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BJP was on track to become the single-largest party in the West Bengal Assembly, crossing the critical halfway mark of 148 seats.
PM Narendra Modi waves to supporters at party headquarters in New Delhi. (AFP)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday lauded the Election Commission and those involved in conducting the assembly elections for maintaining the dignity of India’s democracy.
The prime minister was addressing party supporters gathered at the BJP headquarters after massive win in West Bengal and Assam.
“Our constitutional institutions have won, our democratic processes have won. In West Bengal, 93 per cent turnout has been historic. In Assam, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Kerala, new turnout records have been made,” PM Modi said in the address on Monday evening.
“Today, I would like to say a big thank you to the Election Commission, its staff, and those who worked during election, and security workers. The history will always remember the contribution of all of you in maintaining the dignity of India’s democracy,” he added.
PM Modi thanked the voters in five assemblies- Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Assam, Kerala and Puducherry.
The speech comes as the BJP won West Bengal, Assam and Puducherry. BJP was on track to become the single-largest party in the West Bengal Assembly, crossing the critical halfway mark of 148 seats.
The prime minister lauded the leadership of party president Nitin Nabin and said it was the first victory since the BJP MP took over the reigns of the party.
Adhikari, who took the lead after several rounds of counting were complete, polled over 67,000 votes in the high-stakes contest.
The contest in Bhabanipur was a closely watched one.
The closely-watched electoral battle between BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari and Trinamool Congress chief went down to the wire Monday, ending in the former breaching the TMC stronghold.
Adhikari, in what seemed to be a reiteration of the 2021 Nandigram electoral battle, defeated incumbent Bengal chief minister Mamata by a margin of over 15,000 votes.
The BJP candidate, who took a lead after several rounds of counting were complete, polled over 67,000 votes in the high-stakes contest. The dramatic shift in the constituency played out even as the early lead taken by Mamata was overturned in the last rounds of counting of votes.
Overall, the BJP swept the polls in West Bengal, securing over 200 seats in the state, while the TMC was decimated to around 80 seats.
What were the concluding figures in Bhabanipur?
Adhikari polled 73,917 votes in the constituency, winning by a margin of 15,105 votes. TMC chief Banerjee received 58,812 votes, followed by CPI(M)’s Shrijeeb Biswas who secured 3,556 votes.
The sharp swings in the latter half of the counting process in Bhabanipur had been predicted by BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari earlier today, even as he told reporters that Mamata would take an early lead, but he would “make up” for that in later rounds.
The contest in Bhabanipur was a closely watched one, following the Nandigram electoral battle between Banerjee and Adhikari in the previous Assembly elections in 2021. In 2021, Adhikari had notably defeated Banerjee in Nandigram, securing 49% of the vote share then.
‘Resounding triumph for every citizen’: Suvendu thanks Bengal voters
After his victory, Adhikari thanked the voters of West Bengal, saying he was “eternally indebted to the brave and resilient people of Nandigram and Bhabanipur.”
The BJP leader said the BJP’s victory was also a “resounding triumph for every citizen”. “The People of West Bengal have spoken, and their voice has ushered in a new dawn of hope,” he said in a post on his official X handle.
With a heart overflowing with humility and profound gratitude, I bow before the ‘Janata-Janardan’ of West Bengal.
Today’s historic mandate is not just a victory for the Bharatiya Janata Party; it is a resounding triumph for every Citizen, every Sanatani who dreamt of a ‘Sonar…
Rahul Gandhi also claimed that they have witnessed the same playbook before. He cited the examples of Madhya Pradesh, Haryana and Maharashtra. He also claimed that the votes were stolen in the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 as well.
Rahul Gandhi Slams BJP, EC After Landslide Victory In WB, Assam; Alleges ‘Repeated Playbook’ | File Photos
Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi came down heavily on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Election Commission of India (ECI) after their sweeping victory in Assam and West Bengal on Monday. The counting of votes took place for the Assam Assembly Elections 2026 and the West Bengal Assembly Elections 2026.
BJP swept both the states and comfortably crossed the majority mark. Rahul Gandhi slammed the BJP and EC and claimed that more than 100 seats have been stolen in West Bengal and the Congress agree with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s claims.
Assam and Bengal are clear cases of the election being stolen by the BJP with the support of the EC.
We agree with Mamata ji. More than 100 seats were stolen in Bengal.
We have seen this playbook before:
Madhya Pradesh.
Haryana.
Maharashtra.
Lok Sabha 2024 etc
Rahul Gandhi also claimed that they have witnessed the same playbook before. He cited the examples of Madhya Pradesh, Haryana and Maharashtra. He also claimed that the votes were stolen in the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 as well.
Rahul shared a post on social media and said, “Assam and Bengal are clear cases of the election being stolen by the BJP with the support of the EC. We agree with Mamata ji. More than 100 seats were stolen in Bengal. We have seen this playbook before: Madhya Pradesh. Haryana. Maharashtra. Lok Sabha 2024 etc. Chunav chori, sanstha chori — ab aur chaara hi kya hai!”
BJP has already won over 200 seats in West Bengal and are leading on 4 seats, while they have won 82 seats in Assam and Congress have managed to win only 19 seats in the state. Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC) won 71 seats are leading on 10 seats in West Bengal.
A sharp price hike in commercial LPG cylinders has triggered protests across Punjab, with AAP leaders taking to the streets and launching a strong attack on the Centre over rising costs.
Party leaders and workers held demonstrations in several parts of the state, raising slogans and staging sit-ins against the Centre’s decision.
The Aam Aadmi Party launched protests across Punjab after a sharp increase of nearly Rs 1,000 in the price of commercial LPG cylinders, calling the move “anti-poor” and a fresh blow to people already facing rising costs.
Party leaders and workers held demonstrations in several parts of the state, raising slogans and staging sit-ins against the Centre’s decision.
In a post on X, AAP Punjab said, “The 993 hike in the price of commercial gas cylinders will shatter the already inflation-battered people. This decision has once again shown that the BJP’s sole aim is to loot the poor.”
The party added that the protests were aimed at opposing what it called a “people-killing decision”.
Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema also attacked the Centre over the hike. “The BJP government’s true face has now been completely exposed. By hiking the price of commercial cylinders by 993, an even heavier burden has been placed on the common people,” he said.
A first-year PhD scholar at IIT Ropar has accused an assistant professor of assault, harassment and intimidation. The institute has placed the faculty member on forced leave as an internal inquiry and police investigation proceed.
File photo of IIT Ropar
A first-year PhD scholar at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Ropar in Punjab has accused an assistant professor of physical assault, harassment and intimidation, prompting an internal inquiry and police attention.
In a social media post, the student alleged that the faculty member assaulted her after she refused to comply with his demands and pressured her to accompany him to Japan on the pretext of a research visit.
In a separate post on Instagram, which has since been taken down, the scholar claimed, “He manipulated even before I joined IIT Ropar by offering help with postdoctoral work and a job.”
The scholar also alleged that she was threatened with expulsion from the PhD programme and denied access to laboratory facilities. She claimed she faced sustained harassment over time.
Among the more serious allegations, she said unauthorised cameras were installed inside the lab to create “false evidence” against her. She also reported that her mobile phone, containing important material, went missing.
INSTITUTE ACTION, PROFESSOR SENT ON LEAVE
IIT Ropar Director Rajeev Ahuja said the institute acted soon after receiving the complaint.
“The institute acted immediately after receiving the complaint, placing the accused faculty member on forced leave for two months and barring him from entering the campus and laboratories pending completion of the inquiry,” he said.
The institute said the matter was referred to police and the Internal Complaints Committee began proceedings within 24 hours.
SAFETY MEASURES, COUNSELLING PROVIDED
Officials said interim steps have been taken to ensure the student’s safety and academic continuity. Medical assistance and counselling support are also being provided to the complainant.
In a post on X, the institute said, “IIT Ropar is fully aware of an incident reported by a PhD scholar. The Institute acted within 24 hours – ICC proceedings have begun, interim relief has been provided, and the concerned faculty member has been placed on forced leave.”
POLICE PROBE UNDERWAY
Police in Ropar said the matter is under investigation. Further action is expected to depend on a formal complaint, with the student and her family waiting for the ICC report before proceeding.
The scholar also shared that the episode has caused distress to her family, adding that they spent nearly Rs 20,000 on travel and that a relative was hospitalised following the incident.
In the aftermath of a brutal crime in Pune, the victim’s father has issued a firm message to political leaders. His demand is clear – justice first, and only then will he open his doors.
The incident, reported from the Nasrapur area of Pune district on May 1, involved the alleged rape and murder of a four-year-old girl by a 65-year-old labourer.
Amid rising outrage over the rape and murder of a minor in Maharashtra’s Pune, the victim’s father has issued a clear appeal, asking political leaders to stay away until justice is delivered.
In a video message, he said, “While I was at a programme, I got a call from my family that many political leaders had come to meet us. My family and I have only one wish, until my daughter gets justice and the accused is hanged, no political leader should come to meet us.”
Calling it a “humble request”, he added, “Only after the accused is given the death penalty will I meet anyone who wishes to come.”
Despite the appeal, political leaders continued to reach out. MLA Rohit Pawar and MP Medha Kulkarni visited the family, while Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange was also expected to arrive later.
The father’s statement has now put the spotlight back on the family’s demand for justice rather than political presence.
CRIME THAT SHOCKED MAHARASHTRA
The incident, reported from the Nasrapur area of Pune district on May 1, involved the alleged rape and murder of a four-year-old girl by a 65-year-old labourer.
Police said the accused lured the child to a cattle enclosure on the pretext of offering food. He allegedly raped her and then killed her by hitting her with a stone. He has been arrested.
The crime triggered protests, with villagers gathering at a local police outpost demanding strict action.
NCW CALLS IT ‘BLOT ON HUMANITY’
The National Commission for Women condemned the incident, calling it “deeply painful, heartbreaking, and shocking”.
Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar said the crime was “a blot on humanity” and confirmed that the commission has taken cognisance of the case, pushing for action under stringent provisions of the POCSO Act and close monitoring for a time-bound trial.
CALLS FOR STRICTER LAWS GROW
The case has also reignited debate around stricter laws. Former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh questioned whether there was any “fear of law” left.
Referring to the pending Shakti Act, he said it could have ensured the death penalty within 15 to 21 days in such cases, acting as a deterrent.
The Lawrence Bishnoi gang has claimed responsibility for a firing at a cafe in Surrey, Canada, near a restaurant linked to Kapil Sharma.
Shots were fired at restaurant next to Kapil Sharma’s cafe
The Lawrence Bishnoi gang has claimed responsibility for a firing incident at a cafe and bar in Canada, according to posts circulating on social media.
As per the claims, members of the gang opened fire at a Chai Sutta Bar cafe located in Surrey. The gang alleged that the targeted cafe is situated right next to Kapil Sharma’s Kaps Cafe.
In a social media post, individuals identifying themselves as Tyson Bishnoi and Jora Sandhu from the Lawrence Bishnoi gang claimed responsibility for the firing. The post stated that the shooting took place at the Chai Sutta Bar cafe during the night and described it as a deliberate act.
The message also issued a direct threat, saying the attack was meant as a warning not only to the cafe but also to Kapil Sharma. It warned that if their demands were not met, they would shut down the Chai Sutta Bar and could target Kapil Sharma as well.
The post further claimed that attempts to send messages through intermediaries had wasted their time and challenged the recipients to respond directly. It added that if their time continued to be “wasted,” future targets could include Kaps Cafe and even Kapil Sharma’s residence in Mumbai.
Bengal election results on May 4: The election is seen as a direct face-off between CM Mamata Banerjee and BJP’s state leadership led by Suvendu Adhikari
PM Modi and Mamata Banerjee. (File)
The 2026 West Bengal Assembly election unfolded as a high-intensity, bipolar contest between the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), with other parties playing only a marginal role.
The election is widely seen as a direct face-off between Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the BJP’s state leadership led by Suvendu Adhikari, making it both a leadership and ideological battle.
The campaign has been marked by sharp polarisation, high voter mobilisation, and intense rhetoric, with the BJP pushing hard to expand its footprint in eastern India, while the TMC has relied on its welfare schemes, grassroots network, and regional identity politics. Unlike previous elections where multiple fronts had relevance, this time it is essentially a straight fight, which is why even small vote swings could dramatically alter the final outcome.
WHAT WAS THE TURNOUT?
Bengal has a total of 294 seats, with 148 as the majority mark. The result for one seat, Falta, which repolls on May 21 with results on May 24, will not be announced on Monday.
West Bengal recorded an exceptionally high voter turnout of around 92-93%, one of the highest ever seen in an Indian Assembly election. High participation is often interpreted in multiple ways — it could signal anti-incumbency, strong support for the ruling party, or simply heightened political polarization, all of which are present in Bengal, say experts. The turnout remained consistently above 90% across phases, underlining the intensity of the contest and the effectiveness of mobilisation efforts by both major parties. This level of participation also adds to the uncertainty, as high turnout elections are historically harder to predict accurately.
WHY THE REPOLL?
A major development affecting the election narrative is the repoll ordered in the Falta constituency, where the entire polling process was cancelled and fresh voting was mandated across all booths. This rare step was taken after serious allegations of voter intimidation, procedural lapses, and EVM-related irregularities, with authorities terming it a breakdown of the democratic process.
In addition to this full-seat repoll, limited booth-level repolls were also conducted in parts of South 24 Parganas, including Magrahat Paschim and Diamond Harbour, where specific complaints were raised. The key implication is that while counting on May 4 will cover 293 out of 294 seats, the final result in Falta will come later, meaning that in a close contest, government formation could hinge on this delayed seat.
WHAT IS AT STAKE?
For the All India Trinamool Congress, this election is about extending its uninterrupted rule since 2011 and reinforcing Mamata Banerjee’s stature as one of the most powerful regional leaders in India. A victory would validate the party’s welfare-driven governance model and strengthen its position in national opposition politics.
For the Bharatiya Janata Party, the stakes are equally high, as a win would mark its first-ever government in West Bengal, representing a major ideological and geographic expansion into eastern India. Such a result would also have significant national implications, boosting the party’s momentum ahead of future elections.
In essence, this contest is not just about forming a state government — it is about shaping the broader political narrative in India.
WHICH ARE THE KEY CONSTITUENCIES?
High-profile and politically symbolic seats include:
Bhabanipur: Mamata Banerjee’s stronghold
Nandigram: BJP vs TMC prestige battle
Diamond Harbour: Politically sensitive seat
Magrahat Paschim: Repoll impact zone
Falta: Delayed result may decide govt
WHAT DO EXIT POLLS SAY?
Exit polls for West Bengal present a deeply divided picture, with no single clear trend emerging across agencies. A number of polls give the BJP a slight edge or even a potential majority, suggesting the possibility of a historic breakthrough, while others indicate a neck-and-neck contest or even a narrow TMC victory.
There are also projections pointing toward a hung assembly, where neither party crosses the majority mark of 148 seats. This wide variation has reduced confidence in any one prediction, especially given that exit polls in West Bengal have historically misread outcomes in past elections. Adding to the uncertainty, Mamata Banerjee has dismissed the exit polls entirely, projecting a strong win for her party. Overall, the exit poll landscape reinforces the idea that the result is genuinely too close to call.
THE FOUR LIKELY SCENARIOS
Scenario 1: BJP majority
Several exit polls suggest the BJP could cross the majority threshold for the first time in the state’s history, citing a “wave of change” and anti-incumbency. Party leadership, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, has expressed confidence in achieving a decisive mandate.
Scenario 2: TMC retention
If the TMC crosses the 148-mark, it could mark the historic return of Mamata Banerjee as the CM.
Ex-JPMorgan employee Chirayu Rana faces scrutiny after AI chat reveals inconsistencies in his harassment claims, as internal probes find no supporting evidence
Fresh details have intensified scrutiny around a former JPMorgan Chase employee who accused a senior executive of sexual harassment (Image-nypost.com)
A former employee of JPMorgan Chase has come under renewed scrutiny after reports revealed that he had described similar allegations on an online legal chatbot months before formally accusing a senior executive of sexual harassment.
The resurfaced chat has raised questions about the consistency and timeline of his claims, adding a new layer of complexity to the case.
According to a report by The New York Post, Indian-origin Chirayu Rana had interacted with the platform AskALawyerOnCall.com before his allegations against executive director Lorna Hajdini became public. Screenshots of the exchange, cited in the report, show Rana recounting serious allegations of abuse involving a former workplace.
In the chatbot conversation, Rana allegedly wrote, “I was raped, secually assulted [sic], harassed, and forced to do drugs by my former boss at Morgan Stanley,’’ and added, “I was then retaliated against for seeking to move groups internally at the firm.”
He further claimed, “HR conducted an ‘investigation’ but they ultimately made me signed [sic] a Separation Agreement.”
The exchange continued with Rana stating, “Yes but I was forced to sign under duress,” and, “I signed it because I was scared and felt I had no choice. He said he would ruin my career if I didn’t comply.”
He also said, “I’ve been struggling mentally since then. It was a terrible experience, and I left under awful circumstances. He told everyone a false narrative about me, which made it even harder.”
Notably, the chatbot transcript reportedly refers to the alleged perpetrator as “he” and mentions Morgan Stanley, which contrasts with Rana’s later legal complaint that names a female executive at JPMorgan.
The conversation also appears to contain timeline discrepancies, including a reference by the chatbot suggesting the events may have occurred in 2020.
During the exchange, Rana sought legal clarity, asking, “Do you think I actually have a valid claim?” and “Do you know anyone who might take my case?”
The chatbot, reportedly linked to a user identifying as “Joycelaw,” responded with general legal guidance and queried whether any agreement he signed limited his ability to pursue legal action.
The platform itself clearly states that it functions as a public forum and that user interactions are neither private nor confidential.
Rana, a graduate of Rutgers University, joined JPMorgan’s leveraged finance team in 2024 and later filed a lawsuit under a pseudonym alleging coercion, harassment, and retaliation. The complaint included accusations that Hajdini forced him into sexual acts, drugged him, and threatened his career. It has since been withdrawn for corrections.
Nine people, including a toddler, died in a Vivek Vihar residential fire in Delhi, where a locked terrace door, single staircase and iron grills blocked escape.
A massive fire broke out at a residential building on Sunday morning in Delhi’ Shahdara. (File Photo)
A locked door leading to the terrace trapped a family inside a burning building in east Delhi’s Vivek Vihar, resulting in the deaths of nine people. The fire broke out around 3.30–4 am when most residents were asleep, leaving little time to react as flames spread rapidly through the structure.
According to police, a toddler also died in the fire incident that took place at a residential building in Shahdara. Police said more than a dozen residents were rescued during the operation.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Shahdara) Rajendra Prasad Meena said 10 to 15 people were rescued, while two to three injured persons were sent to hospital. He confirmed that nine people died and that a search operation was still underway.
How The Building Plan Became Death Trap?
According to initial findings, the building had only one staircase and no emergency exit, leaving no other option for the residents to come out of the building.
Also, the staircase leading to the terrace — a possible escape route — was locked, while iron grills on windows further restricted movement. Residents said those trapped on upper floors were unable to reach the roof or exit the building, as the fire quickly engulfed the premises.
Fire officials said several people were rescued, but blocked exits made evacuation difficult and delayed rescue efforts. At least nine people died in the incident, which occurred in a four-storey residential building in Vivek Vihar.
As counting for 293 West Bengal assembly seats began, BJP leaders expressed strong confidence in securing a landslide victory. State president Samik Bhattacharya claimed voters had rejected the ruling TMC and Mamata Banerjee. BJP candidates echoed the sentiment, asserting that people voted for change, while TMC aims for a fourth consecutive term.
‘People Of Bengal Have Rejected TMC’: West Bengal BJP Chief Samik Bhattacharya Exudes Confidence As Counting Begins | X / PTI
West Bengal BJP president Samik Bhattacharya said he was confident of a landslide victory, as counting of votes for the assembly elections began on Monday morning.
Counting of votes for 293 seats of the assembly began at 8 am, as the TMC eyes a fourth straight term in power and the BJP seeks to script history by forming its first government in the state.
“People of the state have already rejected the Trinamool Congress government, and in a few hours, the overwhelming majority of the seats will confirm that in the fight between Mamata Banerjee and the people, people have rejected Mamata Banerjee,” Bhattacharya said outside a counting centre in Kolkata.
BJP’s Kharagpur Sadar candidate, Dilip Ghosh, claimed that people have voted for change.
#WATCH | Kolkata: On Counting of votes, West Bengal BJP President Samik Bhattacharya says, “The dreams of the BJP workers are about to come true. This is the worker of the entire country… The dream of forming a government from Gangotri to Ganga Sagar is going to be fulfilled… pic.twitter.com/NAOT8Mb7ZT
Around 15 to 20 per cent of these seats are located in areas like central Kolkata, south Bengal, and Southwest Bengal
These 37 seats make up about 13 per cent of the total 294 Assembly constituencies
Bengal remains one of the most keenly watched states in the election results to be announced on May 4. Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool is seeking a fourth-consecutive term, while the BJP is fighting to form its first government in the eastern state.
Bengal has 294 Assembly constituencies, and many of them are expected to see a close contest. Predicting who will win becomes very tough, but poll experts point to 37 “bellwether seats” which may help determine the eventual winner.
Since 1977, whichever party has won the majority of these seats has always gone on to form the government in the state.
These 37 seats make up about 13 per cent of the total 294 Assembly constituencies. They are spread across the state and include all types of seats – general, Scheduled Caste (SC), and Scheduled Tribe (ST).
Around 15 to 20 per cent of these seats are located in areas like central Kolkata, south Bengal, and Southwest Bengal. Constituencies such as Bhawanipur, Diamond Harbour, Ausgram, Uday Narayanpur, and Magrahat East have often followed the winning trend.
West Bengal stands out when compared to other states. Uttar Pradesh has just one such seat with a perfect record; Bihar and Maharashtra have none; Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu have 3 each; Odisha and Gujarat have 5 each, and West Bengal alone has 37.
One major reason behind this strong trend is Bengal’s political history.
For nearly 50 years, the state was mostly ruled by two parties – the Left Front for 34 years and then the Trinamool Congress. Since governments didn’t change often, people in many of these seats got used to voting in line with the party that was popular across the state.
Police say Priyank believed the academy director had substantial wealth and hatched the conspiracy to extort a large amount from her.
After the money was transferred, the victim was released on Wednesday night.
In a chilling crime that has stunned Bhopal, the director of a Delhi-based IAS coaching academy was allegedly kidnapped, held hostage for nearly four hours and forced to transfer Rs 1.89 crore online while a pistol was pressed against her temple. The man accused of masterminding the sensational crime was not a stranger, police say, but someone from within her professional circle, Priyank Sharma, who was running a franchise of the same academy in Bhopal.
According to police, Priyank Sharma lured Shubhra Ranjan, Director of Shubhra Ranjan IAS Academy, from Delhi to Bhopal under the pretext of expanding the institute, opening another centre and conducting a seminar. She came to Bhopal believing it was a business visit. Instead, police say, she walked into a carefully planned trap.
Shubhra Ranjan was staying at a 5-star hotel in Bhopal. On Wednesday afternoon, around 2 to 3 pm, Priyank allegedly picked her up from the hotel and took her to a rented flat in the Bagsewaniya area. There, according to the complaint and police investigation, armed men were already waiting. The victim and her associates were allegedly held captive, threatened with death and forced to transfer nearly Rs 1.89 crore into bank accounts linked to “Janakshila Society” and “RS Enterprises”.
The flat where the crime took place had allegedly been rented just one day before the incident. Criminals were allegedly called from Datia, Rewa and other places to execute the plan. Police say pistols and country-made firearms were used to terrorise the victim.
Police Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Singh said that a Sundarkand recital was allegedly organised at the same flat to drown out any screams or cries for help. The religious recitation, police say, was not an act of faith but a cover to ensure that the victim’s voice did not travel outside the house while she was being held hostage.
For nearly four hours, the victim remained trapped inside a room. With a gun allegedly pointed at her, she was forced to authorise online transfers. Police say the accused also coerced the victims into recording a staged video, apparently to create fear and pressure them into not approaching the police. The video allegedly showed a person tied with ropes and locked inside a box, to suggest that one of her associates could be kidnapped or harmed if she complained.
The complaint in the case was filed by Santosh Kumar, son of Nilendu Thakur, a resident of Hardev Nagar in Delhi. He stated that Shubhra Ranjan and her associates were called to Bhopal by Priyank Sharma and his accomplices under the pretext of admissions and seminars, then taken to an undisclosed location, held hostage by armed men and threatened with death.
Police say Priyank believed the academy director had substantial wealth and hatched the conspiracy to extort a large amount from her. The accused is the son of a retired BHEL official and had previously lived in Delhi, where he had prepared for the UPSC examination. His familiarity with the academy and its functioning allegedly helped him gain the victim’s trust.
After the money was transferred, the victim was released on Wednesday night. But by then, the Bhopal Crime Branch had begun moving quickly. Given the seriousness of the case, Police Commissioner Sanjay Kumar formed a special team. Acting on technical evidence and leads, police conducted raids across Bagsewaniya, Katara Hills, Jhagariya village, Sage University, Ayodhya Nagar and Minal Residency.
As pressure mounted, Priyank allegedly began preparing to flee abroad and was reportedly in contact with agents for the same. Police say that, fearing arrest, he got himself admitted to the ICU of AIIMS Hospital in Bhopal, pretending to be seriously unwell.
But the attempt to hide behind a hospital bed did not work. After receiving a tip-off, the Crime Branch team reached AIIMS. Doctors were consulted and, once his condition was found stable, police took him into lawful custody. During the arrest, his mother and wife allegedly created a major commotion and tried to resist the police action, but the team went ahead and arrested him from the hospital.
Following Priyank’s interrogation, police arrested five of his accomplices. Six accused, including the alleged mastermind, have been produced before the court. Three more accused remain on run, and the Crime Branch is conducting searches to trace them.
In commemoration of the day, Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities organised the third anniversary separately in their respective dominant districts of Manipur.
People participate in a public rally organised to mark three years of Manipur conflict in Bishnupur on Sunday. (ANI)
Rallies and shutdowns on Sunday in both Kuki-Zo and Meitei-dominated areas marked the third anniversary of ethnic violence, erupted on May 3, 2023 that claimed over 260 lives and displaced more than 60,000, followed by the imposition of President’s Rule for a year.
In commemoration of the day, Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities organised the third anniversary separately in their respective dominant districts of Manipur.
On Sunday, hundreds of protestors from Meitei groups organised processions in Imphal valley districts, Imphal East, Imphal West, Thoubal, Kakching and Bishnupurwhich, seeking implementation of the NRC before the census and protection of Manipur’s administrative and territorial integrity. Meanwhile, the Kuki Zo organisations observed a shutdown in Kangpokpi district and held meetings in Churachandpur district to commemorate the victims of the violence.
Hundreds of protestors were witnessed in Bishnupur district’s Nambol area organised by the United Protection Committee, a civil body. While, a public convention under the banner ‘Three Years on Manipur Crisis’ was also organised in Imphal East by Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), an apex civil body of Manipur.
The convention also resolved six points demand to press the central government for reconciliation of peace in Manipur. Among the six points, COCOMI demanded commemorating May 3 as “Anti-Narco Terrorism Day”. “The public discourse is being held on the occasion of 3-years of conflict in the state, attacked by Kuki-ZO narco terrorist,” COCOMI spokesperson Shanta Nahakpam said.
Meanwhile, Kuki bodies called for total shutdown in Kangpokpi district while public meeting was held at Churachandpur district in commemoration of the victims of the crisis. Kangpokpi and Churachandpur are both Kuki-Zo dominated districts of Manipur. In both the districts, business establishments, public transportation services came to a standstill.
In Kangpokpi, Kuki body Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) had imposed a 12-hour total shutdown with effect from 6 am of Sunday.
Additionally, Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF), a forum for Kuki-Zo community in Churachandpur district, commemorated the day as “separation day from Meitei” at Peace ground while Zomi community at the Martyrs Park in Churachandpur.
An Indian-origin woman working for Microsoft in the US has shared a glimpse of her arduous journey that ultimately led to a green card.
The Indian woman said her H-1B application was rejected seven times before she got a green card (AI-generated image)
An Indian-origin woman working for Microsoft in the US has shared a glimpse of her arduous journey that ultimately led to a green card. Aishani B, a senior software engineer at Microsoft US, said that her H-1B application was rejected seven times before she got a green card.
A green card is the common name for the US Permanent Resident Card which allows a non-US citizen to live and work permanently in the United States. An H-1B visa, on the other hand, allows foreigners to work in specialised professions in the US. Unlike a green card, an H-1B visa is temporary and usually valid for three years.
Seven H-1B rejections
Aishani said that between 2019 and 2025, she entered the H-1B lottery seven times. She was rejected each time.
“I entered the H1B lottery 7 times between 2019 and 2025. I didn’t get selected. Not once,” the Indian-American techie said in her LinkedIn post.
She admitted that the first rejection made her feel bad. By the second rejection, she had started to rationalise.
“The first rejection stings. The second, you rationalize,” she revealed. “By the third, fourth, fifth — you stop telling people. Not because you’re ashamed. But because there’s nothing new to say.”
From rejections to green card
Aishani said that what nobody talks about is the self doubt that creeps in after repeated rejections. “It’s not one moment of disappointment. It’s a slow, quiet erosion of certainty,” she wrote.
Over time, she began to question whether she is “good enough” to be in the US. “Would someone else have figured this out by now? How long do I keep trying?” she wondered.
In 2022, the Indian-origin techie left the US and moved to Canada. The following year, she returned to the US on an L-1 visa. Microsoft, meanwhile, kept filing for her H-1B visa.
All the hard work and years of uncertainty paid off in 2025, when Aishani received her green card.
“A path I never thought I’d qualify for — especially not after 7 rejections. I sat with that for a long time. Because the version of me losing lottery after lottery didn’t feel extraordinary. She felt exhausted,” she confessed in her LinkedIn post.
Regarding the territorial claims of Nepal, MEA said that India has maintained that these claims are “neither justified nor based on historical facts.”
Nepal had said that Kathmandu was not consulted before finalising the route for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra pilgrimage (HT Photo/Representational Image)
India on Sunday rejected Nepal’s objection to the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra being conducted via Lipulekh Pass in Uttarakhand, saying Kathmandu’s claim on the region was not justified or based on historical facts.
Earlier on Sunday, the Nepal government sent diplomatic notes to India and China objecting to the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage’s route through Lipulekh Pass, which Kathmandu claims as its territory. Nepal’s foreign ministry spokesperson Lok Bahadur Poudel Chhetri said his country’s concerns had been conveyed to both neighbours through diplomatic channels.
External affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal responded to Nepal’s claims related to border issues in the context of the annual pilgrimage to a holy mountain and lake in Tibet region by saying India’s position on the matter has been consistent and clear.
“As regards territorial claims, India has consistently maintained that such claims are neither justified nor based on historical facts and evidence. Such unilateral artificial enlargement of territorial claims is untenable,” Jaiswal said.
Lipulekh Pass has been a long-standing route for the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra since 1954 and the pilgrimage through this route is “not a new development”, he said.
“India remains open to a constructive interaction with Nepal on all issues in the bilateral relationship, including on resolving agreed outstanding boundary issues through dialogue and diplomacy,” Jaiswal said.
The pilgrimage was also conducted through Lipulekh Pass in 2025, when it was resumed after a gap of five years as part of efforts by India and China to normalise their relations following the end of a prolonged military stand-off on the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
The pilgrimage is set to take place from June to August. Ten batches, each consisting of 50 pilgrims, will travel through Lipulekh Pass in Uttarakhand state, and another 10 batches, also consisting of 50 pilgrims, will travel through Nathu La in Sikkim state.
A video from a state-aided madrasa in Barabanki allegedly shows teachers’ attendance being marked with plastic cards instead of biometric verification. The footage has raised questions over oversight, prompted scrutiny by the NHRC and led officials to order an enquiry.
UP madrasa attendance scam: Barabanki video shows fake biometric entries using plastic cards
A fresh case of alleged fake biometric attendance in Uttar Pradesh’s state-aided madrasas has surfaced from Barabanki, with a video purportedly showing how teachers’ attendance is being marked using plastic cards instead of actual biometric verification. The incident has raised serious questions over monitoring mechanisms, with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) also taking cognisance.
In the video accessed, names of multiple teachers are seen written on plastic cards, which are then used to mark attendance in place of thumb impressions. The footage allegedly shows staff marking attendance for absent teachers, suggesting manipulation of records that are later used for salary disbursal.
Officials say biometric attendance is mandatory in all aided madrasas, with records compiled at the district level by minority welfare officers before salaries are released. However, the system in this case appears to lack proper administrative control and is reportedly not linked to any Aadhaar-based online authentication.
BARABANKI CASE ADDS TO SERIES OF IRREGULARITIES
The Barabanki revelation comes close on the heels of a similar case in Jaunpur, where fake attendance was allegedly marked using thumb impressions of a madrasa manager’s family members. Investigations in that case are still ongoing.
Sources said the Barabanki madrasa, identified as Islamia School in Maila Reganj, has around two dozen teachers. Despite the presence of biometric devices, the absence of real-time online verification is believed to have enabled such practices.
SYSTEMIC GAPS, LACK OF OVERSIGHT FLAGGED
Experts and officials point to gaps such as lack of Aadhaar-based face authentication, limited inspections, and offline record-keeping as key vulnerabilities being exploited. Attendance records are reportedly printed and submitted manually, raising concerns over verification.
The issue also revives concerns flagged earlier by court directives that recommended online authentication systems across madrasas to prevent misuse.
At a Labour Day event in Nagpur, Nitin Gadkari said Hindus and Muslims pay the same price for gas, petrol and diesel. He used the remark to reject caste politics and call out leaders seeking tickets while raising caste slogans.
Nitin Gadkari slams caste politics, says fuel prices same for all
In a blunt and striking address during a Labour Day event in Maharashtra, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari pushed back against caste and religion-based narratives, saying access to essentials like fuel does not differ by faith.
Speaking in Nagpur, Gadkari said, “The price at which Hindus get gas, petrol and diesel, Muslims also get it at the same price.” His remarks come at a time when political discourse in several states has seen sharp religious and caste-driven campaigning during recent elections.
Gadkari made it clear that he distances himself from such divisions. “Outside, people may fight on caste lines, but I do not do that,” he said, stressing that such issues bring little real benefit to society.
He added that leaders who raise slogans around caste often act differently behind closed doors. “Many leaders shout slogans about caste. Then they come to my house and whisper in my ear asking for tickets for their sons or wives,” he said, calling them “hypocritical”.
STRONG WARNING TO POLITICIANS
In one of the most forceful lines of his speech, Gadkari warned against continuing caste-based politics. “Whoever talks about caste, I will kick him hard,” he said, drawing attention for the unusually direct tone.
His comments come in the backdrop of recent elections across several states, where Hindu-Muslim narratives and caste equations dominated campaign speeches and strategies.
The bodies of the nine people killed in the blaze were recovered from the second floor of the building, while three others were found in the staircase. The body of one other person was recovered from the first floor.
As many as 14 fire tenders were rushed to the spot following receipt of information about the blaze. (Visuals: @ANI/X)
At least nine people have died, and four others have been injured in a fire that broke out in a four-storey residential building in Delhi’s Vivek Vihar in the early hours of Sunday. Prima facie, the blaze is believed to have been caused by an AC blast.
As many as 12 fire tenders were rushed to the site following information about the fire.
The bodies of five of the nine people killed in the blaze were recovered from the second floor of the building, while three others were found in the staircase mumty, which was found locked. The body of one other person was recovered from the first floor.
Among those who lost their lives on the first floor, Shikha Jain (45), wife of Naveen, was found dead.
The victims on the second floor (backside) were Arvind, son of Chotte Lal (60), Anita Jain (58), Nishant Jain (35), Anchal Jain (33) and a one-year-old boy.
The deceased on the third floor belonged to a single family: Nitin Jain (around 50), his wife Shailey Jain (around 48), and their son Samyak Jain (around 25). Naveen Jain (48) was among the injured. Overall, four men, four women and one child lost their lives in the incident.
While over a dozen people have been rescued so far, it is feared that the death toll may rise further.
Information about the incident was received by authorities at 3.47 am.
Following the call, police officials immediately arrived at the spot. Fire trucks also reached the scene shortly after.
According to the police, the fire engulfed apartments on the second, third and fourth floors of the building, prompting a large-scale rescue operation.
The exact cause of the deadly blaze is yet to be ascertained.
Reacting to the tragedy, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the incident was extremely tragic and expressed grief over the loss of lives. She added that the injured are undergoing treatment and wished for their speedy recovery, while assuring that authorities are closely monitoring the situation and providing all possible assistance.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also expressed sorrow over the incident, offering condolences to the bereaved families and praying for the recovery of those injured.
As Nida Khan remains absconding, three police teams are reportedly conducting searches across various parts of Maharashtra to secure her arrest
TCS had clarified that Nida Khan was neither part of the human resources apparatus nor in any position of authority. (Image: X)
In a significant setback for Nida Khan, a prime accused in the alleged Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) harassment and religious conversion scandal, a Nashik sessions court on Saturday rejected her anticipatory bail application. The court’s decision follows intense arguments by the prosecution, which emphasised that the gravity of the offences necessitates her custodial interrogation. Despite Khan citing her two-month pregnancy as grounds for pre-arrest protection, the bench aligned with the Special Investigation Team (SIT), noting that her role in the case remains central to the ongoing probe.
Allegations of Coercion and Religious Influence
The FIR against Nida Khan contains startling claims regarding the workplace environment at the IT major’s Nashik unit. According to the prosecution, Khan allegedly pressured female colleagues to adopt Islamic traditions, including advice on dressing and dietary habits. Detailed evidence presented by Special Public Prosecutor Ajay Misar suggested that Khan influenced one complainant by providing a burqa and hijab, teaching religious prayers, and installing Islamic learning applications on her mobile phone.
Further allegations include a planned name change for a victim to “Hania” and a strategic plot to move her to Malaysia for a job. Investigators believe Khan’s custodial interrogation is vital to recovering her mobile phone and diaries, which may reveal external funding sources and broader links to conversion networks in Malegaon and Malaysia.
The SIT Probe and Multiple FIRs
The Nashik Police’s Special Investigation Team is currently probing nine separate FIRs related to exploitation, molestation, and forced conversion at the TCS facility. So far, eight individuals have been arrested, including a female operations manager.
On the same day Khan’s bail was rejected, the court extended the police custody of four other co-accused—Raza Rafiq Memon, Tausif Bilal Attar, Danish Ejaz Sheikh, and Shahrukh Husain Shaukat Qureshi—until 5 May.
An Indian-origin tech professional working in the US shared an emotional post after a personal tragedy left him questioning the cost of chasing life abroad.
News18
An Indian-origin tech professional working in the United States has shared a deeply personal story about losing his mother while being unable to travel back to India because of visa-related delays. His post has started a wider conversation online about the emotional cost of living abroad on work visas.
Gautam Dey, who works in the US on an H-1B visa, wrote on LinkedIn that he could not reach India in time to see his mother during her final days as he struggled to get a visa stamping appointment. He described the experience as “the biggest regret of my life.”
He Shares His Mother’s Illness
In his LinkedIn post, Dey explained that he was speaking not as a software engineer or visa holder, but as a son dealing with grief. “Today I am writing this not as an engineer, not as an H-1B worker… I am writing this as a son,” he wrote.
According to Dey, his mother had been diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer and remained hospitalised for 17 days. During that time, he said he made repeated efforts to secure the required visa appointment so he could travel to India.
“My mother was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. She was hospitalised for 17 days. During that time, I was desperately trying to get a visa stamping appointment so I could travel to see her,” he said.
Dey also shared details about his professional journey in the US. He said he moved there in 2007 after being hired by a multinational company for specialised software work.
“I did not come here to undercut anyone’s salary. I was brought in for my expertise to solve a serious software problem and fix vulnerabilities that needed attention,” he wrote.
Visa Delays Left Him Stuck
As his mother’s health continued to worsen, Dey said the immigration process left him trapped in a painful situation. He explained that leaving the US without securing the proper appointment carried serious risks.
According to him, travelling without a visa stamp could have left him stranded outside the country for months and affected both his job and his family’s legal status. “If I travelled without an appointment, I could be stuck outside the US for months. I could lose my job, my legal status, and my family’s status,” he wrote.
Dey said he tried continuously for nearly a month to secure an emergency appointment. “I sent hospital documents to the Consulate. I tried for 26 days to get an appointment. I refreshed, waited, prayed, and hoped. But time did not wait,” he wrote.
Despite those efforts, he could not make it back to India before his mother passed away. “I could only see her through a phone screen. I could only hear her voice over the phone. That will remain the biggest regret of my life,” he shared.
He Calls It An Impossible Choice
Dey described the situation as an impossible decision between being with his mother and protecting his family’s future in the US. “So I was forced into an impossible choice: Be with my dying mother. Or protect the future of my children. No human being should ever be placed in that position,” he wrote.
He also clarified that his post was not meant to attack any government or immigration system, but to highlight the emotional pressure many immigrants silently go through. “This is not a political post. This is not about blaming a country. This is about a human cost that is rarely spoken about,” he said.
At another point in the post, he reflected on how the dream of building a life abroad can sometimes leave people emotionally trapped. “But a dream should not become a cage at the moment your family needs you the most,” he wrote.
Dey also shared a message for young professionals who hope to move abroad for work. He urged them to think carefully before making life-changing decisions. “To every young professional dreaming of an H-1B life: please think carefully. India is changing… You do not have to measure success only by leaving home,” he wrote.
His post ended with an emotional line that struck many readers online. “Because no career dream should ever put you in a position where you must choose between your mother’s final moments and your children’s future. I lost that choice. And I will carry that pain forever.”
Many People Shared Similar Experiences
The post received emotional reactions from several users, many of whom said they had gone through similar situations while living abroad. A user wrote, “I was in tears after reading this post. So sorry for the impossible situation the world has put you in. Thank you for bravely sharing your story!”
Indian security forces have initiated Operation Global Hunt, a collaborative effort with Interpol aimed at apprehending criminals who flee abroad after committing crimes in India, particularly in relation to international drug syndicates.
The operation targets around 100 drug networks run by Indian fugitives from various countries. (Image: AI-generated)
Indian security forces have launched a major joint operation with Interpol to dismantle international drug syndicates and crack down on fugitives who commit crimes in India and flee abroad. The operation named ‘Operation Global Hunt,’ is being carried out with an objective to track down criminals running “drug-terror networks” from foreign soil and bring them back to India.
Conceived as a three-year strategic offensive, the operation led by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) targets around 100 international drug networks allegedly operated by Indian fugitives from safe havens such as Dubai, Canada, and parts of Europe.
Planned during an Interpol conference and backed by a detailed roadmap submitted to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the initiative will leverage Interpol Red Notices, asset freezes, and coordinated raids with foreign agencies. The aim is to hunt, arrest, and repatriate key kingpins, often through special flights, after dossiers are submitted to host governments.
First big arrest: Dawood aide Salim Dola
Under this operation, Indian security agencies have successfully deported Salim Ismail Dola, a close associate of Dawood Ibrahim, from Istanbul and brought him back to India. Officials say that Dola played a key role in running a transnational synthetic drug racket estimated to be worth over Rs 5,000 crore.
According to investigators, Dola’s role goes beyond that of a mere courier. The NCB told the court that he has been identified as a key supplier in a major mephedrone seizure in South Mumbai in June 2023, involving a commercial quantity of the drug. His alleged links to Dawood Ibrahim have also come under renewed scrutiny as agencies attempt to map the full extent of the network.
Soon after landing in the national capital, Dola was taken into custody by intelligence agencies and is currently being questioned at a secure, undisclosed location. He is likely to be handed over to the Mumbai Police or the NCB in the coming days in connection with multiple cases related to drug trafficking and money laundering.
A 30-year-old Delhi court judge, Aman Kumar Sharma, was found hanging at his residence in South Delhi’s Safdarjung area on Saturday. His body was discovered in the bathroom of his Green Park home after his brother-in-law alerted police. While suicide is suspected, officials said all angles are being investigated and a post-mortem has been ordered.
A 30-year-old judge was found dead at his residence in south Delhi’s Safdarjung area on Saturday. Aman Kumar Sharma, a Delhi court judge, was found hanging at his residence in the Safdarjung area. His body was reportedly found inside the bathroom of his Green Park home.
Sharma was found hanging from a ceiling fan, and his brother-in-law informed the police. The body has been sent for a post-mortem and, while suicide is suspected, all angles are being investigated, an official was quoted as saying by NDTV.
Who was Aman Kumar Sharma?
Aman Kumar Sharma handled both criminal and civil cases. He earned his BA and LLB from Symbiosis Law School in Pune in 2018 and joined the Delhi Judicial Services on 19 June 2021, according to news agency Press Trust of India.
As a Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) and a civil judge, he handled a variety of criminal and civil cases. Sharma began working as the full-time Secretary of the District Legal Services Authority, North-East District, at the Karkardooma Courts in Delhi on 18 October 2025.
The poll body said fresh voting will take place in all 285 polling stations of the constituency, including auxiliary polling stations, on May 21.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced repolling in all polling booths of West Bengal’s Falta Assembly constituency, citing “severe electoral offences and subversion of the democratic process”.
The poll body said fresh voting will take place in all 285 polling stations of the constituency, including auxiliary polling stations, on May 21. The timings of the polling will be from 7 am to 6 pm, and votes will be counted on May 24.
“On consideration of severe electoral offences and subversion of the democratic process during the polling in a large number of polling stations on 29th April 2026 in 144-Falta Assembly Constituency, West Bengal, the ECI directs that a fresh poll shall be conducted in all the 285 polling stations, including auxiliary polling stations,” the poll body said in its order.
This means on May 4, the counting of votes will be conducted for 293 seats in West Bengal.
Reacting to the repolling announcement, Trinamool General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee, who is the MP from the Diamond Harbour constituency – of which Falta is a part – said the BJP would never win the seat.
Calling his model the “Diamond Harbour model”, he claimed nothing would put a dent in it. “Bring everything you have got. I challenge the entire Union of India – Come to Falta,” he wrote on X.
BJP vs Trinamool Over ‘EVM Tampering’
The poll body’s action came days after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alleged voting machines had been tampered with in the Falta seat.
During voting for the second phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections on April 29, the BJP alleged its button on the electronic voting machines (EVM) had been taped in several polling booths in Falta in South 24 Paraganas’ Diamond Harbour area.
The Trinamool Congress denied the allegation, claiming the BJP had raised a false alarm because it was losing in the state. It also slammed the Election Commission and police observer Ajay Pal Sharma, the IPS officer known as “Singham”, who the party had earlier accused of threatening their candidate Jehangir Khan.
On Friday, the Election Commission announced repolling in 15 booths in West Bengal’s Diamond Harbour and Magrahat Paschim constituencies following complaints of irregularities.
Repolling in the two constituencies took place today, with the combined voter turnout exceeding 90 per cent. However, the supporters of the BJP and the Trinamool clashed in Falta, alleging threats and intimidation by TMC workers.
The villagers scanned CCTV footage that showed a 65-year-old man entering a cow shed with the girl.
Pune [Maharashtra], May 02 (ANI): Police at the spot where a 4-year-old girl was allegedly sexually assaulted and murdered by a 65-year-old man in a village, in Pune on Saturday. (ANI Video Grab) (ANI Video Grab)Public outrage gripped Nasrapur village, in Bhor taluka, on Friday following the brutal assault and murder of a three-and-a-half-year-old girl, with protests intensifying in the village and spilling onto the Pune–Satara highway. The protest, which began as a peaceful sit-in, escalated when demonstrators attempted to block the busy highway, leading to major traffic disruptions.
On Friday, at around 3 pm, grandparents of the three-and-a-half year old girl in Nasrapur village set about looking for her as she had been missing for a few hours. As their hunt was futile, they alerted locals and registered a complaint at the Rajgadh police station in Bhor taluka, about the missing child.
The villagers scanned CCTV footage, which showed a 65-year-old man entering a cow shed with the girl. They tracked him down and beat him up; while on the other hand, following the footage, police tracked down the body of the child at around 7:30 pm with her head smashed and covered with dung in the shed.
A search operation led police to the 65-year-old by a riverside as he was being beaten up by a group of villagers. He was arrested. An investigating officer of Pune Rural police said: “The man, a labourer, confessed that he had lured the child into the cattle shed on the pretext of showing her a calf, where he sexually assaulted and killed her. ”
Sandeep Singh Gill, superintendent of police, Pune Rural, told HT: “The tragic incident occurred on Friday in Nasrapur, where a three-and-a-half-year-old girl was sexually assaulted and murdered. The accused was arrested within one-and-a-half hours, and a case has been registered at Rajgad PS. Investigation is on.”
Police suspect that after the sexual assault, the accused allegedly killed her by hitting her face with a stone, and to conceal the evidence, hid the body under a heap of dung.
Rajgad Police Station has filed a case under sections 137(2), 103,64,74, 140 (a), 140(c) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhiat (BNS) and sections 4,6,8, 12 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012.
A sessions court in Pune remanded the accused to police custody till May 7.
According to Gill, the accused has previous cases of molestation registered under the POCSO Act in 1998 and 2015; he was acquitted in a case in 2019. “He is an elderly man with a similar pattern of behaviour. The victim is from Pune and had come to visit her grandmother to the village on a summer vacation. As the village is sparsely populated, police are investigating how the accused lured the child while she was playing,” said Gill.
Will seek capital punishment: Fadnavis
Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, who also heads the home department, said on Saturday that the state government will demand capital punishment against the 65-year-old accused. Speaking to reporters in Mumbai, he said: “The case will be taken up in by a fast-track court.”
“This is a condemnable and tragic incident. The accused has been arrested. I would like to request the high court to give us a special public prosecutor; we will demand capital punishment in the court,” said Fadnavis.
Fadnavis also called attention to the Shakti Bill being passed by the state legislature in 2020 and sent to the Centre for the President’s assent. The Maharashtra legislative council in March 2026 unanimously passed the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (Maharashtra Amendment) Bill 2026 to include provisions in the Shakti Bill to protect the identities of acid attack victims and ensure jail terms for online sexual overtures.
Nationalist Congress Party (SP) MP Supriya Sule urged people to “maintain restraint” while assuring that “the strictest action will be taken” in the alleged sexual assault and murder case. She called the incident “inhuman” which “tarnished humanity”.
A viral video shows a mother holding her four-year-old son moments before a cruise capsized in Madhya Pradesh’s Jabalpur. Their bodies were later found wrapped in the same life jacket.
A video from inside the cruise boat shows the woman, wearing a life jacket, holding her child as passengers hurriedly passed around life jackets while water entered the vessel in Madhya Pradesh’s Jabalpur.
A viral video shows a mother clutching her four-year-old son in a final embrace moments before a cruise capsized in Madhya Pradesh’s Jabalpur, which claimed nine lives. The clip from inside the vessel shows the woman, wearing a life jacket, holding her child as passengers hurriedly passed around life jackets while water entered the boat.
The mother and the son can be seen on the left side of the footage during the final moments before the cruise overturned in the Bargi dam reservoir on Thursday evening. Hours later, rescuers recovered their bodies from the water, still wrapped together in the same life jacket, which became the most haunting image of the tragedy.
The emotional recovery left family members in tears as their bodies were brought ashore. Madhya Pradesh Cabinet Minister Rakesh Singh, who visited the site, was visibly moved by the scene and could not hold back his tears.
The river cruise, carrying around 30 passengers, overturned after being caught in a sudden storm. Officials said strong winds lashed the reservoir around 6 pm, turning the waters rough and making the boat unstable.
Eyewitnesses claimed passengers repeatedly urged the crew to return to shore as weather conditions worsened, but the boat drifted further into the reservoir before capsizing.
Global oil prices eased on Friday compared to the record levels reached on Thursday, yet remained highly elevated compared to their pre-war levels. Benchmark Brent Crude on Friday was hovering around the $111 per barrel mark, up 0.6 percent, while WTI Crude remained almost flat at $105 per barrel
Global oil prices eased on Friday compared to the record levels reached on Thursday, yet remained highly elevated compared to their pre-war levels.
Benchmark Brent Crude on Friday was hovering around the $111 per barrel mark, up 0.6 percent, while WTI Crude remained almost flat at $105 per barrel.
Friday’s level of Brent is over $15 lower than Thursday, when it had peaked at $126 per barrel, the highest in the last four years.
The ease in prices came despite United States President Donald Trump signalling resumed military action if diplomacy does not turn into favourable developments.
He also said that Iran was eager to make a deal. On the other hand, Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian has described the US naval siege of Iranian ports as an “extension of military operations” and “intolerable.”
Despite remaining lower than the previous day, crude prices are over 70 percent higher than pre-war levels and about 25 percent higher than what has been the cost of a barrel during the last few weeks.
Traders are tracking developments in Washington and Tehran before taking a sigh of relief. To further add to the negative sentiment, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said it was unrealistic to expect quick outcomes from discussions with the US.
According to experts, the United States’ pressure tactic of blocking Iranian ports has not borne the expected results, as Iran has faced harsh sanctions earlier.
The US is preparing to ensure secure transit through the Strait of Hormuz in coalition with allied countries and shipping companies.
Amid the current geopolitical trends and volatile movement of financial indicators, several high-stakes developments kept the week buzzing for the global economy and domestic market.
The week that was: Sensex, Nifty logged the best month in April since December 2023. Pexels
The last week of April witnessed a host of significant developments that could shape the next few weeks of the new fiscal 2026-27 (FY27). Amid the current geopolitical trends and volatile movement of financial indicators, several high-stakes developments kept the week buzzing for the global economy and domestic market. Some of these were the US-Iran ceasefire, heatwave conditions in India, state exit poll results, April auto sales data, and a more. In global markets, benchmark Brent crude hit a record high and the US stock market ended the week on a positive note over Iran’s Strait of Hormuz-led updates.
Here’s a recap of the week that was:
Markets on home turf
Domestic equity benchmarks Sensex and Nifty 50 partly recovered from March’s steep selloff with gains in April, but Thursday’s decline highlighted lingering fragility as surging oil prices and a weakening rupee hurt sentiment. Nifty 50 fell 0.74% to 23,997.55 and BSE Sensex shed 0.75% to 76,913.50, while the rupee hit a record low after a jump in crude prices and a hawkish US Federal Reserve. Still, Nifty and Sensex rose 7.5% and 6.9% in April, logging their best month since December 2023, partly recovering from March’s more than 11% slump despite record foreign fund outflows.
Heatwave in India
Light to moderate rainfall on Wednesday and Thursday brought an end to a week-long spell of heatwaves in most parts of north and central India, the first of the season. However, another heatwave spell is unlikely for the next two weeks at least, according to the latest forecast by the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Temperatures might remain high, not just in the summer months but extending into the monsoon, and thereafter. That means several heatwave spells could be possible in the coming months.
UAE Exits OPEC
The United Arab Emirates announced its exit from both OPEC and OPEC+, dealing a significant setback to the oil producers’ bloc and its de facto leader, Saudi Arabia, at a time when the Iran war has triggered a historic energy shock and rattled the global economy. The exit came into effect from May 1. The development comes as Gulf producers face mounting challenges in exporting crude via Strait of Hormuz, a critical passage through which one-fifth of global oil and LNG supplies transit. The move is also being viewed as a strategic win for Donald Trump, who has repeatedly criticised OPEC for inflating oil prices.
Exit Poll Results 2026
Ahead of the state election results, poll of exit polls show the Trinamool Congress winning 146 seats in West Bengal, while the BJP and allies are likely to win 140 seats. West Bengal has 294 seats. In Tamil Nadu, DMK and allies may win 128 seats, while the AIADMK and allies could take home 86 seats. Actor Vijay’s new party TVK is forecast to win 17 seats. In Kerala, exit poll results show the UDF winning 78 seats in Kerala, while the LDF is likely to win 58. Kerala has a total of 140 seats.
US Fed Policy
The US Federal Reserve kept its key lending rates on hold, as the US-Iran war and resultant strain in energy supplies as sparked inflation concerns. Accordingly, it retained the benchmark lending rates, or the federal funds rate, in the range of 3.5%-3.75%. “Inflation is elevated, in part reflecting the recent increase in global energy prices,” said the statement issued by the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) following the conclusion of its two-day meeting on Wednesday.
A French man in his 40s shocked neurologists when scans revealed that most of his skull was filled with fluid instead of brain tissue.
News18
An incredible case of neuroscience was described by doctors from Marseille, France, in 2007. A 44-year-old civil servant went to see doctors at a local hospital because of weakness in his left leg. In scientific publications about the case, the patient’s full name was not revealed to anyone, all people were informed was that he had a good job, was married, had two kids, and seemed to lead a typical lifestyle.
During routine checkups, doctors performed a brain scan in order to get information on what caused the patient’s condition. The results were shocking for everyone.
It turned out that almost all the space inside the man’s skull was occupied by cerebrospinal fluid, while his brain mass was squeezed to form a thin film attached to the inside wall of the skull. Scientists concluded that 90 percent of the patient’s brain mass was absent.
However, the absence of a huge amount of grey matter had not affected the man’s cognitive abilities too much; he did not experience severe memory issues, difficulties with speech and other impairments. IQ test gave the result of 75 for the man.
It was identified to have started from hydrocephalus, which is an illness due to fluid accumulation in the brain. He had suffered from the illness in his infancy stage. In the early years of life, doctors inserted a shunt into his body, which is used to lower the brain pressure.
The shunt was removed during the patient’s teenage years. As time passed, fluids began to accumulate again but in a gradual process. The brain has time to adapt during a process that takes place gradually.
This process enabled the surviving neurons to readapt. This is because regions that control actions, speaking, memory, and functions were still working despite the brain’s compression. It has become one of the most amazing cases of the phenomenon of neuroplasticity. The man never realized anything strange about himself since he did not have serious symptoms.
He only got diagnosed during his middle-aged years when the situation worsened. Brain tests revealed that even though his entire skull was filled with fluids, the tissue layer along its edges was functional. Scientists stated that the case was a challenge to conventional thoughts about the required amount of brain tissue.
Seven-year-old Ishank swam 29 kilometres across the Palk Strait from Sri Lanka to India after training daily for hours at Ranchi’s Dhurwa Dam.
News18
Seven-year-old Ishank Singh from Ranchi has made history after swimming across the Palk Strait between Sri Lanka and India. At an age when most children are busy with school and playtime, he completed a nearly 29-kilometre sea swim and earned a world record for the achievement.
The young swimmer crossed the stretch from Talaimannar in Sri Lanka to Dhanushkodi in India in 9 hours and 50 minutes. His feat has brought attention from people across the country, with many praising his hard work and determination at such a young age.
Young Swimmer Creates Record
Ishank, who lives in Dhurwa in Ranchi, completed the challenging swim on April 30, 2026. According to reports, he has now become the youngest swimmer in the world to cross the Palk Strait route.
The crossing is considered difficult because of changing sea conditions and strong currents. Despite the challenge, Ishank successfully completed the swim in under 10 hours. For this achievement, he received the “Youngest and Fastest Palk Strait Swimmer” certificate from the Universal Records Forum.
Daily Practice Helped Him Prepare
The seven-year-old reportedly trained for several hours every day before attempting the swim. He practised at Dhurwa Dam in Ranchi and followed a strict training schedule.
His coaches, Aman Kumar Jaiswal and Bajrang Kumar, guided him through the preparation. Reports said Ishank spent around four to five hours daily in practice to build the stamina needed for the long-distance swim.
People from Jharkhand have celebrated the achievement, calling it a proud moment for the state and the country.
Seven-year-old swimmer Ishank Singh🇮🇳creates history by successfully crossing the 29-km Palk Strait.
He completes the open-water swim from Talaimannar in Sri Lanka to Dhanushkodi in… pic.twitter.com/AfuWqawmII
— All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) May 1, 2026
School Praises His Achievement
Ishank studies in Class 3 at DAV Shyamali in Ranchi. His school reportedly also praised his achievement and described it as a moment of pride for students and teachers alike.
As per reports, the school principal said Ishank showed courage, discipline and focus by taking on such a difficult challenge at a very young age. He added that the young swimmer’s success proves that dedication and proper guidance can help achieve big goals.
The principal also said Ishank’s achievement would inspire many other students to work hard toward their dreams.
Social Media Users React
Many people reacted to the news online and praised the child swimmer for his effort and determination. A user wrote, “Indian Navy potential kid, hope he keeps up with the sport.”
Another said, “A matter of pride for Jharkhand and India! Heartiest congratulations to Ishaan, his parents, and his coach. You are a hero!”
This unique application is based on the Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra, diverging from typical astrology platforms that use machine learning.
Hyderabad-based Aja AstroTech Pvt Ltd has launched a mobile application, Dosha Nivarana (DNA).
In an unusual blend of ancient knowledge and modern technology, Hyderabad-based Aja AstroTech Pvt Ltd has launched a mobile application, Dosha Nivarana (DNA), that translates classical Vedic astrology principles into a digital format for everyday users.
Aja AstroTech Pvt Ltd launched Dosha Nivarana (DNA), billing it as India’s first app built entirely on the foundational principles of the Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra — the revered Vedic astrology canon attributed to Sage Parashara Muni.
The distinction matters to the founders. Unlike the wave of astrology platforms that layer machine-learning prediction over horoscope data, the DNA app’s engine is, at its core, a faithful software translation of classical Jyotisha logic — every calculation tracing back to the original Parasara text, not a neural network.
“This is not a horoscope app. This is a karma engine,” said Phaniraj Jaligama, Founder & CEO, Aja AstroTech Pvt Ltd.
The app was unveiled at a formal Hyderabad event in the presence of Badiga Srikanth, Group Director of Phonix; retired district judge Hemanth Kumar Dintyala; and former T-Hub CEO Srinivas Rao Mahankali.
CEO Phaniraj Jaligama walked attendees through the engine’s core premise: that the celestial alignment at the exact moment of a person’s birth creates a “cosmic blueprint” — and that Parashara’s principles, when encoded correctly, can read that blueprint with a rigour no general-purpose AI is designed to replicate.
A Jyotishi in Your Pocket — for Every Indian with a Smartphone
The platform’s capabilities are, by any measure, unusually comprehensive for a first release. The engine automatically detects 50 classical Doshas across five categories, matches them to a library of 75-plus Parasara-rooted remedies, and generates personalised reports spanning everything from a child’s Janma Patrika to a Rahu-Ketu axis analysis. A dedicated Muhurtha suite covers 19 life events — calculating auspicious timing with the precision the tradition demands.
India has invoked force majeure for government contracts hit by the West Asia conflict, shielding defence and drone firms from penalties amid supply disruptions, soaring component costs, and shipment delays.
India invokes force majeure, major relief for war-hit companies (AI-generated image)
The Centre has allowed companies hit by the West Asia conflict to seek protection under the “force majeure” clause in government contracts, giving a major breather to sectors such as defence and drone manufacturing.
Force majeure is a legal provision that excuses a company from meeting contractual deadlines when extraordinary events – such as war, natural disasters, or other unforeseen crises – make normal operations impossible.
The Finance Ministry said the ongoing conflict in West Asia, triggered by the US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28, can be treated as a war-like situation for government contracts.
“In cases where disruptions arising from the prevailing West Asia situation have directly affected, or consequentially impacted contractual obligations (for goods and services contracts, construction/ works contracts with Government Agencies), the procuring entities may invoke Force Majeure,” the Finance Ministry said in its order.
This means affected companies can avoid penalties if they miss delivery deadlines because of supply chain disruptions linked to the conflict.
Under the relief package, government agencies can grant delivery extensions of two to four months. However, this will only apply to companies that were meeting their obligations as of February 27. Each request will be reviewed individually.
The decision is particularly important for defence and drone manufacturers, many of whom depend heavily on imported components from Israel and other global suppliers.
According to a report in Economic Times, citing industry sources, the supplies from Israel have been severely disrupted, while delays at cargo hubs in the UAE have further slowed shipments from other countries.
Since most defence contracts are with government agencies, the industry had been seeking this relief for months.
“Over the past few months, the industry has been dealing with component shortages, logistics delays and tighter export controls, all of which are beyond the control of domestic manufacturers but directly affecting delivery timelines,” said Smit Shah, president of the Drone Federation of India.
Companies warn that the disruption may last much longer than four months. Demand has piled up, cargo routes remain congested, and several suppliers have sharply raised prices.
According to industry executives, delivery timelines for critical components such as computing modules and cameras have doubled from three months to six months in some cases. Prices have also surged dramatically.
Rescuers at Jabalpur boat tragedy site recovered the bodies of a mother and her young son, still locked in their final embrace.
The woman and her son were among nine killed in the Jabalpur boat tragedy.
In what became the most heart-wrenching image of the boat tragedy in Madhya Pradesh’s Jabalpur that claimed nine lives, rescuers on Friday recovered the bodies of a mother and her four-year-old son locked in a final hug.
The bodies of the woman and her child were pulled out of the water with a life jacket secured around them.
Family members gathered at the spot broke down upon witnessing the recovery, and state Cabinet Minister Rakesh Singh, who visited the site, was also visibly moved and struggled to hold back tears.
Nine people died and many are missing after a river cruise boat carrying around 30 passengers overturned in the Bargi dam reservoir after encountering a sudden storm on Thursday. Twenty two people have been rescued so far.
Rescue efforts are being carried out on a war footing, with teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), along with local police and administration officials, deployed at the spot.
According to officials, strong winds lashed the reservoir around 6 pm on Thursday, turning the waters choppy. Eyewitnesses said passengers raised alarms and urged the crew to return to shore, but their cries went unheard as the boat drifted further before capsizing.
Some locals managed to rescue a few passengers using ropes, particularly those wearing life jackets. However, others drowned.
A survivor has alleged a lack of basic safety measures, claiming that all passengers were not provided with life jackets.
Minister Singh, who spoke to the media from the spot, said “the situation will be clear in some time” and “after the rescue operation concludes, it will be clear why people could not be saved even when they were wearing life jackets”.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said earlier assured all possible assistance to affected families, saying “the state government stands with full sensitivity”, adding that efforts were underway to trace the missing.
Rekha Gupta said that if any discrepancy is found, the school will face the strictest action and may even be taken over.
Chief minister Rekha Gupta tells private school to not force parents into captive buying of books, students. (@BJP4Delhi) (HT_PRINT)
Delhi chief minister Rekha Gupta on Thursday warned private schools of strict action if they force students and parents to buy uniforms, books, and stationery from specific vendors. Her warning comes after the Directorate of Education (DoE) asked schools not to compel students or parents to purchase books, writing materials, or uniforms from particular vendors.
Gupta said she can walk into any private school in Delhi at any time to check whether schools have clearly stated on their notice boards, websites, and at any store they operate that parents are free to buy uniforms, books, and stationery from anywhere.
“I can personally inspect any private school in Delhi. On every school’s notice board, website, or store, where they provide books, you must state in writing that parents can purchase uniforms, books, or stationery for their children from anywhere. There is no compulsion to buy them from the school itself or from a single vendor you recommend. There will be no compulsion for any parent to buy books only from the vendor you recommend,” Delhi CM said in a video posted on X from the CMO’s handle.
I can walk into any private school in Delhi for an inspection, anytime.
Every school will state it clearly on its notice board, on its website, and at any store it operates that parents are free to buy uniforms, books and stationery from anywhere. There will be no coercion, no… pic.twitter.com/HvCiB8Yyqc
She further added that if any discrepancy is found, the school will face the strictest action and may even be taken over.
“There will be no coercion, no captive buying, no single-vendor diktat. If a school wishes to suggest shop options for convenience, it may provide a written list of five to six shops, but there will be no compulsion of any kind,” Gupta further said.
The total deployment figure—2,400 companies—had never been seen before for a state election, anywhere for Assembly elections ever.
Forces arrived from 21 states and Union Territories, each sending their State Armed Police and IR battalions eastward.
It all started with a missive in March from the Ministry of Home Affairs addressed to West Bengal’s Chief Secretary, Home Secretary, and Director General of Police, carrying the months-long crux of meetings on the West Bengal polls. What followed was a mobilisation so vast, so meticulously choreographed, and so historically unprecedented that it will be studied in election security briefings for years to come, which also resulted well, as poll violence was extremely low this time.
21 states stripped their own police battalions and sent them eastward. Five Directors General of Central Armed Police Forces packed their bags, left their New Delhi headquarters, and camped in one state for days. Nearly 4,000 bulletproof and Quick Response vehicles flooded Bengal’s roads. Special trains were commandeered. Daily situation reports landed at the MHA every morning by 10 am sharp.
And at the centre of it all were 2,400 companies of armed personnel, expectedly the highest ever deployed for any Assembly election in independent India’s history.
The Order That Started It All
It began, as most things do in Indian bureaucracy, with a letter. On March 17, 2026, the Election Commission of India wrote to the MHA with an unusual request: more forces for West Bengal, beyond the 480 CAPF companies already sanctioned and on their way. The existing deployment covered CRPF (230 companies), BSF (120), CISF (37), ITBP (47), and SSB (46), already a substantial force by any measure.
But the ECI wanted more. Two days later, on March 19, the MHA responded with a missive that authorised an additional 1,920 companies of CAPFs, SAPs, and IR battalions. The total deployment figure—2,400 companies—had never been seen before for a state election, anywhere for Assembly elections ever.
Four Waves, One Relentless Timeline
The induction wasn’t chaotic; it followed phased logistics. By March 31, 300 companies from five forces had reached. By April 7, 300 more arrived, with J&K and Tripura de-inducted companies redirected.
By April 10, another 300 were added, drawing from J&K, Manipur, and West Bengal border duties. By April 13, 277 companies, including RPF for the first time, plus SAPs from three states, had reached Bengal. By April 17, a massive final wave of 743 companies moved through Assam via inter-state movement—443 CAPF companies plus 300 SAP/IR battalion companies from 18 more states—for the elections.
Five DGs Leave Delhi. Nothing Like This Before.
Before the first boot hit Bengal’s ground, something remarkable happened at the top. Five Director General-rank officers—the heads of CRPF, BSF, CISF, ITBP, and SSB—left their headquarters in New Delhi and personally camped in West Bengal to oversee the ground situation.
These are officers whose jurisdictions span active insurgencies in the Northeast, live border tensions with Pakistan and China, and Naxal-affected heartlands. Their desks in Delhi do not sit empty lightly. Yet for days, they were in Bengal, monitoring, coordinating, and troubleshooting on the ground.
It was unprecedented. No state election in India had ever seen this level of top brass physically present in the field simultaneously. While a few called it a necessity, others called it ignorance of other key responsibilities.
Both reactions, in their own way, captured the sheer gravity of what West Bengal 2026 had become.
A cruise boat carrying 29 people capsized in the Bargi River in Madhya Pradesh, resulting in the tragic deaths of six individuals. Rescue operations are ongoing, with 15 passengers successfully saved so far.
Four Dead After Cruise Boat Overturns in Jabalpur’s Bargi River Due to Storm Photo : Times Now
A cruise boat with 29 people on board overturned in the Bargi River in Jabalpur district, Madhya Pradesh, on Thursday (April 30). At least nine people died in the tragic incident, while search operations are continuing to find the missing people. 15 people have been rescued so far as the operation is underway for the rest of the people. The cruise boat tilted and sank after being caught in a sudden and violent gust of wind this evening, claiming the lives of four people. Notably, the cruise service is operated by the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Corporation (MPT).
A total of 29 tickets were issued for the cruise in the Bargi dam reservoir, and among them, nine people drowned, while 15 were rescued, the official said. The Bargi Dam has been constructed on the river Narmada in Jabalpur district.
A search and rescue operation for the missing passengers was continuing on a war footing. The Jabalpur collector and Superintendent of Police, along with SDRF (State Disaster Response Force) and other rescue teams, are present at the site, the official said.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said the local administration and rescue personnel were continuing their operation after the tragic cruise boat accident in the Bargi dam due to a severe storm.
Public Works Minister Rakesh Singh, Tourism Minister Dharmendra Singh Lodhi, senior divisional police officials, and local people’s representatives have been directed to reach the scene of the tragedy to oversee the rescue operation, the CM said in a post on ‘X.’ Through a swift operation, 15 citizens were rescued and efforts were underway to locate those who are still missing, said Yadav.
“In this hour of crisis, the state government stands with the affected families with full sensitivity and is ensuring all possible assistance,” he maintained.
PWD minister Rakesh Singh, who reached the spot soon after arriving here from Delhi, termed the incident as most unfortunate. He said the CM has announced compensation of Rs 4 lakh each for the kin of the deceased.
“The incident took place around 6-6:15 pm. There were 29 passengers as well as two crew members. Fifteen passengers were rescued, while four others died. The boat has been set right. After completion of the search and rescue operation, a thorough probe would be initiated into the incident,” Singh said.
The priority is to search for those missing, with the operation getting difficult due to darkness setting in, he added.
What Eyewitnesses Said?
As per eyewitnesses, strong winds turned the water choppy, leading to many on board raising an alarm and asking the crew to take the boat back to the banks. However, the crew was unable to hear these shouts, and the boat drifted further and then overturned, they added. Some locals rescued a few passengers wearing life jackets with the help of a rope, they said, according to a PTI report.
Saini was taken to a hospital and later referred to a district facility, where doctors declared him dead.
Two police personnel were injured in the exchange.
Days after he was on the run after a triple murder in Uttar Pradesh’s Bulandshahr, Jeetu Saini was killed in an exchange of fire with a police team early on Thursday. He was carrying a reward of Rs 50,000.
The encounter took place near the Dharau police outpost.
According to officials, two men on a scooter were asked to stop but tried to flee while opening fire. Police chased them and surrounded them on Jhajhar Road, where firing continued.
“When police resorted to retaliatory firing in self-defence, one accused sustained bullet injuries while the other managed to escape under the cover of darkness,” an official told news agency PTI.
Saini was taken to a hospital and later referred to a district facility, where doctors declared him dead.
Two police personnel were injured in the exchange. Police recovered an illegal .32 bore pistol, cartridges and a scooter without a number plate from the spot.
Saini was on the run in a case related to a shooting on April 25 during a birthday gathering in Khurja, where three members of a family were killed. The victims were identified as Amardeep, 30, Manish, 28, and Akash, 18.
What was meant to be a celebratory gathering at a local gym and later near a residence soured when the victims reportedly applied cake to the face of the birthday boy, Jeetu Saini. The playful gesture was met with unexpected hostility, leading to a heated argument.
Sanjay Saini, the brother of one of the victims, recounted a chilling sequence of events. He claimed that following the initial argument, the accused retreated only to return with an arsenal of firearms.
Sanjay received a call from the accused party claiming his brother was “abusing” them. Sanjay attempted to de-escalate, promising to resolve the matter in the morning.
“It was Jeetu Saini, son of Subhash Halwai’s birthday. He invited people here. These people argued and left our Amardeep behind. I got a call saying, ‘Your brother is abusing’. I told them that I’ll talk to them in the morning, as I had to attend a wedding,” he told ANI at the time.
He further alleged that the accused returned armed and escalated the situation, killing the three victims.
With Saini’s death, police said six accused have been taken into custody so far. Two others had been arrested a day earlier after a separate encounter.
LPG Price Today: As opposed to the anticipation, the government didn’t raise fuel prices for retail consumers after the polling schedule.
Despite mounting pressure to raise fuel prices amid the Iran war disruption, the central government has decided to keep the domestic LPG rates unchanged.
However, the price of commercial LPG (19 kg) has been increased by Rs 993 (on average). Commercial LPG cylinder prices in Delhi are now at Rs 3,071.50 (from Rs 2,078.50 earlier). Similarly, commercial LPG cylinder prices in Mumbai have been raised from Rs 2,031 to Rs 3,024.
Significantly, the price of a 19-kg commercial LPG cylinder has been increased thrice since February 28 when the Iran war began. It was first increased by Rs 144 in March, followed by another hike of nearly Rs 200 on April 1.
The triple hike is expected to hit restaurants, eateries, and other businesses hard, since they rely on cooking fuel for their day-to-day operations. The restaurants are likely to pass on the burden to the consumers, making outside dining and food delivery a bit more expensive.
Petrol, Diesel Prices Remain Unchanged
Meanwhile, the retail prices of petrol and diesel also remain unchanged. Separately, in a big relief for the aviation sector, the government has also made no change in aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices for domestic airlines (scheduled operations).
While the decision has been welcomed by households, oil marketing companies (OMCs) will have to continue bleeding money to shield consumers. As NDTV reported earlier, OMCs are losing Rs 16,000 crore (approximately) every day as they are buying crude oil at an elevated rate (over $120 per barrel), but selling at the same price. With voting in states concluded, OMCs were pushing for an increase in petrol, diesel, aviation turbine fuel and LPG prices, according to media reports.
The government is also walking a tight rope. While raising prices would ease OMC finances, it could risk stoking inflation and weigh on country’s growth. Also, the government is already bearing the increased cost of LPG and fertiliser subsidies. However, OMCs, as per reports, may reach out to the Centre for some compensation to absorb petrol and diesel under-recoveries.
The initial bet after the war-driven price surge was that OMCs could absorb losses. These companies recorded strong profits in recent years. However, with no end to the Middle East crisis in sight, absorbing further losses can become unsustainable.
So far, OMCs have selectively raised prices. Prices of premium petrol, bulk diesel and ATF for international flights have been increased in line with global trends. In contrast, regular pump prices for petrol and diesel remain unchanged. ATF for domestic airlines has been only partially raised.
New LPG Cylinder Rules From May 1
While the price of domestic LPG remains unchanged, households in cities will now be able to book cylinder only after 25 days (as opposed to 21 days earlier).
India’s three major oil marketing companies — Indian Oil Corporation (Indane), Bharat Petroleum (Bharat Gas), and Hindustan Petroleum (HP Gas) — have finalised new rules (effective May 1).
Starting May 1, the interval between LPG bookings has been increased from 21 to 25 days in urban areas and up to 45 days in rural areas. The system will automatically block any booking attempt made before the permitted gap has elapsed.
With just two days left for counting in the high-stakes Assembly elections, the Trinamool alleged that the ballot boxes were opened without the presence of authorised party representatives.
Bengal witnessed a late-night drama on Thursday amid Trinamool Congress’ (TMC) concerns over alleged tampering of electronic voting machines (EVMs), with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee spending hours inside a strongroom and her party staging a sit-in protest.
With just two days left for counting in the high-stakes Assembly elections, the Trinamool alleged that the ballot boxes were opened without the presence of authorised party representatives – shortly after the second and final phase of polling concluded in the state. Mamata Banerjee, along with her election agent, visited the counting centre for the Bhabanipur Assembly segment at Sakhawat Memorial School in Kolkata on Thursday evening, alleging possible malpractice.
After spending nearly four hours inside the strongroom, she emerged around 12:07 am with a defiant tone and warned against any attempt to tamper with the counting process.
“Either the candidate or one agent can stay upstairs. I have also suggested installation of a CCTV camera for the media,” she told reporters.
Stressing the need for transparency, she said, “People’s votes must be protected. I rushed here after receiving complaints. The central forces initially did not allow me to enter. If there is any plan to tamper with the counting process, it will not be tolerated.”
During this time, Kolkata Mayor and Trinamool candidate from the Kolkata Port seat, Firhad Hakim, too reached the spot, but could not meet the Chief Minister.
BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, who is contesting against Banerjee in Bhabanipur, shared a video on X showing his election agent keeping “strict surveillance” in the EVM strongroom where the Chief Minister went in for hours.
“I wish to assure the esteemed community of voters from the entire state of West Bengal, including the Bhabanipur constituency, that the Trinamool Congress candidate from this center, namely the outgoing Chief Minister, the Honorable, has been strictly instructed to refrain from availing any undue advantages. As long as she was present in the strong room premises, my election agent, Advocate Suryanil Das, was personally there keeping her under strict surveillance so that she could not resort to any dishonest means,” he said.
Adhikari added, “No matter how much effort she makes, she has been unable to engage in any activities outside the rules.”
ভবানীপুর নির্বাচনী এলাকা সহ সমগ্র পশ্চিমবঙ্গবাসী ভোটার ভদ্রমণ্ডলী কে আশ্বস্ত করতে চাই যে এই কেন্দ্রের তৃণমূল কংগ্রেস প্রার্থী তথা বিদায়ী মুখ্যমন্ত্রী, মাননীয়া কে কোনোরকম বাড়তি সুবিধা নেওয়া থেকে বিরত থাকতে বাধ্য করা হয়েছে।
উনি যতোই চেষ্টা চালান না কেন, কোনো রকম নিয়ম বহির্ভূত… pic.twitter.com/9hxyr3A97x
Simultaneously, the Trinamool held a sit-in protest outside a strongroom at Netaji Indoor Stadium in central Kolkata, where EVMs for several Assembly constituencies in north Kolkata are kept – hours after Mamata Banerjee released a video message warning party workers about the possibility of EVM tampering and urged them to guard strongrooms until counting begins.
At the centre of the protest was Bengal minister Shashi Panja and Trinamool spokesperson Kunal Ghosh – both of whom are candidates in the Assembly elections.
Alleging discrepancies in the process, Ghosh said, “Party workers and supporters were present outside the strongroom till 3.30 pm. Suddenly, an email was sent informing that the strongroom would be opened again at 4 pm. We contacted our workers, and they said they had left. We then rushed here. Now we are not being allowed to enter. BJP is being invited.”
Panja, who is contesting from Shyampukur constituency, also questioned the procedure and said, “The strongroom is extremely sensitive. If it is opened, all political parties must be informed. Why was no one informed?”
Election Commission denies allegations
The Election Commission dismissed the claims regarding the handling of polled materials at the centre, asserting that all procedures were duly followed and the strongrooms remain secure.
“The last strongroom was closed in the morning around 5:15 am. All strong rooms containing polled EVMs are safely secured and sealed. There is another strongroom in the same premises for the postal ballots, wherein we have kept AC-wise polled ballots as done by different polling personnel and ETBPS,” the EC said in a statement.
BJP’s response
Senior BJP leader Tapas Roy dismissed the allegations made by the Trinamool party.
“These are all pure rumours that the TMC is spreading now to create an environment of fear because they’re themselves scared. I have also come here to check the strongroom. The TMC is spreading lies,” he said.
BJP’s IT Cell head, Amit Malviya, called Banerjee’s visit to the strongroom the “clearest exit poll for West Bengal”.
“Mamata Banerjee’s theatrics this evening are perhaps the clearest “exit poll” for West Bengal. The writing on the wall is evident and so is the desperation to distract from it,” he said.
Mamata Banerjee’s theatrics this evening are perhaps the clearest “exit poll” for West Bengal. The writing on the wall is evident and so is the desperation to distract from it.
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has implemented a major overhaul of India’s cooking gas framework effective May 2026.
The new rules ban dual LPG-PNG ownership, extend cylinder booking intervals.
In one of the most sweeping overhauls of the country’s cooking gas framework in recent years, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has introduced a raft of new rules for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) consumers, effective 1 May 2026.
Government Targets Dual LPG-PNG Households Amid Energy Crisis
The government has begun identifying households that hold both LPG and PNG connections after banning dual ownership to curb misuse and better target subsidies. Under a March 14 amendment to the LPG Regulation Order, households with piped natural gas must surrender their domestic LPG connections and are no longer eligible for LPG refills or new connections. Oil companies and distributors have also been directed not to supply LPG to such consumers.
The move aims to prioritise LPG for households without PNG access and to support expansion of piped gas networks. So far, over 43,000 users with dual connections have surrendered LPG, though officials expect higher compliance. The decision comes amid energy supply disruptions linked to tensions in West Asia, which have affected imports.
Stricter Booking Rules and OTP Deliveries
Consumers across the country under Indane, Bharat Gas, and HP Gas now face new rules covering booking intervals, OTP-based delivery, and mandatory KYC updates. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has increased the booking interval from 21 to 25 days in urban areas and up to 45 days in rural areas.
Commercial Cylinder Prices Revised Sharply
Since March 2026, oil marketing companies have hiked the 19 kg commercial cylinder price three times. The first hike was in the range of Rs 28 to Rs 31 on 1 March, followed by another increase of Rs 114.5 per cylinder on 7 March, and a further hike of Rs 196 to Rs 218 across major metro cities for April. A further revision has now been effected on 1 May, with sources citing a cumulative increase touching Rs 993 since the crisis began.
Domestic Prices and Petrol Held Steady
Domestic LPG prices remain unchanged. The cost of a 14.2 kg household cylinder, last raised by Rs 60 on 7 March, continues to stand at Rs 913 in Delhi. Petrol and diesel prices have also been left untouched, remaining at Rs 94.77 per litre and Rs 87.67 per litre respectively in Delhi.
At current rates, oil marketing companies are incurring an under-recovery of Rs 380 per cylinder, with cumulative losses projected to reach Rs 40,484 crore by the end of May.
Nearly 2.5 million Indians lost $2.5bn to digital fraud in 2025
In February, Alok (name changed), a business analyst based in the western Indian city of Pune, got a text message asking him to pay 1,000 rupees ($10.75; £7.9) as a speeding fine.
The message asked him to settle the amount quickly to avoid his driving licence being suspended, prompting Alok to immediately click on the link to pay. He was asked to share an OTP (one-time password) to complete the payment.
Minutes later, his credit card was charged $3,225, the maximum transaction limit.
Alok had inadvertently authorised a much larger sum than what was supposed to be the fine, falling prey to a common scam in India where fraudsters send fake messages mimicking official websites that direct unsuspecting individuals to phishing links and drain their bank accounts.
Experts call this a type of fraud “social engineering” – where scammers dupe their victims using psychological manipulation, instilling fear and urgency.
India has seen an alarming rise in such fraud with the unprecedented adoption of digital payments in the country over the last half decade.
Nearly 2.5 million people have lost some $2.5bn in 2025, a staggering 4,300% rise since 2021. The explosive jump in cases has finally prompted India’s central bank, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to step in.
In a discussion paper released earlier this month, the central bank said it was mulling several measures to tackle the problem.
These include a one-hour lag at the payer’s end in account-to-account transactions and additional authentication by a “trusted person” for high-value digital payments by vulnerable sections of society such as elderly people.
The paper also talks about limits and reviews of large credits to customer accounts to ensure these aren’t mules (accounts used for illegal transfer of money), and giving people more control to switch on/switch off digital payments and set limits like they can for cards.
Several experts the BBC spoke to say that while the RBI’s proactive stance is a welcome step, these proposals – which will be finalised after public comments and feedback – could end up having only a limited impact.
The first proposal, for instance, to have lagged payments could be effectual in preventing OTP fraud of the type that Alok fell for, but in value terms such scams are a “minuscule proportion of the overall fraud landscape”, Rajesh Bansal, former CEO of the RBI’s Innovation Hub, told the BBC.
“These scams were the dominant variety three or four years ago, but frauds have now moved to another level, and are far more sophisticated.”
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Implementation of these measures could also be challenging, according to experts.
“It is not going to be easy to implement a lag because there are so many parties involved in the payment network. There is no simple way to do it without changing the current architecture,” says Wriju Ray of IDfy, a leading regulatory technology company.
The RBI acknowledges this in the discussion paper, saying introducing lags would require changes across the system, from transaction queuing to cancellation mechanisms, and would involve “cost and effort for the ecosystem”.
Moreover, the central bank acknowledges, it would “conflict with the core design principle of immediacy of digital payments”.
“It’s like building an expressway and adding speed breakers every few kilometres,” says Bansal.
And this friction is unlikely to help much.
“They [scammers] are just going to figure out a way to overcome the lag. For instance, they might ask for a customer to undertake a payment and wait for an hour for their acknowledgement so an alarm is not raised,” says Ray.
According to him, some of the other measures being considered are fair but raise several questions.
“Additional checks for senior citizens is probably highly recommended but how does one comply? What if your so-called ‘trusted adviser’ is abroad? And what if they ask you to go ahead with a transaction that still ends up being a fraudulent one? Then who does the accountability move to?” asks Ray.
The proposal to further strengthen the detection of mule accounts by limiting credits and enhancing due diligence , could also be effective, but will be resource-intensive and costly. And ultimately, those costs will have to be passed down to consumers, says Ray.
According to Bansal, the RBI already has a ready mule detection platform called Mulehunter.AI which provides information on beneficiary accounts.
“It was conceptualised when I was the CEO. It needs to be implemented in near real-time in the banking system. Unfortunately, that has not happened,” he says, calling for its expeditious execution.
But more regulation is only part of the solution, say experts.
Doubling down on education, along with some of these measures, will be critical.
India’s population has been going digital at a rate that’s much faster than safeguards or literacy have been able to keep pace.
The central bank has been driving educational initiatives, roping in superstars like Amitabh Bachchan and using high-viewership IPL cricket games to push through their campaigns – but more investment is needed in improving digital literacy, according to Ray.
Axis My India has predicted actor Vijay’s new party TVK in its first election contest would win 98-120 seats in Tamil Nadu
Axis My India has predicted actor Vijay’s new party TVK in its first election contest would win 98-120 seats in Tamil Nadu. If the exit poll results hold, the TVK would assert a strong force in the results, upsetting the ruling DMK and its partners.
Even winning 98 seats in the lowest band of the exit poll would make the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) feat extraordinary and likely take the southern state into a new era of politics.
Below are details of other exit polls:
Peoples Pulse has predicted the DMK and allies would win 125-145 seats, while the AIADMK and allies would get 65-80 seats.
Peoples Insight gave the DMK and allies 120-140 seats, and the AIADMK and allies may win 60-70 seats.
Praja Poll says the DMK and partners would get 148-168 seats; the AIADMK and allies may get 61-81. TVK is forecast to win 1 to 9 seats.
P-Marq has given DMK and allies 125-145 seats; AIADMK and allies 65-85 seats, and actor Vijay’s TVK 16-26 seats.
Matrize has given DMK and allies 122-132 seats; AIADMK and allies 87-100 seats, and actor Vijay’s TVK 10-12 seats.
Kamakhya Analytics has given DMK and allies 78-95 seats; AIADMK and allies 68-84 seats, and actor Vijay’s TVK and allies 67-81 seats. This puts the actor’s new party firmly in place to play a big role, if the exit poll results hold.
JVC has given DMK and allies 75-95 seats; AIADMK and allies 128-147 seats, and actor Vijay’s TVK 8-15 seats.
The main contest was between the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA), which includes the Congress, Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK), and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) on one side, and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) led by AIADMK with the BJP and Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) as allies.
West Bengal has been the most closely contested poll in this election cycle.
The ballots have been cast in India’s most hotly contested political battleground, and the only question on everyone’s mind is whether the BJP’s sustained project to breach Mamata Banerjee’s fortress of West Bengal has finally been successful.
Exit polls indicate that it has.
While the Axis My India exit poll data for West Bengal will be released on Thursday for greater accuracy because voting in the state has just ended, six other pollsters have released their numbers, and four of them have said the BJP is poised to come to power in the state for the first time.
Of 294 constituencies in the Bengal Assembly, with 148 required to get a majority, Praja Poll’s numbers will give any Trinamool Congress (TMC) supporter pause. The agency has predicted that the BJP will win 178-208 seats, up from 77 in 2021, while the TMC will be restricted to 85-110, down massively from 215.
P-Marq’s numbers state the BJP will win 150-175 constituencies and the Trinamool between 118 and 138.
Matrize has predicted 146-161 seats for the BJP, and Poll Diary 142-171. These pollsters say the TMC will get 125-140 and 99-127, respectively.
On the other end of the spectrum is Janmat Polls, whose data states that the Trinamool Congress will get a thumping majority for the third straight time.
The agency has predicted between 195 and 205 seats for the Mamata Banerjee-led party and 80-90 for the BJP, which is very close to the figures both parties had in the 2021 elections.
Peoples Pulse has also said that the Trinamool Congress will win 177-187 constituencies while the BJP will be restricted to between 85 and 110.
On one point, though, all of the agencies agree – the Congress and the Left parties are set for a dismal performance once again. Most have predicted that both will be unable to open their accounts and the best numbers for these parties are from Poll Diary, which has given the Congress 3-5 seats and the Left 2-3.
Health warning: Exit polls often get it wrong.
How It Has Played Out So Far
If the polls have got it right, the BJP will have achieved something which is very rare in India’s electoral history. In a span of just a decade, the party would have gone from winning just three seats and having a vote share of 10.3% to getting a majority on its own.
And the journey has been gradual.
The Trinamool Congress got the first taste of the BJP as a rising force in Bengal, capitalising on the Left’s decline, when the party won 18 of 42 Lok Sabha seats in the state. The TMC was only marginally ahead with 22.
Realising that Assembly elections in 2021 could throw up a similar result, Mamata Banerjee and the Trinamool then went all out with planning and campaigning, focusing on the Bengali identity and attempting to paint the BJP as an outsider. The efforts paid off, and the TMC got 277 seats against the BJP’s 77.
The Trinamool Congress redoubled its efforts in the Lok Sabha elections three years later and managed to restrict the BJP to just 12 seats while winning 29 itself.
A poultry farm owner in Uttar Pradesh has filed a police complaint after 140 chickens died at his farm, alleging that the cause was loud music from a DJ system used during a wedding procession that passed nearby on the night of April 25.
The incident occurred in UP’s Sultanpur district.
A poultry farm owner in Uttar Pradesh has filed a police complaint after 140 chickens died at his farm, alleging that the cause was loud music from a DJ system used during a wedding procession that passed nearby on the night of April 25.
The incident occurred in UP’s Sultanpur district. On the fateful night, the wedding procession for the daughter of local resident Babban Vishwakarma moved through the village. The procession had come from Ram Bhadra Purva in the Kudwar area and included a DJ playing music at high volume.
Sabir Ali, who operates Sabir Ali Poultry Farm located near the village, stated that the procession passed in front of his farm around 9:30 PM. According to his account, the intense noise from the DJ caused panic among the chickens. He said the birds could not tolerate the sound and 140 of them died as a result.
In his complaint to the police, Sabir Ali described the sound as high-decibel and said it frightened the poultry, leading directly to the deaths.
“The noise was so intense that the chickens got frightened and died,” the complaint stated.
Following the complaint, the police registered a case on Tuesday night against Kavi Yadav, a DJ operator from Parsipur.
The police are investigating whether the music system was operating beyond the permissible sound limits at the time. Officers are also looking into the sequence of events to determine if the noise levels contributed to the loss of the chickens.
A 23-year-old woman in Pune’s Shirur delivered her baby on a roadside after reportedly being turned away from a hospital, with locals and a nearby doctor stepping in during the emergency.
Locals Create ‘Delivery Room’ On Busy Pune Street To Save Mother, Baby (Image Source – @advyashomatiinc/Instagram)
What should have been a routine hospital delivery turned into an emergency on a public road in Pune, where a young pregnant woman gave birth in the most unexpected circumstances, surrounded not by hospital staff, but by strangers who stepped up when it mattered most.
The incident took place on Saturday in Shirur, involving 23-year-old Supriya Nitesh Kale. She had reportedly been advised by Shirur Rural Hospital to seek delivery services elsewhere, as the facility was no longer admitting patients for childbirth. The couple was directed to travel to Ahalyanagar or Pune for treatment.
However, before they could reach any alternate facility, Kale began experiencing intense labour pain near Nirman Chowk while en route. Witnesses said her condition rapidly worsened, and she collapsed on the roadside at around 10:15 am, triggering panic among bystanders.
As the urgency of the situation became clear, locals wasted no time in seeking medical help. They reached out to Dr Sunita Pote, a nearby gynaecologist whose clinic was located less than 500 metres away. Responding swiftly, Dr Pote arrived at the scene and took charge of the situation.
In an extraordinary display of community support, residents, particularly women, came together to create a makeshift enclosure using sarees, gowns, and bedsheets, ensuring Kale’s privacy as the delivery was carried out in the open.
Despite the challenging conditions, the delivery was successfully completed, and both mother and newborn were reported to be safe. A video capturing the moment, where Dr Pote is seen presenting the newborn to the relieved crowd, has since gone viral on Instagram, shared by the handle @advyashomatiinc.
From creative arts at NCPA’s Summer Fiesta to yoga camps, nature trails, heritage walks at Kanheri Caves, and Bandra explorations, Mumbai offers exciting summer activities for kids. These programs combine fun with learning, helping children build creativity, fitness, and curiosity while making the most of their vacation beyond screens and routine indoor play.
If you’re already hearing “I’m bored” echo around the house, it’s time to switch things up this summer. From creative workshops to outdoor adventures, there’s plenty your kids can do beyond screens. This season, turn their holidays into a mix of fun and learning with experiences that spark curiosity, creativity, and confidence.
NCPA Summer Fiesta 2026
If your child loves performing or wants to explore creativity, Summer Fiesta 2026 at NCPA is a perfect pick. From theatre and dance to storytelling, stand-up comedy, and even content creation, the programme offers immersive workshops led by industry experts. It also includes live plays for kids, making it a complete arts experience.
When: April 29 to July 19, 2026 (Workshops) | Plays till August 2
Help your kids build their physical and mental strength with a structured summer yoga camp at The Yoga Institute. Designed for holistic development, it focuses on improving flexibility, concentration, memory, and overall well-being in a calm, supportive environment.
When: Ongoing
Where: The Yoga Institute, Shri Yogendra Marg, Prabhat Colony, Santacruz East
Age Group: 5-13 years
Nature Camp
Swap gadgets for greenery with this interactive nature camp at Maharashtra Nature Park. Packed with fun activities, quizzes, and hands-on learning, it helps kids and families reconnect with nature while boosting curiosity and environmental awareness.
When: May 3 and May 24, 2026
Where: Maharashtra Nature Park, Sion
Cost: ₹799 for family of 4
Kanheri Caves Heritage Walk
Turn history into an adventure with a guided exploration of the ancient Kanheri Caves. Kids get to learn about Buddhist rock-cut architecture through engaging storytelling, making it both educational and exciting.
The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office has returned 657 stolen artefacts worth nearly $14 million to India after trafficking investigations. The restitution highlights the scale of cultural theft linked to international smuggling networks.
Bronze Avalokiteshvara and Sandstone Ganesha statues returned by US. (Image credit: Manhattan DA website)
The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office has returned 657 antiquities, collectively valued at nearly $14 million, to India following multiple investigations into international trafficking networks. District Attorney Alvin L Bragg Jr announced the restitution during a ceremony attended by Consul Rajlakshmi Kadam from the Consulate General of India in New York.
Authorities recovered the artefacts through ongoing probes into criminal networks linked to alleged trafficker Subhash Kapoor and convicted trafficker Nancy Wiener. Officials highlighted the scale of cultural theft targeting India, noting that more than 600 items were returned in this single operation.
“The scale of the trafficking networks that targeted cultural heritage in India is massive,” Bragg said, adding that further efforts are required to return stolen artefacts.
Consul General Binaya Pradhan acknowledged the role of US agencies, including the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office and the Department of Homeland Security, in recovering culturally significant objects.
Among the returned pieces is a bronze figure of Avalokiteshvara, valued at $2 million. The sculpture, originally housed in the Mahant Ghasidas Memorial Museum in Raipur, was stolen and smuggled into the United States by 1982 before being seized from a private New York collection in 2025.
Another major recovery includes a red sandstone Buddha statue worth $7.5 million. Smugglers transported the damaged statue into New York through Kapoor’s network, where authorities later seized it from a storage unit.
Officials also returned a sandstone statue of a dancing Ganesha, looted from a temple in Madhya Pradesh in 2000. Traffickers sold the piece through false provenance documents and auctioned it at Christie’s New York in 2012. A private collector later surrendered the artefact earlier this year.
For over a decade, the Antiquities Trafficking Unit (ATU), along with Homeland Security Investigations, has pursued Kapoor and his associates for allegedly looting and trafficking artefacts across South and Southeast Asia. Authorities issued an arrest warrant against Kapoor in 2012 and indicted him and seven co-defendants in 2019. Kapoor, convicted in India in 2022, remains pending extradition to the United States.
India touched an all-time peak power demand without any shortage, and it was solar that stepped up at the most critical hour, supplying nearly 21% of the electricity. This moment underscores a quiet but decisive shift that the sun is no longer just a supplement but a key driver of India’s energy resilience.
Solar power is fast becoming a cornerstone of India’s energy mix, enabling the country to meet growing electricity demand while cutting reliance on fossil fuels. (Image: PTI)
When India’s power demand surged to a record high, it wasn’t only the coal-fired plants that kept the lights and fans on. The Sun quietly blessed and delivered its share. Amid the searing heatwave, the country saw power demand soar to an all-time high of 256 gigawatt (GW), which was achieved without a shortage. Even as thermal power dominated with a 66% contribution, solar stepped in a big way with a 21% share. The country’s energy story is beginning to reflect a subtle but significant shift towards cleaner, daylight-driven power.
The subtle shift helped in the miracle at 3:38 pm on April 25, when India achieved its all-time highest peak electricity demand of 256.1 GW without any shortage, and simultaneously maintaining electricity exports to neighbouring countries. Solar power contributed 57 GW of total energy generation during the peak demand.
According to data released by GRID India, a government enterprise under the Ministry of Power that operates the national grid, at 12.30 pm on the same day, the solar plants and rooftop systems (RTS) energy generation reached about 81 GW, which accounts for one-third of the total electricity generated, 242 GW.
Previously, the all-time high power demand in India was recorded at 250 GW on May 30, 2024.
One gigawatt equals one billion watts. One gigawatt of electricity is enough to power a crore (10 million) 100-watt bulbs.
ELECTRICITY CONSUMPTION SPIKED IN APRIL 2026, PRESSURE ON POWER GRID
The demand for electricity in India typically peaks during the summer months of June–July. This demand is largely driven by the widespread use of fans, air coolers and air conditioners (ACs) in homes and commercial spaces.
This year, however, the surge has arrived as early as April, signalling an early onset of heat stress across key regions. The last time the annual peak demand was recorded this early was in the year 2022–23. It is generally seen in May.
The increase in power demand is also significant on a year-on-year basis. The peak demand rose from 235 GW in April 2025 to around 256 GW this April.
According to the Ministry of Power, the spike in demand comes as summer conditions intensify across the country in 2026, driving higher usage of cooling appliances. Electricity consumption recorded a significant growth of 8.9% during April 2026 (April 1–27) compared to the same period last year, underlining the increasing pressure on the power grid as temperatures climb.
The Ministry of Power projected that the electricity demand would reach 271 GW this year. “Renewable energy, particularly solar, made a significant contribution, complemented by hydro and other flexible resources during peak conditions,” the power ministry’s statement added.
SUN IS THE SOLUTION: INDIA’S RISING SOLAR ENERGY PRODUCTION
Solar energy is rapidly emerging as a central pillar of India’s power mix, helping the country meet rising electricity demand while reducing dependence on fossil fuels. As per the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, India crossed 150.26 GW of installed solar capacity as of March 31, 2026, marking one of the fastest expansions in the energy space. This surge has been driven by record annual additions in FY 2025–26, positioning solar as the country’s fastest-growing power source.
Backed by consistent policy support and rising capacity, solar energy is no longer just a supplementary source but a strategic solution for India’s energy security. “India’s power system is entering a new phase of its transition, driven by record additions in solar and wind capacity in 2025,” Duttatreya Das, energy analyst for Asia at Ember, was quoted by PV Magazine, a Germany-based solar market specialist magazine.
“Going forward, investments in grid infrastructure and flexibility resources will be critical. India is on the right track, with auction designs already evolving to include greater energy storage components. As these projects scale, they will enable more efficient use of low-cost clean power across the system,” he added.
The impact of this growth is now visible in current electricity generation.
According to data from the Central Electricity Authority, solar energy generation in 2025-26 was 173.52 billion units (BU), which contributes to around 9.46%, making it the largest contributor among renewable sources. Overall, non-fossil fuel capacity has crossed 50% of India’s installed power capacity, signalling a structural shift in the country’s energy mix, supported by a policy push (like subsidies) and falling costs of solar deployment.
Solar’s importance becomes most evident during peak demand hours. Solar alone contributed to 21.5% of the total supply, highlighting its growing role in stabilising the grid during high-demand periods.
MODI GOVT GAVE BIG PUSH TO SOLAR ENERGY
India’s push for solar began with the launch of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission in 2010 and has accelerated sharply over the decade. Solar capacity of India has grown from just a few gigawatts in the early 2010s to over 150 GW by 2026. This expansion aligns with India’s broader goal of achieving 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in the 133rd episode of the Mann Ki Baat radio programme, underscored the growing importance of renewable energy amid global volatility, describing solar and wind as central to India’s future and urging wider adoption of clean energy. He also hailed the Kalpakkam fast breeder reactor achieving criticality as a significant milestone for the country’s nuclear energy programme.
A major driver of solar energy growth has been large-scale deployment schemes and subsidies. Flagship programmes like the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana aim to install rooftop solar (RTS) systems in 100 million (1 crore) households, offering up to 300 units of free electricity per month. According to the last available government data, nearly 2.4 million (24 lakh) households have adopted RTS as of December 2025.
The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM) scheme has focused on solarising agriculture by supporting solar pumps and decentralised plants. Data from the Press Information Bureau (PIB) shows that these schemes have significantly expanded solar adoption across both urban households and rural farming sectors. As of March 2026, the PM-KUSUM has benefitted over 21.77 lakh farmers across India.
The government has also pushed for domestic manufacturing under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. The Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for high-efficiency solar modules, with an outlay of Rs 24,000 crore, is aimed at reducing import dependence and building a strong domestic supply chain. In parallel, infrastructure initiatives like solar parks, which are targeting 40 GW capacity, have streamlined land acquisition and transmission access, accelerating project execution.
Eyewitnesses reported a scene of chaos and panic as the vehicle, which was reportedly overloaded beyond capacity, flipped multiple times.
12 people died after a pick-up truck overturned in Madhya Pradesh.
A devastating road accident in Madhya Pradesh’s Dhar district claimed the lives of 12 people on Wednesday night, leaving 13 others critically injured, officials said.
The incident occurred around 8.30 pm near a petrol pump when a pickup truck carrying approximately 35 labourers suddenly lost control and overturned.
Eyewitnesses reported a scene of chaos and panic as the vehicle, which was reportedly overloaded beyond capacity, flipped multiple times. Among the deceased are several children, adding a heart-wrenching dimension to the tragedy.
Residents and police immediately rushed to the site to initiate rescue operations, pulling trapped victims from the wreckage and transporting them to the district hospital.
Medical officials at the district hospital have confirmed that 13 individuals remain in serious condition, with some currently battling life-threatening injuries. While authorities are investigating the exact cause of the crash, preliminary reports suggest the driver lost control of the vehicle due to excessive weight and speed.
The labourers were reportedly travelling together when the vehicle met with the accident on the dark stretch of the highway.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has extended condolences to the families of those killed in the accident and announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh.
The case came to light after an Ahmedabad businessman noticed he had stopped receiving OTPs from his bank for two days. He approached the police after noticing something was amiss.
Investigators said they were surprised by the sophistication of the method used in the fraud.
The Ahmedabad Police Cyber Crime Branch on Wednesday arrested four men who allegedly used artificial intelligence, including Google’s Gemini AI tool, to create deepfake videos of a businessman and bypass Aadhaar biometric verification to carry out a fraudulent loan transaction without triggering OTP alerts.
The case came to light after a city-based businessman, who is engaged in import-export work, noticed he had stopped receiving OTPs from his bank for two days and approached the police suspecting something was wrong.
During the investigation, the police found that the mobile number linked to his Aadhaar had been changed without OTP verification and that his biometric data had been tampered with.
The investigators also found that a bank account was also opened in his name and a loan of Rs 25,000 was taken from it. Police also discovered that the gang also accessed businessman’s DigiLocker account in a bid to retrieve stored documents.
According to the officials, the gang used Google’s Gemini AI tool to generate deepfake videos of the victim, which were then used to bypass Aadhaar biometric authentication and change his registered mobile number, redirecting all OTPs to a number controlled by the accused.
Using the businessman’s Aadhaar number and other personal data, the gang attempted to open accounts across three banks through e-KYC. They succeeded with Jio Payments Bank, through which they took a Rs 25,000 loan.
One of the arrested men worked at a Common Service Centre and allegedly misused his access to Aadhaar systems and official kits to execute the mobile number change.
Investigators said they were surprised by the sophistication of the method used in the fraud.
The four arrested have been identified as Kanubhai Parmar, Ashish Vanand, Mohammad Kaif Patel and Deep Gupta.
The incident comes days after Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman chaired a high-level meeting with top bank officials to discuss how rapidly advancing artificial intelligence tools could pose a risk to the country’s banking system.
Rahul Gandhi slammed the Centre’s mega project in Great Nicobar Island, calling it a direct assault on fragile ecosystems and indigenous communities. He argued that the scale of environmental damage and displacement risks far outweighs any projected strategic or economic gains.
Rahul Gandhi calls the Great Nicobar Project a scam
Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Wednesday targeted New Delhi’s most ambitious Rs 81,000 crore strategic infrastructure project in Great Nicobar, calling it “one of the biggest scams and gravest crimes against this country’s natural and tribal heritage in our lifetime.”
The Congress leader, currently visiting the island, said the Centre’s ambitious project there is nothing more than “destruction dressed in development’s language.”
Rahul took to X and said, “The government calls what it is doing here a ‘project.’ What I have seen is not a project. It is millions of trees marked for the axe. It is 160 square kilometres of rainforest condemned to die. It is communities that have been ignored while their homes have been snatched away.”
During a visit to the forests of Great Nicobar Island, Rahul Gandhi said the trees there are “older than memory.”
He added that forests nurtured over generations and the “beautiful” people living on the island “are being robbed of what is rightfully theirs.”
“The government calls what it is doing here a ‘project.’ What I have seen is not a project. It is millions of trees marked for the axe. It is 160 square kilometres of rainforest condemned to die. It is communities that have been ignored while their homes have been snatched away,” he added.
At the heart of the controversy is the clearance granted by the National Green Tribunal to the mega infrastructure project, which the Congress had earlier described as “half-baked” and “ill-conceived.”
The plan to build a transshipment and logistics hub at the southernmost tip of the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago has previously drawn criticism from Sonia Gandhi, who urged the Centre to reconsider, citing the region’s rich biodiversity and indigenous communities.
Tamannaah Bhatia, Huma Qureshi, and other stars turned heads at The Devil Wears Prada 2 screening. Here’s a look at who were the best-dressed.
Tamannaah Bhatia and Huma Qureshi attend the screening of The Devil Wears Prada 2.
Bollywood stars attended the special screening of The Devil Wears Prada 2 in Mumbai last night. For the occasion, celebrities stepped onto the red carpet in chic outfits. The guest list included stars like Tamannaah Bhatia, Dia Mirza, Pratibha Ranta, Aaman Devgan, Orry, Karishma Tanna, and Huma Qureshi, among others. Here’s a look at who the best-dressed celebrities were and what they wore:
Tamannaah Bhatia
Tamannaah Bhatia made heads turn at the screening of The Devil Wears Prada 2 in a sculpted corset blouse and a leather skirt, both from David Koma. The top features an exaggerated boat neckline, cape sleeves, a fitted corset silhouette hugging her torso, and a cropped hem. She completed the outfit with a crocodile-effect black leather skirt with a midi hem, a front slit, and a boxy silhouette.
Tamannaah completed the styling with black thigh-high boots from Balenciaga and jewels from her own jewellery label, including cocktail rings and statement earrings. With a sleek updo, she added a fierce touch to her OOTD. Meanwhile, for the glam, she went with a winged eyeliner, mascara-coated lashes, muted brown eye shadow, a light touch of rouge on the cheeks, natural pink lip shade, and feathered brows.
Huma Qureshi
Huma Qureshi went on theme, matching her dress with the red heel on The Devil Wears Prada 2 poster for the movie screening. She picked a bright red silk column dress from Solace London. The maxi ensemble features a strapless neckline, a figure-hugging silhouette, and a red silk wrap draped on the arms. She accessorised the look with a red box clutch, diamond earrings, and embellished red heels.
For her tresses, she chose to leave them loose in a side parting and styled them with soft, blowout waves. As for the glam, she chose glittering pink eye shadow, bold red lip shade, mascara-coated lashes, feathered brows, and a sleek winged eyeliner.
Other areas of the national capital region including Noida and Ghaziabad also witnessed rain, thunderstorm on Wednesday morning.
Weather took a sharp turn in Delhi NCR on Wednesday morning. (File/Hindustan Times)
Delhi woke up to strong winds, rain, and thunderstorm on early Wednesday morning as the weather took a sharp turn compared to last few days to bring some respite from rising temperatures.
Other areas of the national capital region, including Noida and Ghaziabad also witnessed a similar weather on Wednesday morning.
The India Meteorological Department has issued a yellow alert warning for Delhi, which is valid till around 8.30 am. Gurgaon and Faridabad are also under a yellow alert, while the weather department has issued an orange alert warning for Noida and Ghaziabad.
Other districts in west Uttar Pradesh including Bulandshahr, Meerut, Hapur, and in Haryana such as Jhajjhar, Rewari, Rohtak, Mahendragarh and others were also under orange alert on Wednesday morning.
This turn in weather in and around Delhi comes day after the national capital recorded a maximum temperature of 39.2 degrees Celsius and minimum temperature of 28.4 degrees Celsius on Tuesday, April 28.
#WATCH | Delhi: Weather turns pleasant in Delhi after days of scorching heat, with strong winds and light showers this morning. pic.twitter.com/HEiCopokYT
The weather department’s bulletin issued on Tuesday said that the maximum temperature in Delhi on Wednesday will settle between 37-39 degrees Celsius and minimum temperature will hover around 26-28 degrees Celsius.
It also said that Delhi on Wednesday may witness spells of light rain accompanied with thunderstorm, lightning, and strong surface winds with speed of around 30-40 kmph during afternoon and evening.
Similar weather may sustain on Thursday as well, as the weather department has predicted cloudy sky, light rain, and thunderstorm in Delhi NCR for one more day, before the weather turns back to normal later in the week.
Weather forecast for rest of India
The IMD predicted that heavy to very heavy rainfall is very likely at isolated places over Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, and Sikkim.
It also said that some areas of West Bengal may also witness heavy rainfall on Wednesday as the state votes for the second phase of assembly polls across 142 seats.
Centre tells Supreme Court of multi agency crackdown on digital arrest scams, 9400 WhatsApp accounts blocked, new safety tools, SIM and bank checks.
News18
The Union government has informed the Supreme Court that a wide ranging crackdown involving multiple agencies is underway to deal with rising cases of digital arrest scams across the country. The action also includes the removal of 9,400 WhatsApp accounts linked to such frauds since January.
The update was placed before the court through a detailed status report filed by the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C) under the Ministry of Home Affairs. The report follows earlier directions issued by the Supreme Court on February 9, which had taken suo motu notice of online fraud cases, including digital arrests.
A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant had earlier asked key institutions, including the Reserve Bank of India, the Department of Telecommunications and other stakeholders, to work together on a framework to provide compensation in such cases.
WhatsApp Steps Up Crackdown On Scam Networks
According to the report, WhatsApp carried out a special investigation starting in January 2026 after concerns were raised by I4C, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and the Department of Telecommunications. The platform used a structured approach to track and remove scam networks operating in India. As a result, 9,400 accounts were blocked.
The report said WhatsApp is also introducing stronger safety tools. These include systems to detect and remove accounts that use police or government logos in profile images. It is also planning alerts for users when they receive calls from newly created accounts, which are often linked to scams. Another step under consideration is hiding profile photos of unknown callers to reduce misuse of identity.
Faster Action On Fraudulent SIM Cards
Telecom authorities and service providers have also agreed on faster action against fraudulent SIM cards. The goal is to block suspicious SIMs within two to three hours of detection.
The Central Bureau of Investigation has set a threshold of Rs 10 crore loss for taking up such cases. It has already re-registered three major investigations, including large fraud cases in Gujarat and Delhi, where one victim lost Rs 22.92 crore.
The report also mentioned a proposal for a Biometric Identity Verification System to track SIM issuance in real time. The Department of Telecommunications has been asked to implement it by December 2026.
A contract sanitation worker at the Taj Mahal was dismissed after filming a reel from a restricted minaret and posting it on Instagram. The ASI said the worker accessed the area without permission. Following the breach, authorities imposed stricter rules, including a ban on mobile phones and photography in sensitive zones of the monument.
Taj Mahal Inside Reel Goes Viral! Contract Worker Sacked For Filming Video In Restricted Minaret Area, ASI Tightens Security Norms |
A contract sanitation worker at the iconic Taj Mahal was dismissed after filming a reel video from one of its restricted minarets, triggering swift action from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). The incident has prompted authorities to impose stricter rules, including a ban on carrying mobile phones in sensitive areas of the monument.
Viral Video Shows Aerial View From Minaret
The incident came to light after a video was posted on Instagram by an account named “its_vishal_bhai.” The clip showcased a striking 360-degree aerial view from the top of a minaret. Since all four minarets of the Taj Mahal are strictly off-limits to visitors, the video immediately raised serious concerns among officials.
A preliminary inquiry by ASI revealed that the footage had been recorded by a contract cleaning staff member working at the site. According to officials, the employee accessed the restricted area without authorisation and filmed the video ‘out of excitement.’ Senior Conservation Assistant Kalander Bind stated that the video was recorded approximately five to six days before it surfaced online, as reported by UP18news.
Taking serious note of the breach, ASI acted immediately to have the video removed from social media platforms and terminated the services of the employee with immediate effect. Officials stressed that such actions compromise both the security and the dignity of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
A $15 billion Google AI data centre project was launched near Visakhapatnam, with Adani Group and Airtel as key partners. Jeet Adani and Rakesh Bharti Mittal said the project will boost infrastructure, energy, and connectivity, positioning the city as a digital gateway and major hub in India’s fast-growing AI ecosystem.
Adani Group Director Jeet Adani |
Adani Group Director Jeet Adani and Bharti Enterprises Vice Chairman Rakesh Bharti Mittal on Tuesday underlined the importance of infrastructure, energy, and connectivity in shaping India’s AI ecosystem, asserting that Visakhapatnam is set to emerge as a major digital gateway.
Speaking after the foundation-laying ceremony of the USD 15 billion Google AI data centre near Visakhapatnam, Jeet Adani said the Adani Group and Airtel are also playing a key role in its construction.
He added that the global AI race is being defined not only by software but also by the ability to build large-scale infrastructure, noting that India stands at a crucial juncture.
“There are moments that define the course of history, and today marks one such moment in Visakhapatnam as it steps forward to anchor India’s AI-driven digital future,” said Jeet Adani.
The project, being developed in partnership with AdaniConneX and Nxtra by Airtel, aims to establish a gigawatt-scale AI ecosystem aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat (developed India).
He noted that India currently has about 1.3 gigawatts (GW) of data centre capacity and said nearly 1 GW is being envisaged in a single location in Visakhapatnam, reflecting the scale of the transformation.
Jeet Adani highlighted that energy remains central to the AI ecosystem, stating that the cost of intelligence is directly linked to the cost of power and that affordable energy will drive widespread adoption.
He pointed out that the development of undersea cable infrastructure in the port city would position it as a new digital gateway, reducing latency and enabling faster AI workloads.
Meanwhile, Mittal said that the Andhra Pradesh government led by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has consistently demonstrated policy clarity and execution capability.
He said Visakhapatnam, historically a maritime gateway, will now evolve into a gateway for the intelligence age, supported by strong fibre networks and digital infrastructure.
“The opportunity for this region is immense, and Visakhapatnam will serve as the gateway for Digital India and intelligence-driven infrastructure,” Mittal said.
He highlighted that Nxtra by Airtel currently operates over 120 data centres across India and said the upcoming project would be sustainable and powered by renewable energy.
Mittal added that the initiative would include a state-of-the-art cable landing station and robust intra-city and inter-city fibre networks to enhance resilience and capacity.
Both corporate leaders emphasised that strong partnerships involving global technology firms and domestic infrastructure providers will play a key role in building India’s AI capabilities.
They noted that lower energy costs would reduce the cost of computing, training, and deployment of AI models, making the technology more accessible and scalable.
Highlighting Andhra Pradesh’s leadership, they said the state’s focus on speed, policy clarity, and execution is helping attract large-scale investments and positioning Visakhapatnam at the centre of India’s AI ambitions.
They expressed confidence that the project would drive innovation, expand access to technology, and create new economic opportunities across sectors.
The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has set up a dedicated control room in Kolkata to monitor the ground situation in real time.
In a first-of-its-kind initiative, Kolkata Police, along with central forces, have begun joint bike patrolling across the city ahead of the elections. (Image: News18)
Massive security deployment has been put in place ahead of the second phase of the Assembly elections in West Bengal. Around 2,500 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) have been deployed, along with more than 6,000 Quick Response Teams (QRTs) to ensure law and order.
In addition, the state police have deployed 26 senior officers on special duty across various districts. After a relatively less violent first phase, the Election Commission is focusing on ensuring a violence-free second phase. With 142 seats going to polls, all booths have been categorised as sensitive.
The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has set up a dedicated control room in Kolkata to monitor the ground situation in real time.
CRPF IG Shalabh Mathur, speaking to News18, said the forces are on high alert with extensive deployment across the state. “You can see the control room from here. We are prepared from every perspective,” he said.
He added that a robust system has been developed in coordination with the state police. Every polling booth is being manned by CAPF personnel, supported by over 6,000 QRTs. A wireless communication network and a dedicated social media monitoring team have also been put in place.
“We have ensured a strong deployment strategy for polling day. Districts have been divided into clusters, armoured vehicles are in position, and systems are in place to handle medical emergencies,” he said.
Appealing to voters, he said, “Do not be afraid. Please come out and vote. Every booth is secured by CAPF personnel.”
The CRPF West Bengal Sector, under the State Force Coordinator’s office, has also issued helpline numbers for the public:
Mobile: 8420272101, 8420272343
Landline: 033-23671117
Mathur said all inputs are being acted upon promptly. “We have learnt from the first phase and further strengthened our system. I assure you that CAPF personnel are present everywhere,” he added.
He also advised voters to use the helpline in case of intimidation. “We have a SAFE app through which ground-level personnel feed real-time data, enabling quick response during emergencies,” he said.
According to officials, more than 1,700 miscreants have already been arrested as part of preventive measures.
Separately, Lok Bhavan has introduced special arrangements for citizens. A 24×7 helpline will remain operational until 10 May 2026 to assist voters during the election period.
Citizens can report election-related complaints, security concerns, and other issues through the helpline. Authorities said complaints are being received from across the state and assured that all cases will be handled confidentially and resolved promptly.
Voters can directly reach out in case of any obstruction, intimidation, or difficulty in exercising their franchise. Lok Bhavan has also released multiple helpline numbers and email IDs for public access.
Bike Patrols To Counter ‘Bike Bahini’ Intimidation
In a first-of-its-kind initiative, Kolkata Police, along with central forces, have begun joint bike patrolling across the city ahead of the elections.
The move is aimed at countering intimidation tactics often carried out by political party workers operating in so-called “bike bahinis” in the run-up to polling. Traditionally, such groups use motorcycles to move quickly across areas and influence or intimidate voters.
This time, security forces are adopting a similar strategy by deploying coordinated bike patrols across Kolkata. Officials say the objective is to ensure rapid mobility, increased visibility, and to deter any attempts at voter intimidation.
According to police sources, this is the first time such large-scale, coordinated bike patrolling has been undertaken in the city as a preventive security measure.
Dola’s deportation is seen as a massive blow to the underworld’s narcotics trade, as the gangster was allegedly managing a significant portion of the D-Company’s drug operations from overseas.
Salim Dola deported to India
In a breakthrough for Indian law enforcement and intelligence agencies against the international drug syndicate, Salim Dola, a high-ranking member of the Dawood Ibrahim gang and a notorious drug kingpin, was deported to India on Tuesday (April 28). Dola was brought to the Delhi Airport via a special aircraft in the early hours of Tuesday morning following a successful coordinated operation between Indian intelligence and international agencies.
The development occurred a day after Dola was apprehended in Turkey’s Istanbul. His deportation is seen as a massive blow to the underworld’s narcotics trade, as the gangster was allegedly managing a significant portion of the D-Company’s drug operations from overseas. His alleged cartel was operating a drug and narcotics network to the tune of more than Rs 5,000 crore a year, with no estimates available about the transnational syndicate’s revenues.
“If Dola has been detained, then it’s great news, and a big blow to his trafficking network,” a senior officer from Mumbai police, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said right after the news of his arrest came to light.
Upon his arrival at the airport, he was immediately taken into custody for an intensive round of interrogation by senior intelligence officials.
Sources indicate that after the initial questioning by central agencies, Dola will be handed over to the Mumbai Police or the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) for further legal proceedings and investigation into his extensive network.
CRACKDOWN ON DOLA’S SON, AIDE
The deportation of Salim Dola follows a series of high-profile legal victories for Indian authorities, beginning with the successful extradition of his son, Taher Dola, from the United Arab Emirates in June 2025.
This momentum continued months later when Salim Mohammed Sohail Shaikh, a primary associate in Dola’s network, was deported from Dubai and subsequently arrested by the Mumbai Anti-Narcotics Cell. These operations highlighted a tightening net around an organisation that faces a litany of charges in India, ranging from large-scale drug manufacturing and international smuggling to various other criminal offenses.
From a sharp personal jibe to claims of a year-long conspiracy, AAP’s response to Raghav Chaddha’s exit has escalated tensions, bringing out detailed accusations and counter-claims over his political shift.
AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj led the attack, saying, “If you could get married today, that is because you were made a member of the party in Parliament”
The Aam Aadmi Party on Monday launched a sharp attack on former leader Raghav Chadha after he explained his decision to join the Bharatiya Janata Party, with senior leader Saurabh Bharadwaj accusing him of betraying the party and going personal in his criticism.
“If you could get married today, that is because the party made you a member of Parliament. Otherwise, no one would have asked you,” Bharadwaj said.
He added that Chadha had the right to leave the party but questioned his conduct. “You could have left the party, but you chose to conspire against it. No matter how angry you were, you should not have done this,” he said.
‘DON’T COMPARE POLITICS WITH JOBS’
Responding to Chadha’s analogy of switching parties like changing jobs, Bharadwaj said, “When we change jobs or work in a company, it has nothing to do with ideology. You join a party because of ideology and live in it.”
He added, “Even when people switch jobs, they don’t conspire against their parent company.”
Response to Raghav’s Video
Raghav Chaddha says his changing party is like someone switching a job from one company to another.
Though it’s not the same but even when people switch jobs, they don’t hatch conspiracy against their parent company
Bharadwaj alleged that Chadha had been working in tandem with the BJP for over a year.
“For more than a year, Raghav conspired with the BJP’s Central government to create a neutral image of a young politician who raises middle class issues,” he said.
He claimed that several issues raised by Chadha, including matters related to airport vendors, mobile recharge, paternity leave and gig workers such as those working with food delivery platforms, were part of a larger understanding.
“The Central government shared these issues so that if you raise them, your popularity would increase and you would get a neutral image,” he alleged.
‘REPEATED COMPLAINTS, STILL NO CONTRADICTION’
Bharadwaj said the Centre never contradicted Chadha’s interventions in Parliament.
“The Central government always had a chance to say that what Raghav is saying is already their work, but it was never contradicted. Why? Because there was a conspiracy,” he said.
CHADHA’S EARLIER STATEMENT
Yesterday, Chadha had addressed criticism over his decision, saying he had spent 15 years with AAP and was a founding member.
“I didn’t come into politics to make my career. I gave 15 years of my prime youth to this party with my blood, sweat, and a lot of hard work,” he said.
Explaining his move, he said he felt “the right man, but in the wrong party”.
“We did not leave out of fear but because of disappointment, disenchantment, and disgust,” he said.
Food poisoning is being suspected behind the suspicious deaths of the four family members within a span of 12 hours.
Post-mortem examinations have been conducted
On Saturday night, a 13-year-old Zainab had a biryani feast with her elder sister, parents, and other relatives. A little after midnight, watermelon was served as a dessert. Severe symptoms followed the next morning. Treatment started, but nothing worked. Four of them died one after one: a tragedy played out over the next 12 hours and left Mumbai in shock.
The four deaths were due to suspected food poisoning, said police.
A Biryani Feast
Abdullah Abdul Kadar, a 40-year-old local trader who ran a mobile accessories shop, his wife Nasreen, 35, and the children, Zainab, 13, and Ayesha, 16, had gathered for dinner with five other relatives around 10:30 pm on Saturday. Biryani was on the menu. After the feast, they returned to their home in Pydhonie.
There were no complaints regarding health till that time. Back home, the family had watermelon around 1 am. Around 5 am, they started feeling unwell. There was vomiting and loose motion. Initially, a local doctor attended them, but as their condition worsened, they were rushed to JJ Hospital.
Zainab, the younger daughter, died around 10:15 am. Her mother Nasreen, 35, and elder sister Aisha, 16, too failed to respond to the treatment and died. Her father, 40, died around 10:30 pm.
Dr Ziad Qureshi, who had initially examined the family, said they were in a very bad state and appeared exhausted. “They had severe vomiting and diarrhea. When I rushed them to the hospital, they informed me that they had eaten watermelon,” he said.
Suspicious Deaths
Officials said a case of accidental death has been registered, and post-mortem examinations have been conducted.
While food poisoning is being suspected behind the suspicious deaths of the four family members within a gap of 12 hours, the police have recorded a half-eaten piece of watermelon and sent it for laboratory testing. “Samples collected from the bodies during the post-mortem have been collected for further investigation,” said Pravin Munde, Deputy Commissioner of Police at Mumbai police.
A common link among many of them was Dhorimanna in Barmer, a region where several members either belonged or had family connections
In the past year alone, 33 MD drug factories have been busted in Rajasthan
It was called Operation Vishgrahan, or “sniffing out the poison.” A codename inspired by modern-day drugs that are often sniffed or inhaled as a method of consumption. It became the Rajasthan Police Anti-Narcotics Task Force’s most dramatic drug bust, one that involved an exchange of fire between police and smugglers, and led to the arrest of six hardened criminals in a network spanning several states.
But how did the police reach a remote village along the Jodhpur-Jaisalmer highway, in the fields of Balesar, only to uncover a full-fledged factory manufacturing MD drugs worth crores in an isolated location?
Police sources say the gang caught in Balesar were seasoned smugglers with prior criminal records. Hapu Ram, the kingpin, had been jailed twice between 2015 and 2018 in Jodhpur, and again in 2019 and 2024 in Udaipur. He had always been on the police radar.
“Once a criminal learns how to make money through crime, he is rarely satisfied with honest earnings. That is why drug traffickers with criminal backgrounds remain on our radar, even after they leave jail,” IG ANTF Vikas Kumar said.
According to Vikas Kumar, this is precisely why Hapu Ram was kept under continuous surveillance. The 28-year-old from Barmer began his criminal career trafficking doda chura, a variant of poppy straw, a by-product of opium harvesting. Initially part of a larger network, Hapu Ram eventually branched out after serving jail time. He built his own syndicate, handpicked his team, many of them former associates, and moved into a more lucrative and dangerous drug: MD.
The police first got a clue about his activities through a social media app the gang used to communicate. They began tailing him. After nearly six weeks of surveillance, they decided to launch Operation Vishgrahan. Commandos of the Anti-Narcotics Task Force left Jodhpur shortly after midnight on April 25.
At around 1 am, they reached Balesar. And then began the most challenging phase. The MD drug unit was located in a small field, nearly 1.5 km away from any human habitation. To avoid detection, the force literally crawled for three hours to reach the site.
The under-construction structure stood on slightly elevated ground, giving the smugglers a clear view of any approaching movement. After surrounding the factory, the police called out to the men inside to surrender.
But Hapu Ram, along with Arjun, who was in charge of security, had taken position on the roof. From there, they opened fire on the police. It was pitch dark. Meanwhile, four others on the ground attempted to flee. The police repeatedly warned the men on the roof, “Put your pistol down and come down slowly or you will be shot. If you surrender, you will have another chance at life.”
But Hapu Ram and Arjun refused to give in. What followed was an exchange of nearly 15 rounds of fire. In a desperate attempt to escape, both men jumped from the roof. Arjun was quickly overpowered, and his weapon, a replica foreign-made pistol with a high-capacity magazine, was seized.
Hapu Ram tried to flee under the cover of darkness, but was caught after injuring his leg during the jump. Both sustained injuries while attempting to escape. Inside the under-construction building, the police found large quantities of MD drugs in the process of being manufactured. A total of 176 kg was recovered and laid out to dry before being processed further for supply.
The estimated value: nearly Rs 90 crore, with each kilogram selling for around Rs 30 lakh.
The Anti-Narcotics Task Force had Hapu Ram and his associates under surveillance. However, the gang communicated only through encrypted social media apps, making it difficult to trace their exact location. So investigators shifted focus to the supply chain. A key component in the manufacture of MD drugs is ice.
The breakthrough came when police identified unusually large consignments of ice being delivered to a remote location in Balesar. That was the clue they needed. Once confirmed, the police moved in, launching the raid that led to the arrest of six smugglers caught red-handed, and the seizure of drugs in the middle of production.
Hapu Ram was the kingpin, the one who recruited the others. Naresh served as the chief chemist. Arjun, a local from Balesar, handled security and was the one who opened fire during the raid. The others, Shrawan and Budhram, assisted the chemist and managed deliveries. Narendra was in charge of production. He had previously served time in a Hyderabad jail and was an experienced member of the syndicate.
A common link among many of them was Dhorimanna in Barmer, a region where several members either belonged or had family connections. Interestingly, investigators found that all the accused used iPhones to evade surveillance. These devices allowed them to communicate via encrypted apps that are difficult to track through conventional mobile tower data.
The under-construction building located in an isolated agricultural field belonged to Jiya Ram, Arjun’s uncle. It had been leased to the syndicate for Rs 2.5 lakh, far above its actual value of around Rs 5,000.
Jiya Ram was not present during the raid and reportedly fled after hearing the gunfire. The Anti-Narcotics Task Force believes it has dismantled a crucial segment of the MD drug network in Rajasthan.
A new study has found that while 73% of undergraduate freshers expect salaries above Rs 5 lakh per annum, only 40% actually secure it.
Over 90% of students say they are willing to accept a lower CTC if it offers better learning and growth.
“I did everything right. Why doesn’t it add up? As someone who is overqualified and still underpaid, I feel this quiet mix of anger and helplessness that never really leaves…”
That’s how Anoushka Tyagi, a young job aspirant interning in Delhi, describes her present. 98% in Class 12. A reputed college under University of Delhi. First division. A carefully followed script of what “success” should look like.
Yet, her biggest worry today is not performance. It is dignity. “The way my degree, my effort… all shrink down to a salary that doesn’t match the life they imagined for me.”
Her fear is not personal. It is statistical.
A new study by hiring platform Unstop has found that while 73 per cent of undergraduate freshers expect salaries above Rs 5 lakh per annum (LPA), only 40 per cent actually secure it.
The gap between aspiration and outcome has rarely been this wide.
Expectation vs Reality (In Numbers)
The Unstop Talent Report 2026, based on inputs from 500+ HR leaders and 37,000+ students, shows this is not a hiring slowdown. In fact, 88 per cent of companies are in hiring mode and 90 per cent have maintained or increased hiring budgets. Yet placements tell a different story:
84% of UG students are still unplaced
85% of engineering students are unplaced
17% of UG students faced offer delays or rescinded offers
Only 14% freshers get salaries above Rs 9 LPA, though 60% expect it
The traditional degree premium is shrinking:
30% MBAs earn below Rs 10 LPA
39% engineers earn below Rs 7 LPA
This is not a cyclical dip. The report calls it a structural shift.
‘India Inc. Is Done Paying For Potential’
Ankit Aggarwal, Founder & CEO of Unstop, puts it bluntly: “The salary gap isn’t a market crash; it’s a structural correction. For too long, pedigree was a proxy for pay. India Inc. is done paying for ‘potential’. They are hiring for ‘Day One’ contribution.”
Recruiters, he says, no longer care about CGPA or college tags. They want proof of capability.
The report backs this: 64 per cent of HR leaders now define premium talent by AI/ML, Data, Cloud and Cybersecurity skills, not pedigree. In fact, 94 per cent of employers say they have moved beyond pure pedigree hiring.
Skills > Degree is no longer a slogan. It is a salary determinant.
‘AI Eroding Entry-Level Salaries’
Dr Poornima Gupta, PGDM Director (Organisational Behaviour) at Great Lakes Institute of Management, Gurgaon, points to a deeper disruption: “Technology, particularly AI, is eroding the bottom layer. Companies are experimenting if they can do away with that bracket, and automate entry-level tasks.”
This explains a paradox in the report:
80-86 per cent students are already using GenAI for job applications and interviews
But 55 per cent of UG and 46 per cent of engineering students have no formal AI training
Meanwhile, 57 per cent of companies use AI for screening and 55 per cent for AI-led interviews
Students are using AI to get jobs. Companies are using AI to filter them out. And in between, entry-level roles are getting compressed. “For youngsters, they will have to accept lower salaries. The number of high-paying jobs is limited, while the cost of education keeps rising,” Dr Gupta says.
Why this hurts UG students the most? The data shows the pain is sharpest at the undergraduate level:
84 per cent unplaced
Highest offer disruption (17 per cent)
Lowest campus access to recruiters
Highest sensitivity to pay opacity and rude interviewers
48 per cent say they may leave within one year of joining
UG students are also 2X more likely to prefer government jobs or consider studying further, simply because the private job market feels unpredictable.
This is where Anoushka’s words echo the report: “It feels like a gamble where the odds are quietly stacked against you.”
Students Are Pragmatic. The System Isn’t.
Interestingly, over 90 per cent of students say they are willing to accept a lower CTC if it offers better learning and growth. Their top motivator is learning, not pay. Their top quit reason later is no growth, not compensation.
But HR teams rank salary mismatch as their last concern, while students rank pay opacity as the #1 red flag. The mismatch is not in hiring. It is in expectations, communication, and design.
“Maybe the return on education will come from entrepreneurship” Dr Gupta offers a stark, but practical suggestion: “I recommend students become entrepreneurs after taking some experience. That’s where the return on money — on education — will come in.”
With layoffs, AI automation, and geopolitical uncertainty making companies conservative, she believes the traditional campus-to-corporate pipeline will remain volatile. The safer path, she suggests, may be to learn inside a system briefly, then build outside it.
‘Weight Of Disappointment’
“Sometimes I feel like I’m not just struggling to build a career, I’m also carrying the weight of their disappointment,” says Anoushka. Her story is no longer an exception. It is a pattern now visible in data.
Nikhar Arora, Founder & CEO of Mentoria, said, “Students as young as 15 start choosing their streams, start targeting and getting into colleges as early as age 17, and later, start taking loans, their first real loan, expected to be Rs 10-15 lakh, by age 19. The evidence that students gather first-hand salary data is accurate as of 2018. Majority Jobs, a top job aggregation and analytics platform, positions the starting salaries of IT services to be stagnant to this date, and places them no higher than Rs 3.3-4.5 lakh per annum.”
When Jitu approached the bank to withdraw the Rs 19,300 remaining balance in his sister’s account, the bank manager refused, saying either the account holder must be present or he must furnish legal heir documents.
Once Jitu reached the bank, the sight left the locals stunned.
A man in Odisha’s Keonjhar district walked three kilometres under the scorching sun, carrying his dead sister’s skeletal remains on his shoulder to a bank in an attempt to retrieve Rs 19,300 from her account.
The man, Jitu Munda, is from Keonjhar’s Dianali village. His sister, Kakra Munda, held an account at Odisha Gramin Bank, Mallipasi. Kakra died two months ago. Her husband and only child died earlier, leaving Jitu as her sole surviving relative.
When Jitu approached the bank to withdraw the Rs 19,300 remaining balance in his sister’s account, the bank manager refused, saying either the account holder must be present or he must furnish legal heir documents.
A tribal man with no education, Jitu had no death certificate or succession papers and returned helpless after not being able to understand the complex process.
On Monday, Jitu went to the village cremation ground. He dug out his sister’s remains, wrapped the skeleton in cloth, and walked 3 kms to the bank in blazing heat.
Once Jitu reached the bank, the sight left the locals stunned. While some wept, others fumed in anger. Villagers accused the bank of extreme insensitivity. “Is it this hard for a poor man to get his own money?” they asked.
India and New Zealand sign FTA to enhance trade, investment, and bilateral cooperation.
PM Modi said the FTA will open new avenues for growth and deepen synergy across sectors.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that the India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement, signed today in the national capital, marks a landmark moment in the India-New Zealand partnership and will benefit farmers, youth, women, MSMEs, artisans, startups, students and innovators.
PM Modi said that the FTA will add unprecedented momentum to India-New Zealand developmental partnership.
“Today marks a landmark moment in the India-New Zealand partnership! I am delighted that the India-New Zealand FTA signed today will add unprecedented momentum to our developmental partnership. It reflects the deep trust, shared values and ambition that bind our two nations,” PM Modi said in a post on X responding to a post by his New Zealand counterpart Christopher Luxon.
PM Modi said the FTA will open new avenues for growth and deepen synergy across sectors.
“This agreement will greatly benefit our farmers, youth, women, MSMEs, artisans, startups, students and innovators. It will open new avenues for growth, create opportunities and deepen our synergy across sectors. The investment commitment of $20 billion by New Zealand will further strengthen our cooperation in agriculture, manufacturing, innovation and technology, paving the way for a more prosperous and dynamic future for both countries,” the Prime Minister said.
In his post, the New Zealand Prime Minister said that the agreement matters not just because of what it does economically, but because of what it says strategically.
“Today, we mark a historic milestone in the relationship between India and New Zealand: the signing of our Free Trade Agreement. It was only 13 months ago that I travelled to India to meet with Prime Minister Modi and launch Free Trade Agreement negotiations. India is one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing economies, but our trade relationship has only begun to scratch the surface of its potential. Prime Minister Modi and I could see that an FTA would be a massive opportunity for both our two countries,” he said.
“Since my visit last March, Ministers Piyush Goyal and Todd McClay, and their officials, have worked tirelessly to negotiate a deal. The outcome of that hard work is a deal that delivers for India and for New Zealand. My congratulations to Minister Goyal, Minister McClay and all the negotiators who made this possible,” he added.
PM Luxon said that for New Zealand, the FTA opens the door to one of the world’s most dynamic markets and creates unprecedented opportunities to trade, invest, innovate and connect.
“This deal will help diversify New Zealand’s export markets, support the goal of doubling the value of our exports over 10 years, and put New Zealand exporters on a more level playing field with competitors already enjoying preferential access in India,” he said.
“For India, this deal means growth, innovation and new opportunities. It gives Indian exporters tariff-free access to the New Zealand market from day one, and it gives Indian consumers improved access to our high-quality exports. It creates new ways for India to partner with New Zealand on agricultural productivity and benefit from New Zealand’s world-leading agri-tech and food-production expertise. This agreement matters not just because of what it does economically, but because of what it says strategically,” he added.
PM Luxon said that the FTA is a clear commitment by both sides to stable, predictable, and rules-based trade at a time of global uncertainty.
“And the India-New Zealand story is about more than trade. New Zealand and India are building a relationship that is bigger, deeper and more exciting every year – across trade, investment, defence, sport, and innovation,” he said.
“New Zealand’s vibrant Indian diaspora is central to the strong relationship between our two countries. In Prime Minister Modi’s words, the diaspora is a ‘living bridge’ between New Zealand and India. The contribution of the Indian community to New Zealand is immense: in business, in science, in education, in health, in the arts, in sport, and in communities right across the country. While today is a big milestone, it is also just the beginning. We are excited about the next chapter in India-New Zealand relations,” he added.
Earlier, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal read a message from PM Modi during the FTA signing ceremony.
In his message, the Prime Minister said that the agreement marks a milestone in India’s journey towards deeper global engagement and shared prosperity.
He said the signing of the India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement reflects the strengthening bilateral economic partnership and a convergence of values, trust and shared ambition between two vibrant democracies.
He congratulated the people of the two countries, especially the youth, “who are the heartbeat of our economies”.
“Modern and balanced, this FTA synergizes the complementarities of our two economies through collaborations that drive collective growth. The FTA catalyzes new opportunities for our farmers, artisans, youth, entrepreneurs, women, and MSMEs unlocking pathways for global market access and enterprise across sectors from agriculture and manufacturing to technology, education and services,” he said.
PM Modi said the agreement reaffirms the commitment to deepen bilateral ties, grounded in democratic values and strong people-to-people connections.
“The agricultural productivity partnership and Centers of Excellence bring together New Zealand’s advanced agricultural expertise and India’s national priorities to drive transformational gains in productivity and infrastructure while delivering meaningful benefits to our farmers and rural economies. In the last decade or so, India has been working to become a significant part of the global supply chain in manufacturing,” he said.
“Our Make in India flagship initiative offers synergy to New Zealand’s investment commitment of US dollars 20 billion in India, and delivers a vibrant partnership that goes beyond trade. This will support the startup ecosystem, entrepreneurs, innovators, women-led enterprises, MSMEs, energising job creation and redefining innovation, driven growth,” he added.
The Prime Minister said India is a nation with one of the largest populations of youth and the skills, strengths and talents of the country’s youth are lauded worldwide.
“The FTA recognizes the importance of skills, talent and mobility in shaping future growth across sectors and in new and emerging technologies. It expands opportunities for talented, skilled professionals – our youth and students. As a pioneering collaboration, the FTA promotes the global relevance of traditional knowledge systems of both countries, including organics, Ayush and yoga, thereby bridging our traditions with future opportunities to expand the dimensions of our partnership,” he said.
“By aligning our strengths, we will advance supply chain resilience and build affordable, competitively priced goods and services, creating new engines of growth for both nations. Our collaboration will be a decisive and win-win alliance that benefits the citizens of both nations. Let us build the future together defined by a shared purpose and shared aspirations of our people,” he added.
Recognition of such mergers within legislature parties by the Speakers amounts to a fraud on the constitutional scheme of anti-defection.
AAP Rajya Sabha MP, Raghav Chadha along with Ashok Mittal and Sanjeev Pathak leave after meeting BJP president Nitin Nabin at BJP headquarters in New Delhi, on Friday (HT Photo/Sanchit Khanna)
On Friday, seven Rajya Sabha MPs from the Aam Aadmi Party joined the Bharatiya Janata Party and termed their move a “merger” within Para 4 of the Tenth Schedule of Constitution which prohibits such defections. This purported merger of two-thirds of the MPs, in the absence of a merger between the original political parties, raises a significant constitutional issue of subversion of the anti-defection laws . It is yet another instance in a long line of contested mergers within legislature parties, including the so called “mergers” of Telugu Desam Party MLAs with the Telangana Rashtra Samithi in Andhra Pradesh (2016), TDP Rajya Sabha MPs with BJP (2019), Bahujan Samaj Party MLAs with the Congress in Rajasthan (2019), Congress MLAs with the TRS in Andhra Pradesh (2019) and Congress MLAs with the BJP in Goa (2022).
The 10th schedule frowns on elected representatives changing party allegiance and crossing the floor after being elected on the mandate of a particular political party, because this amounts to a betrayal of voter trust, and undermines the democratic process, thereby endangering the foundations of representative democracy.
But when two-thirds or more elected representatives of a party join another political party, can they claim protection from the anti-defection law by citing a merger of the Legislature Party?
This will need to be examined within the legal framework of two laws, which together constitute a composite scheme governing political parties and Legislature Party (elected representatives of a political party in the House). The conduct of legislators (member of Legislature Party) vis-à-vis their political party is primarily regulated by the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution, which provides for disqualification for unprincipled and unethical political defections, whereas the constitution, recognition and electoral activities of such political parties are governed by the Symbols Order, 1968.
At its inception, the Tenth Schedule contained two exceptions to disqualification, viz., split and merger. Since the deletion of the defence of split in 2004, merger remains the sole exception to disqualification. It provides that merger of original political party with another political party will be deemed to have taken place, if and only if not less than two-thirds of the members of the legislature party concerned have agreed to such merger. Properly construed, this provision indicates that a valid merger is premised on the merger of the original political party itself; the concurrence of not less than two-thirds of the members of the legislature party simply being a constitutional requirement to validate the underlying party merger of the original political party within the House.
In the absence of such a merger of the original political party, the claim of a merger within the legislature party cannot, by itself, attract the constitutional protection from disqualification. The Supreme Court in Subhash Desai (2023) also held that a clear demarcation is made between political party and Legislature Party for the purpose of a merger under Para 4 of the Tenth Schedule, and the two cannot be conflated.
However, in an earlier judgment of Girish Chodankar (2022), the Bombay High Court, without taking note of the constitutional and statutory scheme governing mergers, held that in view of the deeming fiction provided for under Para 4(2), the merger of the original political party is not a sine qua non for invoking the exception . This judgment, while considering Para 4 of the Tenth Schedule in isolation, failed to take note of the provisions of the Symbols Order, especially Para 16 thereof, which deals with merger (amalgamation/joining together) of political parties. Significantly, the Symbols Order does not conceptualize merger of legislature party, the consequence being that questions of recognition, merger, identity etc. of parties can only be determined at the level of the political party, of which legislature wing is only one part. Para 16 of Symbols Order has been interpreted by the Supreme Court in a catena of judgments, such as in Samyukta Socialist Party (1967) and All Party Hill Leaders’ Conference (1977), which hold that the merger of a political party can be validated only if a majority of the members of the political party (and not only the members elected to the legislature) accept this merger. The Court has also held that the consequence of merger is that the political party or the political parties, as the case may be, cease to exist.
If the interpretation of Bombay HC is accepted, it would mean that while a group of legislators is treated as having merged into another political party, the original political party continues to function outside the House as a separate entity. Thus, though the seven AAP MPs have “merged” with the BJP, the original political party continues to operate outside the House. Such interpretation is contrary to the letter and spirit of Para 4 of the Tenth Schedule, completely opposed to Symbols Order and decisions of Supreme Court and, in effect, is prompting wholesale defection, which was the mischief sought to be curbed by the deletion of the defence of split from the Tenth Schedule.
Recognition of such mergers within legislature parties by the Speakers amounts to a fraud on the constitutional scheme of anti-defection. What are, in substance, splits within the legislature party, are being portrayed as mergers so as to project them as constitutionally valid acts. A genuine merger must be initiated at political party level and must result in the obliteration of the original political party; however, actions such as the present one create an anomalous situation where the original political party continues to exist outside the House.
Sipri data shows that India’s neighbours such as China, the world’s second-largest military spender, increased its spending by 7.4% to $336 billion
The latest report comes at a time when India’s arms imports have recorded a decrease.
India was the fifth-biggest military spender in the world in 2025—after the United States, China, Russia and Germany—accounting for 3.2% of the global military expenditure last year, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (Sipri) said in a report published on Monday.
India’s military spending stood at $92.1 billion last year, an 8.9% increase over the previous year, according to the report. When India launched Operation Sindoor against Pakistan last year, the armed forces made a raft of emergency procurements to stay battle-ready.
Sipri data shows India’s neighbours also increased their military spending: China, the world’s second-largest military spender, increased its spending by 7.4% to $336 billion; Pakistan’s military spending increased by 11% to $11.9 billion and it was the 31st-biggest spender among the 40 countries listed.
The top three military spenders—the USA, China and Russia—spent a combined $1,480 billion, or 51% of the global total, the report said, adding that global military expenditure increased to $2,887 billion in 2025. “The main contributor to the global increase in military spending in 2025 was a 14% rise in Europe to $864 billion. Spending by Russia and Ukraine continued to grow in the fourth year of the war in Ukraine, while ongoing rearmament efforts by European NATO members led to the sharpest annual growth in spending in Central and Western Europe since the end of the Cold War,” the report said.
The latest report comes at a time when India’s arms imports have recorded a decrease.
India’s arms imports fell 4% between 2016-20 and 2021-25, but the country remains the world’s second largest importer of military hardware, accounting for 8.2% of global weapon imports, said a Sipri report published in March.
India’s arms imports are driven by its tensions with China and Pakistan, said the report on “Trends in International Arms Transfers.”
Over the past decade, India has shifted its arms relations away from Russia towards Western suppliers, especially France, Israel and the United States, said the March report, which compared data over two five-year periods. “The largest share of Indian arms imports during 2021-25 came from Russia, at 40%—a significantly smaller share than in 2016-20 (51%) and almost half of that in 2011-15 (70%). India is increasingly turning to Western suppliers.”
The move came following a directive by the Union Home Ministry in this regard
The National Investigation Agency logo. Credit: PTI File Photo
The National Investigation Agency(NIA) on Sunday registered a case to probe recovery of 79 crude bombs in poll-bound West Bengal, officials said.
The move came following a directive by the Union Home Ministry in this regard, they said.
In pursuance to the home ministry’s order, the anti-terror agency on Sunday registered a case, which was originally filed at Uttar Kashi police station, Bhangar division, Kolkata on Saturday, and took up the investigation, an NIA spokesperson said in a late night statement.
“The case pertains to recovery of 79 crude bombs and other incriminating materials by Kolkata police, which were being stored at a spot, thereby endangering human life and property,” the spokesperson said.
Earlier in the day, the Election Commission had directed the West Bengal Police to launch a special drive to arrest those involved in illegal manufacturing of crude bombs in the poll-bound state, an official said.
It asserted that all cases related to the making of any such explosive would be probed by the National Investigation Agency, the official said.
The directive came after the police recovered a large number of crude bombs from the house of a person, allegedly a TMC worker, at Bhangar in South 24 Parganas district, days ahead of the second and final phase of the assembly polls in the state.
The explosives were recovered during a search at the residence of Rafikul Islam following specific inputs, the official said.
Rahul Gandhi told Delhi University students that the women’s reservation bill is really about delimitation. He said Gen Z women will lead India’s future and accused the government of delaying real empowerment.
Rahul Gandhi
A fresh political flashpoint has emerged over the women’s reservation bill, with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi saying the “magician has run out of tricks” and warning that young India can now “see right through him”.
The Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha made the remarks during an interaction with students from Delhi University, where he mixed sharp criticism of the Narendra Modi-led government with a broader pitch for women’s empowerment.
“Two things are clear: 1. The magician has run out of tricks. Young India can see right through him. 2. Gen Z is our future — and Gen Z women will lead the way. It is our duty to open every door for them,” Gandhi said in a post on X after the interaction.
He added, “The future of our country is in safe hands.”
WOMEN’S BILL AND DELIMITATION CONCERNS
Gandhi revisited his criticism of the women’s reservation bill, arguing that it was less about empowerment and more about altering political equations through delimitation.
“They suddenly brought this bill and we wanted them to give one-third of the 543 existing seats to women, but they did not do that. Actually, this is not the women’s bill. It is very simple, it is delimitation,” he said.
He cautioned that any change in seat distribution without careful consideration could trigger regional tensions.
“What they want to do is reduce the number of seats in southern states and increase them in the northern Indian states if you change the number of seats in India without very carefully taking into account the consequences, you will risk war between the South and the North,” Gandhi said.
He also said that although the bill was passed in 2023 with opposition support, the government indicated it may not be implemented for 10 years.
FOCUS ON GEN Z AND WOMEN LEADERSHIP
During the discussion, Gandhi stressed that young women will play a defining role in shaping India’s future.
“For me, both males and females should have equal space. And I actually believe from experience that the effectiveness and strength of women is better than that of males. They are more effective,” he said.
“I feel that the more you empower in India, the better it is. I am more biased towards empowering women than I am towards men.”
He said political participation, corporate representation and institutional presence of women must be expanded, even if it requires “forcibly putting women inside all these structures”.
PRAISE FOR WOMEN LEADERS
Gandhi also spoke about women leaders across parties, acknowledging their political impact.
“I am an opponent of hers, but I think Mayawati ji played a very important role in UP politics she fundamentally changed the politics of Uttar Pradesh for many years,” he said.
On former Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalitha, he added, “I think Jayalalitha ji was a phenomenal leader.”
ATTACK ON RSS
The Congress leader also criticised the RSS during the interaction, drawing parallels with colonial-era structures.
“The RSS was actually the bureaucracy of the Maharaja. The RSS was the bureaucracy of the British Colonialism always had partners, and the partners were the Maharajahs and the bureaucracy,” he said.
The AAP has urged the Rajya Sabha Chairman to terminate the memberships of the seven MPs, claiming that they were elected to the Upper House on AAP tickets but later decided to leave the party and join the BJP.
On Friday, the AAP suffered a jolt when seven of its Rajya Sabha MPs quit and merged with the BJP.
Aam Aadmi Party MP Sanjay Singh said on Sunday that he has submitted a petition to Rajya Sabha Chairman CP Radhakrishnan seeking the disqualification of seven party MPs in the Upper House, who recently quit the AAP and announced their merger with the BJP.
Addressing a press conference, the AAP Rajya Sabha member also said the party would pursue legal action in the matter if needed, alleging that the move by the seven MPs violated the anti-defection law.
The AAP has urged the Rajya Sabha Chairman to terminate the memberships of the seven MPs, claiming that they were elected to the Upper House on AAP tickets but later decided to leave the party and join the BJP.
On Friday, the AAP suffered a jolt when seven of its Rajya Sabha MPs – Raghav Chadha, Ashok Mittal, Sandeep Pathak, Harbhajan Singh, Rajendra Gupta, Vikram Sahni and Swati Maliwal – quit and merged with the BJP, alleging that the Arvind Kejriwal-led party had strayed from its principles, values and core morals.
“According to the Constitution, two-thirds of the total MPs of a party can merge with another party,” Chadha said, pointing to the fact that AAP had a total of 10 MPs in the Rajya Sabha.
At the presser, Singh claimed that many Supreme Court judgments, including in cases related to Uttarakhand and Arunachal Pradesh, had clarified how such defections could lead to disqualification.
He also referred to the 10th Schedule of the Constitution, saying that “it clearly does not permit such political defections”.
“While delays in such cases could lead to disappointment, the AAP would pursue the matter in court if required. These members were elected by the party but later chose to leave and join another outfit. This is a betrayal of the people of Punjab and also of the Constitution of India,” Singh said.
Incidentally, six of the seven MPs who quit the party were Rajya Sabha MPs from Punjab.
Rejecting speculation that some AAP MLAs in Punjab were in touch with the BJP, Singh termed such reports “false propaganda” being spread by the BJP and the “defected” MPs.
Singh also claimed that there was public anger and protests in Punjab against the MPs who quit the AAP for “betraying” the party and the state.
Responding to allegations on the ‘Sheesh Mahal’ controversy, Singh claimed that the images circulated by Delhi minister Parvesh Sahib Singh were fake, which had already been “exposed”.
The BJP on Saturday cornered AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal over a new bungalow allotted to him at Lodhi Estate here, dubbing it as ‘Sheesh Mahal 2’ and alleging expenditure of private money to build amenities in it.
A tribute to Raghu Rai’s meditative approach to photography, tracing his India Today years and how presence, instinct, and a keen eye turned ordinary moments into enduring images, as recalled by a colleague who worked closely with him.
Renowned photojournalist Raghu Rai (1942–2026) died at 83 on Sunday. He was admitted to a private hospital. His son, photographer Nitin Rai, said he was battling cancer and age-related complications.
Raghu Rai once said he could never meditate without a camera. He had tried, but failed several times.
It was only behind the lens that he found a meditative state — where he became an ordinary man guided by intuition.
His pictures — simple, yet brilliant and telling.
An extension of his persona, a photograph for him was like a “darshan.”
It was about seeing in totality — not just capturing the physical, but also emotion, feeling, and, most importantly, the energy of the moment, as he said in an interview with Doordarshan.
His pictures, over a six-decade-long career, remained just that — ordinary, yet magical. He kept clicking until the last few weeks before he breathed his last on April 26.
For him, the magic came from being present. Clicking a picture was like a pilgrimage — a battle with his own ego.
To move beyond familiar compositions and create something truly deserving of the moment. Situations evolve, he said. So should frames.
PRESENCE OVER TECHNIQUE
For Raghu Rai, photography and spirituality went hand in hand. It went beyond seeing, into the metaphysical — the beating heart, the emotion, the energy.
Those who worked closely with him recall his ability to immerse himself completely in the moment.
“The first thing that caught my eye was Raghu’s intensity and tremendous focus — when he looked at you, he was always there,” said India Today Group Editorial Director Raj Chengappa, recalling the 1980s. “He wasn’t distracted, regardless of hierarchy or who you were.”
Raj and Raghu began their journey at India Today back in 1981. For Raj, then a budding correspondent, what stood out was Raghu’s immense awareness — his “eye for detail, childlike curiosity, and ability to capture moments others would miss.”
By then, Raghu Rai was already acclaimed. His images had captured the 1970s — Indira Gandhi’s raw public moments, and the wider zeitgeist.
He documented hunger and loss with a deep human gaze — the hollow, sunken eyes of the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, carrying stories words could not.
These works earned him the Padma Shri in 1972, making him the first photojournalist to receive the honour — marking a moment when photojournalism found formal recognition as a civilian contribution to nation-building.
Recalling those years, Raj said Raghu seemed untouched by his own greatness — never weighed down by what he had already achieved.
FINDING THE FRAME
Their first assignment together was the 1981 Meenakshipuram mass conversion — nearly 300 Dalit families embracing Islam in search of dignity, decades after Independence.
It was here, Raj said, that he saw Raghu’s gift — to read the ordinary in an extraordinary way.
Driving through the village, Raj recalled that Raghu suddenly asked the car to stop. “To me, it looked ordinary,” he said. But Raghu had spotted something — a fleeting image of a woman at her doorway as clerics left.
That moment became a photograph — and an idea.
It captured Nagore Meer, formerly Nagu, kneeling in namaz, his child beside him, under the shadow of a Hindu deity.
As their India Today piece, Islam’s New Children (July 1981), recorded, Nagu spoke of exclusion in his old faith, and of dignity and equality in his newfound one.
The photograph spoke beyond words. In black and white, it held quiet tension — a man and child in prayer, a woman watching from a dilapidated doorway. A rebirth, frozen in a frame.
Raghu had seen it in an instant.
THE CRAFT OF INSTINCT
It was this ability, Raj noted, to merge news with artistic brilliance that set Raghu apart.
Raghu described it as connecting to the “current” of a situation — being fully present, physically and spiritually — so that “whatever you project has magic.”
It was his way of capturing fleeting life — to shed learnt patterns, detach from the self, and immerse fully in the present, achieving speed, precision, and depth at once.
AN ACCIDENTAL BEGINNING
Raghu Rai’s journey began in the 1960s by what he called sheer accident.
“Accidents happen and this was one that gave me direction,” he told Doordarshan.
Visiting his brother, photographer S Paul, he picked up a camera out of boredom and photographed a donkey staring into the lens.
Paul sent it to The Times, London. It was published as a half-page feature.
There was no looking back.
BEYOND THE LENS
For Raghu, technique was important, but secondary. Connection came first — once achieved, imperfections no longer mattered.
Photography became a way to engage with life’s enduring questions — who we are, where we are going.
He explored streets and unseen worlds, capturing life with clarity and nakedness.
That philosophy shaped some of his defining images: a father burying his child after the 1984 Bhopal Gas Tragedy; Indira Gandhi amid a sea of men, in a frame often described as “the only man in the Cabinet.”
Harbhajan, who is one of the seven lawmakers who switched to the BJP from AAP alongside Raghav Chadha, will now receive central security in both Delhi and Punjab.
Rajya Sabha MP Harbhajan Singh quit AAP earlier this week, alongside 6 other parliamentarians, to join the BJP. (PTI photo)
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has provided Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) security to Rajya Sabha MP Harbhajan Singh, sources said on Sunday, a day after Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) workers protested outside the cricketer-turned-politician’s residence in Punjab’s Jalandhar over his recent entry into the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The former cricketer, who is one of the six lawmakers who switched to the BJP from AAP alongside Raghav Chadha, will now be protected by CRPF commandos in Delhi and Punjab, sources told India Today.
The news of the central security detail for Harbhajan being approved surfaced shortly after it was claimed in a news report that the Punjab Police had withdrawn his security cover.
The police security cover for the parliamentarian, comprising 9–10 officers, was withdrawn on Saturday, news agency PTI reported, citing sources. Meanwhile, security personnel of the CRPF were seen deployed outside his residence in Jalandhar on Sunday.
During the protests on Saturday by AAP workers, the word “gaddar” (traitor) was spray-painted on the boundary wall of Harbhajan’s house. Similar demonstrations were also held outside the residences of Ashok Mittal and Rajinder Gupta, two other Rajya Sabha members who left AAP and joined the BJP, in Punjab.
The protests came a day after Raghav Chadha announced his exit from AAP and said he would join the BJP along with six other parliamentarians of the party – Sandeep Pathak, Ashok Mittal, Harbhajan Singh, Rajinder Gupta, Swati Maliwal and Vikramjit Sahney.
In the immediate wake of the exodus, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann labelled the seven leaders “gaddars.”
According to the cyber cell of the Pimpri-Chinchwad Police, the case is based on a complaint filed by a Pune-based advocate on April 22, alleging that multiple objectionable posts were shared from social media accounts linked to Balgude between April 3 and April 20.
Representational image.
The cyber cell of the Pimpri-Chinchwad Police has arrested a 40-year-old man from Baramati for allegedly circulating a morphed image of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and sharing content supportive of Naxal elements on social media.
The accused, Mahadev Vilas Balgude, is reportedly associated with the social media wing of the Sharad Pawar-led faction of the Nationalist Congress Party – NCP (SP). He was arrested and produced before a court, which remanded him to six days of police custody for further investigation.
According to police, the case is based on a complaint filed by a Pune-based advocate on April 22, alleging that multiple objectionable posts were shared from social media accounts linked to Balgude between April 3 and April 20.
The content included a morphed image of Fadnavis and posts that allegedly encouraged hostile actions against the Chief Minister.
Authorities also flagged several posts which referred to Madvi Hidma, a senior Maoist leader. Following the complaint, the police registered an FIR and initiated an investigation.
Police have invoked multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Samhita, including Sections 356(2) (defamation), 352, 353(1)(b), 336(2), 336(4), and 152 (acts prejudicial to the unity and integrity of India), along with charges related to intentional insult and offences affecting public order and national integrity. Charges under the Information Technology Act concerning identity misuse have also been applied.
Union home minister Amit Shah also intensified campaigning, with LoP in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, also targeting TMC in a post on Sunday.
PM Modi said that under TMC’s 15-year rule, the unemployment in West Bengal has reached “a dangerous level”. (PTI/ANI)
Political heavyweights across party lines fanned out across West Bengal on Sunday, holding rallies, roadshows and marches as the high-octane campaign for the second phase draws to a close on Monday evening.
Addressing rallies in the North 24 Parganas and Hooghly districts, PM Narendra Modi focused on women’s safety, saying women were firmly behind the BJP. “I can see the maximum enthusiasm among women here because they suffered the most during the TMC regime,” he said.
Mamata Banerjee on EVMs
Chief minister Mamata Banerjee accused central forces of acting at the behest of the Election Commission to favour the ruling party at the Centre. “I heard of two incidents where power to strongrooms housing EVMs was cut. Central forces escorted criminals there to capture them. I am surprised the EC is silent,” Banerjee said at a rally in Bhabanipur, from where she is contesting.
Union home minister Amit Shah also intensified campaigning, with LoP in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, also targeting TMC in a post on Sunday.
Modi on Sunday sharpened his attack on the ruling TMC, alleging that under chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s 15-year tenure, women and the Dalit Matua community had to suffer the most.
His remarks came on the penultimate day of campaigning for the second and final phase of the West Bengal assembly elections, in which the remaining 142 constituencies will vote on April 29.
‘Ma Mati Manush’: Modi
Modi addressed the Dalit Matua community for the first time this election season, weeks after hundreds of members from the community were delisted from the electoral rolls during the special intensive revision (SIR) exercise.
“I can see the maximum enthusiasm among the women present here because they suffered the most during the 15-year TMC regime. The record turnout in the first-phase polling has crushed the TMC’s pride. The second phase will ensure a BJP government. Bengal needs a vote from each of you,” Modi said at a poll rally at North 24 Parganas district’s Thakurnagar, the headquarters of the All India Matua Mahasangha, the apex body of the community.
The TMC has “stopped talking” about ‘Ma Mati Manush’, the party’s slogan when it assumed power 15 years ago, because doing so “will expose the sins they committed in Bengal”, Modi alleged.
“While ‘Ma’ (mother) is now in tears, ‘Mati’ (land) has been handed over to syndicates and infiltrators, and ‘Manush’ (people) have been forced to leave the state in search of opportunities elsewhere,” he added.
He also reiterated the poll promises made by the BJP to the people of the eastern state.
BJP will give free rice, says Modi
“Once the BJP government is formed, we will give free rice which will help you save ₹7,000-10,000 a year. TMC gives arsenic-laced water in this region. BJP will provide clean potable water and ₹80,000 for setting up a solar power plant at home. Banks will give each sister a ₹20,000 Mudra Loan to set up a business. Modi will stand as guarantor for the loan,” Modi said. “The Bengal BJP has announced an annual assistance of ₹36,000 for all women and 33% reservation in government jobs.”
The Matuas, a part of the large Dalit Namasudra community, came as refugees from Bangladesh (then East Pakistan) after partition in 1947 and the creation of Bangladesh in 1971.
Having a strong presence in North 24 Parganas district (Bengal’s largest with 33 seats) and Nadia (17 seats), the Matuas supported the BJP in all Lok Sabha and assembly polls since 2019 because they were assured citizenship under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). However, many are yet to receive it despite filling in the forms online. Many of them have sided with the TMC.
He also addressed a rally at Haripal in Hooghly district.
The PM also offered prayers at Matua Thakur Temple in Thakurnagar. “Prayed at the Matua Thakur Temple earlier today. The ideals of Sri Sri Harichand Thakur Ji and Sri Sri Guruchand Thakur Ji continue to illuminate our society,” he said in a post on X.
Later in the day, Modi took part in a roadshow in north Kolkata as the BJP intensified its campaign ahead of the second and final phase of the polls.
Will push back every infiltrators: Shah
Union home minister Amit Shah made similar promises to women voters in the Matua belts of Tehatta and Ranaghat in Nadia district, bordering Bangladesh. “The TMC served biryani to infiltrators all these years while Modi Ji has been giving a befitting reply to Pulwama attack and the Pahalgam terror attack. After May 5, every infiltrator will be identified and pushed back,” he said.
The TMC has repeatedly countered Shah’s allegation, stating that the Border Security Force which guards the borders comes under the MHA. “Once each of you returns home after this rally, tell 25 people in your family to vote for BJP. Only that can put an end to the anarchy started by TMC,” Shah said at Ranaghat. At Tehatta, which is known for multi-crop agriculture, Shah assured garlic growers that they would get a fair price if BJP came to power.
“Garlic sells for ₹200 a kilo around the nation but here they sell for ₹12 because Chinese garlic has been pushed into the market. The BJP will stop such imports,” he said.
Polling for 152 of the 294 assembly seats was held on April 23, with a record turnout of 92.35%.
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday alleged that the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) personnel tried to “capture” electronic voting machines (EVMs) in the districts that went to polls in the first phase on April 23.
“I heard of two incidents in which power to two strong rooms where EVMs are kept were cut off. Central forces escorted criminals to those places to capture EVMs. The faces of these people were covered with blankets. I am surprised that the EC (Election Commission) is silent,” the Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief, who is seeking a fourth straight term as the chief minister, told voters and her supporters at a rally in her Bhabanipur seat in south Kolkata.
Her seat is among the 142 in seven south Bengal districts, including Kolkata, that will go to polls in the second and final phase on April 29. The campaign ends at 6 pm on Monday.
TMC candidate from Cooch Behar South assembly seat in north Bengal Abhijit De Bhowmik raised this allegation on Saturday, but the state’s chief electoral officer (CEO) Manoj Kumar Agarwal denied it.
“All EVMs are safe. The strongrooms are kept under lock and key and these have been double checked,” Agarwal told the media.
Banerjee, however, repeatedly raised the same allegation at back-to-back rallies in Bhabanipur until Sunday night.
The chief minister spent the entire day attending roadshows and rallies at Bhabanipur where she faces Suvendu Adhikari, leader of the opposition in the state assembly.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to attend the last Bharatiya Janata Party roadshow on Monday in Mamata Banerjee’s constituency. The votes will be counted on May 4.
At Bhabanipur, where the TMC trailed the BJP in four of the eight municipal wards comprising the assembly seat during the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, Mamata Banerjee told the cosmopolitan population that she works for the people round the year.
Prachi Nigam, the Class 10 UP Board topper who faced distasteful trolling for her facial hair, has also achieved an excellent score in Class 12.
Prachi Nigam, topper of class 10th Uttar Pradesh Madhyamik Shiksha Parishad, scored 91.2% in Class 12 (X/@Ashishsircivil)
Prachi Nigam, the Class 10 UP Board topper who faced distasteful trolling for her facial hair, has also achieved an excellent score in Class 12. The student from Uttar Pradesh’s Sitapur district scored 91.20% in her Class 12 board exams.
Nigam achieved an impressive score of 99 in Mathematics, 96 in Hindi, 95 in Chemistry, and 93 in Physics.The only subject where she did not get 90-plus was English — Nigam scored 73 in English.
The UP Board student explained that her focus had been on JEE preparation, which is why she could not perform well in English, according to a Live Hindustan report.
Topping Class 10 and subsequent trolling
After topping Class 10 in 2024, Prachi Nigam had said that she wants to become an engineer and study at an IIT. She had scored 591/600 marks in Class 10.
Her picture had gone viral at the time, drawing attention to her facial hair. Nigam was trolled by a section of the internet at the time and had hit back at haters.
After being subjected to online trolling, Nigam said, “When the UP results were announced, my picture went viral; many people trolled me. At the same time, there were those who supported me. I want to thank everyone.”
She further added, “However, God has made me, I am okay with it. For those who feel there is a difference, it doesn’t matter. Even Chanakya was trolled, and he did not care. Similarly, I also don’t care and will focus on my studies.”
The visit comes amid ongoing political exchanges in West Bengal over food habits.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi offers prayers at ‘Thanthania Kalibari’ amid the ongoing West Bengal Assembly elections in Kolkata.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday offered prayers at the historic Thanthania Kalibari temple, known for its unique tradition of offering non-vegetarian prasad, before starting his roadshow in North Kolkata. The visit comes at a time when political debate over food culture has intensified in the state.
Thanthania Kalibari is one of Kolkata’s oldest and most respected Kali temples. Established in 1703, it has a history of over 300 years, even before the city developed in its present form. The deity is worshipped as Maa Siddheshwari and is believed to be ‘Jagrat’, meaning spiritually awakened.
Political Debate Over Food Culture
The visit comes amid ongoing political exchanges in West Bengal over non-vegetarian food habits. Leaders of the Trinamool Congress, including Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, have alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) may interfere with the state’s food culture if voted to power.
They have pointed to restrictions on the sale of fish and meat in some NDA-ruled states such as Bihar and Gujarat during certain festivals. Banerjee has said such measures show a lack of understanding of Bengal’s cultural identity.
BJP Denies Allegations
The BJP has rejected these claims. State president Samik Bhattacharya and Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar said there is no plan to ban non-vegetarian food and that people’s food choices will be respected.
BJP leader and Nagaland minister Temjen Imna Along also reacted to the row. Sharing a video of himself eating meat dishes, he wrote, “Mamata Didi, I am in the BJP and a non-vegetarian by hobby.”
Anurag Thakur along with other BJP leaders on Tuesday ate fish and rice (maach bhaat) on the last day of campaigning for the first phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections. The move was seen as an attempt to counter Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s claim that the BJP would ban fish if it comes to power.
Temple Priest, Committee Member React To PM Modi’s Visit
Reacting to the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Thanthania Kalibari in Kolkata, temple priest Gunasendu Bhattacharya said, “Prime Minister came here and offered prayers/ he offered Garland to the goddess along with Prasad. He spent a while sitting here and offering Aarti to maa. I told him about the glorious history of the temple, and he listened to it patiently. What prayers he offers. I don’t know, but I’m sure he has offered prayers for the welfare of the country.”
Temple committee member Palash Ghosh also expressed happiness over the visit, saying, “We were very happy to see the Prime Minister in our midst. He came here and offered prayers to the goddess. We are the ninth generation which is associated with the temple, so it is a very big occasion for us.”
A coordination meeting of poll officials, police and central forces was held in Kolkata on Sunday to assess readiness for the April 29 election phase. An official said 142 constituencies were reviewed. CEO Manoj Agarwal stated CCTV cameras and CAPF bike patrols would be deployed, warning of stern action against troublemakers to ensure free and fair voting.
Kolkata Steps Up Election Preparedness With High-Level Coordination Meet Ahead Of April 29 Poll Phase | Representative image
A coordination meeting involving poll officials, police officers and commanders of central forces took place on Sunday at Dhana Dhanya auditorium in Kolkata ahead of the second phase of election on April 29.
According to an official, the meeting took place due to assessing the overall preparedness for the second phase of the election and also to determine smooth coordination among everyone involved in the polling process.
“We have reviewed the preparedness of all 142 constituencies that are going for the poll in the second phase. The central forces were also there in the meeting,” further mentioned the official.
Notably, according to the Election Commission sources CCTV cameras will be also installed at the streets of Kolkata so that no untoward incidents take place.
Meanwhile, the CEO warns of dire consequences if any untoward incident takes place.
Both the injured men were immediately rushed to a local hospital, where Pandav was pronounced dead, while Krishna is currently undergoing treatment.
The accused, Neeraj, is a head constable.
A Delhi police constable shot and killed a food delivery agent and injured his companion following a verbal altercation in Delhi’s Dwarka on Sunday.
The incident occurred in Dwarka’s Jafarpur Kalan area. Police said Rupesh, a daily wage labourer, was hosting a party to celebrate the second birthday of his son, with around 20 people attending the event. After the cake-cutting ceremony, the attendees began gradually dispersing and heading home.
Around 2.00 am, while some individuals were waiting for cabs, six others remained standing nearby, seated on two-wheelers and engaging in conversation. This is when the accused, Neeraj, a tenant residing about 50 metres away, approached the group and initiated an argument over a trivial matter.
During an alleged heated exchange, Neeraj suddenly fired a shot at Pandav Kumar, a food delivery agent, who was seated on a motorcycle, striking him in the chest. The bullet passed through Pandav’s body and subsequently struck Krishna, who was seated behind him, in the abdomen.
Both the injured men were immediately rushed to a local hospital, where Pandav was pronounced dead, while Krishna is currently undergoing treatment.
The police are probing how an outsider gained entry into the women’s hostel.
Deepak Pradhan runs a grocery shop in the city’s Gangapada area
A 67-year-old grocery shopkeeper barged into a women’s hostel adjacent to his shop and allegedly raped an MBA student in Odisha’s capital, Bhubaneswar. The police have arrested the accused, identified as Deepak Pradhan.
Pradhan runs a grocery shop in the city’s Gangapada area. On April 24, he allegedly raped the MBA student, a native of Chhattisgarh’s Bilaspur.
The survivor approached the police and lodged a complaint at the Info Valley Police Station.
The police have sent the survivor for a medical examination. They are probing how an outsider gained entry into the women’s hostel.
After interrogation, the accused will be placed under judicial custody, the police said.
Delhi Rape Case
The incident came days after an IRS Officer’s daughter, an IIT Delhi graduate, was raped and murdered by her family’s former domestic help.
The accused, named Rahul Meena, gained entry into the 22-year-old’s Delhi house using a spare key and allegedly thrashed her with a blunt object before raping her. He later strangled her using a phone charger cord.
The woman’s parents had gone to their gym session when the incident took place.
Brands such as Clorox, Pine-Sol and MiraLAX have been featured on Greenawalt’s toilet.
He said he wants to be a millionaire.
What started as a joke about being jobless turned into an amazing business idea when a Philadelphia-based man named Nick Greenawalt started selling space on his toilet. Now, brands have lined up to get into his bathroom. “Unemployed final boss. Trying to make $1,000,000 from my toilet,” the bio of Greenawalt read.
Renowned brands such as Clorox, Pine-Sol and MiraLAX have been featured on Greenawalt’s toilet. Grooming brand Dr Squatch also bought a spot, and in the comment section, it wrote: “All I heard was ‘King Dr Squatch.”
Watch Greenawalt’s video here:
Crypto payments firm MoonPay had even shared a post in which they mentioned. “24 hours ago, we advertised MoonPay on a stranger’s toilet bowl,” it wrote.
Crypto payments firm MoonPay had even shared a post in which they mentioned. “24 hours ago, we advertised MoonPay on a stranger’s toilet bowl,” it wrote.
24 hours ago, we advertised MoonPay on a stranger’s toilet bowl
here’s what happened next:
🤯 1 MILLION IG VIDEO VIEWS
📱 *redacted* new app downloads
💜 1,000+ new followers
His videos gained massive traction, with one video amassing over 40 million views and another getting nearly 13 million views. Tens of thousands of viewers enjoyed the “creative” concept and liked the video.
“I spoke about your situation in my last video because I really believe in it as both a form of content and art. I feel like you may not agree with that personally but this whole thing is really cool. On a deeper level you’re inspiring a lot of talented creative people to try new things. I hope you get to that million and much more,” one user said.
If Vikram-1 succeeds, it could create history as India’s first privately developed rocket to place satellites into orbit.
Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy flagged off Vikram-1
India is closing in on a new space milestone, with the Vikram-1 rocket now on its way to Sriharikota ahead of its first launch attempt.
Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy flagged off the rocket from Hyderabad. It is being transported to the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, where the final phase – integration, system checks and launch preparations – will begin.
The rollout included the payload fairing, the structure that shields satellites during flight. The mission could expand how India accesses space.
Officials said pre-flight testing has been completed, with key propulsion stages already positioned at the spaceport.
Why This Launch Matters
If Vikram-1 succeeds, it could create history as India’s first privately developed rocket to place satellites into orbit, pushing open a space sector long led by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
The mission is being cleared by the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe), with ISRO providing technical oversight. It is part of a broader shift to bring private players into space launches.
An orbital mission, which means placing satellites into sustained orbit, is significantly more complex than earlier suborbital flights.
What Happens Next
At Sriharikota, the rocket moves into final assembly and a round of system checks before a launch window is locked in the coming months.
This is the last stretch before liftoff. Countdown operations, testing and integration now shift fully to the launch site.
One of the company’s founders said the most critical testing has been completed, with launch campaign activities set to begin at the spaceport.
What Is Vikram-1?
Vikram-1 is a multi-stage launch vehicle designed to carry small satellites, up to 350 kg, into low Earth orbit.
It is around seven storeys tall and has been built using carbon composite structures. The vehicle is powered by solid and liquid propulsion systems, including 3D-printed engines.
Developed by Skyroot Aerospace, it is aimed at the fast-growing small satellite launch market.
The court reiterated that transgender persons are protected under Articles 14, 15, 16 and 21, which guarantee equality and the right to live with dignity.
The matter will be taken up again on August 3, 2026, to review the state’s progress.
In a significant push for transgender welfare, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has directed the Tamil Nadu government to design and implement a comprehensive rehabilitation scheme at the taluk (sub-district) level, focusing on dignity, inclusion and sustainable livelihoods.
The direction came while hearing an anticipatory bail plea filed by a YouTuber accused of sharing a video linked to a transgender person’s self-immolation near a police station in Srivilliputhur. While granting relief in the case, the court widened its scope to address the broader challenges faced by the transgender community.
Case Background
The petitioner, YouTuber V Sarathkumar, was charged under Section 353 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for allegedly circulating misleading content about the police through a video on the incident.
He told the court that he had only reshared content already in circulation and deleted it after realising its impact.
After reviewing the material, the court noted that the allegation was limited to retransmission and granted anticipatory bail.
Court Flags Social Neglect
The bench used the case to highlight the continuing marginalisation of transgender persons.
Justice KK Ramakrishnan observed, “The tragedy is not in their birth, it is in the blindness of society which… has driven them into conditions of extreme marginalisation.”
Stressing the need for equal treatment, the court added, “They are entitled to be accepted as equals… participants in the common destiny of this nation.”
Calling out institutional inaction, the judge said, “This Court cannot be a mute witness to the indignities suffered by a vulnerable class… Judicial compassion must translate into enforceable rights.”
Directions To The State
The court pointed to gaps in the implementation of the Supreme Court’s 2014 NALSA judgment and issued a set of directions:
Develop a comprehensive rehabilitation scheme at the taluk level
Create self-employment and livelihood opportunities
Ensure access to education, healthcare and welfare support
Promote inclusion and dignity in public life
The Chief Secretary has been asked to coordinate across departments and file a compliance report by July 26, 2026.
IMD classifies a heatwave when the maximum temperature exceeds 40°C and is at least 4.5°C above normal, or when it touches 45°C regardless of departure.
Delhi recorded its first citywide heatwave of the season on Saturday, with the base station at Safdarjung logging a maximum of 42.8°C — 5.1 degrees above normal — as four of five key weather stations simultaneously satisfied the India Meteorological Department’s (IMD) dual criteria for a formal declaration.
The reading is the highest April maximum at Safdarjung in four years. In April 2022, the station had recorded 43.5°C across late April.
People protecting themselves by using umbrellas from the heatwave during a hot summer day on Saturday. (ANI Photo) (ANI)
IMD classifies a heatwave when the maximum temperature exceeds 40°C and is at least 4.5°C above normal, or when it touches 45°C regardless of departure.
Weather forecast for Sunday
A citywide declaration for Delhi requires at least two stations to meet the criteria, including Safdarjung as the base observatory. On Saturday, four of the five stations monitored met the thresholds. The Ridge station recorded the city’s highest maximum at 44.5°C, 6.1 degrees above normal. Lodhi Road registered 42.6°C (5.6 degrees above normal) and Ayanagar 43.2°C (4.8 degrees above normal). Palam recorded 42.5°C.
IMD issued a yellow alert for Sunday, warning of heatwave conditions, with a possible shift towards thunderstorm activity from April 27 onwards.
On Saturday, IMD confirmed that heatwave conditions had prevailed across the Delhi region for three consecutive days — though the department had not communicated this formally until Friday, despite queries on Thursday. “Heat wave conditions have been realised at many places over Delhi. This is the third consecutive day of heat wave realisation over Delhi region. These conditions are likely to continue till Sunday. Under the influence of setting in of lower tropospheric level easterly winds, maximum temperatures are likely to fall leading to abatement of heat wave conditions over the region from April 28,” an IMD official said.
Minimum temperatures also remained elevated. Safdarjung recorded 25.2°C, 2.5 degrees above normal; Palam logged 26.8°C, 3.5 degrees above normal. No rainfall was recorded at any station in the 24-hour period ending 5:30 pm on Saturday, sustaining the heat build-up.
The conditions are being driven by dry northwesterly winds and strong solar heating, typical contributors to early-season heatwaves in northwest India.
Will it rain in Delhi?
April heatwaves are not unusual for the capital. Delhi recorded three heatwave days between April 7 and 9 last year. April 2022 saw 11 such days; April 2017 recorded four and April 2016 one.
Mahesh Palawat, vice chairman at Skymet Weather, said: “No relief is likely until chances of some rainfall across northwest India from April 26 to 28. There could be a slight cooling effect. This is likely because of a cyclonic circulation developing over Rajasthan, with chances of rain over Punjab, Haryana and Delhi, among other places in northwest India.”
In central Imphal near the overbridge, police gave the crowd 10 minutes to disperse, but when they refused, clashes broke out.
Image from the site (Credits: ANI)
Tension gripped Manipur’s capital, Imphal, on Saturday as clashes broke out during a protest march organised by the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI). Several people were reported injured as security forces tried to stop the rally from moving forward.
The march began around 1 pm from eight different locations across the city, with protestors planning to head towards Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh’s official residence. However, the situation turned tense at multiple points when security personnel blocked their path, leading to confrontations.
In central Imphal, particularly near the overbridge area, police reportedly asked the crowd to disperse within 10 minutes. When the protestors refused, clashes followed. Incidents of violence were also reported from busy market areas such as Ima Keithel and Alu Gali.
To control the situation, security forces used tear gas shells to disperse the crowd. Several protestors were detained during the operation. Authorities also recovered slings and catapults from some individuals who were reportedly hiding in the Ima Keithel area.
To control the situation, security forces used tear gas shells to disperse the crowd. Several protestors were detained during the operation. Authorities also recovered slings and catapults from some individuals who were reportedly hiding in the Ima Keithel area.
The unrest disrupted normal life in the city, with markets shutting down early in the day.
COCOMI had organised the rally to press for answers from the government on several issues. These include allegations of a “proxy war”, concerns over narco-terrorism, recent killings, and a demand for a judicial inquiry into a CRPF firing incident that left three people dead.
The group has also been seeking the resettlement of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and the scrapping of the suspension of operations (SoO) agreement with Kuki insurgent groups.
What feels completely normal in India can feel like a paid upgrade somewhere else
Things Indians Get Free That Americans Pay Monthly Subscriptions For
We tend to assume basic services work the same everywhere. If something costs money in one country, it probably does in another too. But once you look closer, that idea falls apart pretty quickly.
Take something as simple as sending money. In India, you open an app, type a number, hit send, and it’s done in seconds. No fees, no second thought. Whether it’s splitting a dinner bill, paying a shopkeeper, or sending rent, systems like UPI have made instant transfers feel almost invisible.
Now compare that to the US. There, sending money instantly often means using apps like Venmo or Zelle, and even then, faster transfers can come with fees. Bank accounts themselves can have monthly maintenance charges unless you meet certain conditions. Even something as basic as moving your own money can feel like a “service.”
And it’s not just payments.
In India, you can walk into a railway station, book tickets online for a small fee, or even stream government services through apps without thinking about subscriptions. Many mobile plans come bundled with free incoming calls, SMS, and data packs at prices that would seem unreal in the US.
Even missed calls are a thing. Need someone to call you back? You just give a missed call. Businesses, delivery services, even banks sometimes use it as a signal. It’s simple, costs nothing, and works because everyone understands it.
In the US, similar conveniences are often packaged differently. Want cloud storage? Monthly fee. Want ad-free music? Subscription. Want premium customer support or faster service? There’s usually a plan for that.
None of these costs feel huge individually. But they stack up.
What makes India different is how these systems are designed. Because they’re built for scale and accessibility, the expectation is that they should just work without friction. Payments should be instant. Access should be easy. Costs should be minimal.
That changes behaviour.
When something is free or nearly free, you use it without thinking. You experiment, you rely on it, it becomes part of your routine. But when there’s even a small cost attached, you pause. You decide if it’s worth it.
According to his mother, Mukeshi Devi, he was in contact with his cousin Trilok in Delhi at the time.
Delhi rape and murder case accused (L)/A police team on the spot (R) (Photos: Social Media/PTI)
In a fresh development in the rape and murder of a 22-year-old daughter of a senior Income Tax officer in Delhi, investigators have identified the person the accused, Rahul Meena, was allegedly speaking to while fleeing the scene.
CCTV footage showed Rahul continuously talking on the phone as he exited the residence in Amar Colony.
According to his mother, Mukeshi Devi, he was in contact with his cousin Trilok in Delhi at the time, India Today reported.
During the call, Rahul allegedly told him, “Maine Delhi mein kaand kar diya hai, main ab marne wala hoon police mujhe pakad legi…(I have committed a crime in Delhi. I may die now. The police will catch me soon)”.
During questioning, Rahul reportedly denied involvement in the Alwar rape, claiming he had only gone there to retrieve his mobile phone and had not harmed the victim. Police sources also indicated that the mobile phones of both the accused and the victim are currently missing.
Investigators believe the accused targeted two victims across states within a span of a few hours. On Tuesday night at around 10:30 pm, Rahul allegedly entered a neighbour’s house in Rajasthan’s Alwar, where he assaulted and raped the woman.
He is also accused of strangling her and issuing threats before fleeing, warning her against reporting the incident. An FIR was registered based on her complaint.
Within hours, he is said to have travelled nearly 200 km to Delhi, reaching a housing society in south-east Delhi’s Kailash Hills at around 6:30 am. He allegedly entered his former employer’s residence at approximately 6:39 am.
The Modi government has restructured Niti Aayog, appointing Ashok Kumar Lahiri as vice chairman alongside five full-time members.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi exchanges a handshake with newly-appointed Vice Chairman of Niti Aayog Ashok Lahiri. Photo : PTI
The Modi government on Saturday reconstituted Niti Aayog with the appointment of former Chief Economic Advisor Ashok Kumar Lahiri, as vice chairman and five full-time members. The five full time members include economist KV Raju, Director of AIIMS M Srinivas, Abhay Karandikar, Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, scientist Gobardhan Das and former cabinet secretary Rajiv Gauba.
Making the announcement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi wished a productive and impactful tenure to Lahiri and the new full-time members.
Taking to X, the Prime Minister said, “The Government has reconstituted the NITI Aayog. My best wishes to Ashok Kumar Lahiri on becoming the Vice Chairman. My best wishes also to Rajiv Gauba, KV Raju, Prof. Gobardhan Das, Prof. Abhay Karandikar and Dr M. Srinivas on becoming full time members of NITI Aayog.”
“Wishing all of them a productive and impactful tenure ahead,” PM Modi wrote on his X post.
The prime minister said that the Niti Aayog has emerged as a vital pillar in India’s policy-making architecture, fostering cooperative federalism, furthering reforms and boosting ‘Ease of Living’.
“It serves as a dynamic platform for innovation and long-term strategic thinking across sectors,” he said. The prime minister is the chairman of the Niti Aayog.
Meet The New Niti Aayog Members
Ashok Kumar Lahiri
Ashok Kumar Lahiri is amongst India’s most experienced and senior economists with a career spanning over four decades. Currently a BJP MLA in West Bengal, he is a former chief economic advisor to the government of India and a member of the 15th Finance Commission. He is not contesting the ongoing assembly election in the state.
KV Raju
KV Raju is a member of the Economic Advisory Council to the prime minister. He also serves as the economic advisor to the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh. Karandikar is currently Secretary, Department of Science and Technology (DST). Before joining DST in October 2023, he served as the Director of IIT-Kanpur.
Gobardhan Das
Das is the director of the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Bhopal. Prior to assuming this position, he was working as a professor and chair of the Special Centre for Molecular Medicine at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.
M Srinivas
Srinivas is the director of the premier All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi. He has had an illustrious career with more than three decades of experience in various positions in the academic, administrative and research fields.
Ashok Lahiri Calls on PM Modi
Lahiri on Saturday called on the prime minister and thanked him for his appointment. The prime minister said Lahiri’s “rich experience in economics and public policy will greatly strengthen India’s reform journey and the journey towards becoming a Viksit Bharat”.
“I am confident his efforts will further energise policymaking in our nation. My best wishes for a fruitful tenure,” Modi said.
Gobardhan Das Thanks PM Modi For Allowing Him To Serve in Niti Aayog
The prime minister also congratulated Gobardhan Das on his appointment as a member of the government think tank. “Your journey, filled with tireless hard work and humility, is truly inspiring for everyone. The invaluable contributions you have made in the fields of public health, science and innovation fill the entire nation with pride. My sincere best wishes for your tenure,” Modi said in response to Das thanking him for the appointment.
Das also thanked the prime minister for allowing him to serve as a member of the Niti Aayog.
“Today is a very important day in my life. I am the son of an ordinary farmer family from the Dalit class in a remote village of West Bengal.
“Since childhood, the fragrance of the soil, the value of hard work, and the truth of struggle have been an integral part of my life. Today’s responsibility is not just a position for me; it is a glimpse of the dreams, hopes, and beliefs of countless ordinary people like me,” he said in a post on X in Hindi.
Das said he believed that for the development of the country, it is imperative that the quality of life in remote areas, the farming community and ordinary people is improved.
“For this purpose, I promise to work with honesty, dedication and full responsibility under the guidance of the Prime Minister,” he said. “I seek everyone’s blessings and cooperation,” he added.
A man was found hanging inside a locked ladies washroom at Inderlok Metro Station in northwest Delhi. Police have begun BNSS proceedings as they work to confirm his identity and establish the circumstances of the death.
Five members of the same family were found with gunshot wounds to their heads. (Representative image)
A man was found dead inside a ladies washroom at Inderlok Metro Station in northwest Delhi, police said on Saturday.
According to officials, a PCR call was received around 5:33 pm on April 25 reporting that a ladies toilet at the metro station was locked from inside and emitting a strong foul smell. A police team rushed to the spot and reached the Sulabh toilet complex within the station premises.
The washroom door was broken open, following which an unidentified male body, estimated to be around 40 years old, was found hanging inside. Prima facie, the deceased is believed to be the caretaker of the washroom facility.
A witness told police that the man was last seen nearly two days before the body was discovered.
The ambulance allegedly remained stationed at the pump for about 15 minutes. However, records showed that the petrol pump had sufficient stock on that day.
Circle Officer (Bairia) Mohammad Fahim Qureshi said police have launched a probe and are searching for the accused manager.(Photo: Representational)
Police on Saturday registered a case against a petrol pump manager in connection with the death of a 50-year-old man who allegedly could not be taken to hospital in time after a private ambulance was denied fuel.
The case has been filed against Ashok Kumar Bharti, manager of M/s Bhushan Service Station in Tengrahi village, under sections of the Essential Commodities Act, officials said.
According to police, the FIR was lodged following a complaint by Supply Inspector Indresh Kumar Tiwari. During the inquiry, the manager admitted that an ambulance had arrived at the petrol pump around 9.20 pm on April 22 seeking fuel, stating that it had run out of petrol. However, fuel was not provided, citing non-availability, officials said.
The ambulance allegedly remained stationed at the pump for about 15 minutes. However, records showed that the petrol pump had sufficient stock on that day, including 4,595 litres of motor spirit, 4,784 litres of high-speed diesel and 3,475 litres of premium petrol, indicating that fuel was available but not supplied, the FIR said.
District Magistrate Mangla Prasad Singh said an inquiry was conducted under the supervision of the Additional District Magistrate by a team comprising the Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Bairia and the District Supply Officer. Based on the findings, directions were issued to register a case.
Circle Officer (Bairia) Mohammad Fahim Qureshi said police have launched a probe and are searching for the accused manager.
Earlier, District Supply Officer Devmani Mishra had said that Chhatthu Sharma (50), a resident of Pandeypur village in Bairia tehsil, fell critically ill on the night of April 22. His family was taking him to the district hospital in a private ambulance when it ran out of fuel on the way.
The family approached a petrol pump near Tengrahi village for fuel, but the operator allegedly refused, citing a shortage. The family claimed that Sharma died on the way as he could not be taken to the hospital in time due to a lack of petrol.
Singer Rihanna lit up Mumbai at the Fenty Beauty event, stunning in a chartreuse Mugler look before switching to a dramatic black Alaïa gown for the after-party. Her diamond hathphool by Manish Malhotra stole the spotlight. A viral moment saw her say “shukriya” to fans, winning hearts and proving once again why she’s a global style icon.
Mumbai got a full-blown Rihanna moment, and fans are still not over it. The global singer and beauty mogul didn’t just launch her “Fenty Beauty Ki Haveil” pop-up; she owned it, switching from a striking chartreuse look to a sultry after-party ensemble that screamed high fashion with a desi twist. And yes, her sweet “shukriya” moment? Instant internet gold.
Rihanna’s after-party look
For the after-party, Rihanna turned up the drama in a custom Alaïa creation, featuring a black fit-and-flare jersey dress. The ensemble came with a high turtleneck, full sleeves and V-shaped crocodile leather cut-outs, adding a fierce, modern edge to the otherwise classic outfit.
She went all out with jewellery, layering multiple diamond rings, statement ear cuffs, and a dazzling diamond hathphool by Manish Malhotra. The traditional hand ornament, reimagined in diamonds, added a glamorous Indian touch that tied her entire look to Mumbai’s vibe.
Her glam stayed warm and sultry with smoky terracotta eyes and glossy lips inspired by ’90s beauty trends. A sleek, side-parted updo with soft volume completed the look, keeping it polished yet powerful.
‘Shukriya!’ – Rihanna wins hearts
In a now-viral clip, Rihanna charmed everyone with her candid interaction. As she stepped out briefly, she asked, “How do you say thank you in Hindi?” Moments later, after getting help, she popped back out to say a cheerful “Shukriya!”, sending fans into a frenzy.
In another viral video, Rihanna also posed with a beaming smile with a photographer on the red carpet.
Former Army Chief Gen Manoj Mukund Naravane told ANI on April 24 that India’s armed forces must remain apolitical and distant from politics. He said decisions on national security are taken by the Cabinet Committee on Security, not individuals, and reiterated his stance that “not an inch” of territory has been lost to China.
Former Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane | Photo credit: @airnewsalerts/Twitter
Noting that political leadership doesn’t interfere directly into military affairs and decisions concerning national security are taken by the Cabinet Committee on Security, former Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane has said that the Armed Forces should be kept as far away from politics as possible.
In an interview with ANI, Gen Naravane also said that “attributing a particular statement to Prime Minister is not in good form”.
He also reiterated his earlier stance that “not an inch has been lost to China”.
“Political leadership doesn’t interfere directly into military affairs and attributing a particular statement to Prime Minister is not in good form. Whatever decisions are taken are taken by Cabinet Committee on Security. That Committee is headed by the PM…Whatever decisions are taken in the Army are always on the orders of the Chief. But you don’t keep saying “Chief ne ye kaha hai, isliye aisa karo,” he said.
“It is understood that when something is being done, it has been done by the orders or by the instruction of whoever is empowered to pass such a kind of order or instruction,” he added.
#WATCH | On his “not an inch has been lost to China” statement and its interpretation by Congress, former Indian Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane (Retd) says, “At that time also, I had said that there is no loss of territory. I stand by that statement even today. That is… pic.twitter.com/YdERXBmFO5
Asked about his message to people regarding interpretations of his book, Gen Naravane said everyone is free to interpret everything as per their own conscience.
“In doing so, they should see what is good in the overall national interest. If they keep that aspect in mind, I don’t think anybody would have doubt in which way a particular issue is to be interpreted,” he added.
The former Army chief’s unpublished memoir ‘Four Stars of Destiny’ led to political wrangling after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi sought to mention some lines from it during his speech on the motion of thanks on the President’s Address during the budget session of Parliament.
Rahul Gandhi, who is Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, sought to target the government over the 2020 border standoff with China in eastern Ladakh. BJP had strongly opposed the Congress leader citing from an unpublished book.
The publisher of the book also later clarified that ‘Four Stars of Destiny’ was not available for sale and a book is considered published only when it is available for purchase across retail channels.
Gen Naravane earlier this week held a book signing event in Pune for his book ‘The Cantonment Conspiracy’ and told reporters that now he is into fiction writing, apart from penning military reports for academic journals.
In his interview with ANI, Gen Narvane talked about the confidence that the Indian armed forces have and the respect been given by people.
#WATCH | Gurugram, Haryana: On any possible impact of controversies on public trust in the armed forces, former Indian Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane (Retd) says, “I think the confidence that the Indian armed forces have and the respect that has always been given by our… pic.twitter.com/jK1iGecJMJ
“I think the confidence that the Indian armed forces have and the respect that has always been given by our people far surpasses the kind of negativity that very small issues could generate…I always keep saying, ‘Bharatiya Sena, Bharat ki sena’…They, in turn, give us that love and respect which makes us strong and enables us to stand on the border and guard our people.”
He said the Indian armed forces pride themselves on being a very apolitical.
“The armed forces should be kept as far away from politics as possible. The Indian armed forces pride themselves on being a very apolitical Army, Navy, Air Force. If you see what is happening in the country’s periphery, it is a strength that we have never even sought to get involved in political matters and that’s what makes our country strong,” he said.
“That’s what makes our democracy strong, that we are one of the pillars of governance, along with the judiciary and the press. This is a strong pillar on which the country is doing so well. But that does not mean that we cannot have our own political affiliations, that we cannot cast our vote. You have to differentiate between the organisation and the individual. As an organisation, we are totally apolitical. But as individuals, we have full democratic rights to cast our vote,” he added.
Asked about his “not an inch has been lost to China” remarks made in the past and its interpretation by Congress, Gen Naravane said at that time also, he had said that there is no loss of territory.
A 23-year-old lawyer dies after jumping from Kanpur court, leaving a note blaming years of mental stress from his father, raising concern over family pressure.
‘I Lost, Papa Won. Congratulations’: 23-Year-Old Kanpur Lawyer Dies By Suicide, Blames Father For Years Of Mental Stress
Priyanshu Srivastava, a 23-year-old lawyer, died after jumping from a court building in Kanpur, leaving behind a note in which he blamed his father for years of mental stress.
He was taken to a hospital soon after the incident, but doctors declared him dead. The incident took place inside the court premises and has left many in shock.
He Left A Note Before Taking The Step
Before jumping, Priyanshu posted a WhatsApp status that included a handwritten letter. In it, he spoke about his childhood and the issues he faced at home. He said his father had been mentally harsh with him since he was young.
“I was just six when I took mango juice from the refrigerator without asking anybody. For this, I was stripped and sent out of the house. I understand parents must be strict with their children, but not to the point where they feel suffocated. I tried a lot to move on and live my life, but I don’t think it is worth it,” he wrote.
He also said he was often questioned over small things, which made him feel stressed all the time. “I don’t think I can live with this anymore,” he added. In the letter, Priyanshu said his father forced him to study computer science, even though he wanted to choose physical education. He said this pressure affected his performance.
He also mentioned that his father would insult him in public and closely monitor his daily life. “He is always asking me where I am going, when I will be back, and who I am talking to over the phone. Unnecessary interference in my life has become suffocating. It is better to die once and for all than to feel suffocated daily,” he wrote.
Priyanshu also made an emotional appeal. “I want to appeal to all parents: torture your children to the point they can take it. Don’t let my father touch my body. I do not want any action to be taken against him so that my family is not affected. I wish no one gets a father like this. I lost, Papa won. Congratulations to him,” he wrote.
“Don’t even let my father touch my body… you won… congratulations on your victory, Papa.”
A trainee lawyer, Priyanshu Srivastava, died by suicide after jumping from the fifth floor of the court building. The incident took place in the court premises of Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh.… pic.twitter.com/h9yzGYxPm5
Police officials reportedly said CCTV footage shows Priyanshu talking on the phone before the incident. He then jumped from the fifth floor of the court building.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has suffered a serious political blow after seven of its 10 Rajya Sabha MPs left the party and joined the BJP on Friday. These MPs include Raghav Chadha, Sandeep Pathak, Ashok Mittal, Harbhajan Singh, Rajinder Gupta, Vikram Sahney and Swati Maliwal.
This development has significantly weakened AAP’s presence in Parliament and raised questions about its future as a national political force.
How did it all start?
The current crisis can be traced back to 2024, when Swati Maliwal accused a close aide of then Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal of physically assaulting her at his residence. The incident, reported on May 13, 2024, marked the beginning of a deep internal divide within the party.
The situation worsened earlier this month when the party removed Raghav Chadha from the post of deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha. This move widened the gap between him and the party leadership, making reconciliation difficult.
What were Swati Maliwal’s allegations?
Swati Maliwal, in a detailed post, said she was leaving the party due to what she described as “unchecked corruption”. She also spoke about incidents of harassment and assault against women and accused the party of promoting “thuggish” elements under Kejriwal’s leadership.
Her allegations have added to the controversy and highlighted deeper issues within the party.
Sudden exit of senior leaders
Although there had been rumours that some leaders were unhappy, the mass resignation came as a surprise. Many of the MPs, including Ashok Mittal, Harbhajan Singh, Rajinder Gupta, Vikram Sahney and Sandeep Pathak, had rarely expressed dissent in public.
The announcement was made by Chadha himself during a press conference on Friday, confirming that all seven leaders were leaving the party.
Mittal’s exit followed closely after Enforcement Directorate raids at his home and business premises in Punjab. The raids were linked to a case under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA).
AAP blames ‘Operation Lotus’
AAP leader Sanjay Singh accused the BJP of orchestrating the defections through what he called “Operation Lotus”. He claimed that the MPs had left the party under pressure, fearing action by agencies such as the ED and the CBI.
According to Singh, the timing and scale of the resignations point to external influence rather than internal disagreements alone.
Raghav Chadha’s rise and fall in AAP
Raghav Chadha had long been seen as one of the most prominent faces of AAP. Once regarded as a close aide of Arvind Kejriwal, he rose quickly within the party and became a Rajya Sabha MP from Punjab in 2022.
Following AAP’s victory in the Punjab Assembly elections that year, his influence grew significantly. He was often seen as one of the most powerful leaders in the state after Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.
However, his position weakened after Kejriwal’s arrest in 2024 in connection with the Delhi excise policy case. Chadha was questioned within the party for his absence during this period and for staying silent on key political issues.
His limited participation in party events and debates in the Rajya Sabha further added to concerns within the leadership. Over time, he was removed from several key roles, including co-incharge of Punjab affairs and his responsibilities as a poll strategist.
The differences between Chadha and the leadership became public after he was removed from the post of deputy leader. At the time, he warned that he was like a river that could turn into a flood at the right moment.
His statement now appears significant, as his exit has dealt a major blow to the party ahead of key assembly elections in Punjab, Gujarat and Goa next year.
The underlying mechanics of the Bengal turnout reveal a complex interplay between massive electoral roll revisions and intense political mobilisation
Voter turnout surged to remarkable levels in the West Bengal Phase 1 polls. (Image: ANI)
The first phase of the 2026 West Bengal assembly elections concluded on April 23, with a historic and record-shattering voter turnout of 92.03%. This figure represents the highest polling percentage in the state since 1951, surpassing the previous record of 84.33% set in 2011. While the scale of participation is a triumph for democratic engagement, the underlying mechanics of this surge reveal a complex interplay between massive electoral roll revisions and intense political mobilisation.
How did the Special Intensive Revision drive the surge?
The most significant technical driver behind the 92% figure in West Bengal is the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) Special Intensive Revision (SIR). Conducted over four months, this exercise resulted in the removal of approximately 9.1 million names from the electoral rolls—a staggering 12% drop in the total electorate. By purging “dead, shifted, and duplicate” entries, as well as those under judicial adjudication, the ECI created a leaner, more accurate voter list, officials say.
Mathematically, when the denominator (the total number of registered voters) shrinks while the numerator (the number of people who actually show up) remains steady or grows, the turnout percentage sky-rockets. Analysts note that if those 9 million names had remained on the list, the turnout would likely have hovered around the traditional 83-84% mark. However, they add, the revision has turned 2026 into a “clean slate” election, where nearly every registered individual is a high-intent voter.
Which districts led the record-breaking spree?
The surge was not uniform but was particularly pronounced in the high-stakes border and North Bengal districts. Dakshin Dinajpur emerged as the state leader with a turnout of 95.22%, followed closely by Cooch Behar at 95.17%. These regions have been at the heart of intense ideological battles regarding citizenship and identity, which clearly translated into a “do-or-die” mobilisation at the booths.
Even in Murshidabad, which saw the highest number of deletions (over 4.5 lakh names) during the SIR process, the turnout stood at a defiant 93.07%. This suggests that rather than discouraging voters, the “voter list anxiety” acted as a catalyst, pushing people to the polls to safeguard their political identity. Other significant figures came from Birbhum (94.19%) and Jalpaiguri (93.23%), underscoring a statewide trend of hyper-participation.
What does 92% mean for the ‘silent wave’?
In West Bengal’s political history, a massive spike in turnout has often been the harbinger of a “Poriborton” (change). In 2011, a then-record turnout of 84.33% saw the end of 34 years of Left rule. The current figure of 92.03% has led both the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to claim a “silent wave” in their favour.
In this Maharashtra village, trust runs so deep that homes traditionally have no doors at all
The Indian Village Where No One Has Locked A Door In 300 Years
There’s a village in India where locking your door isn’t just uncommon, it’s traditionally unnecessary.
In Shani Shingnapur, Maharashtra, homes have long been built without doors, and even today, many residents continue to live without locks. Jewellery, cash and everyday belongings are often left unsecured, something that feels almost impossible to imagine elsewhere.
This way of life is tied to a belief that goes back around 300 years.
According to local legend, a large black stone was discovered near the Panasnala River after heavy rains. When villagers touched it, they believed it began to bleed. That night, the village head is said to have dreamt of Shani Dev, who revealed that the stone was his idol and that he would protect the village from harm.
There was one condition. The idol was not to be placed under a roof, so that the deity could watch over the village without obstruction.
After installing the stone on an open platform, villagers gradually stopped using doors and locks, trusting that any wrongdoing would be punished. Over time, this belief became part of everyday life.
Even today, some homes only use simple wooden panels or curtains at the entrance, mainly to keep animals out rather than for security.
The idea extends beyond homes. A police station built in 2015 reportedly has no front door, and a bank branch opened in 2011 operated with minimal visible locking systems, aligning with local traditions.
Residents say they don’t worry about theft. Many believe that anyone who attempts to steal will face immediate consequences, from blindness to prolonged bad luck.
The village also draws large numbers of visitors. Around 40,000 people visit daily to see the shrine and experience this unusual way of life.
There have been occasional reports of theft over the years, though locals often argue these incidents happened outside the village itself.
The move is expected to weaken AAP, especially among urban, educated voters, while potentially benefiting the BJP in the upcoming Punjab elections.
Aam Aadmi Party leader and Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha. (File) Photo : ANI
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) suffered a major setback on Friday after its Rajya Sabha MPs, including Raghav Chadha, who was removed as the party’s deputy leader in the Upper House earlier, joined the rival Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Chadha, while addressing a presser in the national capital, formalised a split that had been building for weeks, announcing that two-thirds of the party’s Rajya Sabha members would merge with the BJP. The move triggered furious reactions from AAP leaders while drawing a warm welcome from the BJP.
While the likely disqualification petitions against the departing MPs may take time to resolve, the bigger issue about whether the claimed “merger” is legally valid, will continue to hang over Punjab politics. The immediate political impact, however, is clearer.
Raghav Chadha’s exit, along with Harbhajan Singh, Swati Maliwal, Ashok Mittal, Sandeep Pathak, Vikram Sahney and Rajinder Gupta, comes at a sensitive time for the Aam Aadmi Party.
The resignations followed AAP’s allegation that the Bharatiya Janata Party was attempting to engineer a split in its Punjab unit, even naming Chadha in an alleged deal narrative. Meanwhile, BJP has made it clear it plans to contest the 2027 Punjab elections on its own, signalling a shift toward expansion.
Chadha exit adds new twist to Punjab’s multi-cornered fight
Electorally, these exits may not result in a direct vote transfer to BJP. But they can weaken AAP in ways that matter. Punjab is a multi-cornered contest involving AAP, Indian National Congress, Shiromani Akali Dal and BJP. If AAP’s base fragments, its votes are more likely to scatter across parties rather than consolidate behind a single rival, and even small shifts can influence tight contests.
This is where the Chadha factor becomes significant. Chadha’s political appeal has been strongest among urban, educated, and younger voters, segments where BJP has historically had more traction than in rural Punjab. His departure weakens AAP’s grip over this voter base and opens up space for BJP to make inroads into urban constituencies.
At the same time, leadership churn within AAP creates an opportunity for BJP to attract defectors, strengthen its local leadership, and build a more competitive organisational structure in the state. If the party is serious about expanding independently in Punjab, even incremental gains from such shifts could translate into tangible electoral advantages.
Both the countries aim to double bilateral trade to $5 billion over the next five years.
Indian PM hugs New Zealand PM Christopher Luxon. (AP File Photo/Manish Swarup)
India and New Zealand are set to sign the historic Free Trade Agreement (FTA) on Monday, as announced by the New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon. The trade negotiations by both the countries was concluded on December 22 last year, with the goal of doubling bilateral trade to $5 billion over the next five years. The key component of the FTA is the tariff-free access for Indian goods in the New Zealand market and attract up to $20 billion in investment over the next 15 years. Further, the FTA will eliminate duty on 100% of Indian Exports.
Currently, New Zealand is India’s second-largest trading partner in Oceania. At $49,380, New Zealand is among the higher-income economies in Oceania. New Zealand maintained tariffs around 10% in around 450 lines of key Indian exports in products including textile/apparel products, leather and headgear, ceramics, carpets, automobiles and auto components. Additionally, the average applied tariff at 2.2% in 2025 will become zero from EIF.
Through Agricultural Productivity Partnership, the FTA collaborates with farmers to boost productivity and integrate them in the global value chains. The FTA boosts MSMEs and Jobs through Zero-duty access for labour-intensive sectors including textiles, apparel, leather, footwear, gems & jewellery, engineering goods and processed foods.
How India will gain from FTA?
As per the government statement on the FTA, India has offered market access in 70.03% of the tariff lines while keeping 29.97 % tariff lines in exclusion. Immediate Elimination (EIF) on 30%, Rest is phased.
The 30% of tariff lines will have immediate duty elimination, covering wood, wool, sheep meat, leather-raw hides etc. 35.60% of tariffs are subject to phased elimination over 3, 5, 7, and 10 years, including petroleum oil, malt extract, vegetable oils, and selected electrical and mechanical machinery, peptones etc, the statement read.
Further, 4.37% of products face tariff reductions, such as wine, pharmaceutical drugs, polymers, aluminium, iron and steel articles etc. 0.06% fall under tariff rate quotas, including honey, apples, kiwi fruit, and albumins including milk albumin.
Certain products are kept in exclusion such as Dairy including milk, cream, whey, yoghurt, cheese etc, animal products — other than sheep meat, vegetable products like onions, chana, peas, corn, almonds etc, sugar, artificial honey, Animal, vegetable or microbial fats and oils, Arms and Ammunition, Gems and Jewellery, Copper and Articles like Cathodes, Cartridges, Rods, Bars, Coils etc, Aluminium and articles thereof Ingots, billets, wire bars among others.
Before the meeting call with Arvind Kejriwal came, the MPs had not come together as a group to plan their exit, though individually all of them had decided to leave, sources said
AAP suffered a jolt after seven of its MPs, including Raghav Chadha and Sandeep Pathak, quit (File photo)
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal promised to give tickets to at least five of the six leaders in the next term, provided they quit now if they are not happy in the party due to any reason, people with direct knowledge of the matter told NDTV.
Kejriwal had called them to his house Friday evening to discuss the matter, sources said. But the meeting never happened as the MPs announced their exit on Friday.
The inside details come on a day the AAP suffered a jolt after seven of its MPs, including Raghav Chadha, Ashok Mittal and Sandeep Pathak, quit the party, with Chadha saying all of them had merged with the BJP. He alleged the AAP had strayed from its principles and values. Harbhajan Singh, Rajinder Gupta, Vikram Sahni and Swati Maliwal are the other four MPs who left the AAP.
According to sources, the former Delhi chief minister told the MPs that if “you have any apprehension, you should resign from your posts and you will be given tickets again in the next term.”
Kejriwal, however, didn’t know that the MPs had already made up their mind as early as Thursday morning to leave the AAP and join the BJP.
Before the meeting call with Kejriwal came, the MPs had not come together as a group to plan their exit, though individually all of them had decided to leave, sources said.
The first push from Chadha on making a joint move happened after the AAP replaced him with Ashok Kumar Mittal as the Deputy Leader in Rajya Sabha. It was after this development that Chadha reached out and held talks with the MPs, sources said. But Mittal, too, left the AAP.
Coincidentally, Kejriwal moved into his new house only Friday after a year of living in Mittal’s house.
The BJP gave a warm welcome to the MPs as party president Nitin Nabin offered them traditional sweets.
AAP leaders accused the BJP of launching “Operation Lotus” to poach MPs and of allegedly conspiring to stop the AAP government’s good work in Punjab. Chadha told reporters that the seven MPs had merged with the BJP as the AAP was no longer honouring its founding principles.
“The AAP that I nurtured with my blood and sweat and to which I gave 15 years of my youth has completely strayed from its principles, values and core morals,” he said. “As per the Constitution, two-thirds of the total MPs of a party can merge with another party,” Chadha said, referring to the party’s strength of 10 MPs.
The court imposed a fine of Rs 50 under Section 11 of Cruelty to Animal Act and a fine of Rs 1,000 under Section 429 of IPC.
Initially, the case was filed under Section 11 of Cruelty to Animals Act (Representational)
A court here sentenced a man who was found guilty of tying his dog in the sun during scorching heat outside to a fine of Rs 1,050 after a long 15-month hearing, police said.
According to the police, the case pertains to Puri Pranayam Society in Sector 82, Faridabad. On June 20, 2024, the BPTP police station registered a case based on a complaint from Vrinda Sharma of the People for Animals Unit.
The allegation was that Deepak Sharma had tied his dog to a small balcony in the scorching sun. The team, responding to the information, rescued the dog with the help of the police. He was also accused of misbehaving with the team, they added.
Following an investigation, police arrested the accused and presented a chargesheet in court. Initially, the case was filed under Section 11 of the Cruelty to Animals Act. The court later added Section 429 of the Indian Penal Code, which provides for a fine of Rs 1,000 for causing harm to an animal worth more than Rs 50, police said.
The judgment, delivered on Friday, brings to a close a high-profile case dating back to December 20, 2021.
They have also been fined Rs 2 lakh each.
A special court in Gujarat’s Bhuj has sentenced six Pakistani nationals to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment in a case involving the attempted smuggling of heroin worth around Rs 384.68 crore into Indian waters.
The judgment, delivered on Friday, brings to a close a high-profile case dating back to December 20, 2021, when the Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) and the Indian Coast Guard carried out a joint mid-sea operation.
Acting on specific intelligence provided by Deputy Superintendent of Police Bhavesh Rozia, authorities intercepted a suspicious vessel about 35 nautical miles off the Jakhau coast.
During a search of the boat, officials recovered 76.936 kg of heroin concealed in five large bags. The six individuals on board, all residents of Karachi in Pakistan, were arrested on the spot.
The investigation was led by ATS Police Sub-Inspector RR Rathore, based on a complaint filed by Police Inspector MC Nayak. The accused were charged under multiple provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, including Sections 8(c), 22(c), 25 and 29.
During the trial at the Sixth Additional Sessions and Special NDPS Court, the prosecution presented 203 documentary exhibits and examined 13 key witnesses. Arguments were led by the Chief District Public Prosecutor.
The court found all six accused guilty and sentenced each of them to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment. They have also been fined Rs 2 lakh each.
Opposition parties filed a notice in Rajya Sabha to remove Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, citing misconduct and bias in enforcing election conduct.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh and TMC leader Sagarika Ghose submitted the notice to the Rajya Sabha Secretary General. (Sanjeev Verma/HT)
Opposition parties on Friday submitted a fresh notice in the Rajya Sabha seeking to move a motion for the removal of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, people familiar with the matter said.
The notice, signed by 73 opposition MPs from 11 parties, accuse Kumar of “proved misbehaviour” which include “continued partisan asymmetry in the enforcement of Model Code of Conduct”, including the poll panel’s failure to act on complaints against Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “address to the nation” on April 18.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh and TMC leader Sagarika Ghose submitted the notice to the Rajya Sabha Secretary General.
“In the Rajya Sabha, 73 opposition MPs have just submitted a new notice of motion to their Secretary General to present an addressed resolution to the President of India, urging the removal from office of the Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar,” Ramesh said on X.
“This demand is based on proven misconduct arising from his actions and errors committed on March 15, 2026 and thereafter, which falls under Article 324(5) of the Constitution of India when read with Article 124(4), as well as Section 11(2) of the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023, and the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968,” he said.
The notice calls for an address to the President for Kumar’s removal, invoking provisions of the Constitution, the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners Act, 2023, and the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968.The MPs have cited a series of alleged actions and omissions by the CEC, which they claim cumulatively amount to misconduct of a “grave character”.
