The Delhi assembly budget session commenced on Monday with the ‘Kheer Ceremony’, marking a formal beginning of the house’s proceedings.

On the occasion, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta reiterated her government’s commitment to the vision of a ‘Developed Delhi, Green Delhi’, stating that the upcoming budget would be an important step towards meeting the aspirations of around three crore people of the national capital.

She said the “Kheer Ceremony” is not just a customary start to the budget process, but a symbol of prosperity, good fortune, and a commitment to public welfare.
People coming from different walks of life, including farmers, students, teachers, doctors, media persons, women drivers and members from transgender community.
Farmers from Delhi’s rural belt honoured the CM by presenting her with a traditional turban.

Cabinet Ministers Parvesh Verma, Ashish Sood, Manjinder Sirsa, Ravindra Indraj Singh, and Kapil Mishra, along with MLAs and others, were also present on the occasion.
CM Gupta said the second budget of her government would further accelerate Delhi’s development, noting that it would not only strengthen infrastructure but also improve the overall quality of life for the residents of the national capital.

The budget aims to move Delhi towards becoming a city where citizens have access to better healthcare, quality education, robust infrastructure, and a clean and green environment, she said, adding that the priority would be given to improving facilities for students, strengthening healthcare infrastructure, ensuring cleanliness, controlling pollution, and overall promoting a greener ecosystem.

Gupta emphasized that ‘Developed Delhi, Green Delhi’ is not just a slogan, but a clear vision of the government, adding that the goal is to create a positive, safe, and prosperous environment to ensure that people live with dignity and comfort.
She said the budget would focus on taking concrete steps to improve city’s condition in totality.

The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed the West Bengal government’s plea challenging a Calcutta High Court direction for blocking traffic on two consecutive weekend nights to enable construction of a 366-metre stretch of the city metro’s Orange Line at Chingrighata, making it clear that development work cannot be halted on the grounds of festivals or upcoming elections.

A Bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice Vipul M Pancholi found no infirmity in the High Court’s order and observed that the State’s stand reflected an obstinate attitude aimed at delaying and stalling the project. The Court noted that citing the festival season and upcoming elections as reasons to avoid temporary traffic restrictions was unjustified and showed reluctance to carry forward an important public transport project.

The Bench underlined that a democratically elected government is duty-bound to facilitate such development work rather than impede it, and not prioritise festivals over development activities. Justice Bagchi observed that the Court does not expect a democratically elected government to approach it seeking to ignore such development work.

Telling the State government that it was not a question of willingness but of duty, the Bench observed that the State appeared to be treating festivals as more important than development and questioned whether such priorities were justified when a major transport project was involved.

In the submission regarding the upcoming elections, the Court observed that the project had commenced well before the Model Code of Conduct came into force and could not be stalled on that basis. It emphasised that such grounds cannot be used as a pretext to delay essential public works.

The Court further remarked that the High Court had taken a lenient view in the matter, adding that the situation could have warranted action against the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police for failing to ensure compliance.

In strong remarks, the Court said the State’s conduct reflected a dereliction of constitutional duty and an attempt to politicise a purely developmental issue that was beneficial to the public.

Refusing to permit withdrawal of the plea as sought by the State government, the Chief Justice Surya Kant said, “This shows complete dereliction of your constitutional duty. This is just an attempt to politicise an issue where there is no such issue.”.”

Brent crude prices have surged sharply by over 60 per cent since the onset of the US-Iran-Israel conflict, rising to around USD 112 per barrel on Monday from approximately USD 70 per barrel earlier, reflecting severe disruptions in global energy supply.

In the past 30 days alone, crude prices have jumped nearly 56 per cent, underlining the intensity of the ongoing supply shock triggered by escalating tensions in West Asia.

The spike in oil prices comes as the conflict has disrupted key global supply routes, particularly through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for international crude trade. The crisis has also impacted global liquefied natural gas (LNG) flows, further tightening energy markets.

The situation has worsened following reported attacks on energy infrastructure in Qatar, where Iranian strikes have damaged key facilities, affecting nearly 17 per cent of the country’s LNG export capacity.

This poses a significant risk for India, which relies on Qatar for about 47 per cent of its gas imports.

According to a report by Systematix Research, India’s crude oil imports witnessed a sharp decline in early March due to disruptions in the region. The report noted that import volumes dropped drastically to just 1.9 million barrels in the week ended March 6, compared to 25 million barrels per week in February and 35 million barrels per week in March.

The decline has been attributed primarily to reduced supply from the Middle East amid ongoing geopolitical tensions. Key suppliers, including Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and the UAE, have reported significant drops in export volumes.

“Saudi Arabia’s exports fell to 26 million barrels and 12 million barrels in the first and second week of March, respectively, compared to weekly averages of 42 million and 33 million barrels in February,” the report added.

The continued disruption in supply chains, coupled with damage to critical energy infrastructure, has heightened concerns over energy availability and rising prices, especially for import-dependent economies like India.

The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) on Monday decided to contest the Assam Assembly elections independently, announcing candidates for 21 constituencies after failing to reach a seat-sharing agreement with the Congress.

The decision, taken a day before the nomination deadline, signals a break in coordination between the two INDIA bloc partners in the state and points to a fragmented opposition contest.

In a list released by party general secretary and spokesperson Vinod Kumar Pandey, the JMM named candidates across key constituencies, including Mazbat, Biswanath, Khumtai, Chabua and Gossaingaon.

Among those fielded are Priti Rekha Baria (Mazbat), Teharu Gour (Biswanath), Amit Nag (Khumtai), Bhuben Murari (Chabua) and Phedricson Hasda (Gossaingaon). Other nominees include Baldev Teli (Sonari), Peter Minj (Duliajan), Paban Sautal (Rongonadi), Bharat Nayak (Digboi) and Prabhat Das Panika (Bhergaon).

The party has also named Mahabir Baske (Tingkhong), Abdul Mazan (Barchalla), Mathew Topno (Rangapara), Jemal Minj (Margherita), Sanjay Bagh (Naharkatia) and Muna Karmakar (Makum). The remaining candidates are Ratnakar Tati (Doomdooma), Sahil Munda (Sarupathar), Sonia (Titabor), Pratapching Rangphar (Bokajan-ST) and Prabhakar Das (Khowang).

Party sources said prolonged discussions with the Congress failed to produce a consensus on seat-sharing, leading the JMM to opt for a standalone contest.

The move is seen as part of the party’s effort to expand its footprint beyond Jharkhand, particularly in constituencies with significant tribal and tea tribe populations.

With nominations set to close and campaigning expected to gather pace, the Assam election is shaping up as a multi-cornered contest, with the absence of an opposition alliance likely to influence electoral dynamics in several seats.

Political parties can now campaign on DD and AIR free of charge with the Election Commission of India (ECI) issuing ‘digital vouchers’ The Commission announced on Monday that ‘digital vouchers’ would be provided to national and regional parties for the upcoming assembly elections in Assam, Kerala, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry.

These vouchers will allow political parties to carry on with their respective campaigns free of charge on Doordarshan and All India Radio.

According to the ECI, under Section 39A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, recognised political parties in the states and Union territories have been allocated time on radio and television for their promotion during the elctions. The process has been carried out digitally through IT platforms. Consequently, for the assembly elections, all recognised national and state-level political parties have been granted ‘digital time vouchers’ through IT platforms in five electoral states/UTs.

The election commission has clarified that the list of candidates will be published from the time of the party’s campaign until two days before voting. The timing allocated to each party will be determined through a ‘draw’ (lottery) conducted in the presence of the Chief Election Officer at the state level and representatives of the parties. The election commission has announced that under this plan, each political party will receive 45 minutes of free airtime on Doordarshan and All India Radio’s regional networks. Additionally, extra time has been allocated based on the performance of the parties in the previous assembly elections.

Political parties must submit their speeches or campaign scripts and recordings in advance, adhering strictly to the regulations. These recordings can be made in any studio according to Indian standards or directly at Doordarshan/Aakashvani centres.

The ECI has announced that, in addition to the party broadcasts, Prasar Bharati, Doordarshan and All India Radio will organise two panel discussions or debate programmes. Each eligible political party may send one representative for these events, who will be managed by an experienced coordinator.

It is noteworthy that voting will take place in a single phase on April 9, 2026, in Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry. In Tamil Nadu, voting for all 234 seats will occur on April 23, 2026. In West Bengal, the elections will be conducted in two phases. The first phase will cover 152 seats on April 23, and the second phase will cover 142 seats on April 29. The vote counting for all states will take place on May 4, 2026.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday warned that the escalating conflict in West Asia has become “worrisome” and is posing serious economic, security, and humanitarian challenges for India, even as his government moves to safeguard critical supplies and protect Indian citizens abroad.

Addressing the Lok Sabha, Modi said the crisis, now stretching beyond three weeks amid rising tensions involving the United States, Israel and Iran, is already having a “very adverse impact on the global economy and people’s lives,” while creating “unprecedented challenges” for India.

“The current situation in West Asia is worrying…This crisis has now lasted for more than three weeks. It is affecting the entire world,” he said, calling for an urgent resolution through dialogue.

The Prime Minister’s remarks came against the backdrop of heightened global anxiety over disruptions to energy supplies and shipping routes, particularly through the Strait of Hormuz, a key artery for India’s imports of crude oil, gas, and fertilisers.

Modi underlined that attacks on commercial vessels and disruptions in such international waterways are “not acceptable,” adding that India is closely monitoring maritime corridors to ensure the uninterrupted flow of essential goods.

“Our effort is that ships carrying oil, gas, and fertilisers reach India safely,” he said, noting that despite the turmoil, supplies of petrol, diesel, and cooking gas have remained stable.

Framing the crisis as a multidimensional challenge, Modi told lawmakers that India’s deep economic linkages with the region amplify its exposure. He pointed out that a significant share of India’s energy needs is sourced from West Asia and that the region also serves as a vital trade route.

At the same time, nearly 10 million Indians live and work in Gulf countries, while a large number of Indian seafarers are employed on commercial vessels operating in the region.

“Because of these factors, India’s concerns are naturally greater,” he said, urging political parties to present a united front. “It is essential that a unified and unanimous voice from India’s Parliament reaches the world.”

Highlighting the government’s response on the ground, Modi said Indian missions across the region are working round the clock to assist citizens. He revealed that he had personally spoken with leaders of several West Asian countries in two rounds of calls and had received assurances regarding the safety of Indian nationals.

“Since the beginning of the war, every Indian has been provided necessary assistance,” he said, while acknowledging that some Indian citizens had lost their lives and others had been injured. “In these difficult circumstances, families are being supported and the injured are receiving proper treatment.”

He added that more than 375,000 Indians have returned safely since the outbreak of the conflict, including around 1,000 evacuees from Iran, over 700 of them medical students. Emergency helplines and 24/7 control rooms have been set up both in India and abroad, while advisories are being issued regularly.

In a significant step affecting students, the Central Board of Secondary Education has cancelled Class 10 and 12 examinations in Indian schools across affected Gulf countries to ensure continuity in education.

Seeking to reassure citizens and markets, Modi emphasised that India’s energy security measures over the past decade are helping cushion the impact of the crisis.

He noted that India has diversified its energy imports from 27 countries earlier to 41 today and has built strategic petroleum reserves exceeding 5.3 million metric tonnes, with plans for further expansion. “In such times, the steps taken in the past decade have become even more relevant,” he said.

The Prime Minister also pointed to structural shifts such as increased ethanol blending, railway electrification, and the expansion of renewable energy capacity as key buffers against global shocks.

India is now close to achieving 20% ethanol blending in petrol, reducing annual oil imports significantly, while nearly half of the country’s installed power capacity comes from renewable sources. Coal stocks, he said, remain adequate to meet rising electricity demand during the summer months.

Addressing concerns in the agriculture sector, Modi assured farmers that India has sufficient foodgrain reserves and fertiliser supplies. He recalled how the government had shielded farmers during previous global disruptions, including the COVID-19 pandemic, when international fertiliser prices surged.

“I want to assure farmers that the government will continue to make every effort,” he said, highlighting increased domestic production of urea and diversification of fertiliser imports.

At the same time, the government is maintaining close coordination with industry and global partners to mitigate economic fallout. Modi said an inter-ministerial group is meeting daily to assess import-export challenges and devise solutions.

“We are working with short-term, medium-term, and long-term strategies,” he said, expressing confidence that strong economic fundamentals would help India navigate through the crisis.

On the diplomatic front, Modi reiterated India’s consistent position in favour of de-escalation. “India has always raised its voice for peace in the interest of humanity. Dialogue and diplomacy are the solutions,” he said, adding that New Delhi has urged all parties to reduce tensions and end the conflict. He also condemned attacks on civilian infrastructure and reiterated India’s opposition to disruptions in global trade routes.

The Prime Minister cautioned that the fallout of the conflict could be prolonged and called for vigilance at home. Law enforcement agencies have been put on alert, with heightened security across coastal areas, borders, cyber networks, and strategic installations. He also warned against black marketing and hoarding of essential commodities, urging state governments to take swift action against violators.

“The whole world is affected, and we are making efforts to ensure that India feels the impact the least,” Modi said, striking a note of cautious confidence. “With patience, restraint, and unity, we will face every challenge.”

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday stressed that true justice for the families affected by terrorism goes beyond punishment, emphasizing the need to heal deep emotional scars and restore their dignity. He said addressing the pain of victims with compassion and meaningful support is as vital as holding perpetrators accountable.

The LG was speaking after handing over job letters to 37 Next of Kins (NoKs) of victims of terrorism in a function here. He also handed over job letters to 29 NoKs of government employees who lost their lives in service.

Paying tribute to the victims of terrorism, the Lieutenant Governor vowed strongest action against terror ecosystem and terrorist supporters. “I pledge to the families of terror victims that we will work with full commitment to secure their dignified and honourable lives. We will discharge every duty towards them with utmost seriousness, and we will not rest until justice reaches every family,” the Lieutenant Governor said.

“Justice also lies in which stories society chooses to remember. Justice also means wiping the tears of grieving families, acknowledging their pain, and healing the wounds inflicted on their souls. Justice also means that the stories of terror-victim families, once forgotten, are now being rewritten with renewed memory and honour. We stand at a decisive turning point in J&K today. The youth of the Union Territory and terror victim families aspire to a bright future and wish to live a better life. It is our shared responsibility to make that future a reality and create the opportunities they deserve,” the Lieutenant Governor said.

He issued a stern warning to the remaining elements of the terror ecosystem and conflict entrepreneurs, stating that their era of terror is over.

“The people of Jammu Kashmir know fully well who shielded such terror elements, but that shield is now crumbling. I warn them that there is no longer any safe haven in Jammu Kashmir for terrorists or the networks that support them,” he said.

The Lieutenant Governor reiterated that it is his commitment to ensure that every terror victim’s family receive the justice, jobs, recognition and support they deserve after years of suffering.

“Terror victim families remained erased from society’s memory for decades. Among all these stories, the most painful and bitter truth is that these families were let down by the very system whose duty and primary obligation was to protect them. I do not see this merely as an administrative lapse but it was a civilisational failure of that time,” the Lieutenant Governor said.

He said that the terror victim families were harassed by elements of terror ecosystem and the situation was not simply injustice but it was the complete collapse of social morality.

“The elders of the society must ask themselves some tough questions — what kind of society we had become a few decades ago? How did Jammu Kashmir evolve into a system where the victim became a burden that time and those linked to terror were turned into beneficiaries?

I am confident that these questions will shake our conscience, because such practices hollowed out every value that makes a society just. Such darkness had extinguished the very spirit of law, trust, and coexistence,” he said.

The Lieutenant Governor said those who were part of this terror ecosystem and managed to infiltrate government machinery in the past will face the law and they will be systematically removed from government jobs and punished as per the law.

“Those directly linked to terrorism are being dismissed from service, while decades-long neglected terror-victim families are being given government jobs to secure their economic and social dignity. I see this not merely as a policy correction, but as a new moral declaration for a new Jammu Kashmir.

This is a clear message that a new order has arrived, one that will punish mercilessly those tied to terrorism and will firmly fulfil its duties to restore the dignity of victims. This moral declaration is the announcement of a system that defines justice not only in words, but in deeds,” the Lieutenant Governor further said.

Principal Secretary to Lieutenant Governor, Dr Mandeep K. Bhandari; Commissioner Secretary, General Administration Department, M Raju; Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Ramesh Kumar; Deputy Commissioner Jammu, Dr. Rakesh Minhas; senior officials, members of various social organisations and family members of victims of terrorism were present.

The Corporate Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026 was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Monday, proposing wide-ranging changes to India’s corporate regulatory framework with a focus on improving ease of doing business and reducing compliance burdens for companies.

‎The Bill, moved for introduction by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, seeks to amend the Companies Act, 2013 and the Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008. It incorporates key recommendations of the Company Law Committee’s 2022 report and is intended to address regulatory gaps, simplify procedures, and align corporate governance standards with evolving business requirements.

‎According to available details, the proposed amendments focus on reducing compliance requirements, shifting certain offences from criminal to civil categories, and rationalising penalties for procedural violations. The Bill also promotes wider use of digital processes in corporate filings, continuing the government’s push toward digitisation of regulatory systems.

‎A key component of the legislation relates to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) provisions. Based on recommendations of the high-level committee on non-financial regulatory reforms led by Rajiv Gauba, the Bill is expected to introduce relaxations, including exemptions for certain categories of companies from mandatory CSR obligations. This is aimed at easing compliance pressure, particularly for smaller firms and businesses with limited operational capacity.

‎The proposed law also seeks to revise CSR thresholds and spending norms, indicating a broader restructuring of how corporate contributions to social development are regulated and monitored.

‎The Union Cabinet had approved the Bill on March 10, 2026, clearing the way for its introduction in Parliament. The reforms are part of an ongoing policy approach that prioritises decriminalisation of minor business-related offences, building on initiatives such as the Jan Vishwas framework, which aims to promote trust-based governance and reduce regulatory burden on businesses.

‎The government has said the changes are intended to make India a more attractive destination for investment by streamlining regulatory processes, reducing litigation risks, and encouraging entrepreneurship, while maintaining safeguards for transparency, accountability, and corporate governance standards.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav ordered the transfer of Guna SP Ankit Soni on Sunday night. The sudden ,move is being seen in connection with the recent case of seizure of Rs one crore hawala money in Guna, and allegations on four cops of taking Re 20 lakh bribe in it.

The SP has been transferred after his performance in handling the matter was found unsatisfactory.

An IPS officer, Ayush Jakhar, is already conducting a departmental investigation in the matter. Meanwhile, Guna DIG Amit Sanghi had on Sunday suspended the four cops, including a Station House Officer, on finding their roles suspicious in the matter.

IPS officer Hitika Wasal of the 2017 batch has been appointed the new SP of Guna. She is the first woman SP of the district.

Anki Soni has been posted in the Police Headquarters at Bhopal.

The West Indies women’s team has been fined 10% of their match fee for maintaining a slow over-rate in the first T20I against Australia in St. Vincent on Friday.

Under Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, a minimum over-rate offence results in a fine of five percent of the match fee for every over not bowled in the allotted time.

West Indies captain Hayley Matthews pleaded guilty to the offence and accepted the sanction, eliminating the need for a formal hearing.

“Reon King of the Emirates ICC International Panel of Match Referees imposed the sanction after the West Indies side was ruled two overs short of the target after time allowances were considered,” the ICC said. On-field umpires Lauren Agenbag and Jacquline Williams, third umpire Candace La Borde, and fourth umpire Maria Abbott had levelled the charge.

On the field, Australia secured a 17-run victory in the second T20I, clinching the three-match series after winning the opener by 43 runs. Batting first, the visitors posted 164/5, powered by a brisk 39 off 23 by Georgia Voll and a 58-run third-wicket stand between Phoebe Litchfield (35 off 29) and Ellyse Perry (42 off 28). Australia added 32 runs in the final four overs through Perry, Georgia Wareham, and Nicola Carey.

Australia’s bowlers then tightened control, with Kim Garth leading an economical attack, supported by Carey, Darcie Brown, and Alana King. Matthews staged a counterattack for West Indies, scoring 56 off 41 balls and sharing a 77-run partnership with Stafanie Taylor. However, King turned the game with key dismissals of Matthews and Taylor in the middle overs.

A late cameo from Deandra Dottin (39*) and a small partnership with Jahzara Claxton narrowed the gap, but West Indies ended on 147/4, falling short as Australia wrapped up the series. Both sides meet again in the final T20I tomorrow, followed by a three-match ODI series in Basseterre.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has begun the process of allocating free broadcast and telecast time on public service broadcasters for recognized political parties ahead of the upcoming Legislative Assembly elections in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.

‎In a press note issued on Monday, the poll authority said it has issued directions under Section 39A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, for the distribution of airtime on Doordarshan and All India Radio to all recognized national and state parties contesting the polls.

‎The Commission stated that “digital time vouchers have been issued through the IT platform to all the recognized National and State Political Parties across five poll-bound States/UTs for the Legislative Assembly elections,” introducing a uniform system for allocating broadcast slots.

‎It further said the broadcast and telecast period will begin from the date of publication of the list of contesting candidates in each phase and will continue until two days before polling.

The scheduling of party addresses will be decided in advance through a draw of lots conducted at the state or union territory level in the presence of authorized representatives of political parties and officials from the respective Chief Electoral Officer’s office.

‎Under the scheme, each eligible party will receive a base allocation of 45 minutes of free airtime on both Doordarshan and All India Radio within each state or union territory. The ECI also said additional airtime will be provided based on a party’s performance in the previous assembly elections in the respective regions.

‎“The broadcast and telecast facilities are intended to ensure equitable access to public media platforms for all recognized political parties during the election period,” the press note said, underlining the Commission’s emphasis on fairness, transparency, and equal opportunity in electoral communication.

‎Political parties have been directed to submit pre-recorded speeches and transcripts in advance in accordance with prescribed guidelines. The Commission also said that all recordings must adhere to technical standards set by Prasar Bharati and may be produced either in approved studios or at Doordarshan and AIR Kendras.

‎In addition to party broadcasts, the public broadcaster will also organize up to two panel discussions or debates on both Doordarshan and All India Radio, with each eligible party allowed to nominate one representative.

These programmes will be moderated by an approved coordinator appointed for the purpose.
‎The initiative forms part of the ECI’s broader efforts to ensure a level playing field during elections by providing equitable access to state-run media platforms, particularly for parties with differing levels of media reach, visibility, and campaign resources.

Asaduddin Owaisi on Sunday announced an alliance between his party, the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), and Humayun Kabir’s Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP) for the upcoming West Bengal assembly elections, reigniting political debate over whether such alliances fragment Opposition votes, potentially benefiting the BJP in the state.

The two leaders are expected to outline their electoral strategy in Kolkata later this week.

Kabir, a former minister in the Trinamool Congress government, had earlier drawn attention with his controversial proposal to build a mosque in Murshidabad modeled on the Babri Masjid. The proposal led to tensions within the TMC and remains a key talking point.

Making the announcement, Owaisi targeted his rivals saying: “We want to strengthen the AIMIM and ensure that our candidates in every corner of the country succeed and raise the voice of the poor and oppressed in the assembly. In West Bengal, 5 lakh backward category certificates have been cancelled, majority of which belong to Muslims. There are many stories of oppression as well. They secure votes in the name of secularism but when the Majlis advocates for share and representation, they don’t like it”

Observers say there are many ways to look at this alliance. While one of them may be AIMIM’s renewed attempt to establish a foothold in West Bengal after failing to win any seats in the 2021 West Bengal Assembly elections, there are other facets as well

Congress leaders are questioning the rationale behind the alliance and so are members of the ruling TMC. BJP leaders have also criticised the move, accusing the two leaders of divisive politics and alleging that the alliance would harm community interests, analysts point to the benefit the saffron party may accrue due to this get-together.

The argument is based on simple arithmetic — the AIMIM-AJUP partnership is expected to split the anti-BJP votes, affecting the TMC and the Left-Congress bloc. Muslims constitute roughly 27-30% of West Bengal’s electorate, and form a crucial support base for the TMC, Even a modest shift of minority votes has the potential to influence outcomes in closely contested seats and multi-angle contests. Owaisi’s presence can also trigger counter-polarisation, consolidating Hindu votes in favour of the BJP in certain constituencies.

At the same time, they also point to the danger of overestimating this impact, saying that “voters are smart enough to understand the aim of this alliance.” Besides TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee’s strong ground presence will not allow the repeat of what happened in the Bihar Assembly elections

In both 2020 and 2025 Bihar Assembly elections, the AIMIM significantly harmed the RJD-Congress and their Mahagathbandhan alliance by splitting their traditional “Muslim-Yadav” vote bank. In several constituencies, its vote share is said to have been more than the margin of victory between the ruling NDA and the Opposition Mahagathbandhan, contributing to the losses.

Owaisi has consistently rejected allegations that his party acts as “B team” for the BJP, stating that AIMIM seeks to provide an independent political voice for Muslims and Other Backward Classes. But as West Bengal heads toward a high-stakes election, the electoral impact of the new venture will be watched closely.

In one of the worst ropeway accidents in the state in recent years, a cable trolley carrying devotees up the Khallari temple hill in the Mahasamund district of Chhattisgarh snapped on Sunday morning, sending the trolley crashing down killing a young woman from Raipur. Reports suggest at least 16 others were injured, some of them critically.

The mishap occurred around mid morning when the temple was packed with pilgrims who had gathered for Chaitra Navratri festival. Witnesses said that the trolley was moving steadily along the cable when it gave way without warning. The trolley fell with a loud thud which triggered panic among the thousands gathered at the hilltop shrine.

By evening, police had registered a criminal case against the Kolkata based firm operating the ropeway and two of its local staff members. The complaint was filed by the Khallari Devi Trust, and the FIR was lodged under sections 173, 289 and 125(A) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, with negligence as the primary charge.

The injured were rushed to the district hospital in Mahasamund. Those with critical injuries were later shifted to MMI hospital in Raipur. By late night, eight of the injured had been discharged after primary treatment. They were identified as Harsh Sahu, Chhayans Dhaware, Hemlal Nageshwar, Kulsi Nageshwar, Purvi, Ratan Nageshwar, Amlesh and Tiya. Four others remained in critical condition, while the rest were under observation.

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai expressed grief over the incident and said a thorough probe would be conducted. “If negligence is found, strict action will be taken against those responsible,” he said in a statement.

The ropeway, a vital facility for elderly and differently abled pilgrims, has now been shut. The administration has ordered a detailed investigation into the maintenance and safety records of the system.

The relatives of the deceased woman said that they had come to the temple to offer prayers like hundreds of others. “We never imagined something like this would happen,” a family member said.

Meanwhile the temple authorities have announced compensation for the deceased and the injured, but questions over safety and maintenance of ropeway facilities in pilgrimage sites in Chhattisgarh are likely to influence the official inquiry.

The Indian Stock Market on Monday came under renewed pressure with Nifty falling below 22,500 intraday for the first time since April 9, 2025.

At close, the Sensex was down 1,836.57 points or 2.46 percent at 72,696.39, and the Nifty was down 601.85 points or 2.60 percent at 22,512.65.

Nifty Mid and smallcap indices also slipped nearly 4% each. The market capitalisation of BSE-listed companies fell to Rs 414.75 lakh crore against Friday’s Rs 429.11 lakh crore.

Among the sectors, all the indices ended in the red. Sectors like realty, capital goods, consumer durables, metal, telecom, PSU Bank lost 4 to 5%, while auto, energy, media, private bank, oil & gas were down 3% each.

On Nifty, the key losers were Shriram Finance, Trent, UltraTech Cement, Titan Company, Jio Financial. On the gaining side were HCL Technologies, ONGC, Power Grid Corp, Infosys.

Over 1000 stocks touched their 52-week low on the BSE. These included IDBI Bank, Petronet LNG, Aditya Birla Fashion, Relaxo Footwear, Sterling Wilson, New India Assurance, Inox Wind, PCBL Chemical, Gujarat State Petro, Gravita India, Lodha Developers, Network 18, BLS International, Interglobe Aviation, HPCL, Gujarat Gas, Wockhardt, REC, among others.

Indian Rupee also fell 33 paise to a fresh all-time low of 93.86 against the US dollar.

Among the banking stocks, HDFC Bank remained the key loser as the stock fell about 2.5%. Shares of State Bank of India (SBI) also fell 3% after the lender got a Rs 6,337-crore tax demand from the Income Tax Department for the assessment year 2024.

Reliance Power shares came under renewed selling pressure, falling 7.3% while Paytm shares cracked 6%.

In the Asian market, Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 dropped 3.5% to finish at 51,515.49 while in Taiwan, the Taiex shed 2.5% to 32,722.50.

Further, Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.7% to 8,365.90, South Korea’s Kospi dove 6.5% to 5,405.75, and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng slipped 3.5% to 24,382.47.

Underlining India’s resolve to work with Russia to advance the ‘’Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership’’between the two countries, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday said the two countries are committed to increasing bilateral trade from $ 68.7 billion to $ 100 billion by 2030.

Virtually addressing the ‘‘India and Russia: Towards a new bilateral agenda’’ conference, he was happy to note that in today’s evolving geo-political dynamic, the engagement between India and Russia continues to deepen, driven by regular high-level exchanges.

Jaishankar said the last visit of President Vladimir Putin to India in December 2025 broke new grounds, covering diverse and novel areas including mobility of skilled professionals, health and food safety, maritime cooperation, fertilizers, customs and commerce, academic and media cooperation”.

Talking about Russia’s partnership in India’s civil nuclear energy sector, he said, “Russia is our foremost partner in civil nuclear energy and the Kudankulam nuclear project is a stellar example. As India aims to increase its nuclear energy generation capacity to100 gigawatt by 2047, I am confident that it will find a trusted and reliable partner in Russia for peaceful uses of nuclear energy.”

The Indian minister also spoke about the depth of people-to-people ties based on a shared appreciation for art, Yoga, Ayurveda and Culture and expressed confidence that the new consulates in Kazan and Ekaterinburg will further strengthen the economic, cultural and social bonds.

Since India is the BRICS chairperson this year, he emphasised how the evolving multi-polar order necessitates greater cooperation between India and Russia, including through BRICS, SCO, G20 and the UN. He said India’s chairmanship of BRICS would see humanity first and a people-centric approach that looks forward to closely working with Russia to address shared challenges in a balanced and inclusive manner.

Jaishankar also called efforts by the two countries towards concluding an India-EAEU (Eurasian Economic Union) Free Trade Agreement (FTA), address non-tariff barriers and regulatory impediments and utilize the skilled Indian workforce.

The Central government has introduced a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server to facilitate linking of Artificial Intelligence tools with Official Statistical databases.

The newly launched MCP server allows access to verified government data through Artificial Intelligence applications and platforms, with the National Statistical Portal e-Sankhyiki.

The Beta version of the MCP server which included seven key statistical products (such as the Periodic Labour Force Survey, Consumer Price Index, Annual Survey of Industries, Index of Industrial Production, National Accounts Statistics), has now been extended for 21 products available on the eSankhyiki portal.

This information was given by Minister of State for Statistics and Programme Implementation Rao Inderjit Singh in the Rajya Sabha on Monday.

In another reply, he said his ministry has strengthened the measurement framework of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) through a comprehensive base revision from 2012=100 to 2024=100, using the latest Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES) 2023–24 to update the CPI item basket and weights.

The key enhancements in base revision exercise include expansion in coverage, methodological refinements, adoption of international classification system and inclusion of administrative and e-commerce data in CPI to make CPI more robust and representative.

Keeping in view the adequate representativeness and feasibility of data collection, the sample markets in both rural and urban areas are increased from 2295 to 2860 in CPI 2024 series.

As capturing the price trends on the e-commerce platforms has become important because of its growing use by the Indian households, 12 online markets are also added across 12 biggest towns of the country, having more than 25 lakh population as per census 2011 to capture price variations of the items on the e-commerce/online platforms

The prices of items are collected through online/e- commerce platforms on a weekly basis. All items of CPI baskets are mapped with the corresponding most popular e-commerce platform for price collection by the respective regional offices of Field Operations Division (FOD) of MoSPI. Keeping in view the volatility of prices on e-commerce platforms, prices are collected in all four weeks on identified days and time slots. A monthly average price using these weekly transaction price observations are used in CPI compilation.

Shortly after US President Donald Trump claimed that the US and Iran have held “productive talks” on ending the conflict in the Middle East, Iranian state-run news agency Fars said that there was no direct or indirect communication with the United States or through intermediaries.

Citing an unnamed source, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)-affiliated news agency said that Trump backed down after hearing that Iran would target power plants in West Asia.

“After the Islamic Republic threatened that in the event of any US attack on Iran’s energy infrastructure, it would target the energy infrastructure of the entire region, Trump backed down and said he had ordered the postponement of the attack,” Fars quoted an unnamed security official as saying.

The Iranian response came minutes after Trump announced on social media that he has postponed the attacks on Iranian power plants after “productive” talks with Tehran on ending the conflict.

“I AM PLEASED TO REPORT THAT THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND THE COUNTRY OF IRAN, HAVE HAD, OVER THE LAST TWO DAYS, VERY GOOD AND PRODUCTIVE CONVERSATIONS REGARDING A COMPLETE AND TOTAL RESOLUTION OF OUR HOSTILITIES IN THE MIDDLE EAST,” Trump said on his Truth Social.

The US President said that the talks would continue throughout the week and as a result of that, strikes on power plants will remain postponed for five days.

“BASED ON THE TENOR AND TONE OF THESE IN-DEPTH, DETAILED, AND CONSTRUCTIVE CONVERSATIONS, WHICH WILL CONTINUE THROUGHOUT THE WEEK, I HAVE INSTRUCTED THE DEPARTMENT OF WAR TO POSTPONE ANY AND ALL MILITARY STRIKES AGAINST IRANIAN POWER PLANTS AND ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE FOR A FIVE-DAY PERIOD, SUBJECT TO THE SUCCESS OF THE ONGOING MEETINGS AND DISCUSSIONS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER! PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP,” he added.

The development came as Trump’s 48-hour deadline for Iran to completely reopen the Strait of Hormuz shipping route was coming to an end on Monday.

Trump had threatened to attack Iranian power plants if the shipping route was not reopened.

In response, Iran had said that it will target energy infrastructure in the entire region if its power plants are targeted.