Rajasthan Royals skipper Riyan Parag admitted that he is going through a difficult phase in the first half of IPL 2026, but made it clear that he will not change his natural style of play just to score safer runs.

Parag has managed 81 runs in seven innings so far, averaging 13.50, and scored 20 in the match against Lucknow Super Giants at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow on Wednesday.

“Everyone has been very supportive. I’ve been going through a phase as well. Right before the IPL, I had gone through something, and even now I’m going through something, and everyone understands that. Everyone respects that, and I thank them for that,” Parag said after Wednesday’s match against Lucknow Super Giants.

“I feel the way I’m batting, (a big) innings is not too far away. But, as I’ve been saying, if I go in tomorrow and I play another game, it’s going to be what the team needs. It’s not me not scoring runs and taking my time, getting 40 off 30, that’s not going to happen. I go out there, assess conditions; if they want me to go to 200 from ball one, I do that,” he added.

At the time of Parag’s dismissal, Rajasthan Royals were struggling at 62 for 4. They slipped further to 110 for 6 before Ravindra Jadeja steadied the innings and took them to 159 with support from the lower middle order. Despite the eventual win, Parag felt the team fell short with the bat.

“Firstly, I feel we were really short with the bat. The way the wicket was playing when me and Hetty (Shimron Hetmyer) were batting, I think we’ve got to be better,” he said.

“I thought, honestly, even with the situation we had, we were close to getting 180, and that would have been a really good score because I knew it was going to be slowing down later. But yeah, the bowlers, they did pretty well,” he added.

The bowlers then stepped up to defend the total, with Jofra Archer and Nandre Burger leading the effort in the powerplay. Both bowled three overs each early on and returned identical figures of 1 for 15. A crucial run-out of Ayush Badoni by substitute fielder Ravi Singh also helped shift momentum, resulting in what Parag described as an “impressive” fielding display.

“For two bowlers to bowl three in the powerplay at this stage of the game or how T20 cricket is evolving, I think it’s just commendable,” Parag said.

“The wicket was helping a little more to the seamers in the first innings, but then the second innings we knew it would swing, but the lengths they bowled, the lines they bowled, and the way we fielded… impressive,” he added.

In the end, Rajasthan Royals registered a 40-run win over Lucknow Super Giants, marking their fifth victory in seven matches and moving them up to second place in the points table. They will now return to Jaipur to face Sunrisers Hyderabad on April 25.

Burger penalised for conduct breach

Rajasthan Royals pacer Nandre Burger has been fined 10 per cent of his match fees and handed one demerit point for breaching the IPL Code of Conduct. Burger was found guilty of using a send-off gesture after dismissing LSG captain Rishabh Pant. The act was deemed to be in violation of Article 2.5 of the IPL Code of Conduct, which relates to using language or gestures that could provoke an aggressive reaction from an opponent.

The left-arm pacer admitted to the Level 1 offence and accepted the sanction imposed by the match referee. As per IPL regulations, decisions for Level 1 breaches are final and binding, leaving no room for appeal.

An elderly person died due to a heart attack in Birbhum while going to cast his vote as polling concluded in the politically sensitive district of West Bengal on Thursday. Birbhum has been a troublesome district on the polling day in the past, and this time was no different, as several incidents of violence were reported throughout the day.

An election agent of the BJP candidate, Debashish Ojha, in booth number 288 in the Bhramarkol gram panchayat area in Labhpur assembly seat, Biswajit Mondal, suffered a serious head injury during clashes.

Later, police rescued him, and a report was sought by the ECI later in the day. He was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. “The TMC supporters have beaten me with rods and lathis,” he alleged. His car was also vandalized.

In the Khoirasole Block of Dubrajpur assembly in booth number 65 in Budhpur village, locals alleged that the EVM machine was defunct for a long time, and agitated TMC supporters beat the police and central forces on duty by hurling stones and bricks. Two to four state police and CAPF jawans were injured.

The incident prompted police personnel to bring out their weapons and threaten to open fire at the mob if they came forward. Voting was stopped in this booth for a brief period. Later, more central forces arrived, and polling was resumed.

Forty-three TMC leaders of Birbhum district were under observation of police today, though the name of Anubrata Mondal was not in this list. Kesto Mondal went to cast his vote with daughter, Sukanya Mondal, in Bolpur and remained inside the Bolpur TMC party office throughout the day.

In Veramari village in Illambazar booth number 145, a man tried to enter the polling booth and snatch the EVM machine, but was denied by the forces there. Central forces overpowered him and handed him over to the Illambazar Police.

Local TMC leader Hafizul Sheikh has alleged that the central forces threatened the ordinary voters and complained about the excessive strictness applied at the booth. In Labhpur, there were also some reports of clashes between the TMC and the BJP in a few booths.

Jaganath Chattopadhaya, the BJP candidate of Siuri, has thanked the people for casting their votes and said that central forces had done their duty in this election.

Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru will be eyeing a batting resurgence when they take on an equally inconsistent Gujarat Titans in their Indian Premier League (IPL) match at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Friday, in what has been an evenly matched contest between the two sides over the years.

RCB and GT have faced each other six times in the IPL so far, with both teams winning three matches each. The contests have also been closely fought in terms of scoring, with RCB’s highest total against GT being 206 and their lowest 169, while GT’s best is 200 and lowest 147, underlining how little separates the two sides.

A slightly tacky Chinnaswamy pitch took away the usual firepower from the RCB batting unit in their previous match against Delhi Capitals, which they lost by six wickets. But more than just the defeat, their second of the season and first at home in IPL 2026, it was the missed opportunity to strengthen their place in the top four that would have disappointed the team management.

Now placed third on the table with eight points, RCB have Sunrisers Hyderabad (eight points), Delhi Capitals and Gujarat Titans (six points each) close behind them. Another slip-up against GT could push them into a tight spot, especially with a string of away matches coming up, including two at their ‘home away from home’ in Raipur.

As a result, RCB will be keen to give their home fans something to cheer about with a strong performance against Gujarat. However, that will depend largely on their batting unit rediscovering form and finding ways to post competitive totals even when conditions are not entirely favourable.

That has been a concern in their last two matches. Although they secured a comfortable win over Lucknow Super Giants, they lost five wickets in the process. Against Delhi Capitals, the batters struggled from the outset despite opener Phil Salt scoring a well-made 63.

Even big hitters like Rajat Patidar and Tim David were forced to look for alternative scoring options but could not make a significant impact. Going forward, RCB’s batters may need to adopt a Plan B, as their aggressive approach may not always work.

On the bowling front, RCB showed some fight. Led by the experienced Bhuvneshwar Kumar, they managed to take the game against Delhi Capitals deep into the penultimate over. However, the lack of runs on the board meant they didn’t have enough to defend. They will be hoping for a better overall performance this time.

Gujarat Titans, meanwhile, are also coming into this game looking to bounce back. Their last outing was a heavy defeat to Mumbai Indians, where they were bowled out for just 100 and lost by 99 runs. That result also hurt their net run rate significantly.

In terms of batting, skipper Shubman Gill and Jos Buttler have shown some consistency, but they have not received enough support from the rest of the lineup. Players like Sai Sudharsan, Glenn Phillips and Rahul Tewatia have not been able to make meaningful contributions or play impactful cameos. As a result, Gujarat have not produced a standout batting performance this season, something their opponents RCB have managed on multiple occasions.

However, Gujarat’s strength lies in their bowling attack, which includes Prasidh Krishna, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj and Rashid Khan. Despite having such a strong bowling unit, their efforts have often been undermined by the inconsistency of the batting lineup.

Squads:

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Rajat Patidar (captain), Virat Kohli, Tim David, Jacob Bethell, Romario Shepherd, Josh Hazlewood, Nuwan Thushara, Devdutt Padikkal, Jitesh Sharma, Krunal Pandya, Rasikh Dar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jordan Cox, Suyash Sharma, Venkatesh Iyer, Swapnil Singh, Jacob Duffy, Kanishk Chouhan, Abhinandan Singh, Mangesh Yadav, Phil Salt, Satvik Deswal, Vicky Ostwal, Vihaan Malhotra.

Gujarat Titans: Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (c), Shahrukh Khan, Anuj Rawat, Jos Buttler, Kumar Kushagra, Tom Banton, Glenn Phillips, Jason Holder, Nishant Sindhu, Rahul Tewatia, Washington Sundar, Sai Kishore, Jayant Yadav, Arshad Khan, Shahrukh Khan, Manav Suthar, Rashid Khan, Mohammed Siraj, Kagiso Rabada, Prasidh Krishna.

The Char Dham Yatra 2026 gained full momentum on Thursday with the opening of the portals of Badrinath Temple, a day after Kedarnath Temple. The shrine was opened to devotees at 6.15 am as scheduled, with Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami performing the first Puja in the name of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, following traditional rituals and Vedic chants.

According to officials, the opening ceremony of the portals of the Badrinath Temple was witnessed by more than 15,000 devotees from across the country and abroad, who later visited inside the sanctum sanctorum to seek the blessings of Lord Badri Vishal and the akhand jyoti (eternal flame).

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami performed the first mahabhishek puja in the name of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, praying for peace, prosperity and happiness for the nation and the Himalayan state.

After the puja at the shrine, Dhami also offered prayers at the Lakshmi Temple, Ganesh Temple, and the seat of Adi Shankaracharya within the temple premises.

Later, addressing the gathering and welcoming the pilgrims, the Chief Minister said that his government is committed to ensuring a safe, smooth, and well-organised Char Dham Yatra. He, however, appealed to devotees to support a “green and clean Char Dham Yatra,” making it an environmentally friendly pilgrimage.

Dhami inaugurated a bhandara (community kitchen) run by the NGO Manav Seva, Ishwar Seva Utthan Samiti. Following this, he took prasad with other devotees present there. The Chief Minister also interacted with the organisers and lauded the large-scale community kitchen being operated by the members of the Samiti.

Notably, the Char Dham Yatra to the four shrines — Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri — formally commenced on Thursday with the opening of the portals of Badrinath, the last in the sequence that began on April 19 with the opening of Gangotri and Yamunotri shrines. The portals of the Kedarnath Temple were opened on April 22.

The occasion was marked by the performance of the traditional Jhumailo dance by women folk artists from Mana and Bamni villages, accompanied by the tunes of jagar, in the temple courtyard.

Ahead of the monsoon season, Delhi’s Irrigation and Flood Control Department has accelerated its de-silting operations across the national capital’s major drains, achieving over 57 per cent of its target so far in a bid to minimise water logging and urban flooding.

According to official figures, desilting work across 76 drains has reached 57.68 per cent completion, with more than 16.48 lakh cubic meters of silt already removed against a total target of 28.57 lakh cubic meters. The progress is particularly significant in critical stretches. Work on 21 priority drains has already crossed 76 per cent completion, indicating near-readiness ahead of the rains.

The Najafgarh drain system, one of Delhi’s most flood-prone zones, has achieved nearly 48 per cent progress, while the remaining 55 drains have also shown steady momentum, touching over 63 per cent completion.

Officials on ground say the vulnerable points identified from previous monsoon seasons are being prioritised to ensure smoother water flow.
Alongside desilting, the department is strengthening its mechanical capacity, with a comprehensive procurement plan worth over Rs 94 crore underway to deploy advanced equipment for drain cleaning and maintenance. This includes 38 specialised machines such as draglines, long-boom hydraulic excavators, amphibious excavators and dredgers, designed specifically for deep and wide drains.

So far, 12 machines have already been procured, while orders for additional equipment have been placed and tenders for the remaining are in process.

Delhi Minister Parvesh Verma, who reviewed the preparedness, said the focus this year is on execution and accountability rather than paperwork. “Our priority is clear, before the monsoon arrives, every critical drain must be cleaned and functional. We are not leaving things for the last moment. Work is being monitored closely at every level,” he added.
Verma further said, “We have strengthened both manpower and machinery. The idea is to ensure that during heavy rainfall, water does not accumulate and disrupt daily life. This is about preparedness, not reaction.”

Boosting India’s ambitions on the global badminton stage, the Sports Authority of India (SAI) has stepped in with Rs 1.45 crore in support for the upcoming BWF Thomas and Uber Cup Finals, scheduled in Horsens, Denmark, from April 24 to May 3.

A 34-member Indian contingent, comprising 20 players, five coaches, and nine support staff, will travel for the prestigious team championships. The squad features top shuttlers including PV Sindhu, Lakshya Sen, Kidambi Srikanth, and the men’s doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, along with several emerging players from the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) Core and Development groups.

India’s men have been placed in Group C alongside Canada, Australia, and China in the Thomas Cup, while the women’s team will compete against Denmark, Ukraine, and China in the Uber Cup.

The financial assistance, approved under the TOPS programme, covers airfare, accommodation, visa charges, accreditation, daily allowances, insurance, food, and other logistical expenses for the entire contingent. SAI has also ensured a comprehensive support setup, with specialised coaches, physiotherapists, trainers, and masseurs accompanying the teams.

India enters the competition with strong momentum, having created history in 2022 by winning the Thomas Cup for the first time after defeating Indonesia in the final, marking a breakthrough moment for Indian badminton on the global stage.

The 2026 edition carries added significance as badminton will not feature in the 2026 Commonwealth Games. Looking ahead, India is set to host the Commonwealth Games in 2030, where the sport is expected to play a key role.

India squads:

Thomas Cup: Lakshya Sen, Ayush Shetty, Kidambi Srikanth, HS Prannoy, Kiran George, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, Chirag Shetty, Hariharan Amsakarunan, MR Arjun, Dhruv Kapila

Uber Cup: PV Sindhu, Unnati Hooda, Tanvi Sharma, Isharani Baruah, Devika Sihag, Gayatri Gopichand, Treesa Jolly, S Kavipriya, Simran Singhi, Tanisha Crasto

Intensifying efforts towards improving road safety, reducing accidents and curbing traffic violations, such as drunken driving, through awareness drives and strengthened enforcement, the Delhi government has spearheaded the ‘Road Safety and Sustainable Mobility Initiative 2026’ under the theme “Aware Today, Responsible Always for a Safer, Greener Tomorrow.”

The initiative, featuring a series of activities including awareness drives for school children, free Pollution Under Control (PUC) check-ups, and engaging nukkad nataks on road safety, brought together key stakeholders, including Transport Minister Dr Pankaj Kumar Singh, Ashok Goel Devraha, MLA, Model Town, and the Delhi Traffic Police.

These events, which saw encouraging public participation, were well-received for community-level impact. The Transport Minister felicitated schoolchildren, Delhi Traffic Personnel, teachers and citizens for their contributions to road safety.

Addressing the gathering, Dr Singh highlighted the government’s focused approach towards safer roads and cleaner air. “Road safety is not a one-day campaign—it is a continuous commitment. Through initiatives like these, we are working to ensure that people not only understand traffic rules but follow them responsibly,” he said.

Emphasizing the importance of awareness at a young age, the Minister added: “Students are the future of our nation. Educating them about road safety today will shape a more responsible generation tomorrow. It is equally important to discourage underage driving and instil discipline at an early stage.”
On tackling drunken driving, the minister said that government has adopted a combination of enforcement and behavioural interventions.
The sustained efforts of the Delhi government have already led to a noticeable reduction in such incidents.

“We remain confident that with the measures and continued public cooperation instances of drunk driving will decline further in the coming years,” the minister added.

Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini-led Haryana government is moving rapidly towards establishing the state as a global hub for Electronics System Design and Manufacturing (ESDM), IT, Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, and Comics sectors.

The government is formulating an industrial policy that will not only be highly attractive to investors in these emerging sectors but will also accelerate large-scale employment generation, innovation, and cutting-edge technological development.

Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, while interacting with industry leaders in New Delhi on Thursday regarding the upcoming Industrial Policy, said that the IT, Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics, and ESDM sectors are emerging as key pillars of the national economy.

Haryana, with its robust infrastructure, strong connectivity, and industry-friendly environment, holds immense potential to attract global investments in these sectors. Industries and Commerce Minister Rao Narbir Singh was also present during the meeting.

He stated that the government aims to position Haryana as a preferred destination for global companies, where leading domestic and international firms can invest. The new Industrial Policy will offer special incentives to ESDM companies, including capital subsidies, tax benefits, skill development support, and ease-of-doing-business provisions to ensure the smooth establishment and expansion of industries.

Industry representatives suggested identifying futuristic products and selecting companies to support them in becoming global players, which would also benefit associated MSMEs. They further emphasised promoting research and development for startups and establishing Centres of Excellence to boost innovation.

To address export-related challenges, representatives recommended setting up global warehouses abroad to facilitate product storage for companies. Several firms also expressed interest in adopting ITIs to ensure the availability of a skilled workforce tailored to industry needs.

Sandeep Arora from Microsoft discussed promoting Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based education in schools, ITIs, and other educational institutions to equip youth with future-ready skills. Under this initiative, students will be trained in AI, machine learning, and data analytics from an early stage, enabling them to compete globally. The state government will also provide policy support and incentives to promote research and development activities and foster innovation.

The state government is also working on a dedicated policy for the Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics (AVGC-XR) sector to provide a structured growth platform for this emerging, creative, and technology-driven industry.

During the meeting, Chairman of FICCI AVGC-XR Forum, Ashish Kulkarni; Director (Public Policy), E-Gaming Federation, Devbhuti Bakshi; and CEO of Media and Entertainment Skills Council, Mohit Soni, suggested strengthening the e-sports ecosystem to create new opportunities for youth and enhance the state’s competitive edge. They also recommended promoting incubators and Centres of Excellence to nurture innovation, startups, and talent in the AVGC-XR sector.

The Chief Minister highlighted the immense potential of developing a wedding city at the historic Yadavindra Gardens in Pinjore, positioning it as a premier destination wedding hub. Puneet Makkar, a representative of IHCL, informed that detailed discussions are underway with the Taj Group to give the project a world-class shape.

In furtherance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision and centre’s policy of “Zero Tolerance” towards drugs, the Delhi Police are organizing a week-long anti-drug awareness campaign ‘Nasha – Not Cool’ across the national capital, beginning Friday.

Home Minister Amit Shah has consistently emphasised the need for stringent action against drug trafficking and the eradication of drug abuse from society. In alignment with the national mission of “Nasha Mukt Bharat”, the Delhi Police continued to undertake proactive measures under the guidance of Lieutenant Governor and leadership of the Commissioner of Police.

As part of the campaign, a theme song in the form of a Rap — highlighting the harmful effects of drug abuse and encouraging youth to stay away from narcotics — was formally launched on Thursday Delhi Police chief Satish Golchha. The song will be disseminated through social media platforms and screened in cinema halls across Delhi during the campaign period to maximise outreach.

The campaign will adopt a comprehensive approach, including social media engagement, radio broadcasts, on-ground awareness activities involving community stakeholders, expert-led podcasts, and sports activities at de-addiction centres.
Starting April 24, the campaign will have active participation from school children, who will play a vital role in spreading awareness in society.

Sharad Pawar-led NCP’s National Working President and Lok Sabha MP Supriya Sule criticized the Fadnavis government for failing to register an FIR and investigate the Ajit Pawar air crash.

After casting her vote in Baramati on Thursday, Sule called it unfortunate that no FIR was filed in a case involving the death of a deputy chief minister. “An FIR was registered in neighbouring Karnataka state by the Congress government due to the efforts of Rohit Pawar, but an FIR should have been registered in Maharashtra much before. This Baramati byelection is taking place, in less than three months of Ajit Pawar’s death,” she said.

Rohit Pawar had lodged the “Zero” FIR in March under Section 173(1) of the Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita. The complaint was later sent to the Baramati Taluka police station in Pune district, which has since forwarded it to the CID.

A Zero FIR is a first information report (FIR) registered at any police station, regardless of whether the crime was committed within its jurisdiction. Rohit Pawar had claimed that he had to lodge the ‘Zero FIR’ in Karnataka as the police in Maharashtra did not register a case on his complaint regarding the Baramati air crash.

A Pune Rural Police officer confirmed that the Baramati Taluka police station had received the Zero FIR from the Bengaluru Police and referred it to the CID.

Significantly, Supriya Sule’s statement came a couple of days after Deputy CM Sunetra Pawar said while campaigning, “Like many people, I also have doubts about the circumstances surrounding Ajit Pawar’s death. All these questions must be answered. For this, I took the lead and met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, who gave clear instructions for a thorough and impartial probe into the crash.”

“Fadnavis had given assurance in the legislative assembly of an impartial investigation. Accordingly, the probe is being carried out by high-level Central agencies. It is clear that the truth must come out in public, and if any wrongdoing is found, the strictest action should be taken against those responsible,” Sunetra Pawar said.

“I have met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah and discussed the matter. Prime Minister Modi and Shah have given clear instructions for a thorough investigation. The truth should come out in this. The guilty should be severely punished. The Chief Minister has also given instructions to take action in this. There will be no compromise on this. The Centre and the state are helping, there should be no worries in this, Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar said.

Since the formation of the new government in Bihar, Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav has been aggressively targeting the ruling side through a series of social media posts.

In his latest tweet, Tejashwi wrote, “When the crown is on the head… criminals have become Samrat.”

In another tweet on Wednesday, the RJD leader said, “Corruption in the NDA government has become so enormous that the corrupt themselves have become the ‘samrat’ (emperor).”

These remarks are being seen as a direct attack on Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary, triggering sharp political reactions.

Continuing his attack on Thursday, Tejashwi posted a video clip on X, claiming that “there is jungle raj in Bihar and women are not safe anywhere in the state.”

He further wrote, “At Sitaram Chowk in Sitamarhi, two miscreants snatched a gold chain from a woman in broad daylight and fled, exposing the tall claims of law and order made by NDA leaders.”

Sharing another video clip, the RJD leader said, “This is not a scene from a film, but an incident from the Mahnar police station area of Vaishali district in Bihar, where around 30 criminals entered a village, firing shots and hurling bombs. They assaulted people and looted a gold trader’s house, escaping with jewellery and cash worth lakhs.”

“During the incident, the police were informed, but they reached the spot an hour later. By then, the criminals had fled. There is fear among the people in the area. Incidents of murder, loot and crime are occurring in Bihar every day,” he added.

“Sometimes, criminals enter shops and hold guns to people’s temples; at other times, they publicly slit someone’s throat. For 21 years, criminals have received such protection from those in power that today they have become ‘samrat’ in Bihar. Their morale is so high that people now feel afraid even within the state,” he wrote on X.

Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary hit back at Tejashwi Yadav, reminding him of the Lalu-era rule.

Vijay Chaudhary said, “He has never found Bihar’s law and order satisfactory. Did he think things were fine during his own rule?”

BJP candidates, Pravesh Wahi and Monika Pant, for the posts of mayor and deputy mayor, respectively, on Thursday filed their nominations for the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) mayoral elections at the civic centre.

Along with the mayoral candidates, the BJP had announced the names of the two members, Jai Bhagwan Yadav and Manish Chadha, for the Standing Committee of the MCD. Wahi represents the Rohini E ward, while Monika Pant represents the Anand Vihar ward of the municipal corporation.

Both the candidates expressed gratitude to the party’s leadership and Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and the state unit chief of the party Virendra Sachdeva for reposing faith in them and expressed confidence that work will be done with full commitment for the progress of the national capital.

Speaking to reporters after filing their nominations, he said a lot of work has to be done in the city for the public amenities to improve services. In coordination with the Delhi government, the MCD will work on enhancing the beauty and overall development of the city.
Earlier in the day, according to a statement issued by the state unit of the BJP, the names of the candidates had been announced as per the instructions of the BJP national president.
The party had named Pravesh Wahi as its Mayoral election candidate, while he is concurrently serving as the Leader of the House.

Jai Bhagwan Yadav has been named by the party leadership for the Standing Committee Member and the leader of the House, while the other candidate for the standing committee member is Manish Chaddha.

The polls for the said positions have been scheduled for April 29, while the civic body had opened nominations for all posts, with candidates required to file papers by April 23, 5 pm.

Meanwhile, taking to social media platform X, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta congratulated Pravesh Wahi and Monika Pant on being declared as candidates by the party for the Mayor and Deputy Mayor elections in the civic body. She expressed the hope that by embracing BJP’s vision and the mantra of Antyodaya, experience of the leaders and diligence will take Delhi’s development to new heights.

“Through all your efforts, the municipal administration will succeed in fulfilling the hopes and aspirations of Delhi’s residents,” Gupta added.

The Supreme Court has stayed proceedings against a Uttar Pradesh police officer — accused of rioting, causing hurt and breach of peace — noting that not a single prosecution witness has been examined in the last 35 years in the case registered way back in 1989 at Prayagraj.

Issuing notice to the Uttar Pradesh government and staying further proceedings, a Bench of Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice Vijay Bishnoi on Monday, April 20, said, “In the facts and circumstances of this case and more particularly, having regard to the fact that almost 35 years have lapsed, we are inclined to quash the proceedings on this ground alone.”

However, the Court chose to hear the Uttar Pradesh government before passing any final order. “However, before proceeding further to pass any order, we would like to hear the State(s),” the Court said, issuing notice and posting the matter for further hearing on April 29, 2026. The Court also impleaded the State of Uttarakhand through its Principal Secretary, Home Department, as a respondent.

The Court also noted that there were five accused in the case. Two of them passed away during the course of the proceedings, while two others were acquitted as no prosecution witness was produced against them for the recording of oral evidence.

“We are informed that in all, five accused came to be charge-sheeted, including the present petitioner. Out of five, two co-accused passed away and the other two co-accused have already been acquitted on the ground that the prosecution failed to produce any of the prosecution witnesses for the purpose of recording of oral evidence,” the Court noted in its order.

The petitioner police officer has approached the Supreme Court against the February 23, 2026 order of Allahabad High Court rejecting his plea for stay and quashing of the criminal proceedings.

The petitioner, police officer Kailash Chandra Kapri, is facing trial for offences punishable under Sections 147, 323 and 504 of the Indian Penal Code and Section 120 of the Railway Act. The case was registered in 1989 with GRP Rambagh Police Station, District Allahabad, and is pending before the Court of the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (Railway), Prayagraj.

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) produced a dominant all-round performance to register a thumping 103-run win over Mumbai Indians (MI) in Match 33 of IPL 2026 at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday.

After posting a strong 207/6, powered by a brilliant unbeaten century from Sanju Samson, CSK’s spinners delivered a historic bowling performance to dismantle MI for just 104 in 19 overs.

Samson Samson’s brilliance powers CSK past 200

Asked to bat first, CSK got off to a flying start as Sanju Samson and Ruturaj Gaikwad added quick runs inside the powerplay. Although Gaikwad fell early for 22, Samson continued to dominate the MI attack with fluent stroke play.

Sarfaraz Khan added quick runs, while Dewald Brevis and Jamie Overton provided late momentum, but it was Samson who anchored the innings from start to finish. He brought up a superb unbeaten 101 off 54 balls, smashing 10 fours and 6 sixes to push CSK past the 200-mark.

For MI, AM Ghazanfar and Ashwani Kumar picked up two wickets each but struggled to contain the flow of runs.

MI collapse under spin pressure

In reply, MI’s chase of 208 never got going as they suffered an early collapse. Akeal Hosein and Mukesh Choudhary ripped through the top order, leaving MI reeling at 11/3 inside three overs.

Tilak Varma (37) and Suryakumar Yadav (35) attempted a recovery with a 50-run stand, but the pressure kept building as the required rate climbed sharply.

The turning point came when CSK’s spin attack took full control. Akeal Hosein delivered a sensational spell of 4/17, while Noor Ahmad struck twice in quick succession to remove Hardik Pandya and Sherfane Rutherford, breaking MI’s resistance completely.

From 84/3, MI collapsed dramatically to 87/7, eventually being bowled out for 104 in 19 overs.

CSK’s spin unit dominated the match, taking 9 wickets in total, the most by any team in a single IPL match at Wankhede. Hosein led the charge with a match-defining spell, while Noor Ahmad and Anshul Kamboj provided crucial support.

Playing XIs

Mumbai Indians (MI):
Hardik Pandya (c), Quinton de Kock (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Naman Dhir, Sherfane Rutherford, Mitchell Santner, Jasprit Bumrah, Krish Bhagat, AM Ghazanfar, Ashwani Kumar
Impact options: Will Jacks, Raj Angad Bawa, Shardul Thakur, Danish Malewar, Mayank Rawat

Chennai Super Kings (CSK):
Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Sanju Samson (wk), Sarfaraz Khan, Dewald Brevis, Shivam Dube, Kartik Sharma (wk), Jamie Overton, Noor Ahmad, Anshul Kamboj, Gurjapneet Singh, Mukesh Choudhary
Impact options: Matthew Short, Matt Henry, Akeal Hosein, Urvil Patel, Prashant Veer

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday informed that ten Indian ships have safely crossed the Strait of Hormuz in the last few weeks while 14 Indian vessels are still present in the Persian Gulf.

Addressing his weekly media briefing in New Delhi, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “Ten Indian Vessels have exited the Strait of Hormuz safely in the last few weeks, while 14 Indian ships are still in the Persian Gulf.”

In response to another media query on the West Asia situation, Jaiswal said as far as West Asia is concerned, India’s policy regarding the ongoing situation is very clear, “India has always been in favour of peace”. “Any step that is being taken, or will be taken, towards peace initiatives has our support. We have consistently maintained that any issue, conflict, or difference should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy. This remains our position, and this is India’s stance at present,” the MEA spokesperson added.

During the briefing, the MEA spokesperson also mentioned that India and the US are engaged in the ongoing discussions to finalise a comprehensive trade agreement aimed at benefiting both countries. “A team from India went to Washington DC for negotiations on the bilateral trade agreement. These engagements are ongoing and constructive. Both sides are working towards a balanced, mutually beneficial and forward-looking trade agreement, taking into account each other’s concerns and priorities, and to reach a trade target of US $500 billion by 2030,” he said.

India has also welcomed Japan’s decision to review its long-standing framework governing the transfer of defence equipment and technology, describing it as a positive step that could further strengthen bilateral security cooperation. The MEA spokesperson said, “India welcomes Japan’s review of the three principles on the transfer of defence equipment and technology. Defence and security cooperation form an important pillar of the India-Japan special strategic and global partnership.”

He emphasised that both India and Japan have consistently worked to deepen collaboration under their shared strategic vision.

“As part of the Joint Declaration on security cooperation between India and Japan, both sides have committed to increasing practical cooperation in the interest of their national security and continuing economic dynamism,” he added.

He further highlighted that the evolving framework would support enhanced technological and industrial collaboration, including between government entities and private sector stakeholders, particularly in sectors critical to national security and resilience. “This includes promotion and facilitation of technological and industrial collaboration between the government entities and private sector stakeholders for resilience in sectors critical to national security,” Jaiswal said.

The remarks come after Japan, on April 21, announced amendments to its “Three Principles on Transfer of Defense Equipment and Technology” and the associated implementation guidelines.

In a year when millions of students across Uttar Pradesh waited anxiously for their results, it was a quiet village story that stole the spotlight. From the fields of Sitapur to the top of the state merit list, two daughters of farmers have emerged as the face of academic excellence, turning a routine results day into a moment of pride and inspiration.

The 2026 results declared by the Uttar Pradesh Madhyamik Shiksha Parishad saw Kashish Verma and Shikha Verma, both from rural Sitapur, secure the top ranks in Class 10 and Class 12, respectively. Studying at the same school and raised in farming households, their achievements have stunned the state and drawn attention to the growing academic strength of rural students, especially girls.

Kashish Verma topped the High School (Class 10) examination with 97.83 per cent, sharing the first rank with Anshika Verma of Barabanki, who also scored 97.83 per cent. In the Intermediate (Class 12) examination, Shikha Verma secured the top position with 97.60 per cent marks, completing a rare double feat for Sitapur district.

Both toppers are students of Baburam Savitri Devi School in Bilauli Bazar, Mahmudabad. Coming from modest agrarian families, their success underscores a story of discipline and determination amid limited resources.

Notably, girls once again led the merit lists this year, maintaining their strong run in the state board exams. The overall pass rate was recorded at 90.42 per cent for Class 10 and 80.38 per cent for Class 12.

The board conducted the examinations between February 18 and March 12 across 8,033 centres spanning all 75 districts. Evaluation of answer sheets took place from March 18 to April 4 at 254 centres, involving nearly 56,000 teachers. Around 2.75 crore answer copies were assessed within just 15 working days, reflecting the scale and efficiency of the process.

According to board secretary Bhagwati Singh, the toppers’ list was released alongside the results, and meritorious students will be honoured by the state government.

This year, approximately 26.02 lakh students appeared for the High School exams, while 24.91 lakh candidates took the Intermediate exams, making it one of the largest school examination systems in the country.

Students can check their results through the official UP Board website, DigiLocker, and SMS services.

But beyond numbers and percentages, it is the story from Sitapur that will be remembered, a reminder that talent thrives everywhere, even in the most unassuming corners of the state.

Eleven persons were killed in two separate accidents in Garhwal Himalayas since Wednesday night. Eight deaths took place on Thursday afternoon as the vehicle they were travelling in fell into a 300 metres gorge in Tehri Garhwal.

According to District Disaster Management Authority officials, an accident took place near Nail on Chamba-Koti Colony Road as the driver apparently lost his control over the vehicle with 10 persons on board. Eight of them died at the accident site while two survivors were taken for medical treatment in District Hospital Tehri. The injured were identified as Uttam, 30, and Ankit, 22, who were undergoing medical aid.

According to the State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF), all the deceased belonged to the Ghansali block in district Tehri. They were returning from Rishikesh after conducting last rites of a family member when the tragedy occurred.

Confirming the deaths, District Disaster Management Officer Brijesh Bhatt said all eight deceased were killed at the accident site while two others were rushed to the hospital.

This was the second accident in the high altitude Garhwal Himalayas in the last 24 hours killing 11 persons since Wednesday night. Three victims, including the vehicle driver, died on the spot on Wednesday night when their car fell into a 250 meters deep gorge at Bhiri area of Rudraprayag district as the victims were travelling to their village. According to SDRF

Expressing his concern on the accident, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said, “News of the vehicular accident on the Nail-Koti Colony Road at Chamba in Tehri Garhwal was deeply saddening. I pray to God to grant the departed souls peace and give the bereaved families strength to bear this immense loss.”

Dhami further said, “Directions have been issued to the district administration to ensure proper treatment for the injured victims. I pray from Baba Kedar for speedy recovery of the injured.”