man-portable AUVs highlighted India’s growing capabilities in autonomous maritime operations and next-generation underwater warfare technologies. Singh also reviewed spin-off technologies developed by naval systems materials cluster labs following Operation Sindoor.

Commending NSTL’s work in areas including torpedo systems, underwater mines, decoys and AUVs, the Defence Minister noted that advancements in swarm technology and lithium-ion battery development would be crucial for future warfare preparedness. He emphasised that reliable and robust technological systems enhance the confidence and operational effectiveness of sailors deployed at sea.

Chief of Defence Staff Anil Chauhan, Chief of the Naval Staff Dinesh K Tripathi, Flag Officer Commander-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command Sanjay Bhalla and other senior officials were present at the event.

Conceived as a strategic national asset, the Large Cavitation Tunnel project is being executed in turnkey mode with international technical collaboration, combining global expertise with indigenous innovation. The facility will support both closed-loop simulations for submarine studies and free surface simulations for surface ship research within a single integrated setup.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/rajnath-singh-lays-foundation-large-cavitation-tunnel-nstl-visakhapatnam-2891417-2026-04-03

Farhat (26) and her daughters, Umera (8) and Ayesha (6), died after reportedly falling into their family-run swimming pool near the Warangal–Khammam highway during a routine visit on Wednesday night. The woman’s family alleges foul play.

Residents in Telangana’s Hanumakonda district were in for a shock after a woman and her two young daughters were found dead in a swimming pool operated by the family. The bodies were discovered on Thursday morning in Punnela village in Hanumakonda, triggering grief and suspicion among relatives and locals.

The deceased were identified as Farhat (26), who was pregnant with a third child, and her daughters, Umera (8) and Ayesha (6). The family ran a swimming pool facility near the Warangal–Khammam national highway, which served as their primary source of income.

According to the preliminary probe, the family had gone to the pool on Wednesday night as part of their routine. It was during this time that the woman and her children reportedly fell into the water.

Family members and nearby residents attempted to rescue them, but all three were declared dead. The bodies were later shifted to a nearby hospital for post-mortem examination. Police personnel reached the scene soon after receiving information and began preliminary inquiries.

While Farhat’s husband, Mohammad Azharuddin, initially claimed that the deaths were the result of an accidental drowning, the narrative soon came under scrutiny.

Relatives of the deceased raised serious allegations, pointing to ongoing domestic disputes between the couple. According to Farhat’s father, Ali, tensions had been escalating in recent days over issues related to their children.

Ali has alleged foul play, accusing Azharuddin of murdering his daughter and grandchildren and attempting to pass it off as an accident.

Officials confirmed that a case has been filed, and all angles are being examined.

The incident has created a tense atmosphere in the village, with grieving relatives gathering at the victims’ residence. Police presence has been increased in the area to maintain order and prevent any escalation.

ALLEGED MURDERS OVER GIRL CHILD?

In a disturbing turn, investigators are now probing a possible motive linked to the accused’s alleged obsession with having a male child.

Initial findings suggest that the deaths may not have been accidental but part of a calculated act driven by the man’s yearning for a boy child.

According to police sources, Azharuddin is suspected to have been under pressure due to his wife’s pregnancy, fearing that the unborn child might also be a girl.

Investigators are examining claims that he had previously coerced Farhat into terminating pregnancies on suspicion that the foetuses were female.

When Farhat reportedly refused to undergo another abortion, tensions between the couple are believed to have escalated.

Police suspect that this conflict may have played a crucial role in the alleged crime. It is being probed whether the family outing to the swimming pool was planned as a pretext to carry out the act.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/telangana/story/telangana-triple-murder-man-suspects-wife-pregnant-third-girl-child-murders-woman-their-daughters-2891163-2026-04-03

Russia says ‘particular attention’ paid to cooperation in oil and gas sector; supply of mineral fertilizers to India increased by 40%

Amid the oil shock and supply chain disruptions triggered by the U.S.-Israel war on Iran, Russia has assured that its energy companies have the capacity to “steadily increase” the supply of oil and liquified natural gas (LNG) to India, and also “continue” to address India’s fertilizer needs.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov, on a two-day visit, called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday (April 2, 2026) and discussed the supply of fertilizers. He met with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, and the leaders discussed continued energy supply to India.

The high-level Russian visit is being seen as part of the preparations by the two sides ahead of the upcoming BRICS summit to be hosted by India and the India-Russia annual summit scheduled in Russia this year.

“We discussed our mutually beneficial cooperation in trade, fertilizers, connectivity and people-to-people ties,” said Mr. Modi, who “welcomed sustained efforts from both sides” to realise the agreements of the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit hosted here in December 2025.

In a press note, the External Affairs Ministry said Mr. Jaishankar and Mr. Manturov “exchanged views on regional and global developments including the conflict in West Asia.”

According to the Russian embassy, Mr. Manturov said that Russia has increased supplies of “in-demand mineral fertilizers to India by 40 percent and is ready to continue meeting India’s needs for this product.” He also mentioned that a joint project for the production of carbamide (urea) is “under development”.

“Particular attention was paid to cooperation in the oil and gas sector. Denis Manturov confirmed that Russian companies have the capacity to steadily increase supplies of oil and liquified natural gas to the Indian market,” said the embassy readout.

Mr. Manturov said Russia will deepen nuclear cooperation with India. Other topics such as industrial cooperation, space and educational projects were discussed in the meetings.

Mr. Manturov’s Delhi visit, which ended on Friday (April 3, 2026), took place days after Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Mr. Jaishankar addressed a conference on bilateral relations through a video link on March 23, 2026, during which Mr. Lavrov indicated at Russia’s preparations for the annual summit.

Mr. Lavrov had expressed Russia’s support for the BRICS where India is the current Chair. The group has attracted attention in recent weeks as it has not made a statement on the evolving situation in West Asia, though Russia, India and China, who form a trilateral sub-group called RIC, have indicated that they will work closely within BRICS, Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and the UN on issues that affect common interests of the Global South.

This was followed by the March 30 Foreign Office Consultations between India and Russia led by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko. This week, the Indian side hosted Vladimir Yakushev, First Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council (upper house) of the Federal Assembly of Russia. On Thursday, Mr. Yakushev met Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha Harivansh Narayan Singh and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. He also met Bharatiya Janata Party president Nitin Nabin.

Source : https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/russia-offers-to-increase-supply-of-crude-oil-lng-to-india-amid-war-in-west-asia/article70819611.ece

Earlier, Congress’s Shashi Tharoor and Manish Tewari had deviated from the party stand regarding the war in the Middle-East.

Two more Congress leaders have come out in support of the NDA government’s handling of the war in the Middle-East, deviating sharply from the party stand. While former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Kamal Nath, flatly said there is no LPG crisis, Anand Sharma, the foreign minister in the erstwhile UPA government, applauded India’s “diplomatic handling of the crisis” in a series of posts on X, formerly Twitter. In what could amplify any trouble within the party, he added, “National unity and a mature response guided by national interest is the need of the hour”.

Earlier, Congress’s Shashi Tharoor and Manish Tewari had deviated from the party stand regarding the war in the Middle-East. The party, though, had not commented on the matter. The two leaders’ comments had left the party red-faced earlier also, especially on the matter of Operation Sindoor. The party had benched them during the Op Sindoor debate in parliament.

This time, two more leaders had deviated from the party line.

“Indian diplomatic handling of the crisis has been mature and skillful avoiding potential minefields,” Sharma said in one of his 11 posts on the subject.

India’s response, he wrote, “must be backed by a national consensus and resolve”.

The government, he added, has held an all-party meeting to apprise political leaders about the policy decisions in “an unpredictable and volatile situation”.

“This national dialogue should be sustained. National unity and a mature response guided by national interest is the need of the hour,” he had added, clarifying that apart from the “historical and civilisational relations with Persia”, there is also the question of the energy crisis.

“The war has aggravated the energy, economic and global security challenges. Global Supply chains disruption, tremors in world markets and sharp depreciation of Rupee and national currencies presents an immediate and long term challenge that needs to be urgently tackled,” he wrote.

Also, “Critical energy supplies of Petroleum, LPG – PNG, 200 billion of Trade, the interest and security of 10 million strong Indian diaspora also almost 60 percent FOREX remittances have to be borne in mind,” he added, pointing to what is at stake, especially for the younger generation.

The stance was a notable departure from the line of the party, which has been vocal in its condemnation of the government, insisting that it has been following the lead of the US and Israel and turning against a longtime partner.

Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi has claimed that the government has “surrendered”.

Kamal Nath, in face of multiple reports of LPG shortage, said, “There is no such shortage. It is just an atmosphere being created that there is a shortage.”

There is “no dearth of cooking gas” in the state, he said, accusing certain quarters of deliberately manufacturing panic for political gains.
Nath’s party has been consistently targeting the Central and the Madhya Pradesh government on the war, alleging delays in LPG supply and hardship faced by the public.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/on-middle-east-crisis-and-lpg-2-top-congress-leaders-ditch-party-line-11304241?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

 

Rajnath Singh warns Pakistan of unprecedented action if terror attacks repeat after Pahalgam incident

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said any “misadventure” from India’s neighbour, Pakistan, in the prevailing situation would invite an “unprecedented and decisive” action.

Singh, speaking at a Sainik Samman Sammelan in poll-bound Kerala, said that following the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives, India had destroyed the terrorist hideouts and infrastructure in Pakistan.

He contended that after the Pahalgam attack, Indian forces, during operation Sindoor, brought Pakistan to its knees within 22 minutes and it was the biggest operation against terrorism yet.

“I would like to tell you the operation is not over yet. If such dirty actions are repeated by Pakistan, our armed forces will give a befitting reply which they would not forget ever. What will happen this time will be an unprecedented action,” he said.

Singh further said in the prevailing situation, “our neighbour (Pakistan) can do any misadventure”.

“If it does so, then like I told you, India’s action would be unprecedented and decisive,” he asserted.

The union minister said that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, national security has been strengthened and the government’s attitude and mode of action has changed.

This, he said, was evident from ‘Operation Sindoor– India’s response to the Pahalgam terror attack of April 2025 that claimed 26 lives.

He said that during the Congress-led UPA governments at the Centre, terror attacks were rampant in the country, with no action being taken against them.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/any-misadventure-from-pakistan-will-invite-unprecedented-action-rajnath-singh-11302766?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

In a Reddit post, the techie said the employer called a meeting and marked March 31 as the last working day.

Ongoing layoffs continue to unsettle tech workers, with a young employee in Mohali facing a sudden job loss followed by an uncertain work arrangement.

In a Reddit post, the techie claimed that on 31 March, their employer called a meeting with the entire team and said the company could no longer support its staff due to almost no projects.

“Lost job today, now asked to handle everything alone for 25K WFH,” the caption of the post reads.

According to the post, the team, which had around 20 members, was told to consider the day as their last working day.

During the meeting, the employer also opened up about the lack of projects and financial strain on the company.

“He told us to consider this our last working day and mentioned he won’t be able to pay full salary because there hasn’t been much work this month.” the techie wrote.

The announcement came without warning, leaving employees shocked and unprepared.

The founder humorously said that she was considering homeschooling and investing the same amount into a SIP instead.

A LinkedIn post by a Gurugram-based founder has triggered a discussion around the rising cost of education in urban India, after she revealed the fee structure for her child’s nursery admission.

Pooja Setia, founder of The People Studio, shared that she is expected to pay ₹1,24,780 per quarter for the 2026–27 academic session. The fees, spread across three quarters from July to March, amount to nearly ₹3.7 lakh annually – a figure that quickly caught attention online.

“This screenshot is NOT a joke! It is the quarterly fee structure of my kiddo, who is starting nursery this year,” Setia wrote. She added, humorously, that she was considering homeschooling and investing the same amount into a SIP instead. “At least that way, I’ll be sure he graduates with a solid corpus, even if his handwriting is questionable,” she said.

How did social media react?

Setia’s post struck a chord with many, prompting users to weigh in with comparisons and criticism.

Reacting to the post, one user wrote, “In this one quarter’s fee, I completed my entire graduation and post-graduation and was still left with money to pursue an HTML course.”

“Not surprised at all Pooja. This is quite the norm in Gurgaon, where fee structures are unregulated (unlike in Delhi). Wait till you see the International Board fee,” commented another.

“This is so true. Especially with AI being the future, not sure how much value will degrees have. Though the peer learning might be missing, which will also be a key learning style,” wrote a third user.

“I think schooling makes no sense these days. 90% of the stuff we studied is useless. Same will go for the kids of today’s generation. Home schooling is the best. Put them into any sport activities. Normal science concepts can be learnt in a day or two,” said another.

However, several users pointed out that expensive schooling is often a choice rather than a necessity.

One user wrote, “You have options. There are cheaper schools too. We have a habit of pleasing society and false veil of success. You have options. No one is keeping a gun on you to pay this. Only if you can’t afford it but still want to do it – then you will feel this. Think about yourself.”

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/trending/rs-1-24-lakh-quarterly-nursery-fee-gurgaon-founders-post-on-rising-school-costs-sparks-discussion-101775137308501.html#google_vignette

Liriina, assisted by a junior doctor of foreign nationality, attended to a 21-year-old passenger who was experiencing severe chest pain and breathlessness.

A potentially serious medical emergency aboard an Air India flight from Tokyo to Delhi was handled mid-air after a doctor from Manipur stepped in to assist a passenger who suddenly fell ill.

Dr. Loni Liriina, a critical care specialist currently serving at the Americal Oncology Institute, Babina Specialty Hospital in Imphal, was among the passengers on Flight AI-357 on February 28, 2026, when the incident occurred nearly eight hours into the flight.

Liriina, assisted by a junior doctor of foreign nationality, attended to a 21-year-old passenger who was experiencing severe chest pain and breathlessness.

“About two hours before landing, an announcement was made seeking immediate medical assistance. When I went to check, the crew appeared to be in panic,” Dr Liriina said.

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Doctor from Manipur Saves Passenger Mid-Air on Tokyo–Delhi Flight

April 2, 2026 : A potentially life-threatening medical emergency aboard an Air India flight from Tokyo to New Delhi was averted due to the timely intervention of a Manipur-based doctor, ensuring the aircraft… pic.twitter.com/QwF2wvppQM

— Neha Gurung (@nehaGurung1692) April 2, 2026

Nearly eight hours into the flight, a young woman passenger developed severe chest pain and breathlessness. She was found to have a rapid heart rate of around 160 beats per minute, along with low blood pressure and oxygen saturation levels of about 80%.

Dr Liriina provided immediate medical care, administering oxygen support, nebulisation and necessary medication.

Within about 30 minutes, the passenger’s condition stabilised, eliminating the need for an emergency landing. The aircraft later landed safely in New Delhi, and the passenger was reported to be in stable condition.

“By the grace of God, this is a situation we deal with on a daily basis in my workplace. We used the medicines available on board, and everything went smoothly. The flight was able to continue to its destination,” the doctor added.

The incident was also shared on social media, where users praised the doctor for her prompt response and intervention that helped avert a potentially disastrous situation.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/crew-appeared-in-panic-manipur-doctor-averts-mid-air-medical-emergency-on-tokyo-delhi-flight-ws-l-10012208.html

 

The Rajya Sabha MP did not caption the video, but just used a nazar amulet emoji.

In a significant move, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Wednesday removed Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha from the post of Deputy Leader in the Upper House, indicating signs of an internal rift within the party. AAP MP Ashok Mittal has been appointed to serve as the party’s new Deputy Leader in Parliament.

Hours after the move, the Rajya Sabha MP issued a veiled response by sharing a compilation of his arguments and interventions in Rajya Sabha.

The three-minute video featured the 37-year-old leader raising concerns of wide range of issues, from air pollution and rising airfares to gig workers’ rights and the 28-day validity of mobile prepaid plans, among others.

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🧿 pic.twitter.com/J1XgmpgOnv

— Raghav Chadha (@raghav_chadha) April 2, 2026

The video consists of a series of short clips drawn from Chadha’s recent speeches in the Rajya Sabha. They show him raising issues that affect ordinary citizens and the wider economy. One segment covers the rules governing the expiry of mobile data packages. Another focuses on the working conditions of gig workers employed by quick-commerce platforms.

The Rajya Sabha MP did not caption the video, but just used a nazar amulet emoji. The nazar amulet is a Mediterranean talisman and some believe that it protects against the “evil eye” and absorbs negative energy.

Chadha had often made headlines for raising issues concerning common masses and his Parliament address videos have often gone viral. In recent times, Chadha has largely distanced himself from AAP’s agenda or leaders since the party’s defeat in the Delhi elections 2025, focusing on public interest issues like his paid paternity leave and high food costs at airports.

AAP Removes Chadha From Deputy Leader’s Post

The Arvind Kejriwal-led party submitted an official letter to the Rajya Sabha Secretariat informing about the decision to remove Chadha as the party’s deputy leader. The party has also requested that Raghav Chadha should not be allocated time to speak in Parliament. The party has 10 members in the Rajya Sabha, including seven from Punjab and three from Delhi.

His silence on core AAP issues had sparked exit rumours, particularly after he was left out from the list of the party’s star campaigners for Assam.

Source : https://www.news18.com/politics/raghav-chadhas-first-response-after-aaps-snub-shares-video-of-issues-raised-in-rajya-sabha-10011992.html

 

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday attended Suvendu Adhikari’s nomination filing in Kolkata’s Bhabanipur, urging voters to bring ‘change’ in West Bengal. Shah said defeating Mamata Banerjee would ensure change, alleging rising violence and unemployment. He added BJP aims to build ‘Shonar Bangla’. Clashes between BJP and TMC supporters were reported at Hazra and Alipore.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday had visited Kolkata and was present during Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari’s filing of nomination from Bhabanipur constituency.

Addressing the gathering, Shah urged people to bring in a ‘change’ in West Bengal.

“I have a shortcut of how to bring the change in the state. Just make Suvendu Adhikari win from Bhabanipur and the change is bound to happen. Suvendu wanted to contest from only Nandigram but I told him to contest from Bhabanipur as well and to defeat Mamata Banerjee. People of the state are distressed by frequent bomb blasts, gunfire and unemployment in the state. From 2014 whichever states had BJP in power is getting developed,” said Shah.

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TMC की हिंसा, लूट और तानाशाही से प्रदेश की जनता त्रस्त है। भवानीपुर वासियों का जोश और उत्साह बता रहा है कि बंगाल परिवर्तन के लिए तैयार है।#BhabanipurChayBJP pic.twitter.com/dd3Nv5M2uW

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) April 2, 2026

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Accompanied Shri @SuvenduWB Ji during the filing of his nomination in Bhabanipur Assembly Constituency, West Bengal. pic.twitter.com/h1HoO8IUkq

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) April 2, 2026

The Union Home Minister also mentioned that after Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) comes to power in Bengal they will build ‘Shonar Bangla’ as envisioned by Vivekananda, Rabindranath Tagore, Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay and Shyamaprasad Mukherjee.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/union-home-minister-amit-shah-visited-kolkata-held-roadshow-lop-files-nomination-from-bhabanipur

 

The Indian Navy’s INS Sunayna was redesignated as IOS Sagar and flagged off from Mumbai on Thursday for a 50-day multinational mission involving 16 countries, officials said. The deployment aims to enhance maritime security and interoperability through joint training and VBSS operations across the South-Eastern Indian Ocean, with port calls planned in Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Singapore.

The Indian Navy’s offshore patrol vessel INS Sunayna transitioned into its new role as Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) Sagar as it set sail from Naval Dockyard in Mumbai on Thursday. It marked the commencement of a high-profile mission to foster maritime security in the Indian Ocean region through multinational collaboration of 16 friendly countries.

Commissioned originally in 2013 as a Saryu-class patrol vessel, INS Sunayna spent over a decade conducting anti-piracy patrols and maritime surveillance. Now, designated as IOS Sagar, it will embody India’s vision of Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR). The ship is currently at the heart of the second edition of the IOS Sagar initiative, which coincides with India’s chairmanship of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS). The mission is designed to move beyond traditional bilateral exercises, creating a permanent platform for integrated regional security.

In its harbour phase from March 16 to 29, the mission enabled professional exchanges, training and coordination among participating personnel. In its sea phase, the crew will now sail aboard IOS Sagar till May 20 with operational deployment across the South-Eastern Indian Ocean Region. The mission will specifically focus on ‘Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure’ (VBSS) operations, which are critical for tackling piracy and illegal trafficking in the Indian Ocean region. It will take port calls at Sri Lanka’s Colombo, Thailand’s Phuket, Indonesia’s Jakarta, Singapore, Bangladesh’s Chittagon, Myanmar’s Yangon and Male in Maldives.

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Mumbai, Maharashtra: The Indian Navy’s Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) SAGAR initiative, promoting maritime cooperation and shared security in the Indian Ocean Region, began its 2nd edition in March 2026. Personnel from 16 Friendly Foreign Countries are training and sailing on Indian… pic.twitter.com/t1WvxoAKEI

— IANS (@ians_india) April 2, 2026

On Thursday, IOS Sagar was flagged-off by the Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth from the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai. Naval crew from 16 countries will be onboard the vessel as it will traverse the South Eastern Indian Ocean for the next 50 days to strengthen bonds, carry out operations and deepen mutual understanding among participating nations. In its new avatar, the ship will visit seven maritime partner countries and serve as a floating training academy and operational hub for the naval personnel.

The minister said, “This initiative is not merely a demonstration of India’s maritime capability but a reflection of our collective vision. It represents how India sees its role in the maritime domain and how we engage constructively with the wider world.” Highlighting Mission Mahasagar’s objectives, he added that IOS Sagar is the practical model of India’s maritime ideology to not be restricted to dialogues but also work and learn together.

He highlighted that India has become the leader of the Global South and a trusted partner in the Indian Ocean region as the neighbourhood is undergoing significant transformation through economic shifts, political developments, and increasing engagement by external actors. “India’s security approach remains guided by zero tolerance towards terrorism, respecting nations’ sovereignty and the ability of responding in a credible and swift and capitated manner. Operation Sindoor reflects India’s resolve, firmness, vigilance and capability in safeguarding its national interests. Increasing jointness among the three services continues to strengthen our overall defense preparedness at the same time,” he said.

He also highlighted India’s growing defence export, which has reached an all-time high at Rs38,424 crore in FY 2025-26, recording a growth of over 62% compared to the previous year. “Today we are transforming from buyer navy to manufacturing navy and from coastal strength to blue water navy. India is not only securing its border with strength and determination but also emerging as a trusted partner in global defense. This achievement stands as a testament of our commitment to aatmanirbhar defence production,” he added.

By training together on a single Indian platform, IOS Sagar aims to enhance interoperability by harmonising communication and tactical procedures between diverse navies, combat shared threats by addressing the rise in maritime grey-zone activities, including illegal fishing and smuggling, and carry out disaster response by strengthening the ability of regional navies to provide coordinated humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

Naval chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi highlighted that while piracy, armed robbery and narcotics trafficking are backed by unimpeded access to advanced technology to non-state actors, the Indian Ocean Region witnessed 3,700 maritime incidents in 2025 and narcotic substances were seized worth over $1 Bn.

He stated that competition at sea is no longer confined to oil and energy but is expanding to resources like rare earth elements, critical minerals, new fishing grounds and data, due to which marine survey, deep sea research activity and illegal unregulated fishing has significantly increased.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/indian-navy-launches-ios-sagar-mission-with-16-nations-for-maritime-security

 

The war in the Middle East has hit the supply of LPG in India. There are reports of a crunch in cooking gas for a month now. Are people getting LPG cylinders easily? To find out, we spoke to people from across 12 states. Here’s what they told us.

New Delhi’s Karol Bagh-based Akshay Dubey (name changed on request) had got his LPG cylinder refilled just before the Middle East war began on February 28. But as LPG supplies tightened and queues outside gas agencies grew longer, Dubey was reassured that he had 14 kg of cooking gas in reserve. But the reassurance vanished a few weeks later when he received news that his grandfather had died. Along with the grief came another worry. Thirteen days later, on April 10, his family is expected to host nearly 400 people for the for tehravi bhoj.

Finding enough LPG cylinders for such a big gathering is now a challenge for him. Dubey eventually convinced his halwai to cook on coal after some resistance from the professional cooks as they are used to LPG stoves, not traditional fuels. The halwai agreeing to use coal, said he would still need at least two LPG cylinders. Dubey says those will now have to come from the reserve cylinders lying at home. While his family is struggling to feed 400 people at the funeral bhoj, many other Indians are struggling to feed just their families, and sometimes even themselves.

The US-Israel-Iran war has disrupted LPG supplies across several countries. In India, the impact is visible in the long queues outside gas agencies and in households waiting for over a week for cylinders that earlier arrived in a day or two. Some reports suggest that because of the LPG shortage, some migrant workers were returning to their villages where firewood and traditional chulhas are easier to access.

A month after the Middle East war began, and weeks after the government extended refill booking limits and prioritised household supply, has the situation improved? India Today Digital spoke to dozens of people across 12 states — the NCT of Delhi, Bihar, Haryana, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal — to understand the grounded reality. Are LPG cylinders now arriving on time? How long are the delays? Has the initial panic eased? And are cylinders still being sold on the black market?

We in no way claim this to be an exhaustive study. This is at best a dipstick analysis of the time taken for delivery of LPG cylinders since they are booked.

This story is about domestic consumers. Commercial users are facing a separate crisis altogether. The government had initially halted fresh commercial cylinder supplies. Scores of small eateries and dhabas, especially in cities, that could not shift to coal, wood or other fuels have shut temporarily.

So, how are people coping with the cooking gas situation amid the war in the Middle East?

DESPITE WIDER PNG ACCESS, LPG DELIVERIES IN DELHI-NCR TAKING OVER A WEEK

In the national capital Delhi, the households in lower and middle-income localities, and those of migrants, are the hardest hit. While domestic LPG cylinders are available, people said delivery timelines have stretched sharply since the war commenced because of the choke at the Strait of Hormuz. This is the narrow passage in the Persian Gulf through which 90% of India’s LPG imports have to pass through.

While around 23% to 31% of Delhi’s nearly 62 lakh households now have Piped Natural Gas (PNG) connections, a large section of the city-dwellers still depend on LPG cylinders.

This is especially true in Delhi’s villages, low-and-middle income colonies and unauthorised bastis, where many residents, including migrants, continue to rely on gas cylinders. A chunk of them rely on the black market because they lack the residential papers needed for an LPG connection.

Karol Bagh-based, Bihar-native, Rahul Ranjan, who works as an office assistant in a bank, told India Today Digital that he had to wait for nine days after ordering a refill for his LPG cylinder. In the nine days after placing the order, Ranjan said, he had to visit the local Indane agency — Deepti Enterprises — over five times to enquire about the delay in delivery. “‘Aa jayega sir’, was the only reply I got,” said Ranjan, adding he was forced to visit the agency after his phone calls went unanswered.

An owner of a popular dhaba in Noida Sector 22 said that he had booked an LPG cylinder for domestic use on March 9 which was delivered to him on March 17. “My gas agency is just four buildings away from where I live. But it took more than a week for the refill to arrive,” the dhaba owner told India Today Digital on condition of anonymity.

Things got even stranger for the Bhattacharya family living in the NCR’s Faridabad. After booking an LPG cylinder refill in mid-March, seven days later they suddenly received a message saying that their refill had been delivered. But in reality, no cylinder had arrived. “We had to call the agency up. It was only on the eighth day that the cylinder was finally delivered,” a member of the Bhattacharya family told India Today Digital, hinting that there might have been some wrongdoing or even an attempt at black marketing the booked cylinder.

A Gurugram-based writer, who doesn’t have an LPG connection and relies on the black market, said that he was quoted Rs 6,000 for a gas cylinder.

Usually, the 14.2 kg LPG refill is sold on the black market for an additional Rs 200 in Delhi NCR. A cylinder, which costs Rs 914, would be procured at Rs 1,100, but now the sky seems to be the limit.

Domestic consumers who earlier got cylinders in one or two days now report waiting close to a week or more. Several Delhi residents in low-income colonies say that though agencies are accepting bookings, they are asking people to wait longer than usual.

The government has repeatedly clarified that refill rules remain unchanged and that people in urban areas can still book a new refill after 25 days. That’s 45 days for customers in rural areas. These clarifications came even as people rushed to book refills amid the anxiety over supply disruptions due to the war in Iran.

VARANASI’S ARMY VETERAN GETS LPG ON BLACK MARKET; 5-DAY DELIVERY IN UPSCALE BAREILLY LOCALITY

In adjoining Uttar Pradesh, the shortage is also visible in delayed deliveries. Customers of Varanasi’s Shri Hanuman Gas Agency in Teiyabag and Vikas Gas Agency in Sigra, said that they were not facing problems with telebooking, but deliveries were delayed.

A Varanasi-based retired Indian Army Colonel, whose family includes 15 members, told India Today that he has tried booking refills with both Indane and Bharat Gas, but the delay in delivery forced him to buy two cylinders on the black market.

“Since ours is a joint family of 15 people, we need at least three cylinders a month. This is the first time I have seen such a crisis,” the retired Colonel, seeking anonymity, told India Today Digital.

In western Uttar Pradesh’s Bareilly, Aditya Mehrotra, the owner of a cloud kitchen, told India Today Digital that in his area, “LPG cylinders are being delivered within four to five days of booking.” He said he sees “delivery workers bringing cylinders almost daily in his DD Puram locality”. Mehrotra, however, acknowledged that “black market prices for domestic cylinders have risen, and that some were trying to profiteer by exploiting people’s panic.”

An Agra-based journalist, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that in the city a gas cylinder that earlier took two to three days to arrive was now taking 18 to 20 days. He added that cylinders are also being sold on the black market for more than Rs 2,000 above the regular price.

MIXED IMPACT IN KARNATAKA. MANGALURU WOMAN REPORTS 40-DAY DELAY IN GAS DELIVERY

In Karnataka, while the LPG supply crunch has had a limited effect in large areas, it is severe in some others, people said.

In Bengaluru, a domestic help, Pooja Kumari, said the problem of gas cylinders was mounting. Kumari, who lives next to the Om Sairam Gas Agency in the SG Palya Market in Bengaluru’s CV Raman Nagar, said, “When the news came that there could be a gas shortage, I booked a cylinder immediately, but it has been over 25 days, and it hasn’t been delivered yet”.

“Earlier, it would be delivered within 2–3 days after booking. My husband checked if we could get a cylinder on the black market, but the prices were too high. In some places, it is Rs 2,500; Rs 3,500 in others. We can’t afford it,” Kumari told India Today Digital.

Priya, a rural resident of Vijayapura district in northern Karnataka, said, “We haven’t faced any major LPG crisis, but when the Iran war began, the buzz of potential LPG shortage triggered panic in our village. I witnessed the chaos outside the Ravi Indane Gas Agency created by villagers”.

“However, there is no major problem with LPG supply. We are able to book cylinders, and the agency has assured us of delivering them in 25 days. I’ve also heard that some restaurants are procuring LPG cylinders for Rs 3,000–Rs 4,000 on the black market. Interestingly, in our village, even if there is no crisis, people are using firewood stoves to save LPG,” Priya told India Today Digital.

Mangaluru-based Harsha said, “There is an LPG crisis. We are receiving LPG cylinders after 30–45 days of booking from our gas agency. We consume boiled rice daily, and boiling the rice takes a lot of energy. My family and our neighbours have started using firewood stoves to cook some food items.”

Hasha said that several Mangalorians who were in the food business in different parts of the country were returning after shuttering their restaurants temporarily.

PANIC EASES IN TAMIL NADU, LPG SUPPLY RETURNS TO NORMAL

Tamil Nadu appears to be relatively stable compared to many northern states, but delays are still visible in some places.

Cuddalore-based Kalidass recalled that “the first two weeks of the war were total chaos.”

“Panic spread in the people of our town due to lack of information. Now the situation is normal here. We are receiving LPG cylinders in time,” Kalidass told India Today Digital.

The bigger problem in Tamil Nadu has been commercial supply, according to reports. Many small eateries and roadside food stalls have shifted to wood and coal because commercial LPG cylinders are not easily available.

LPG BOOKINGS EASY, DELIVERIES SLOW IN KOLKATA; BLACK MARKET SALES CONTINUE

People in and around West Bengal’s Kolkata, India Today Digital spoke to, described the situation as mixed. Most said they were able to book cylinders online without much trouble, but they reported a delay in delivery after bookings were made.

Howrah-based MBA student Rumela Karar told India Today Digital that she was able to book a cylinder refill online last week. However, the delivery took much longer than usual. “It used to take 2–3 days before the war. It’s now taking 10–12 days extra,” Karar said.

From New Barrackpore, government teacher Nandini Sanyal said she booked gas cylinder refills on two separate occasions in March. “The delivery for the refill order I made in early March took two days. But it took 10 days for the cylinder to be delivered in the second instance,” said Sanyal, who has her connection with Renuka Indane gas agency.

An entrepreneur from Sonarpur, Preetish Banerjee, said the delivery of an LPG cylinder refill last week took seven days, compared to the earlier two to three days. “A big number of LPG cylinders are being sold on the black market,” he said.

IN BIHAR LPG CRUNCH PUSHES PEOPLE BACK TO CHULHAS; WEEK-LONG WAIT IN JHARKHAND

Patna-based Ragini Tiwari said that while the upscale areas of the city are better off amid the LPG crunch, she saw massive queues of people from poorer households in mohallas inhabited by low-income groups. Tiwari, who booked a refill on March 6, said it was delivered on March 12.

Tiwari said that her househelp, who had shifted to LPG, thanks to the Centre’s Ujjwala Yojna, is now using cow-dung cakes and firewood to cook at her home. “She is unable to book and can’t afford a Rs 4,000-cylinder,” Tiwari said.

A gas-delivery agent from Bihar’s eastern district of Purnea, told India Today Digital, “the wait-time between LPG cylinder booking and delivery has increased from three days to eight days.”

When asked if he could somehow arrange a cylinder unofficially, the Indane delivery agent said the war had made things far stricter. “There is documentation at every step now. Every cylinder is being accounted for. If even one cylinder is diverted, we could get caught. There is no chance of doing anything at our level,” he said. “If you want one, it can be done by someone higher up,” he said, hinting that black marketing was still taking place.

A resident of Jharkhand’s Dhanbad, Ritu Gupta, said that the delivery time of LPG gas cylinders in her city had increased from four days to a week. The Dhanbad resident also added that some families were now relying on wood and cow dung cakes for daily cooking.

PIPED GAS HELPS GUJARAT. MUMBAI SEES LONG QUEUES BUT CYLINDERS ARE AVAILABLE

Ahmedabad-based architect Shivani Singh told India Today Digital that there was no shortage of gas in the city, as most places have PNG. “The main vendors are either Adani Gas or Gujarat Gas Limited,” Singh said.

“Very few people have LPG connections, so even if people need a cylinder, it is relatively more easily available,” she said.

Things are sailing relatively smoothly in Mumbai too, at least according to two people from two different suburbs who spoke to India Today Digital.

From Mumbai’s Goregaon East suburb, statistician and marketing executive Nikunj Sabharwal said his family has been able to procure three cylinders in three separate visits to the agency. He said he got them “almost as soon as the bookings were made.”

In Powai’s Hiranandani area, security guard Ashok Ayyappan said that “while there are long queues outside his local gas agency, Ashok Gas Agency, in Chandivali, cylinders are available.”

LESS PANIC IN RAJASTHAN, PUNJAB, BUT BLACK MARKET AND LITTLE DELAYS REMAIN

Rajasthan and Punjab have not seen the kind of severe panic as reported from Delhi and parts of Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka. However, delays and black market sales remain a concern.

A homemaker from Punjab’s Hoshiarpur district told India Today Digital that “delivery time in her area has now crossed 10 days”.

She said people who are panicking during the waiting period are paying Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,000 for cylinders on the black market.

From Kota in Rajasthan, a resident told India Today Digital that after she was unable to book a cylinder online in mid-March, she was forced to go to the agency. Even then, the cylinder was delivered after seven days, the person said.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/india-lpg-crisis-middle-east-war-booking-problems-delivery-delays-black-market-delhi-bihar-up-2890810-2026-04-03

The Himachal Pradesh Assembly has passed an amendment to deny pension benefits to MLAs disqualified under the anti-defection law, with Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu saying the move is aimed at protecting the public mandate and curbing political defections.

The Himachal Pradesh Assembly on the final day of its Budget Session passed the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly (Allowances and Pension of Members) Amendment Bill, 2026, introducing a provision to deny pension benefits to legislators disqualified under the anti-defection law.

The Bill, moved by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, amends the 1971 Act governing salaries, allowances and pensions of MLAs. Under the new provision, any MLA disqualified under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution for defection will no longer be entitled to pension benefits.

MOVE AIMED AT CURBING DEFECTIONS

Explaining the rationale, Sukhu said the existing law lacked provisions to discourage defections. He said the amendment aims to safeguard the public mandate, uphold democratic values and curb defection.

The Chief Minister also accused the BJP of not supporting the measure and alleged that such opposition encourages “Operation Lotus”. He said the amendment was intended to ensure that “democracy is not sold.”

OPPOSITION ALLEGES POLITICAL TARGETING

The Opposition opposed the Bill, calling it politically motivated. Leader of the Opposition Jai Ram Thakur said a similar amendment had been brought earlier but did not receive approval, and questioned the intent behind reintroducing it.

He alleged the government was targeting specific individuals, stating that an earlier proposal to remove pensions for all MLAs was not cleared, and that the current Bill appears aimed at two former legislators. He also said the matter could be challenged in court.

SPEAKER BACKS MOVE

Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania supported the legislation, saying it would set an example for other states and strengthen democratic systems by discouraging defections.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/himachal-assembly-passes-bill-deny-pension-mlas-disqualified-under-anti-defection-law-2890921-2026-04-02

From record highs to wider global reach, India’s defence exports are gaining momentum, signalling a steady climb towards a larger role in the global arms market.

India’s defence exports reached an all-time high of Rs 38,424 crore in the financial year 2025-26, marking a sharp 62.66 per cent increase from Rs 23,622 crore in the previous fiscal, according to official government data.

The increase of Rs 14,802 crore reflects a sustained rise in outbound defence shipments to over 80 countries, including Israel and the United States, which are currently engaged in a military campaign against Iran in the Middle East. Exports have nearly tripled over the past five years, indicating a steady expansion of India’s presence in the global defence market.

Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) drove much of the growth, with exports rising 151 per cent year-on-year to Rs 21,071 crore from Rs 8,389 crore in FY25. The private sector also recorded steady gains, with exports increasing 14 per cent to Rs 17,353 crore from Rs 15,233 crore a year earlier. DPSUs accounted for 54.84 per cent of total exports, while private firms contributed 45.16 per cent.

The number of registered defence exporters also rose to 145 in FY26, up from 128 in the previous fiscal, marking a 13.3 per cent increase, the government data further noted.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh lauded the performance, describing it as an “impressive success story” under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.

In a social media post, Singh said India is steadily advancing towards becoming a global manufacturing hub for defence equipment, crediting the achievement to the combined efforts of the Department of Defence Production, exporters, and industry stakeholders.

“This big jump of Rs 14,802 crore in defence exports reflects the growing global trust in India’s indigenous capabilities and advanced manufacturing strength. With DPSUs contributing 54.84 per cent and private industry 45.16 per cent, this milestone showcases the power of a collaborative and self-reliant defence ecosystem,” the Defence Minister said.

The sharp rise in exports underscores the increasing global acceptance of Indian defence products and the country’s growing integration into international supply chains. India is now exporting defence equipment to over 80 countries, further strengthening its position in the global market.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/india-defence-exports-surge-new-record-global-arms-market-wars-conflict-rajnath-singh-2890656-2026-04-02

The case dates back to 2022. In Agra’s Etmadpur area, the husband, along with his family members, murdered his wife and her cousin over suspicions of an illicit relationship. After the incident, the wife’s body was found at the doorstep of the house, while cousin’s body lay in the street.

A four-year-old double murder case in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, concluded with a court sentencing a man, his father, and brother to death for killing his wife and her cousin with a sharp-edged weapon.

The court also imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh each on the three convicts — the husband, his father, and his brother.

The case dates back to 2022. In Agra’s Etmadpur area, the husband, along with his family members, murdered his wife and her cousin over suspicions of an illicit relationship.

According to reports, the cousin, 31-year-old Shivam Sisodia, lived behind the house of the accused’s relatives.

The accused, Gaurav, was married to Pooja, a resident of Khidiya village in the Saiyan area. Due to family ties, Shivam frequently visited their home.

The family suspected that Pooja and Shivam were close. On the afternoon of May 27, 2022, Shivam had gone to meet Pooja at her house, where the family allegedly caught them together. They were then dragged out of the house into the street.

It is alleged that Gaurav, along with his father Madan and brother Abhishek, chased and beat Pooja and Shivam with sticks. When the two fell to the ground, their throats were slit with a farsa.

Reports say that Gaurav’s brother attacked Shivam 22 times within a minute.

After the incident, Pooja’s body was found at the doorstep of the house, while Shivam’s body lay in the street.

Following the murders, Gaurav reportedly sat near his wife’s body and cried, while his father and brother went to the Etmad-ud-Daula police station and surrendered.

Police recovered the farsa used in the crime and a blood-stained stick from a drain at the scene.

A total of 14 witnesses were presented in court. Key evidence included the testimony of Shivam’s brother Abhishek and CCTV footage of the incident.

Additional Deputy Commissioner Mohit Pal said over the phone that the court found Madan, Gaurav, and Abhishek guilty of the killings and sentenced them to death.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/agra-double-murder-case-death-sentence-husband-father-brother-2022-killing-2890410-2026-04-02

According to initial reports, the victims were labourers engaged in work related to the expressway and were travelling in a mini-truck pickup vehicle at the time of the accident.

A devastating road accident in Maharashtra left seven women dead and four others seriously injured after a speeding truck rammed into a mini-truck carrying labourers on the Samruddhi Expressway in Jalna district. The incident, which occurred near Kadwanchi village, triggered grief and outrage across the region, once again highlighting concerns over reckless driving and road safety on high-speed corridors.

According to initial reports, the victims were labourers engaged in work related to the expressway and were travelling in a mini-truck pickup vehicle at the time of the accident.

A truck, allegedly moving at high speed, approached from behind and crashed into the vehicle with tremendous force.

The impact was so severe that seven women died on the spot, while four others sustained critical injuries, including head trauma and fractures.

“A total of 11 persons, including the driver, were sitting in the tempo. As the vehicle was about to start, a speeding truck headed towards Mumbai rammed into it from behind at Kadvanchi village,” a police official said.

Eyewitnesses described the scene as chaotic and deeply distressing, with victims flung off the vehicle due to the collision.

Local residents were among the first to respond, quickly alerting authorities and assisting in rescue efforts.

Police teams and ambulances soon arrived at the spot, and an immediate rescue operation was launched.

The injured were initially taken to the district general hospital in Jalna before being shifted to a private facility for advanced treatment, where they remain under medical care.

Preliminary findings suggest that negligence and overspeeding by the truck driver may have led to the accident.

The police have taken the driver into custody and registered a case of culpable homicide.

Officials confirmed that further investigation is underway to determine the exact sequence of events and any additional lapses that may have contributed to the tragedy.

The deceased have been identified as Alkabai Dadarao Admane (45), Laxmibai Santosh Madan (35), Meenabai Parmeshwar Admane (45), Kanchanbai Prakash Admane (50), Tarabai Gahenaji Chaudhary (60), Kadubai Ramdas Madan (55), and Sumanbai Kachru Admane (70).

All were residents of nearby villages and were working as labourers.

Among the injured are Prayagbai Babasaheb Wagh (30), Kavita Vitthal Chaudhary (35), Dinesh Ranganath Gaikwad (42), and an unidentified woman aged around 50.

Doctors have indicated that several of the injured suffered serious head injuries and remain under close observation.

Public representatives and senior officials visited both the accident site and the hospital.

Local MLA Arjun Khotkar met with the injured and assured the victims’ families of government support and compensation.

District Collector Ashima Mittal and Superintendent of Police Ajaykumar Bansal also reviewed the situation and directed authorities to expedite relief measures and the investigation.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed deep sorrow over the tragic loss of seven lives, calling the incident extremely unfortunate. He announced an ex gratia compensation of Rs 5 lakh for the families of each of the deceased.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/maharashtra-accident-speeding-truck-crash-mini-truck-killing-women-injuring-others-jalna-maharashtra-2890344-2026-04-01

The meeting reviewed measures to ensure stability in essential supplies, including fuel, power and logistics, with adequate coal stocks in place. It also discussed steps across key sectors and efforts to secure fertiliser supply, while directing states to curb hoarding and diversion.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday chaired a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) to review measures being taken amid the ongoing West Asia conflict, with focus on ensuring sufficient LPG supply and diversifying procurement from multiple countries.

Officials briefed that sources of LPG and LNG are being expanded with new inflows from different countries, while domestic LPG prices have remained unchanged. Anti-diversion drives are also being carried out to curb hoarding and black marketing.

The meeting reviewed steps to ensure stability in essential supplies, including fuel duty measures, power sector preparedness and logistics. Adequate coal stocks are in place to meet power demand in the coming months, while steps such as easing norms for gas-based plants and increasing coal supply to thermal stations have been undertaken.

Interventions across agriculture, fertilisers, shipping, aviation, logistics and MSMEs were discussed to mitigate emerging challenges. Efforts to maintain urea production and coordinate with global suppliers for DAP and NPK fertilisers are underway, with states asked to act against hoarding and diversion.

Initiatives have also been taken to expand Piped Natural Gas connections. Measures such as exempting gas-based power plants with a capacity of 7-8 GW from the gas pooling mechanism and increasing the number of rakes to position more coal at thermal power stations have also been undertaken to ensure power availability during the peak summer months.

The government said retail prices of essential food items have remained stable over the past month, with control rooms set up for real-time monitoring and coordination with states under the Essential Commodities Act.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/lpg-crunch-ccs-meet-procurement-diversified-iran-war-us-israeli-strikes-2890372-2026-04-01

A 55-year-old builder-influencer, known online as ‘Pookie Don’, after a huge cache of weapons was found hidden inside a newly-installed fake shoe rack panel at his house in Maharashtra’s Thane district. The seized weapons are worth Rs 10 lakh.

A 55-year-old builder and social media influencer, known online as ‘Pookie Don’, has been arrested on charges of possessing a cache of weapons at his house in Maharashtra’s Thane district. Several weapons, including some engraved “Made in USA” pistols and revolvers, 371 cartridges, 167 air gun pellets, a sword and a button knife, hidden behind a newly-installed fake shoe rack panel valued at Rs 10 lakh.

The accused, Surendra Panduranga Patil, who has over three lakh followers on Instagram, was arrested on March 28 in Dombivli, barely a week after securing bail in another case. Acting on a tip-off, Crime Branch officials searched his residence and recovered a hidden cache of weapons tucked behind a fake panel that raised suspicion due to its mismatch with the home’s interiors.

Police recovered five country-made pistols and revolvers – some marked “Made in USA” – along with two air guns, 371 cartridges, 167 air gun pellets, a sword, a button knife, another sharp-edged weapon and two steel rods. The total value of the seized weapons is estimated at around Rs 10 lakh.

Officials said the volume of ammunition indicated the stockpile was functional.

“Acting on a tip-off, our team searched Patil’s bungalow in the Dawdi area of Dombivli late on Saturday night. We recovered a cache of weapons hidden behind a fake panel of a newly installed shoe rack that did not match the house’s interior,” an official from the Crime Branch said.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/builder-influencer-pookie-don-arrested-weapons-found-home-pistols-cartridges-2890250-2026-04-01

The sting operation by the India Today Special Investigation Team shows how the illegal sale of gas cylinders continues unabated in the national capital.

As concerns over fuel supplies rise due to the ongoing crisis in the Gulf, the gap between official claims and ground reality is becoming increasingly visible in India’s capital. While authorities maintain that there is no shortage of LPG, an India Today undercover investigation has revealed a thriving black market where gas cylinders are being sold at exorbitant rates — and often in plain sight.

The sting operation exposes how LPG cylinders are being hoarded, illegally traded, and diverted from legitimate consumers across multiple locations in Delhi.

BLACK MARKET FLOURISHES NEAR ALIPUR POLICE STATION

Acting on a tip-off, the India Today Special Investigation Team reached a shop located just a few metres from the Alipur Police Station in Outer Delhi.

The allegation: LPG cylinders were being hoarded and sold illegally.

At the shop, the team met a man named Ankit and asked if he could provide a gas cylinder. His response was direct. He enquired whether the reporters had an empty cylinder and then quoted a price of Rs 4,300.

This is nearly five times the official price of a domestic LPG cylinder, which stands at Rs 913 in Delhi. When asked if the price could be negotiated, Ankit refused, saying this was the rate at which he himself was procuring the cylinders. He confirmed that Rs 4,300 was the “going rate” in the black market.

INFLATED PRICES, OPEN TRANSACTIONS

To verify the operation, the reporters carried an empty cylinder and attempted to make a purchase. At the same location, they witnessed a labourer paying Rs 4,300 in cash for a cylinder, highlighting how even the economically vulnerable are being forced to pay inflated prices.

Since the reporters had an Indane cylinder, while Ankit was dealing in cylinders from another supplier, he demanded an additional Rs 200 for the exchange. This pushed the total cost of the cylinder to Rs 4,500.

Despite the illegal nature of the transaction, Ankit went to the extent of weighing the cylinder before handing it over, giving the deal an appearance of legitimacy. The payment was completed via UPI, further indicating how openly such transactions are being conducted.

When asked if more cylinders could be arranged the next day, Ankit readily agreed, suggesting a steady and organised supply chain behind the operation.

A NETWORK EXTENDING BEYOND ONE LOCATION

The investigation then moved to the Cake Chowk area, where another operator named Sitaram was found facilitating similar transactions.When approached for two cylinders, Sitaram quoted Rs 4,000 per cylinder. He immediately contacted a man named Sanjay to arrange the supply, demonstrating the existence of a coordinated network of suppliers.

During the call, Sitaram confirmed that Indane cylinders would be available and assured delivery within 15 to 30 minutes. He directed the reporters to meet him near the local drain in Swaroop Nagar to collect the cylinders.

MAUJPUR: ILLEGAL TRADE HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT

From Outer Delhi, the investigation moved to Maujpur in East Delhi, where LPG black marketing was found to be operating openly under the cover of everyday businesses.

Like this stationery shop doubling as an LPG supplier. At this stationery shop run by Sanjay Jain, the initial response was a refusal. However, after making a phone call, he agreed to arrange a cylinder within 2–3 hours for Rs 3,400.

He confirmed that the cylinder would be from the Indane supply chain.

FLOUR MILL SHOP ACTING AS MIDDLEMAN

At another location, a flour mill selling wheat flour and spices, illegal LPG trading was also taking place.The shopkeeper, Girish Jain, contacted his network and assured delivery of a cylinder for around Rs 3,500. He asked the reporters to share their mobile number and promised to call once the cylinder arrived.

STOVE REPAIR SHOP FACILITATING ILLEGAL SUPPLY

A third shop in the same area, dealing in cooking stove repairs, was also part of the network.The shopkeeper, Shubash, asked whether the reporters had an empty Indane cylinder. Upon confirmation, he agreed to arrange a refill for Rs 3,500. All these small-shop operations demonstrate how widespread and normalised the black market has become.

A WELL-ORGANISED SUPPLY CHAIN

Across all locations, from Outer Delhi to East Delhi, the investigation revealed a deeply entrenched and organised network of LPG black marketers.The pattern was consistent:Cylinders were sold without booking slips. Prices ranged between Rs 3,400 and Rs 4,500, far above official rates. Suppliers operated through informal networks and phone calls. Deliveries were arranged within hours.Transactions were conducted both in cash and digital payments. In many cases, small shopkeepers acted merely as intermediaries, connecting buyers to larger suppliers.

EXPLOITING PANIC AND DEMAND

The investigation suggests that panic triggered by global supply concerns is being actively exploited by black marketers.With delivery delays and restrictions on LPG cylinders, many households and small businesses, especially those dependent on cooking gas for daily operations, are left with little choice but to turn to the black market. This has created a parallel economy where illegal operators are making significant profits by diverting cylinders meant for genuine consumers.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/lpg-black-market-delhi-inflated-prices-gulf-crisis-iran-israel-us-war-2890202-2026-04-01

The Bombay High Court dismissed Anita Advani’s appeal seeking legal recognition of her relationship with Rajesh Khanna as a marriage, upholding the earlier rejection of her suit.

The Bombay High Court on Wednesday dismissed a plea filed by actor Anita Advani challenging a lower court’s rejection of her suit seeking legal recognition of her relationship with late Bollywood superstar Rajesh Khanna as a marriage.

A bench of Justice Sharmila Deshmukh, after hearing arguments from both sides, including counsel representing Advani and Rajesh Khanna’s estranged wife Dimple Kapadia, daughter Twinkle Khanna and son-in-law Akshay Kumar, ruled that the appeal has been dismissed. A detailed judgment is awaited.

Advani, who was closely associated with Khanna during the final years of his life, had approached the High Court after a civil court, in 2017, dismissed her suit on technical grounds. In her plea, she had sought a declaration that her relationship with Khanna amounted to a valid marriage.

Kapadia, however, remained Khanna’s legally wedded wife. Though the couple had separated, they had never formally divorced.

Following Khanna’s death in 2012, Advani publicly claimed that she had been in a long-standing relationship with the actor and alleged that she had secretly married him, asserting that he had applied sindoor on her. She also accused Khanna’s family of neglecting him during his final days and excluding her from his last rites.

The dispute had earlier led to legal proceedings, with Advani filing a domestic violence complaint before a Bandra magistrate court against Kapadia, Twinkle Khanna and Akshay Kumar, alleging that she had been forcibly removed from Khanna’s residence. In 2015, the Bombay High Court quashed the domestic violence case against them.

With Wednesday’s order, Advani’s attempt to secure legal recognition of her claimed marital status with the late actor has been rejected, pending the detailed reasoning from the court.

Anita Advani is a former actor and is remembered for her roles in films such as ‘Daasi’, ‘Aao Pyaar Karen’ and ‘Saazish’.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/law-news/story/bombay-high-court-dismisses-anita-advani-plea-rajesh-khanna-marriage-claim-2890189-2026-04-01

Five complaints triggered coordinated raids in Gurugram after landlords flagged suspicious tenant activity, where rented homes were covertly converted into equipment-filled technical hubs.

Gurugram Police have busted a major international cyber fraud network with links to the Philippines and Cambodia, arresting five key operatives accused of running a sophisticated SIM box-based racket used for “digital arrest” scams. The crackdown exposes a transnational syndicate that bypassed India’s telecom systems to route fraudulent calls and extort victims.

The operation came to light following five separate complaints, which led to coordinated raids in Gurugram’s U-Block and Chakarpur areas.

Suspicion was first raised by local landlords who noticed unusual activity in the rented accommodations. Instead of residential use, the premises had been converted into makeshift technical hubs fitted with electronic equipment and wiring.

A Special Investigation Team (SIT), led by senior cops, conducted the raids and uncovered what officials described as a “mini telecom setup”.

In the major bust, the police seized 13 SIM boxes used for illegal call routing, 504 active SIM cards, seven Wi-Fi cameras with human detection features, seven routers, inverters, batteries, and multiple networking devices.

DCP (Cyber Crime) Gaurav Rajpurohit confirmed the arrest of five accused identified as Rahul Kumar from Uttar Pradesh, Yash Amrit Singh Dugar and Bhavika Ramesh Bhagchandani from Gujarat, and Litesh and Sagar from Maharashtra.

According to investigators, the group played distinct roles in setting up infrastructure, managing communications, and handling financial transactions.

HOW THEY OPERATED

Preliminary interrogation revealed that Rahul Kumar was in contact with handlers based in the Philippines, who guided him via video calls on setting up SIM boxes and routing calls.

These devices were installed at multiple locations in Gurugram, including DLF Phase-3, enabling the gang to mask international calls as local ones.

Bhavika Bhagchandani, meanwhile, was linked to operatives in Cambodia.

Investigators said she coordinated with associates to convert fraud proceeds into cryptocurrency, primarily USDT, which was then transferred overseas.

Yash Dugar allegedly assisted in facilitating these financial transactions, acting as an intermediary in the conversion of funds.

Police said the syndicate used a well-established smuggling route to bring in illegal equipment: from the Philippines to Nepal, then to Bihar, and finally distributed across various Indian cities.

The accused also admitted to recharging over 2,200 SIM cards used in cyber fraud operations, including “digital arrest” scams where victims are coerced into believing they are under legal scrutiny and forced to transfer money.

LINKS TO ‘CYBER SLAVERY’?

Officials further revealed disturbing links to “cyber slavery,” with some victims reportedly trafficked to Cambodia and forced to participate in online fraud activities under duress.

The recovered surveillance cameras were allegedly used to monitor surroundings and avoid detection during operations.

The case highlights the growing complexity and international reach of cybercrime networks targeting Indian citizens.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/gurugram-cyber-fraud-hub-busted-links-philippines-cambodia-five-arrested-digital-arrest-2890134-2026-04-01

Widely used for diabetes and weight loss, GLP-1 drugs are now under stricter scrutiny. The government has warned against over-the-counter access and unsupervised use.

The Government of India has released a detailed note on GLP-1 drugs, highlighting their growing use in treating type 2 diabetes and obesity, while also warning about potential risks and misuse. As these medicines gain popularity, especially for weight loss, the authorities have stepped up monitoring and regulation to ensure patient safety.

The advisory comes amid rising demand for these drugs in India, with reports of easy availability through online platforms and wellness clinics.

Officials have now made it clear that GLP-1 drugs are not general wellness products but powerful prescription medicines that must only be used under expert supervision.

WHAT ARE GLP-1 DRUGS AND WHY ARE THEY USED?

GLP-1 (Glucagon-Like Peptide-1) drugs are a class of medicines used to manage blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. They also help in weight loss by slowing digestion and reducing appetite.

These drugs work by mimicking a natural hormone in the body that increases insulin release and lowers excess glucose. Because of their dual benefit of controlling diabetes and aiding weight loss, they have become increasingly popular in recent years.

GOVERNMENT WARNS OF SERIOUS SIDE EFFECTS

The government has cautioned that GLP-1 drugs can cause serious side effects if taken without proper medical advice. These may include digestive issues, hormonal imbalance, and other complications if misused.

Health experts stress that these medicines are not suitable for everyone and should not be used casually for weight loss without proper diagnosis and supervision.

PRESCRIPTION ONLY: WHO CAN RECOMMEND THESE DRUGS?

According to the advisory, GLP-1 drugs can only be prescribed by qualified medical specialists such as endocrinologists, internal medicine experts, and cardiologists.

They are strictly not available over the counter. The government has warned people against purchasing these drugs online or from unauthorised sellers without a valid prescription.

See more

Government of India releases details on the GLP -1 Drugs’ use, risks, and regulation.

Key Takeaways:
GLP-1 (Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 agonist) drugs are prescription medications used to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity but carry serious side effects and must only be taken under… pic.twitter.com/hSLWFLIp8h

— ANI (@ANI) April 1, 2026

STRICT ACTION AGAINST VIOLATIONS

The Drug Controller General of India (DCGI), along with State Drug Controllers, has intensified surveillance across the country. Inspections are being carried out at pharmacies, clinics, and online platforms.

Authorities have clearly stated that any violation, such as illegal sale or misuse, will lead to strict action, including licence cancellation, fines, and legal proceedings.

RISING DEMAND TRIGGERS TIGHTER CONTROL

The increased popularity of GLP-1 drugs, especially for weight loss, has raised concerns about their misuse. While they offer medical benefits, experts warn against viewing them as quick-fix solutions.

The government’s latest move aims to strike a balance, ensuring access for genuine patients while preventing unsafe and unregulated use.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/health/story/glp-1-drugs-under-tight-watch-government-flags-risks-strengthens-regulations-2889950-2026-04-01

 

The government said efforts to globally diversify sources of energy, fertilizers and other supply chains were being taken.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday chaired a key meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) to review measures taken by various ministries/ departments amid the West Asia crisis. This was the second CCS meeting chaired by the Prime Minister on the matter.

During the meeting, PM Modi reviewed supply diversification for LPG and LNG, as well as fuel duty reduction and power sector measures to ensure that essentials remain stable. In a release by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) after the meeting, the government said efforts to globally diversify sources of energy, fertilizers and other supply chains were being taken. For diversification, new inflows of LPG and LNG are being facilitated from different countries.

See more

Chaired a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS). Reviewed the steps being taken by various Ministries and Departments in the wake of the ongoing West Asia conflict and also discussed the next set of initiatives to be taken. Aspects relating to sectors like energy,… pic.twitter.com/vb0UluPbtu

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 1, 2026

The cabinet secretary briefed the members about the action taken to ensure supply of petroleum products, particularly LNG/LPG, and sufficient power availability. Interventions across agriculture, fertilizers, shipping, aviation, logistics and MSME’s were discussed to face the challenges emerging out of the crisis, the PMO statement said.

Measures to curb hoarding , black marketing in place

The cabinet secretary briefed the Prime Minister on the anti-diversion enforcement to curb hoarding and black marketing of LPG. State governments were also requested to curb black marketing, hoarding, and diversion of fertilizers through daily monitoring, raids, and strict action.

The PMO said that initiatives have been taken to expand Piped Natural Gas connections.

“Measures like exempting the gas-based power plants with a capacity of 7-8 GW from gas pooling mechanism and increasing of rake for positioning more coal at thermal power stations etc. have also been taken to ensure availability of power during the peak summer months,” the office stated.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/pm-modi-chairs-key-security-ccs-meet-amid-west-asia-crisis-reviews-fuel-energy-supply-101775062343806.html

 

India is actively seeking a common position on the West Asia crisis, and has said BRICS members are directly involved in the situation making it difficult to forge consensus

Walking the tightrope to forge consensus over issuing a statement on the ongoing West Asia conflict, India will host Iran and the UAE, alongside other member countries, at the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meet next month.

The BRICS Foreign Ministers’ meeting will take place on May 14 and 15 in New Delhi, ahead of 17th BRICS Summit under India’s leadership.

New Delhi has extended invitations to all the member countries, with Russia already having confirmed foreign minister Sergey Lavrov’s attendance. Apart from Russia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates, other members include Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, and South Africa.

The meeting comes at a time when at least three member countries are directly involved in the West Asia conflict, as a result of US-Israeli strikes on Iran in February. The war has triggered a massive energy crisis with global repercussions due to a military blockade in the Strait of Hormuz and attacks on major oil sites in the Persian Gulf.

As the chair, India hosted the first BRICS Sherpa and Sous Sherpa meeting in New Delhi on February 9 and 10, setting the agenda for the year under the theme ‘Building for resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability’.

As of now, India will be hosting the foreign ministers’ meeting at a sensitive but significant moment with Tehran urging New Delhi, as the current BRICS chair, to issue a formal statement condemning US-Israeli military strikes against it. This has placed New Delhi in a delicate diplomatic spot as the member countries are directly involved in the conflict.

India is actively engaging with member countries of BRICS to arrive at a common position on the West Asia crisis. According to India’s official statement, BRICS members are directly involved in the current situation, and the differences among member countries have made it difficult for the grouping to forge consensus.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/india-to-host-iran-uae-in-may-as-part-of-brics-foreign-ministers-meet-amid-west-asia-crisis-ws-l-10010194.html

Admiral Tripathi said the development was “no longer a hidden fact” and highlighted the Navy’s readiness during the operation.

The Indian Navy was just minutes away from launching a strike on Pakistan from the sea during Operation Sindoor before Islamabad requested a halt to kinetic action, Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi said on Wednesday.

Speaking at a naval investiture ceremony, Admiral Tripathi said the development was “no longer a hidden fact” and highlighted the Navy’s readiness during the operation carried out last year following the Pahalgam terror attack.

“It is now no longer a hidden fact that we were just minutes away from striking Pakistan from the sea when they requested a stoppage of kinetic action,” he said. “Through swift and resolute actions during Operation Sindoor, the Indian Navy reinforced the nation’s confidence and trust in its capabilities.”

Operation Sindoor demonstrated exemplary readiness and resolve of the Indian Navy, as its units undertook swift deployment and maintained a highly aggressive posture throughout the period, he said.

“Besides Operation Sindoor and the relentless operational tempo through the year, we were also very proud to showcase the breadth and depth of our operational capabilities to the Prime Minister during a historic 17-hour overnight embarkation with the Indian Navy on the western seaboard,” said Admiral Tripathi.

Talking about the West Asia conflict, he said that ever since the war involving the US, Israel, and Iran broke out, more than 20 merchant vessels have been attacked in the region.

Nearly 1,900 vessels remain stranded amid the hostilities, he said, adding that the daily traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has fallen sharply to six-seven transits, compared with a pre-conflict average of about 130.

“At a time when the global order is marked by increasing fragmentation and friction, the seas are no longer secondary theatres where continental conflicts spill over. Instead, they are becoming the first arena where strategic intent is signalled and contested, often with disproportionate consequences,” the Navy chief added.

He said that at the same time, evolving technology and tactics have not only reshaped how conflicts are planned, initiated, and sustained, but also made non-traditional challenges more complex and less predictable to counter.

“As a result, the prevailing maritime environment demands a careful alignment of functional agility and farsightedness at the organisational level, combat readiness and operational effectiveness at the unit level, and professional excellence anchored in boldness and judgement at the individual level,” said Admiral Tripathi.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/indian-navy-was-minutes-away-from-striking-pakistan-admiral-tripathi-details-op-sindoor-ws-l-10010092.html

SP chief Akhilesh Yadav alleged that honest officers are sidelined under the BJP government while corrupt officials are favoured. Speaking in Lucknow, he said a future PDA government would ensure dignity and proper roles for officers, adding that dissatisfaction is driving support for his political vision.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav launched a sharp attack on the BJP government, alleging that capable and honest officers have no value in the current system. Speaking in Lucknow, he claimed that those involved in corruption and irregularities are being favored, while efficient officers are sidelined.

Yadav urged officials not to take decisions in emotional distress, asserting that “better days are coming.” He said a future PDA (Pichhda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak) government would ensure dignity, proper roles, and respect for deserving officers. According to him, quality governance depends on skilled administrators who can deliver work within timelines.

He emphasized that the Samajwadi Party has always valued competent officers and will continue to do so. Yadav also claimed that both officers and employees who feel neglected are now aligning with the PDA vision to bring political change in the state.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/sp-chief-akhilesh-yadav-slams-bjp-says-capable-officers-sidelined-while-corrupt-officials-favoured

The company clarified its position in an affidavit in response to a petition filed by Prateek Sharma, who challenged the validity of the decision of his X account operated as Dr Nimo Yadav.

X Corp has told the Delhi High Court that it has asked the Centre to review its order to block 12 accounts, terming the action as disproportionate and not in compliance with the law.

It submitted before a bench of Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav that the company has written a letter on March 19 to the Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), saying the blocking order issued on March 18 does not meet the requirements laid down under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000.

The company clarified its position in an affidavit in response to a petition filed by Prateek Sharma, who challenged the validity of the decision of his X account operated as Dr Nimo Yadav.

It said the account was blocked on MeitY’s directions over allegedly controversial and defamatory posts targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, including content portraying him as incompetent, which was also in poor taste.

X, however, maintained that the most of the content across the identified accounts did not fall within the grounds specified under Section 69A. It also claimed blocking entire accounts, rather than specific posts, was excessive and failed to meet the legal standard of adopting the “least intrusive measure”.

It also contended that the affected account holders were not given an opportunity to be heard. It further claimed that the blocking order did not demonstrate that reasonable efforts were made to identify the individuals responsible for the content in question.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/x-wrote-to-centre-against-order-for-blocking-12-accounts-delhi-high-court-3951316

A viral video of a heated confrontation between a Texas whistleblower and an Indian H-1B visa holder has gone viral on social media. In the footage, Sara Gonzales claimed she had uncovered an “H-1B scam,” alleging the techie is illegally operating and owning a food truck while on a specialised work visa.

“I confronted an H-1B tech worker ILLEGALLY running a food truck business,” Gonzales wrote while sharing a video. The clip captures her walking up to the Golconda Xpress Indian Food Truck and confronting Naveen Tummala. According to her, his H-1B is sponsored by Flexera Global Inc., but she claimed that he calls himself the owner of the food truck.

During the confrontation, Tummala agreed that he was on an H-1B but denied working on the truck or owning it. He said it belongs to his wife, and at times he helps her with technical issues. Gonzales argued that Tummala was lying and that she had proof he works full-time on the truck.

Tummala shared that he is a chef and knows the recipes, but he doesn’t work on his food truck, which he said his wife owns and operates.

“I am off my duty. I cannot help my wife, or what? Do you think I am getting paid for it? I know my rules. I know my rights,” Tummala said. When Gonzales asked why his wife was not at the truck, he added, “Do you think the business owners are always at the businesses they own?”

The techie continued, “You can do whatever you want. You think that’s American. You guys do the same thing for everybody. Go ahead and check your backyard.’

At this point, Gonzales mockingly said that she was unable to understand Tummala’s English.

Following this, Tummala asked Gonzales to apologise and asked her to get off his property. He said, “You can do whatever you want. You think that’s American. You guys do the same thing for everybody. Go ahead and check your backyard.”

Gonzales threatens to report him to the authorities as she leaves the premises.

See more

I confronted an H-1B tech worker ILLEGALLY running a food truck business: pic.twitter.com/DENNcmUS3P

— Sara Gonzales (@SaraGonzalesTX) March 31, 2026

Social media reacts:

While a few congratulated Sara Gonzales, most argued that what she did was unnecessary.

An individual wrote, “So, let me get this STRAIT sorry straight: creating a business is a ‘threat’ to American jobs? So in this dimension of logic, investing capital, paying taxes, and creating jobs for Americans is a devious plot to take work away from the Americans? And why is this dude even entertaining a stranger who seems to have spent their free time stalking him and harvesting his data? Before anyone jumps on me, I’m not interested in America or defending anyone. But the irony is that a country that prides itself on ‘liberating’ other nations’ by illegally taking away their oil and resources bombing them is worried about the sanctity of a visa. Logic has officially left the room.”

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/trending/us/indian-techie-on-h-1b-accused-of-scam-by-texas-whistleblower-sara-gonzales-over-food-truck-101775009670467.html

 

Oil PSUs announced that the aviation turbine fuel (ATF) for April has increased by about 115% for domestic flights due to the US-Israeli war with Iran.

Air travellers are set for a major hike in airfares, as jet fuel prices increased for April as the global economy reels from the fallout of the Iran conflict, though not as steeply as earlier reported. Oil PSUs on Wednesday announced that the aviation turbine fuel (ATF) for April has increased by about 8.5% for domestic flights, as compared to about 115% as earlier reported.

IndianOil issued a clarification, revising earlier estimation of ATF prices at over Rs 2 lakh per kilolitre in Delhi to significantly lower rates. The current price of jet fuel stands at around Rs 1.04 lakh per KL. The confusion came amid heightened volatility in global energy markets due to the ongoing Iran-US-Israel conflict.

The move comes as the rupee has been under heavy pressure, which has put further pressure on Indian airlines. Due to the ongoing tensions in West Asia and fears of disruption in global oil supplies, investors have been pulling money out of Indian markets.

Domestic ATF pricing

A kilo litre (1,000 litres) of fuel in India’s busiest Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) will now cost Rs Rs 1,04,927, as compared to Rs 96,638.14 last month, for domestic flights. India’s second busiest hub, Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA), will see the price from Rs 90,451.87 last month to Rs Rs 98,247 in April. In Kolkata, the fuel would cost Rs 1,09,450 per KL, and in Chennai it is Rs 1,09,873 per KL.

Meanwhile, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said the PSU oil marketing companies will implement a partial and staggered increase of 25% (Rs 15/litre) for domestic airlines, while ensuring that foreign routes bear the full market-aligned price. He said this approach will help shield passengers from sharp fare increases, ease the burden on domestic airlines, and support the continued stability of the aviation sector at this crucial juncture.

Naidu also urged states to consider reducing Value Added Tax (VAT) on jet fuel to ease the burden on airlines and passengers. Discussions are underway with state governments to explore possible relief measures.

Source : https://www.news18.com/auto/air-travel-to-get-costlier-jet-fuel-prices-hike-domestic-international-flights-iran-war-updates-ws-l-10008376.html

As rumors of “hidden agencies” and “manufactured virality” swirl, we look at why the internet is so desperate to tear down a woman in a saree

In the meticulously filtered ecosystem of Instagram, we’ve been trained to recognise certain “types” and “cliches.” There’s the South Bombay aesthetic, the gritty urban hustle, the “authentic” rural creator who usually stays in a lane of farming or cooking, or maybe both. Then I stumbled upon Pujarini Pradhan, known to her 675K followers as @lifeofpujaa.

Clad in modest cotton sarees against the backdrop of a West Bengal village, she shows us her life and just as easily deconstructs ours. From blistering takes on capitalism to nuanced film critiques and feminist theory, her reels are delivered in fluent, articulate English that has left a specific corner of the internet, and several “prestige” creators, in a state of absolute meltdown.

To me, the question currently burning through Reddit threads and influencer “exposure” videos isn’t actually about her content. It’s about her audacity.

Is Pujaa An “Industry Plant”?

Honestly, who cares? The backlash reached a fever pitch in late March 2026, spearheaded by critics like therapist-influencer Niharika Jain. Her argument was that Pujarini’s rise is “too sharp,” her edits “too polished,” and her intellectual depth “too curated” for someone with supposedly limited resources.

The term “Industry Plant” was tossed around with reckless abandon. Critics pointed to her collaborations with Netflix and Audible as proof of a hidden machine behind the saree. I find the subtext of these accusations as loud as it is ugly: How can a girl from a village in Bengal know this much about cinema? How can she edit this well without a Mumbai production crew?

The Gatekeeping Of “Exposure”

The most telling part of this controversy is the claim that Pujarini lacks the “exposure” necessary to have such “immaculate taste.” It’s a classic elitist trope that suggests critical thinking and sophisticated aesthetics are geographical privileges. As one Reddit user aptly put it: “Is she forgetting that the internet exists? It doesn’t take a real-life ‘social circle’… to have tastes.”

I couldn’t agree more. In 2026, the idea that a rural creator needs a “system” to understand global discourse isn’t just outdated but insulting. We seem perfectly happy to celebrate “raw” rural content, but the moment that content becomes intellectual and (heaven forbid) profitable, the witch hunt begins.

Pujarini didn’t take the bait quietly. In a recent Reel, she dismantled the “team” allegations, clarifying that her agency handles brands, not her brain. “They were fine until I started giving my opinions,” she noted. “The moment I started earning money, they felt like I am a danger.”

See more

This, in my opinion, is the real crux of the “Life of Puja” storm. As a culture, we are comfortable with the “struggling” rural woman; we are deeply threatened by the financially savvy, articulate, and self-made rural woman. Why is it so hard for us to digest that someone can be well-read and tech-savvy without living in a metro city?

Despite the skepticism, heavyweights like Archana Puran Singh and Kusha Kapila have jumped to her defense, calling out the blatant double standards. While privileged creators are allowed to “pivot” and “rebrand” endlessly, Pujarini is being asked to provide a receipt for every book she’s read and every edit she’s made.

Source : https://www.news18.com/viral/the-village-girl-who-knew-too-much-who-is-lifeofpujaa-and-why-the-internet-is-terrified-of-her-10007963.html

 

Police said data from the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal indicates links between the accused and at least 1,379 cyber fraud complaints across the country. Earlier, Rahul Verma was arrested in the case at Delhi airport in November 2025 while allegedly attempting to flee the country. He is currently in judicial custody.

The Cyber Crime Wing of the West Bengal Police on Tuesday arrested industrialist Pawan Ruia in connection with his alleged involvement in a multi-crore fraud case involving shell companies and cryptocurrency-based money laundering.

Ruia was apprehended near a hotel in New Town on the outskirts of Kolkata following a case registered at Bidhannagar Cyber Crime Police Station.

Police have registered a suo motu case based on findings from their probe into cybercrime cases, with proceeds amounting to Rs 315 crore allegedly traced to bank accounts of shell companies and individuals linked to the Ruia family, sources said.

The arrest came after the Calcutta High Court earlier in the day vacated interim protection granted to the accused and his family members in the matter, clearing the way for police action.

The Calcutta High Court had in December last year granted anticipatory bail to the industrialist, his son Raghav and daughter Pallavi in connection with the case for allegedly parking proceeds of various online scams across the country in their bank accounts.

According to investigators, the case pertains to the defrauding of a senior citizen of nearly Rs 93 lakh through a fake investment scheme operated via a mobile application. The proceeds were allegedly routed through multiple shell company accounts.

“Investigations revealed that this is part of a large interstate cyber fraud racket with nationwide ramifications. The accused and his associates used layered banking channels and cryptocurrencies to siphon off and launder funds abroad,” a senior officer of the Cyber Crime Wing told news agency PTI.

Police said data from the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal indicates links between the accused and at least 1,379 cyber fraud complaints across the country.

Earlier, Rahul Verma was arrested in the case at Delhi airport in November 2025 while allegedly attempting to flee the country. He is currently in judicial custody.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/west-bengal/story/pawan-ruia-arrested-rs-315-crore-cyber-fraud-shell-companies-cryptocurrency-2889845-2026-04-01

The gunbattle ensued after a joint team of the Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police, acting on specific intelligence about the terrorists’ presence, initiated the search operation in the general area.

A terrorist was killed after an encounter broke out between security forces and terrorists after the ultras opened fire on the security personnel during a cordon and search operation in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ganderbal district on Tuesday night, officials said. The operation was launched in the Arhama area following specific intelligence inputs about the presence of terrorists.

The gunbattle is underway as the armed forces are retaliating to the gunshots fired at them, with two to three terrorists trapped.

According to officials, a joint team of the Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police, acting on specific intelligence about the terrorists’ presence, initiated the search operation in the general area.

During the operation, security personnel noticed suspicious movement. When the suspects were challenged, they opened fire, prompting retaliation from the forces.

“Based on specific intelligence input, joint search operation was launched by #IndianArmy and @JmuKmrPolice in Gen area Arahama of Ganderbal. During the search, vigilant troops observed suspicious activity. On being challenged, terrorists opened fire and own troops retaliated. Operation is in progress,” the Army said.

Gunshots were heard in the area as the brief exchange of fire took place. Sources indicated that contact had been established with two to three terrorists during the initial phase of the operation.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/encounter-ganderbal-kashmir-search-operation-firefight-militants-2889819-2026-03-31

Former Army officer Sandeep Tomar was convicted in 2014 for strangling his wife Shweta and attempting to pass it off as a suicide. He was sentenced to life imprisonment, dismissed from the Army, and jailed in Ferozepur.

Punjab Police arrested former Indian Army captain Sandeep Tomar in Madhya Pradesh, ending a four-year hunt. He had been absconding in connection with his wife’s murder. An LPG cylinder booking ultimately led to his arrest.

Tomar had been on the run since the Punjab and Haryana High Court upheld his life sentence for the crime. The police traced him to Pandhurna district after tracking payments linked to an LPG cylinder booked in his name.

The probe began after Tomar’s father-in-law filed a court application seeking his arrest. A special investigation team (SIT), led by Superintendent of Police Aaswant Singh, was formed to track down the absconding officer.

The SIT collaborated with the National Intelligence Grid (NAT-GRID) and discovered Tomar’s original PAN card. This was used to identify bank accounts associated with him. One private bank reported an account linked to Tomar’s PAN.

Analysis of the bank statements revealed a monthly salary credited by a private company and a mobile number connected to the account, placing Tomar in Pandhurna. However, the exact location remained unclear.

Further scrutiny of the bank statements showed a transaction for an LPG cylinder from Bharat Gas. Contacting the gas agency helped police pinpoint the rented house where the cylinder was delivered, leading to Tomar’s arrest.

He was brought back to Punjab with assistance from Madhya Pradesh police. He had reportedly stayed in various parts of the country while evading capture.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/ex-army-captain-sandeep-tomar-arrested-lpg-booking-madhya-pradesh-2889605-2026-03-31

Premium Petrol, Diesel Prices Hiked In Delhi: The price of XP100 has been raised from Rs 149 per litre to Rs 160 per litre.

The prices of Indian Oil’s XP100 petrol (a premium variant) and Xtra Green (premium diesel) have been increased for Delhi.

The price of XP100 has been raised from Rs 149 per litre to Rs 160 per litre. IndianOil’s XP100 is India’s first 100-octane premium petrol, designed for high-end luxury cars and superbikes for better engine performance. Similarly, Xtra Green (Premium Diesel) will now be sold at Rs 92.99, against its earlier price of Rs 91.49.

While Indian Oil hasn’t yet specified the reason behind the increase in prices of premium petrol and diesel, it is believed that fluctuations in global crude oil prices and changes in logistics costs amid the ongoing US-Iran war may have prompted the decision.

Meanwhile, Indian Oil has also hiked the price of commercial LPG cylinders. The price of a 19-kg commercial LPG cylinder has been raised by over Rs 300 since the war started in the Middle East — from Rs 1,768.50 on March 1 to Rs 2,078.50 on April 1. The latest increase in the commercial LPG cylinder price is the third since March 1, and the fifth since January 1, 2026.

Alongside, the price of jet fuel has also been increased. Jet fuel prices have risen by over two times to Rs 2.07 lakh per kilolitre amid surge in global oil prices. ATF prices in Delhi were hiked to Rs 2,07,341.22 per kl, from Rs 96,638.14 per kl. The prices of jet fuel were hiked by 5.7 per cent (Rs 5,244.75 per kl) on March 1 as well. Separately, ATF price for domestic airlines was hiked by 8.6 per cent to Rs 1.04 lakh per kilolitre.

Indian Oil revised the hike in the ATF Prices in Metros (Rs/Kl) for Domestic Airlines in Delhi from Rs 96,638.14/Kl on March 1, 2026 to Rs 1,04,927/Kl on April 1, 2026.

Significantly, this is the first time ever that aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices have crossed Rs 2 lakh per kl-mark. The earlier peak was in 2022 when rates were hiked Rs 1.1 lakh per kl after oil prices surged following Russia’s military operation in Ukraine.

Rise In Fuel Prices Amid Iran War

The rise in XP100 price comes nearly two weeks after Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) increased the price of its premium petrol price by Rs 2 per litre. In the national capital, HPCL premium petrol prices were revised from Rs 99.87 to Rs 101.89 per litre.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/us-israel-iran-war-premium-petrol-xp100-price-hiked-by-rs-11-per-litre-jet-fuel-crosses-rs-2-lakh-per-kilolitre-11294307?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

The company has offered 15 days’ salary to each employee who has completed a year of service in India, in addition to one month of unpaid wages till termination date.

US-based IT firm Oracle is believed to have laid off approximately 12,000 staff in India, with another round of layoffs expected within a month, impacted employees said on Tuesday.

Globally, the company has fired around 30,000 employees.

“In India, around 12,000 employees have been laid off. The company is planning another mass layoff within a month,” said two people impacted by the retrenchment, including one from the company’s human resource department.

The company has approximately 30,000 employees in India, including those affected by the layoffs.

Oracle declined to comment on the development.

Oracle, in an email sent to staff, said the employees were informed about certain organisational changes and “because of these changes, a decision has been taken to streamline the operations, and as a result, unfortunately, the position you currently hold will become redundant”.

The company has offered 15 days’ salary to each employee who has completed a year of service in India, in addition to one month of unpaid wages till termination date, leave encashment, gratuity based on eligibility and pay for a one-month notice period.

Oracle has also offered a two-month salary as a top-up.

However, the severance package is available for those who voluntarily and amicably resign from the company.

An ex-employee of Oracle, Merugu Sridhar, said that he was laid off in September for protesting against the 16-hour work shift that the company has in India.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/oracle-lays-off-12-000-employees-in-india-another-round-likely-report-11293454?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

Amit Shah said “Naxalism in the country is now on the verge of extinction”

Union home minister Amit Shah said today that the spectre of Maoist menace has been lifted from the country and its last bastion, Chhattisgarh’s Bastar, is treading the “Path of development”. The government deadline for eradication of Maoist violence is March 31, ahead of which a discussion was held on the topic in the Lok Sabha. While responding to the discussion, Shah said, “Naxalism in the country is now on the verge of extinction… The country will be informed once the entire process is formally completed, but I can say that we have become Naxal-free”.

“Today, Naxalism has been almost eradicated from Bastar. A campaign was launched to establish a school in every single village across Bastar. A drive was undertaken to open a ration shop in every village within the region. Primary Health Centres and Community Health Centres have been established in every Tehsil and Panchayat. Aadhaar cards and ration cards have been issued to the people, and they are now receiving five kilograms of food grains,” he said.

“The people of Bastar were left behind precisely because the shadow of ‘Red Terror’ loomed over the region; that is why development failed to reach them. Today, that shadow has been lifted, and Bastar is now on the path of development,” he said.

“To those advocating for dialogue, I want to reiterate what I have expressed many times from public platforms in Bastar: Lay down your arms, and the government will ensure your rehabilitation. However, they refuse to disarm, our government’s policy is clear — we are open to dialogue with those who surrender their weapons. Those who choose violence will be met with a firm response,” he added.

The discussion, though, opened another front between the BJP and the Congress, with members of the ruling party blaming the 60-year rule of the Congress for proliferation of Maoism in the country.

Pointing out that Maoist violence has cost the lives of 20,000 young people and affected 120 million people, Shah said it was a failure of the Congress government that tribals and several other communities were deprived of development.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/eradication-of-maoist-naxals-parliament-shadow-of-red-terror-lifted-bastar-on-path-of-development-amit-shah-11286777?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

 

Rahman, who served as national security adviser in the previous interim government led by Muhammad Yunus, will travel to New Delhi on his way to Mauritius.

The renewal of the Ganga Waters Treaty, which expires this year, and Dhaka’s request for additional fuel supplies following disruptions caused by the West Asian war are expected to top the agenda for Bangladesh foreign minister Khalilur Rahman’s maiden visit to India next week, people familiar with the matter said.

Rahman, who served as national security adviser in the previous interim government led by Muhammad Yunus, will travel to New Delhi on his way to Mauritius for the Indian Ocean Conference. He is expected to meet external affairs minister S Jaishankar, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and commerce minister Piyush Goyal on April 8, the people said on condition of anonymity.

This will be the first visit to India by a senior member of the new Bangladesh Nationalist Party government led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, and comes at a time when both sides are rebuilding their ties after the strains witnessed under the caretaker administration.

Rahman, Bangladesh’s nominee for presidency of the UN General Assembly for 2026-2027, is expected to seek India’s support for the election. Rahman joined the UN secretariat as a special adviser at the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in 1999 and has held several senior positions within the UN system at Geneva and New York.

The renewal of the three-decade-old treaty for the sharing of Ganga waters, signed in December 1996, has been in focus in recent weeks, with teams from India and Bangladesh carrying out hydrological and technical assessments in both countries. This is part of the work to renew the crucial pact that governs discharges by India, the upper riparian state, into Bangladesh.

Officials have said the impact of the climate crisis on water flows and the role of the West Bengal government are crucial factors for the deal. The state government has to sign off on the renewal of the water-sharing treaty.

The people said Rahman is expected to bring up Dhaka’s recent request for additional fuel supplies, especially diesel, in view of an energy crisis in Bangladesh precipitated by the war against Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. In this context, a meeting between Rahman and petroleum minister Hardeep Puri isn’t being ruled out, the people said.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/lifestyle/fashion/manisha-koirala-reacts-to-social-media-buzz-about-her-salt-and-pepper-hair-grey-at-55-age-feels-like-freedom-beauty-101774862617772.html