The Weights and Measures Department office in Bhopal received another bomb threat via email for the second consecutive day on Tuesday.

The email threatened to blow up the office with RDX.

However, the email threat again proved to be a hoax. The police and bomb squad were pressed into action, and after a thorough search of the premises, no explosives were found.

The office was again evacuated, and the staff anxiously waited outside until the police declared the premises safe.

On Monday, too, the office had received a bomb threat by email, which warned of blowing up the building with cyanide gas explosives planted in 16 LED bulbs.

That threat was also found to be a hoax.

The police were still trying to identify the sender of Monday’s threat email when another such message was received on Tuesday.

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday said that any individual or group that seeks to threaten peace, law and order, or the safety of innocent civilians in Jammu & Kashmir will have to pay a very heavy price.

Addressing the Passing Out Parade of the constables at the STC Talwara, in Reasi, he said any attempt to disrupt public peace, undermine commercial activity, or incite violence shall be met with the full force of the law, and J&K Police is unequivocal in its commitment to safeguard order and stability, and shall pursue all necessary measures against such acts, without exception.

Congratulating the bravehearts of J&K Police on their successful completion of the tough training, the Lieutenant Governor called upon them to focus on protecting Jammu and Kashmir’s achievements.

“J&K Police has been instrumental in forging a terror-free, crime-free UT where no insecurity overshadows civilian lives. The force has played a pivotal role in achieving remarkable milestones in good governance, innovation, social unity, and building a just society. We must uproot separatist elements that are trying to divide people and derail development. Let this serve as their stern warning,” the Lieutenant Governor said.

The Lieutenant Governor observed that every woman or man donning the J&K Police uniform pledges to exceed public expectations with superior standards.

“From today, public trust is your greatest asset — but earn it relentlessly through integrity, impartiality, and empathy. Your role transcends enforcing law; embody its spirit and soul. I trust you will uphold every citizen’s dignity in protection,” the Lieutenant Governor said.

The Lieutenant Governor stated that J&K Police stands fully committed to peace, security, and democratic values, ensuring every citizen scales new heights of progress in tranquillity.

“With all resources and resolve, J&K Police pursue zero tolerance to terrorism. We are working on a multi-pronged strategy with all the stakeholder agencies, and soon J&K will be terror-free,” the Lieutenant Governor said.

A total of 430 Trainee Constables passed out after their basic training, and all trainees were administered the Oath. On the occasion, the Lieutenant Governor awarded trophies to the trainee constables who excelled during their training: Johnny Victor (All-Round Best), Vishal Bharat (Second All-Round Best), Yogesh Sharma (Third All-Round Best), Pankaj Raina (Indoor Best), Touseef Ahmed Lone (Outdoor Best), Tahir Rashid Dar (Best Marksman), Tasleem Kosar (Parade Commander) and Sushant Sharma (Parade 2nd-in-Command).

DGP, Nalin Prabhat and other senior officials were present on the occasion.

With a view to ensure accessiblity of Delhi’s infrastructure more inclusive, Delhi Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta on Tuesday has written to the Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu wherein he expressed concern over the challenges faced by vulnerable pedestrians on a daily basis.

In a formal letter to the LG, the Speaker urged him for the installation of audible signals at the traffic lights across the national capital to ensure the safety of the Divyangjans (visually impaired persons) and also the senior citizens.
Citing data from the Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences at AIIMS, Gupta highlighted that nearly 60 lakh people in Delhi suffer from various vision impairments.
Notably, with around 12 to 18 lakh people living with significant low vision, many of whom are senior citizens, the Speaker emphasized that current traffic systems are inadequate for those who cannot rely on visual cues.

Gupta’s letter to the LG stresses that the lack of accessible crossing aids poses a constant risk of accidents, and limits the mobility of a vast section of the population. He pointed towards successful international models where sound-based cues, such as beeps or ticking tones, are standard features at intersections.
He noted that countries like Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States, Hong Kong, Singapore, France, Sweden, Brazil, and Australia have successfully integrated these systems to improve pedestrian accessibility.

Gupta mentioned the use of “melodic” or bird-like sounds, as seen in Japan, which help pedestrians easily recognize when it is safe to cross, thereby creating a more empathetic and user-friendly environment.

He underlined that the installation of audible signals at major traffic intersections is not just a technical upgrade, but is also a necessity for human dignity and safety.
He emphasized that with the implementing of such measures, Delhi can significantly reduce road accidents and move toward becoming a truly inclusive “smart city” that caters to all its residents regardless of their physical abilities.
The Speaker requested the LG Sandhu to examine the proposal and expedite the implementation on a priority basis.

The All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Tuesday released its diverse list of 291 candidates for the West Bengal Assembly Elections 2026, blending political experience with fresh faces, while also honouring the legacy of “Vande Mataram”.

The list, released by State Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, his newphew and TMC General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee along with state unit chief Subrata Bakshi, features teachers, doctors, journalists and descendant of literary stalwart Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, who composed India’s national song “Vande Mataram”.

Soumitra Chattopadhyay, from the family of Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, who composed India’s national song “Vande Mataram”, has been fielded by the TMC from Naihati.

The chief minister herself will contest from sitting Bhabanipur constituency, where she will face BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari.

Soumitra Chattopadhyay, from the family of literary stalwart Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, who composed India’s national song “Vande Mataram”, has been fielded as the candidate from Naihati.

Breaking down the TMC list of candidates

Candidates have been announced for 99 unreserved constituencies, 32 Scheduled Caste reserved constituencies, and 13 Scheduled Tribe reserved constituencies.

Among the 291 candidates declared by the TMC, 62 belong to the General category,

20 from the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category, 48 from the Scheduled Caste category and 14 candidates are from the Scheduled Tribe category.

Among the candidates, 41 are sitting MLAs, three are former MLAs, and two are former Members of Parliament.

Professional backgrounds of candidates include, 23 teacher, eight social workers, six advocates, five doctors, three journalists. Three spritual leaders, three retired soldiers, one prominent personality associated with social movements, one cricketer, one retired administrative officer and one folk singer.

Additionally, 11 seats have been allotted to women candidates, 36 seats have been given to young candidates (below 40 years of age). Among the age groups, 72 candidates are in the 41–55 age group, 32 candidates are in the 56–70 age group adn only 4 candidates are above 70 years of age.

The Bengal CM has set a highly ambitious target of winning 226 seats, higher from the 213 seats the party had won in the 2021 Assembly elections.

The Assembly Elections in West Bengal will be held in two phases – first phase on April 23 and second phase on April 29. The counting of votes will take place on May 4.

Within days of finalising the seat-sharing pact with its coalition partner BJP, Chief Minister and All India NR Congress (AINRC) president N Rangasamy is sulking and has boycotted a crucial alliance meeting convened by the saffron party on Tuesday, leaving the NDA on the rocks ahead of the April 9 election to the 30-member Union Territory Assembly.

Though the deal was sealed with 16 seats for the AINRC and 14 for the BJP, there was no agreement on a few seats, with both parties staking claim to them. Further, the AINRC is opposed to the BJP’s attempt to bring into the NDA fold the Lakshya Jananayaga Katchi (LJK) of Jose Martin, son of lottery baron Santiago Martin. This has forced a rethinking by Rangasamy, who has reportedly opened a channel of communication with the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) of actor Vijay for an alliance.

The unexpected turn of the AINRC exploring an alliance with the TVK has rattled the BJP. This comes close on the heels of Rangasamy unilaterally announcing the candidate for the Yanam constituency, a former French enclave near Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh. He had named former Minister Malladi Krishna Rao as the party’s nominee even before the identification of seats for both parties.

Having waited for more than 2 hours for Rangasamy to attend the meeting to iron out differences, Union Minister Mansukh Madaviya had left for New Delhi along with a few local BJP leaders to apprise the situation to BJP strategist and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the architect of the AINRC-BJP alliance.

Now, Rangasamy has reportedly laid down two conditions for the AINRC to remain in the NDA. The first is that the Union government promise statehood for Puducherry and refrain from admitting the fledgling LJK party of Jose Martin into the NDA. He had placed the demand for statehood before Prime Minister Narendra Modi when the latter addressed a joint rally of the NDA recently. If the AINRC deserts the NDA, the BJP would have to team up with the AIADMK and the LJK to face the election.

Indian stock market extended the previous session’s gain amid buying across the sectors barring FMCG, IT names. Nifty 50 closing above 23,550 level, and the Sensex was up 567.99 points.

At close, the Sensex was up 567.99 points or 0.75 percent at 76,070.84, and the Nifty was up 172.35 points or 0.74 percent at 23,581.15.

Among the sectors, Nifty Auto and Nifty Metal were leading while Nifty IT and Nifty FMCG lost the most.

FMCG was down 0.7%, IT down by 1% while all other indices ended in the green. Capital goods, telecom, auto, infra, media, metal, realty, private banks were up in the range of 1-2 percent.

On Nifty, the key gainers were Eternal, Tata Steel, M&M, HDFC Life and Bharat Electronics. On the losing side were Wipro, Tata Consumer, Infosys, Cipla, ITC.

More than 340 stocks touched their 52-week low on BSE. These included Cello World, Tata Elxsi, Relaxo Footwear, Jyothy Labs, Wipro, C E Info Systems, AAVAS Financier, Newgen Software, Infosys, Cipla, Gujarat State Petro, Oracle Financial Services, Coforge, TCS, Bata India, Tata Technologies, Mastek, Sonata Software, SBI Card, among others.

In the broader indices, Nifty Midcap 100 rose 1% while the Nifty Smallcap 100 added nearly 0.65%.

In terms of some of the key performers, Lloyds Metals & Energy surged 7.8%, Nalco, SAIL, and Tata Steel gained 6.2%, 6.1%, and 4.5%, respectively.

APL Apollo Tubes, Hindustan Copper, and Jindal Stainless also closed higher by over 3%.

In the Asian market, Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 erased early gains to slip 0.1% to 53,700.39, while South Korea’s Kospi surged 1.6% to 5,640.48.

Further, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng edged up 0.1% to 25,668.54, whereas the Shanghai Composite declined 0.9% to 4,049.91.

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, paying tributes to the strength and contribution of women in nation-building, said through their dedication, selfless service, and sense of duty, women are playing a leading role in different sectors and are driving the nation towards the goal of a developed India by 2047.

Gupta said this while speaking at the ‘Nari Utsav’ programme held at the Nirmal Chhaya Complex on Tuesday. She took a round of the campus and reviewed various schemes, services, and facilities available to the women there.
She noted that under PM Narendra Modi’s leadership, women are scaling new heights, be it the rural industries, or corporate, politics or the armed forces and other sectors. Her government is working on the same lines and the direction to make women more empowered and self-reliant.

Emphasising safety, dignity, and self-reliance as three pillars of women’s empowerment, Gupta said every woman deserves a secure environment, respect in all circumstances, and opportunities to become financially independent.
The CM announced that the upcoming Delhi budget, to be presented on March 24, will include key initiatives for women and girls.

On the occasion, Gupta also launched and assessed several initiatives of the Department of Women and Child Development, reiterating Delhi government’s commitment to the holistic empowerment of women and children in the national capital.
Highlighting the importance of Self-Help Groups (SHGs), CM stated that women in Delhi will be provided employment and entrepreneurship opportunities through small group based models, and stressed the need to expand platforms like ‘Mahila Haat’ to help women showcase and sell products developed by them.
She said that government’s focus is very clear, which is not just about launching schemes, but on ensuring their effective implementation, so that the benefits reach every individual who is in need.

Gupta conducted a detailed inspection of the Nirmal Chhaya Complex, where she visited the after care home for women, Balika Grih and Bal Niketan to ensure that residents are receiving proper care, safety and facilities.
She inspected the arrangements related to safety, nutrition and overall care, issuing necessary directions to officials concerned.
CM also visited the Sankalp Hub, where activities related to women’s safety, awareness and empowerment under Mission Shakti were showcased.
Interacting with the women trained under the WCD-DSEU programme, Gupta appreciated the launch of SHG-run canteens at 10 locations, calling it a strong model for promoting women’s entrepreneurship.

She launched initiatives, including a compendium of schemes related to women and children and the WCD newsletter, and also distributed health kits to pregnant and lactating mothers, provided incentives to Anganwadi workers, and launched the Juvenile Justice Management Information System (JJMIS) portal.
Gupta reaffirmed that the government remains fully committed to empowering women, ensuring a safe and supportive environment for children, and uplifting vulnerable sections of society.

The second Indian flagged liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tanker ‘Nanda Devi’ arrived at Vadinar Port in Gujarat on Tuesday with about 46,500 metric tonnes of LPG from Qatar after crossing the Strait of Hormuz in the war-affected Zone in West Asia even as the government sought to allay fears about the shortage of LPG.

Earlier on Monday, the first Indian-flagged ‘Shivalik’ docked at Mundra Port in Gujarat, carrying a total cargo of about 46,000 metric tonnes (MT) of LPG, with 20,000 MT set to be unloaded at Mundra and the remaining 26,000 MT to be discharged at Mangalore.

Another ship, ‘Jag Laadki’, carrying nearly 81,000 tonnes of crude oil from the UAE, is also reportedly en route to India.
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At a media briefing here, officials said nearly 3 lakh metric tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is currently stranded at the Strait of Hormuz.

Rajesh Kumar Sinha, Special Secretary in the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, said multiple vessels carrying LPG are unable to move due to the situation in the crucial shipping route. Six ships are currently stuck in the Strait of Hormuz, with each vessel carrying around 45,000 metric tonnes of LPG.

The government said the authorities conducted 12,000 raids and seized more than 15,000 LPG cylinders to curb hoarding amid rumours of shortages and panic bookings while maintaining that there is no supply shortage across the country.

Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary in the Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry, assured that availability of LPG remained adequate despite increased demand. Confirming around 70,000 bookings made on Monday due to panic buying, she appealed to consumers to avoid unnecessary bookings and consider alternative arrangements where feasible.

Digital adoption, she said, remains high, with nearly 94 per cent of domestic LPG bookings being made online. She urged consumers to continue using online platforms and avoid panic-driven demand.

Sharma also noted that Delivery Authenticity Code (DAC) compliance has improved to 76 per cent.

She said several states, including Bihar, Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Manipur, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka and Uttarakhand, have taken steps to allocate non-domestic LPG for essential services.

Also, there are reports suggesting that India is reviewing requests from neighbouring countries for additional fuel supplies as Bangladesh, Nepal and others face the prospect of acute shortages amid disruptions to key maritime routes due to the conflict in West Asia.

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Tuesday directed officials to identify potential eco-tourism sites across the state and prepare a coordinated action plan for their development.

The directive came during the fourth meeting of the governing body of the Jharkhand Eco Tourism Authority (JETA) held under his chairmanship at the Jharkhand Assembly.

Soren asked the Forest, Tourism and Water Resources departments to work in coordination to select suitable locations and ensure the planned development of eco-tourism infrastructure.

He said Jharkhand has immense natural beauty and vast potential for eco-tourism, which can generate employment for local communities while ensuring environmental conservation.

Officials made detailed presentations on developing eco-tourism at key locations, including Netarhat, Patratu, Maithon, Chaibasa, Dumka and Ranchi.

The development of Patratu on the lines of Masanjore was also discussed.

The Chief Minister directed officials to prepare a comprehensive and time-bound implementation plan with a focus on infrastructure development while maintaining ecological balance.

He said eco-tourism can play a key role in boosting the state’s economy and enhancing its national and international profile.

Tata Steel has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University of Science and Technology Beijing (USTB) to jointly develop low-carbon steelmaking technologies.

The collaboration brings together Tata Steel, its research arm Tata Steel Research and Innovation Limited, and USTB, combining industry experience with academic and pilot-scale research capabilities.

According to the company, the joint research will focus on four priority areas: scrap-based steelmaking, steel waste valorisation, enhancement of end-product performance, and carbon capture and utilisation technologies. These areas are central to reducing emissions in the steel sector.

The partnership will leverage USTB’s research infrastructure to test and scale emerging technologies for industrial applications, with an emphasis on deployable solutions.

Subodh Pandey, Vice President (Technology, R&D, NMB and Graphene) at Tata Steel, said the shift towards low-carbon steelmaking is essential for the sector’s future and the collaboration would help accelerate innovation in line with sustainability goals.

USTB Vice President Prof Shuqiang Jiao said the agreement builds on existing cooperation and would further strengthen joint efforts in research and industrial application.

Academician Xinping Mao said such collaborations are important for enabling the global steel sector’s transition towards carbon neutrality and sustainable development.

The steel industry remains one of the largest industrial sources of carbon emissions globally, making technological partnerships a key part of the transition process.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday struck down a provision of the Social Security Code, 2020 that limits maternity benefits for adoptive mothers to cases where the adopted child was below three months of age, holding the restriction to be arbitrary and violative of the right to equality under Article 14.

The Court found that adoptive mothers, irrespective of the age of the child – below three months or above three months -, perform similar roles and responsibilities, and that the needs of an adopted child are no different from those of a biological child.

A Bench of Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice R. Mahadevan observed that the law created an artificial classification between adoptive mothers based solely on the age of the adopted child, without any reasonable justification. It noted that the objective of maternity benefits is linked to caregiving and integration of the child into the family, rather than the biological process of childbirth.

The Court also took into account the practical realities of adoption in India, pointing out that in most cases, a child is declared legally free for adoption only after crossing the age of three months. As a result, the restriction rendered the provision largely ineffective and deprived a significant number of adoptive mothers of maternity benefits.

Holding that the provision failed to meet the test of reasonable classification, the Court read down Section 60(4) and expanded its scope. It ruled that all adoptive mothers, as well as commissioning mothers, would be entitled to maternity benefits for a period of twelve weeks from the date the child is handed over to them.

The judgment further emphasised that reproductive autonomy is not confined to biological motherhood and includes the decision to form a family through adoption. It noted that the law must recognise the emotional, psychological and practical adjustments involved in adoptive parenting, particularly in cases involving older children or special needs.

The Court underlined that the welfare and best interests of the child remain paramount even after the adoption process is completed and that the initial period of integration into the family requires support for both the child and the parent.

The ruling came on a petition challenging the earlier provision under the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961, which had been carried forward into the Social Security Code, 2020. The Court allowed the challenge and directed that the benefit be made available uniformly, removing the age-based restriction.

The Court also indicated the need for broader policy consideration, including recognition of paternity leave, to ensure a more balanced approach to caregiving responsibilities.

The court urged the Central government to come out with a provision recognising paternity leave as a social security benefit, emphasising that the duration of such leave must be determined in a manner that is responsive to the needs of both the parent and the child.S

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and the foreign ministers of the European Union (EU) had an in-depth discussion on the situation in West Asia, including its effects on energy security, and underlined the need for dialogue and diplomacy to resolve the crisis in the region.

Jaishankar, who was in Brussels on a two-day visit, participated in an interaction with the EU Foreign Affairs Council comprising the foreign ministers of EU member states. Mr. Maroš Šefčovič, European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security also joined the session.

The Ministry of External Affairs said Jaishankar also discussed with the EU ministers the situation in Ukraine and the Indo-pacific.

He highlighted the strong momentum following the India-EU Summit in January 2026, calling to unlock the full potential of the FTA, deepen defence industrial collaboration and maritime co-operation under the Security and Defence partnership, transform the Trade and Technology Council into a more outcome driven forum integrated with industry, advance sustainable development and green and clean energy collaboration, and strengthen mobility frameworks.

He urged the EU foreign ministers to realise synergies between India’s relations with the European Union and with member states– a sentiment that was fully reciprocated by his EU counterparts.

Jaishankar’s visit, coming within six weeks of the historic State Visit of EU leaders to India as Guests of Honour for India’s 77th Republic Day celebrations and the successful 16th India–EU Summit, is reflective of India’s sustained high-level engagement with the EU, the MEA said.

During the visit, he called on Antonio Costa, President of the European Council and Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission. Jaishankar conveyed the warm greetings of President Draupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the EU leaders.

The discussions centred on India-EU relations following the recent summit and on priorities identified in the joint India-EU Comprehensive Strategic Agenda, including early signing of the landmark India-EU FTA, as well as the situation in West Asia, Ukraine and the Indo-Pacific, the MEA added.

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Tuesday informed the Vidhan Sabha that an FIR has already been registered against the chairman of the Julana Municipal Committee and a contractor in connection with alleged corruption in the civic body.

Responding to a query raised by MLA Vinesh Phogat during the Question Hour of the ongoing Budget Session, the Chief Minister said the matter is currently under investigation. He assured the House that strict and appropriate action will be taken based on the findings of the probe.

“The government is committed to ensuring transparency and accountability. The action will be taken on the basis of investigation,” Saini stated.

In response to another question posed by MLA Ghanshyam Dass regarding the establishment of a Transport area outside Yamunanagar, the Chief Minister highlighted the challenges posed by the current location.

He said the existing Transport area is now surrounded by densely populated neighbourhoods, leading to congestion and operational difficulties.

Considering the increasing urban pressure, the government is exploring the possibility of relocating the facility to a more suitable site with better connectivity and improved infrastructure.

Saini emphasised that the cooperation and input of the local MLA would be crucial in identifying a feasible and widely acceptable location.

He assured that the new Transport area would be developed in a manner that meets all necessary requirements and effectively serves the interests of traders and other stakeholders.

Minister for Communications and Development of North Eastern Region Jyotiraditya Scindia, along with Minister of State Dr Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani, on Tuesday rolled out India Post’s guaranteed next-day delivery services including 24 Speed Post, 24 Speed Post Parcel, and 48 Speed Post, to benefit the people with time-bound delivery of their consignments.
Initially, according to the minister, the service will be made available across six big cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad.
The minister has said the entire system is supported by advanced technology and well structured process to ensure maximum efficiency and success.

Speaking at the launch of these services at the Rang Bhawan auditorium at the Akashvani Bhawan here, Scindia said, “It is a moment of assurance, and highlights for the country that an age old institution has re-invented itself.”
He added that a lot has changed and improved in the department during the decade of PM Modi’s leadership.

Scindia said that the services would have an OTP-based delivery, to make sure the package is secure, while the tracking will be done with alerts shared through SMS.
He highlighted that the strength of the department is the trust that people have, which has developed with time, and also the scale of operations of the department.
He said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India Post is committed to every single citizen of the country and also its international customers.
Scindia said that India Post through its services will also emerge as the important fulfillment agency for the rapidly growing E- commerce market.
He also lauded the post men shared that India Post has a vast network, and there is a post office per every four villages in the country.

Scindia said that India Post is a big network where people are very emotional in serving the customers, and also lauded that post men, saying they reach out to far flung areas and the most difficult of terrains in the country and deliver their duty.
The India Post has stated, “Today, India Post reinvents itself—stronger, faster, and more purposeful than ever. With a network as deep and widespread as India itself, India Post continues to stand on three pillars—connectivity, credibility, and confidence,” the department wrote taking to social media platform X.

India on Tuesday strongly condemned Pakistan’s “barbaric’’ attack on the Omid Addiction Treatment Hospital in Kabul in which about 400 people were killed and over 250 wounded, calling it a blatant assault on Afghanistan’s sovereignty and a direct threat to regional peace in the holy month of Ramzan.

In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs said the attack was a ‘’cowardly and unconscionable act of violence’’ that has claimed innocent civilian lives in a facility which can by no means be justified as a military target.

New Delhi said the attack reflects Pakistan’s persistent pattern of reckless behaviour and its repeated attempts to externalise internal failures through increasing desperate acts of violence beyond its borders.

‘’That this attack was carried out during the holy month of Ramzan, a time of peace, reflection and mercy among Muslim communities across the world, makes it all the more reprehensible. There is no faith, no law and no morality that can justify the deliberate targeting of a hospital and its patients,’’ the MEA said.

It called upon the international community to hold the perpetrators of this criminal act accountable and ensure that the wanton targeting by Pakistan of civilians in Afghanistan ceases without delay.

Congress leader Pawan Khera on Tuesday criticised the Union government’s handling of trade relations with the United States, citing Malaysia’s reported decision to declare its trade agreement with Washington “null and void” and questioning India’s approach to similar negotiations.

‎In a post on X, the Congress leader said, “Malaysia has become the first country to declare its trade agreement with the United States of America ‘null and void.’ Malaysia signed its deal with the USA on October 26, 2025.” He contrasted this with India’s position, adding that New Delhi “does not even have a fully signed deal with the US like Malaysia,” and alleged a lack of transparency from the government.

‎Khera further claimed that the Centre had offered “no clarity on the fate of this anti-India trade deal—only rumours floated through anonymous ‘sources’,” and raised concerns over recent trade-related actions by Washington. Referring to reported investigations, he said the United States had initiated two Section 301 probes involving India, one related to alleged failures to curb imports linked to forced labour and another concerning industrial capacity and manufacturing practices.

‎Targeting the government’s response, Khera took aim at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal. “They seem content with sitting back and sacrificing India’s pride while Washington decides India’s fate,” he said, questioning why India was “not as proactive as Malaysia in deciding its own fate.”

‎He also posed a series of sharp questions in his post, asking, “Why is Modi biting the bullet for America?” while making further unverified allegations.

‎The remarks come amid ongoing global trade realignments and heightened scrutiny of supply chains, labour standards and industrial policies. India and the United States have been engaged in discussions on trade and market access issues, though no comprehensive bilateral trade agreement has been finalised.

‎Analysts note that India’s trade negotiations with major partners often involve complex considerations, including domestic industry protection, regulatory standards and geopolitical factors. Khera’s comments add to the continuing political debate over India’s trade policy and its engagement with major global economies, particularly at a time when international trade dynamics remain in flux.

Under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Punjab government has registered around 37,000 elderly citizens during state-level health check-up camps organised under the ‘Sade Buzurg Sada Maan’ initiative, said Social Security, Women and Child Development Minister Dr Baljit Kaur.

Sharing further details, the Minister stated that the Punjab government considers its elderly citizens a valuable asset, and their safety and dignity remain a top priority.

Dr Baljit Kaur emphasised that elderly citizens are the foundation of families and society, and their experiences continue to guide future generations.

She said it is the moral responsibility of both the government and society to ensure that they live with dignity, care, and a strong sense of belonging.

“Through such initiatives, we reaffirm our commitment to support and stand by our elderly at every stage of their lives,” she added.

She further informed that a wide range of healthcare services were provided at these camps, including eye check-ups, cancer screening, non-communicable disease (NCD) screening, orthopaedic examinations, ENT check-ups, physiotherapy, and psychological assessments conducted by experts.

Dr Kaur also stated that 1,756 registrations were made for cataract surgeries, out of which 539 surgeries have been successfully conducted so far.

Additionally, 1,274 cancer screenings, 4,863 orthopaedic check-ups, 6,339 NCD screenings, 9,015 eye examinations, 2,593 ENT check-ups, and 1,621 physiotherapy sessions were conducted.

She added that 418 beneficiaries were identified for assistive devices through ALIMCO, and necessary aids were distributed. Moreover, 3,014 pairs of glasses were provided to help improve the vision of elderly citizens.

The Minister reiterated that the department remains committed to the welfare of elderly citizens and will continue to organise such initiatives in the future.