Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma on Wednesday targeted the arch rival Congress for dishonouring the Army and acting against the interests of the soldiers and committing scams in defence procurements from foreign companies.

Speaking at the Shaurya Ke SaathSankalp Diwas programme after unveiling a statue of Lt General Sagat SinghRathore in Churu city, Sharma said, “Since the installation of Narendra Modi-led NDA government in the country in 2014, continued initiatives and efforts have been made for strengthening the Army set-up and welfare of the soldiers. “Continuous steps were taken under the guidance and leadership of Prime Minister ModiJi for updation and capability building of armed forces, cautious procurement of high quality arms, ammunition and essential equipment were ensured from foreign firms. Moreover, focus was kept on developing – enhancing our capacity and capability of enhancing domestic production in the defence manufacturing sector.”

Contrary to this, he said, the Congress-led previous regimes had always overlooked the needs of the armed forces and interests of soldiers. All this, they did for their political gains under previous rules while under the Modi regime they have been opposing every of our government’s initiatives taken for the cause of the nation.

Under their regimes, they kept in abeyance even the soldiers’ long-pending demand of One Rank; One Pension. They used to procure poor quality of defence items from foreign manufacturers at high prices and thus put in peril the safety (of life) of our soldiers. Their leaders dishonoured the Army by questioning the success and effectiveness of Surgical Strikes, the Balakot air strikes by our airforce and even spoke against Operation Sindoor.

Their leaders used to undertake foreign visits and dishonour the Indian nation by their (offending) utterances, the CM alleged.

He also criticised the grand old party’s stance on defeat of the Women’s Quota related 131st constitution amendment bill and the failure to keep the promise made by the previous government for fetching the Yamuna river water from Haryana for the areas of Shekhawati. .

Sikkim Governor Om Mathur, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, senior BJP leader and former Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly Rajendra Rathore also spoke on the occasion. These senior leaders recalled memoirs and relieved deeds of bravery and leadership demonstrated by Lt General Sagat SinghRathore in every ward including the Goa liberation task against Portuguese forces, the Indo China Nathula pass war and the 1971 Indo Pak Bangla war in Dhaka.

In a disturbing incident of cruelty towards animals, unidentified miscreants allegedly killed at least a dozen stray dogs by feeding them poison-laced food at the posh Shyamla Hills Apartments in Bhopal on Tuesday night.

The incident came to light on Wednesday when some dog-loving residents of the apartments found a few dogs dead and some in critical conditions inside the apartment premises and also nearby.

On getting information, members of animal NGOs and other dog lovers also reached the spot. They informed the police and the local administration.

As per sources, the bodies of a couple of dogs were sent to the State Veterinary Hospital at Jehangirabad in Bhopal for conducting a postmortem to ascertain the exact cause of death.

Dog lovers alleged that some residents of the apartments, who hate dogs, have poisoned them.

Police officials at the Shyamla Hills police station confirmed that some NGO members and dog lovers submitted a complaint application against unidentified persons in the matter at the police station.

The police, however, did not register an FIR in the matter immediately.

In a similar incident in February this year, 12 stray dogs were poisoned to death by hitherto unidentified miscreants in the same apartments.

India and Japan reaffirmed their commitment to jointly navigate the challenges and opportunities over the next decade in the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI), to help attain their respective domestic goals, and to bring their countries and peoples of the next generation closer together than ever before.

The inaugural India–Japan AI Strategic Dialogue was held on Tuesday in Mumbai. The dialogue was co-chaired by Amit A. Shukla, Joint Secretary (Cyber Diplomacy) in the Ministry of External Affairs and Hanada Takahiro, Deputy Assistant Minister for Cyber Security in the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The dialogue was attended by stakeholder Ministries, Departments and Agencies from both the gGovernments and included a component that brought together representatives from Government and AI industry from both sides.

Both sides engaged in substantive discussions on strategic cooperation across the entire AI stack, with a view to promoting co-creation, enhancing policy convergence, and encouraging the development of AI solutions in industrial domains to foster a robust, innovative and trustworthy AI ecosystem.

The Ministry of External Affairs said the dialogue also explored avenues to strengthen international mobility of AI talent and expand joint research through exchanges and collaborative projects. Furthermore, both sides deliberated on international cooperation in AI governance, policy formulation, and engagement in multilateral fora.

The AI Strategic Dialogue advances the India-Japan AI Cooperation Initiative, announced by the Prime Ministers of India and Japan during the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Japan in August 2025. Cooperation in this field constitutes a central pillar of the India–Japan Joint Vision for the next decade.

Punjab is set to take a major step towards crop diversification and sustainable agriculture. Through the concerted efforts of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, the establishment of a Centre of Excellence for Basmati has been secured during his ongoing visit to the Netherlands. The initiative aims to strengthen farmers’ incomes and reduce overdependence on the wheat-paddy cycle.

As part of his visit, the Chief Minister explored best practices in agriculture and industry to benefit Punjab’s farmers, who have played a key role in making the country self-reliant in food production. He noted, “For the sake of the nation, farmers in Punjab have overexploited the state’s fertile land and water resources, making it essential to shift away from the wheat-paddy cycle.”

He further stated, “For the sake of the nation, the farmers of the state have overexploited their only available natural resources—fertile land and water—due to which the need of the hour is to bring them out of the rut of the wheat-paddy cycle.” Emphasising the way forward, he added, “For this purpose, a major push for crop diversification is needed in the state. The Netherlands can significantly support Punjab in this noble cause.”

During his visit to the LT Foods facility in Rotterdam, the company shared details of its global presence across more than 80 countries and its strong linkage with over one lakh farmers. The visit focused on sustainable farming practices and expanding Punjab’s basmati footprint globally.

Stressing the importance of aligning with international standards, the Chief Minister said, “There is a need for sustainable farming, including reducing pesticide usage, to meet international standards and promote basmati rice in the global market.” Following this engagement, LT Foods agreed to establish a Centre of Excellence for Basmati Rice in Punjab, along with a pilot project for assured procurement and low-pesticide cultivation.

The Chief Minister also called for expediting collaboration between Punjab Agricultural University and Dutch multinationals for research and sustainable agricultural practices. Highlighting the economic challenges in farming, he said, “With shrinking profit margins, agriculture is no longer a profitable proposition, due to which farmers are facing difficulties in meeting their basic needs.” He further noted, “The production potential of available crop technologies has already been largely exploited and has nearly reached a plateau.”

The Chief Minister also visited the Floriculture Auction Market Aalsmeer, the world’s largest flower and plant marketplace, where he observed the Dutch auction system and its highly integrated ecosystem of production, logistics, and global distribution. He emphasised Punjab’s intent to adopt similar models to strengthen agri-value chains and enhance farmers’ incomes.

In a detailed meeting with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature, Government of the Netherlands, led by senior officials including the Director-General for Agriculture, the Chief Minister highlighted the strong India–Netherlands partnership in agriculture.

He sought cooperation in water-efficient farming and crop diversification, enhancing productivity through technology and precision agriculture, and promoting sustainable and regenerative farming practices. “Punjab is keen to adopt advanced agricultural systems from the Netherlands, including automation, AI, drones, and data-driven crop management, as well as innovations in greenhouse farming,” he said.

Underscoring the role of technology-driven cultivation, the Chief Minister noted that greenhouse farming offers efficiency in water and energy use but is best suited for high-value crops. He also proposed potential partnerships between Punjab Agricultural University and leading Dutch institutions such as Wageningen University & Research, particularly in applied research, innovation, and knowledge exchange.

During his meeting with the leadership of VNO-NCW, the Chief Minister stressed the need to build a structured partnership to facilitate sustained engagement between Dutch companies and Punjab.

He highlighted that the evolving India–EU Free Trade Agreement is expected to create new opportunities for trade and investment, noting that both Punjab and the Netherlands can mutually benefit in sectors such as IT/ITeS, dairy, food processing, and agri-value chains, including potato production.

Extending an invitation to global investors, he said, “Punjab offers a conducive ecosystem for investment.” He invited Dutch companies to participate in upcoming agri-tech and industrial platforms, including engagements with the Confederation of Indian Industry.

He also highlighted the state’s progressive policy framework, including the Industrial & Business Development Policy 2026 and the FastTrack Punjab Portal, which ensures time-bound and transparent approvals.

Reaffirming the broader vision, the Chief Minister reiterated the Punjab Government’s commitment to building a technology-driven, sustainable, and globally integrated agricultural and industrial economy.

In a strict move to control pollution in the national capital, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Wednesday announced that her government has decided that vehicles without a valid PUC (Pollution Under Control) certificate will no longer be provided fuel in Delhi.

“All petrol pumps and fuel agencies have been directed to ensure strict compliance with the rules,” the Delhi chief minister said on X.

He further stated that vehicles without a valid ‘Pollution Under Control’ certificate will not be provided petrol, diesel, CNG, or LPG at fuel stations across Delhi.

Expressing her government’s commitment to public welfare, CM Gupta said that the move was necessary to tackle the challenge of air pollution.

“Taking strong and effective measures to tackle the challenge of air pollution is the need of the hour, and our government is continuously working in this direction with full commitment, strong willpower, and dedication to public welfare,” CM Gupta added.

The Kerala Cabinet on Wednesday ordered a judicial inquiry into the circumstances leading to the blast at a fireworks unit in Mundathikode, Thrissur, that killed 14 people and injured several others. Justice C.N. Ramachandran Nair, a single-member judicial commission, will head the inquiry.

An emergency financial assistance of Rs 14 lakh will be provided to the families of the deceased, including Rs 4 lakh from the State Disaster Response Fund and Rs 10 lakh from the Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF). The cabinet meeting held online has also decided to provide Rs 2 lakh each to the injured.

The Cabinet also directed the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) to declare the blast in Thrissur as a state-specific disaster.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the next of kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured.

Meanwhile, the search for those missing in the explosion at the Mundathikode firecracker manufacturing facility continued on Wednesday. Cadaver dogs are being used in the search. Two more body parts were found in a nearby field on Wednesday.

Kerala Health Minister Veena George confirmed that nine complete bodies and 26 body parts have been recovered from the site. The body parts, many of which are charred, are undergoing forensic examination and DNA testing to determine the exact number of victims, as many individuals remain untraceable. The central agency, Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO), has also reached the spot for inspection.

Meanwhile, in the wake of the Mundathikode disaster in Thrissur, the Palakkad District Collector has issued a stop memo to a firecracker manufacturing unit associated with the Paramekkavu Devaswom .The unit is located in Vellaramkadavu, Muthalamada, Palakkad district.

Meanwhile, it is learnt that the government will take a decision on the conduct of the Thrissur Pooram on Thursday. Devaswom Minister VN Vasavan said on Wednesday that the High Court has given permission to convene a high-level meeting on the matter. A decision on the conduct of the Pooram will be taken after the meeting is held on Thursday . He told the media that the government will not take a unilateral decision and the decision will be taken after consulting the Devaswom.

Fourteen people were killed and over 40 were injured on Tuesday in a powerful explosion at a firecracker manufacturing unit at Mindathikode, Thrissur, Kerala.

Reeling under 44°C temperatures over the past few days, Nagpur in Maharashtra has reportedly been facing frequent short-term power cuts, leaving people struggling in the intense heat. Citizens are blaming “unannounced load-shedding” multiple times a day without prior notice.

In the north, Punjab too is facing long power cuts amid rising temperature with the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) imposing eight to 10-hour outages in several parts citing power line repairs and system upgrades. The cuts are expected to continue until the last week of April, raising concerns among industrial and domestic consumers. Rural regions are also affected, causing problems for farmers relying on electricity for agricultural work, according to reports.

The IMD, meanwhile, has predicted that heat wave conditions are likely to continue over major parts of plains of northwest, central India and east India, at least for the next four-five days.

The maximum or day temperatures were recorded in the range of 40-45°C over many parts of east Madhya Pradesh, parts of Odisha, Vidarbha, east Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and also West Rajasthan, Haryana Chandigarh, West Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat state, Madhya Maharashtra, North Interior Karnataka, Telangana, Rayalaseema, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal, the weather office said.

The night temperatures, too, are in the range of 20–26°C over plains in many states, it added.

The key reason for heat-driven power outages is obviously the surging demand for cooling.

Experts, however, say a combination of multiple factors leads to high demand for power, lower supply efficiency, and failing equipment, forcing grid operators to implement rolling blackouts to prevent a wider, uncontrolled grid collapse

Extreme heat triggers use of air conditioning, setting new peak demands, while high ambient temperatures make it difficult for equipment like transformers, substations, and underground cables to dissipate heat, leading to overheating, at times failure.

As transmission lines heat up, their ability to carry power decreases, reducing the overall efficiency. Thermal power plants—coal, gas, nuclear—are also less efficient in high temperatures because the difference between the heat source and the cooling water is reduced, they add.

Delhi’s Social Welfare Minister Ravinder Indraj Singh on Wednesday lamented that an in-depth study into the ideas and struggles of Dr BR Ambedkar, who despite facing adverse circumstances transformed his life through determination and provided the nation with a strong constitutional foundation,

The minister, in his speech at a programme in Aditi College, Bawana, on the occasion of the 136th birth anniversary of Dr Ambedkar, appealed to everyone to study the Constitution and Babasaheb’s thoughts with sincerity. The message of “Educate, Agitate and Organise” is not meant for any one section, but the entire society.
Explaining the true essence of “Jai Bhim,” he connected it with harmony, equality and social justice, and emphasised that society must rise above divisive thinking and move towards unity.

Calling upon the youth to read, understand and become aware of their rights and duties as enshrined in the Constitution, Indraj said smooth progress of India is rooted in the Constitution.

The minister called it a responsibility of the younger generation to actively participate in nation building, and stay away from divisive ideologies. He emphasised that understanding Babasaheb and the Constitution is fundamental to everyone’s life, as it forms the basis of the rights, duties and social harmony.

He noted that the Constitution of India is among the finest in the world and binds together a nation rich in diversity. It has been possible in a vast, multilingual and multicultural country like ours due to the strength of the Constitution, for which Babasaheb deserves immense credit.

In this context, Indraj urged the college administration to organise regular Constitution study sessions for students so that the youth can become more aware of their rights and responsibilities. Highlighting the importance of women’s empowerment, Ravinder Indraj stated that for the holistic development of society, women must be empowered, educated and be made self reliant.

He said the youth, especially young women, can become the driving force of positive social change and must be provided with every possible opportunity and support.
The Aditi Mahavidyalaya fraternity resolved to further strengthen the values of equality, justice and women empowerment through education and to continue spreading these ideals among the masses.

During the programme, a camp for the creation of Pink Cards for students was organised under the joint aegis of the Bawana MLA Office and the DTC, which was inaugurated by the minister.

The Indian stock market on Wednesday extended early losses to close sharply lower amid pressure in IT stocks. At the close, the Sensex was down 757 points, or 0.95 percent, at 78,516, while the Nifty declined 198 points to 24,378.

Profit booking was seen in banks and IT heavyweights amid the ongoing Q4 earnings season.

Among sectors, the IT index was down 4.5%, private banks shed 0.4%, while FMCG, media, metal, and realty rose 0.4-1%.

On the Nifty, the key gainers were Tata Consumer Products, Hindustan Unilever, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles, NTPC, Jio Financial Services. While on the losing side were HCL Technologies, Tech Mahindra, Infosys, TCS, M&M.

In the FMCG stocks, Emami, Tata Consumer Products, Hindustan Unilever, United Spirits, Varun Beverages, and Dabur India all closed higher, gaining between 1.5% and 4.2%.

The Indian rupee depreciated by 30 paise to settle at 93.79 against the US dollar on Wednesday, compared to its previous close of 93.49.

Investor sentiment remained cautious after U.S. President Donald Trump announced an indefinite extension of the Iran ceasefire.

In the global market, the US markets signalled a cautious rebound, with S&P futures rising 0.6% and Nasdaq futures gaining 0.7%. In Europe, the STOXX index edged up 0.1% in early trade, while Asia saw a more subdued trend, with MSCI’s Asia-Pacific index (excluding Japan) slipping 0.5% after hitting a seven-week high in the previous session.

Oil prices slipped below the $100 mark. Brent crude futures fell 0.3% to around $98.16 per barrel after briefly nearing $100 earlier in the session.

Khan is set to step down as the ICC’s General Manager, Cricket, bringing an end to his four-year stint in the role. He took over the position in May 2022, replacing Geoff Allardice after the latter moved into the CEO role at the ICC.

Before joining the global body, Wasim had spent nearly three years as the CEO of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), where he played a key role in the board’s administration.

Wasim’s journey in cricket began as a player. He was the first British-born Muslim to feature in county cricket, representing Warwickshire in the mid-to-late 1990s. A left-handed batter, he played 58 first-class matches and 30 List A games across stints with Warwickshire, Sussex and Derbyshire.

One of the highlights of his playing career was being part of Warwickshire’s County Championship-winning side in 1995, where he averaged close to 50 during the season. After his playing days, Wasim built a strong reputation in cricket administration. He served as CEO of Leicestershire County Cricket Club and also held a leadership role at the Cricket Foundation.

During his time there, he was instrumental in developing ‘Chance to Shine’ into one of the leading cricket charities in the United Kingdom, helping to grow the game at the grassroots level.
During his tenure at the ICC, one of the key challenges Wasim had to navigate was the increasingly congested global cricket calendar.

The rise of franchise-based T20 and T10 leagues has put pressure on the international schedule, making it more difficult to balance bilateral series with league commitments. Despite this, the most recent Future Tours Programme (FTP) for the 2023–27 cycle, finalised during his time, actually saw an increase in the volume of international cricket being played. The period also marked a significant milestone with the introduction of the first-ever women’s FTP, aimed at providing greater structure and opportunities in the women’s game.

Wasim is set to officially step down at the end of June and is expected to take up a new role from July. His departure comes amid a broader wave of changes within the ICC’s senior leadership over the past couple of years. Former CEO Geoff Allardice has already moved on and has been replaced by Sanjog Gupta. Chris Tetley, who previously headed events, has been succeeded by Gaurav Saxena, while Alex Marshall, who led the ICC’s anti-corruption unit, has been replaced by Andrew Ephgrave.

Former India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh has praised Ishan Kishan’s captaincy for Sunrisers Hyderabad and believes the franchise should continue backing the young wicketkeeper-batter as leader, even with Pat Cummins set to return to the side.

Sunrisers Hyderabad recorded their third straight win in IPL 2026 with a convincing 47-run victory over Delhi Capitals at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium. The result further strengthened their position in the points table and highlighted their recent turnaround under Kishan’s leadership.

The win was set up by a brilliant, career-best century from Abhishek Sharma, who powered SRH to a commanding 242 for 2. The bowlers then delivered a disciplined performance, with Eshan Malinga leading the attack as they restricted Delhi Capitals to 195 for 9 to seal a comprehensive victory.

Sharing his views on SRH’s leadership, Harbhajan said the team has developed a strong understanding under Kishan, and continuity would help maintain that momentum. “Ishan Kishan should continue as Sunrisers Hyderabad captain even if Pat Cummins returns. It is a debatable call, but if the team has backed a young leader, they should stick with him. Cummins helped Hyderabad reach the final in 2024, no doubt. But the side is doing well under Kishan’s leadership. The bowlers and other players have built good coordination with him. Keeping Ishan as captain will benefit Sunrisers Hyderabad,” Harbhajan told Jio Hotstar.

Kishan had taken over as stand-in captain at the start of the season, with regular skipper Cummins expected to miss the initial matches due to a back injury. The Australian all-rounder has now been declared fit and is likely to return for SRH’s upcoming match against Rajasthan Royals on April 25.

SRH’s campaign under Kishan began on a difficult note with a loss to Royal Challengers Bengaluru. They responded with a strong win over Kolkata Knight Riders but then slipped again, suffering back-to-back defeats against Lucknow Super Giants and Punjab Kings.

However, after managing just one win in their first four matches, SRH have turned things around impressively. They have now registered three consecutive victories against Rajasthan Royals, Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals, climbing to third place in the standings. The team also holds a healthy net run rate of +0.820, reflecting their dominant performances during this phase.

Member of Parliament from the Chandni Chowk parliamentary constituency in Delhi Praveen Khandelwal on Wednesday described the failure to pass the Women’s Reservation Bill in Parliament as a “dark chapter” in the history of India’s democracy.

Launching a sharp attack on the Congress, Rahul Gandhi, and the entire Opposition during a press conference here, , Khandelwal said this is not just the defeat of a Bill, but a betrayal of the rights, dignity, and future of women in country.
Chandni Chowk District BJP President Arvind Garg, and Keshavpuram District BJP President Ajay Khatana were also present in the press conference.

Khandelwal alleged that under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi, the Congress and its allied parties, the TMC, DMK, SP, and Aam Aadmi Party, have collectively and deliberately conspired to bring down this historic legislation. He accused Rahul Gandhi of opposing the Bill due to personal and political interests, which, he said, had become the biggest obstacle in the path of women’s empowerment. “This conduct reflects a failure of leadership, lack of foresight, and insensitivity toward women’s dignity,” the Chandni Chowk MP said.

Khandelwal remarked that the very Lok Sabha where Rahul Gandhi dared to defeat the Women’s Reservation Bill will, in the future, correct this historic wrong and script a new chapter by granting women their due rights. Had the Bill been passed, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra would have emerged as a more powerful and influential leader within the grand old party.

According to Khandelwal, Rahul and the Opposition, driven by narrow political interests, have crushed the aspirations of the women in the country, which the nation is not going to forget. He accused the Congress of historically treating women as a mere “vote bank,” and that delaying this crucial issue for decades and opposing it when the time came for implementation exposes their double standards, opportunistic politics, and anti-women mindset.

He added that the women’s reservation in governance is not just about political representation, but a cornerstone of social justice, equal opportunity, and national development.

The Election Commission of India on Wednesday issued a notics to Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge over his “terrorist” remark on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, reported news agency ANI.

According to the agency, the poll body has taken a serious note of Kharge’s remarks and asked him to explain his stand within 24 hours.

The development comes hours after a BJP delegation met the poll panel and lpdged a formal complaint against Kharge.

What Kharge had said on Modi?

Addressing a press conference in Chennai, Kharge said, “How these AIADMK people, who themselves put the photo of Annadurai, how can they join Modi? He is a terrorist.”

When the Congress chief was asked to put his statement in context, he clarified, “He (PM Modi) is terrorising people and political parties. I never said he is a terrorist.”

“What I mean, I want to clarify, is that Modi always threatens. The institutions like ED, I-T and CBI are in his hands. He wants to take delimitation also into his hands. Therefore I said , in that context, he is terrorising people and political parties. I never said he is a terrorist,” Kharge added.

Seeing his remarks snowballing into a major controversy ahead of polling in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, Kharge issued a clarification, saying he meant the Prime Minister was “trying to silence people” and didn’t intend to call him a terrorist literally.

“I did not speak against the PM. The PM is terrorising politicians, candidates and regarding this, I said that tax terrorism is happening, ED is conducting raids, Income Tax Dept is conducting raids, and CBI is conducting raids. This terrorism is being facilitated by the PM. I did not call him a terrorist; he is facilitating terrorism to scare people. He is trying to silence people through raids and attempting to defeat them in elections. This is what I said in Chennai,” Kharge told reporters in Karnataka’s Kalaburagi.

JD(U) National President Nitish Kumar has announced the party’s new national executive committee, comprising 24 leaders.

His close associate and Rajya Sabha MP, Sanjay Kumar Jha, will continue as the party’s National Working President. Senior party leader and former Jehanabad MP Chandreshwar Prasad Chandravanshi has been appointed National Vice President, while Alok Kumar Suman will serve as Treasurer.

Several senior leaders have been assigned key responsibilities, including the appointment of 12 National General Secretaries. These include Manish Kumar Verma, Afaq Ahmad Khan, Shyam Rajak, Ashok Choudhary, Ramesh Singh Kushwaha, Ram Sevak Singh, Kahkashan Parveen, Kapil Harishchandra Patil, Raj Singh Mann, Sunil Kumar alias Engineer Sunil, Harshvardhan Singh, and Maulana Ghulam Rasool Baliyawi.

Rajiv Ranjan Prasad, Ravindra Prasad Singh, Vidya Sagar Nishad, Dayanand Rai, Sanjay Kumar, Mohammad Nisar, Ruhi Tagung, and Nivedita Kumari have been appointed as National Secretaries.

Rajiv Ranjan Prasad will continue as the JD(U)’s National Spokesperson as well.

However, Nitish Kumar’s son, Nishant Kumar, has not been included in the new executive committee.

Earlier, when Nitish Kumar announced his decision to step down as Bihar Chief Minister and move to the Rajya Sabha, Nishant Kumar was widely seen as a potential Deputy Chief Minister in the new government. However, he declined the opportunity and instead chose to enter active politics.

On March 8, Nishant formally joined the party founded by his father and has since been actively involved in its affairs. Over the past weeks, he has held a series of meetings with party spokespersons, senior leaders, youth leaders, and other office-bearers from across the state.

He has also announced plans for a statewide tour aimed at strengthening the party organisation. The tour is scheduled to begin on May 3 from West Champaran district. While the detailed programme is yet to be released, he is expected to visit all 38 districts and interact directly with party workers and the public.

His growing involvement had fuelled speculation that he might be given a significant organisational role within the JD(U). However, his exclusion from the new executive committee raises questions about whether Nitish Kumar is seeking to avoid perceptions of promoting dynastic politics.

The real estate sector has witnessed a record surge in the capital inflows in the first quarter of 2026, with the investments rising 72% year-on-year to $5.1 billion.

As per CBRE’s latest market monitor report, these inflows, the highest in any quarter ever, were primarily led by developers, closely followed by Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs).

The period also witnessed a significant 53% quarter-on-quarter (Q-o-Q) investment surge from $3.3 billion in Q4 2025, reflecting a sustained institutional investor confidence in the fundamentals of the country’s real estate sector, it said.

Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Delhi-NCR cumulatively accounted for around 65% of the total investment share. Notably, capital from Singapore and Canada comprised ~72% and ~27%, respectively, of total foreign inflows.

During Q1 2026, the investment momentum was mainly led by substantial inflows into built-up office assets and continued activity in land/development site acquisitions, which together commanded more than 90% of the overall equity investment flows.

The report highlighted that the developers constituted 42% of the total capital inflows, closely followed by REITs at 40%.

Investments by REITs surpassed $2 billion, reflecting a multi-fold increase from the previous quarter and representing a substantial share of the total investment pie.

The report also outlined that a significant portion of this capital was directed towards land acquisitions.

Over 73% of the funds dedicated to site acquisitions were deployed for mixed-use and residential projects, with the rest committed to office, warehousing, and hospitality developments.

The investment activity in Q1 2026 was largely driven by domestic investors, who accounted for 96% of total inflows.

Developers led the market with a 42% share while REITs followed closely at 40%, with investments crossing $2 billion.

India’s textile sector sustained its growth momentum in global markets in the Financial Year 2025–26, with total exports, including handicrafts, rising 2.1% year-on-year to Rs 3,16,334.9 crore from Rs 3,09,859.3 crore in the previous fiscal, reflecting steady global demand and competitiveness across segments.

As per the sectoral information shared by the Ministry of Textiles, Ready-Made Garments (RMG) of all textiles remained the largest contributor to textile exports, rising from Rs 1,35,427.6 crore to Rs 1,39,349.6 crore, an increase of 2.9%.

Cotton yarn, fabrics, made-ups and handloom products recorded exports of Rs 1,02,399.7 crore in FY 2025–26 as against Rs 1,02,002.8 crore in FY 2024–25, reflecting stable growth of 0.4%.

Man-made yarn, fabrics and made-ups posted a stronger growth of 3.6%, with exports increasing from Rs 41,196.0 crore to Rs 42,687.8 crore.

Handicrafts, excluding handmade carpets, recorded the highest growth among major categories, rising by 6.1% from Rs 14,945.5 crore to Rs 15,855.1 crore.

The export expansion was geographically broad-based, with growth reported in more than 120 destinations during April 2025 to February 2026. A notable growth has been observed in key markets such as UAE (22.3%), UK (7.8%), Germany (9.9%), Spain (15.5%), Japan (20.6%), Egypt (38.3%), Nigeria (21.4%), Senegal (54.4%), and Sudan (205.6%).

The government extended export promotion measures such as the Rebate of State and Central Taxes and Levies (RoSCTL) Scheme and the Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP) Scheme beyond March 31, 2026, providing continued cost competitiveness to exporters.

India’s FTA agenda also saw major progress during 2025–26, with important implications for the textile and apparel sector. The India–EFTA TEPA entered into force on 1 October 2025; the India–UK CETA was signed in July 2025; the India–Oman CEPA in December 2025; the India–New Zealand FTA was announced on 22 December 2025; and the India–EU FTA was concluded on 27 January 2026.

In a major boost to industrial growth in Jammu and Kashmir, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday inaugurated a Rs 200-crore alkaline battery manufacturing unit of Eveready Industries India Ltd at Samba, significantly strengthening domestic production capacity and employment potential.

The new manufacturing plant boasts a robust annual peak production capacity of approximately 360 million alkaline batteries with an annual installed capacity of 456 million. Marking a significant scale-up in the industry’s production capabilities, Eveready’s Jammu facility will give an impetus to India’s domestic manufacturing while catering to the country’s growing demand for high-performance power solutions.

The plant is expected to provide direct and indirect employment to about 500 people.
Sinha said that the inauguration of Eveready’s plant, along with the changed atmosphere in the Union Territory, reflects the sustained efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, under whose leadership a new destiny has been written for Jammu Kashmir. His vision has turned the dream of a prosperous Jammu Kashmir into reality.

He observed that across Samba, Kathua, Jammu and many parts of Kashmir, the industrial revolution we are witnessing today is a living symbol of a new era for Jammu Kashmir. He said in the past 5 years, the scale of industrial development has moved beyond mere economic figures and become the most powerful medium of transformation across Union Territory.

The Lieutenant Governor shared significant figures to highlight industrial transformation of Jammu Kashmir after the New Industrial Policy was launched in 2021. He said in the financial year 2025-26 alone, Jammu Kashmir attracted investment of Rs. 5,824 crore—more than 13 times the average investment recorded before 2021. In FY 2022-23 investment was Rs. 2,153 crore, in FY 2023-24 Rs. 3,389 crore, and in FY 2024-25 Rs. 4,145 crore. In addition, half the preliminary work has already been completed on 312 units worth Rs. 7,864 crore, with production expected to begin in FY 2026-27.

Jammu Kashmir has also seen, for the first time, the establishment of several units with investments exceeding Rs. 500 crore, including Chiripal Polyfilms (Rs. 1,215 crore), Kandhari Beverages (Rs. 830 crore), and Aegios (Rs. 666 crore). Three more units are expected to start production in FY 2026-27.

The Lieutenant Governor said through today’s inauguration, we have also sent a message to the whole world that while our neighbouring country continues to run factories of terrorism, India is building factories of progress and success.

“Today we have told the world that while our neighbour’s factories churn out terrorists, India’s factories are engaged in nation building. We are also conveying that the economic potential, industrial energy and inclusive development of Jammu Kashmir are advancing with a new sense of pride,” the Lieutenant Governor said.

Mohit Burman, Non-Executive Director, Eveready Industries India Limited said that the state-of-the-art greenfield facility will generate around 500 direct and indirect employment opportunities at full scale in the region. He said the company also aims to contribute to ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ vision.