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NEW DELHI, April 2: The Budget Session of Parliament is scheduled to reconvene on April 16, likely for three days, to consider key legislation, including bills to increase the number of Lok Sabha seats from 543 to 816, enabling the implementation of the women's reservation law, the Nari Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023. The government is expected to introduce the bills in the Lok Sabha first and has reportedly engaged in back-channel discussions with opposition parties to facilitate their passage. The m ...Read More >
New Delhi, April 2: Senior Congress leader Anand Sharma on Thursday hailed India's diplomatic handling of the West Asia crisis as "mature and skilful", saying it has helped the country avoid "potential minefields". He also urged India to take the lead in mobilising the Global South and strategic-partner countries to collectively work towards the restoration of peace and order in the region. Lauding the efforts taken so far by New Delhi, Sharma said, "Indian diplomatic handling of the crisis ha ...Read More >
CHANDIGARH, April 2: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Thursday responded sharply to BJP criticism over the blast outside its Chandigarh office, emphasizing that the city is a Union Territory under the Administrator, not the state government. The explosion, caused by a suspected crude device, occurred Wednesday evening, triggered panic, but caused no casualties. Mann accused BJP leaders of making "absurd" statements and blaming him for incidents in Chandigarh, highlighting the city's separa ...Read More >
NEW DELHI, April 2: India joined over 35 nations in a UK-convened summit on Thursday to discuss political and diplomatic measures to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which has been effectively closed since late February following US-Israel strikes on Iran. Represented by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, India participated in the virtual talks focused on restoring freedom of navigation, ensuring the safety of trapped ships and seafarers, and resuming the flow of vital commodities. The UK emphasized d ...Read More >
Mumbai, April 2: The rupee logged one of its steepest single-day gains in many years and settled 152 paise higher at 93.18 against the US dollar on Thursday after the Reserve Bank stepped in with a slew of measures to restrict banks from onshore forward markets. The domestic unit, however, remained under pressure due to the unabated withdrawal of foreign capital, a strengthening dollar, and rising crude oil prices amid a volatile geopolitical situation, forex analysts said. At the interbank fo ...Read More >
Mumbai, April 2: Staging a spirited recovery, stock markets pared early losses to close higher on Thursday, with the benchmark Sensex rising by 185 points and the broader Nifty settling above 22,700 on strong value buying in IT and banking shares and a sharp rebound in the rupee. Rebounding more than 2,000 points from the day's low, the 30-share BSE Sensex finally settled higher by 185.23 points, or 0.25 per cent, at 73,319.55. The index opened lower and tanked further by 1,588 points to hit a ...Read More >
New Delhi, April 2: The government on Thursday exempted import of critical petrochemical products from customs duty for three months till June 30, giving relief to sectors like pharmaceuticals, chemicals and textiles, and ensuring supply stability amid the ongoing West Asia crisis. The "temporary and targeted relief" will cost the exchequer about Rs 1,800 crore, but help ensure price stability, continuity in production and supply chain, CBIC Member (Tax Policy), Sanjay Mangal told reporters at ...Read More >
SHILLONG, April 2: A local court on Thursday evening remanded Kennedy Khongsit (32), the prime accused in the murder of a seven-year-old boy from Nongrah, to eight days of police custody. Police had sought 12 days' custody for further investigation, but the court granted only eight days. Earlier in the day, East Khasi Hills police produced Khongsit for a medical examination at Shillong Civil Hospital before presenting him in court. Khongsit, a resident of Lum Marboh, Nongrah, and a neighbour ...Read More >
TURA, April 2: In a positive development, the district administration of West Garo Hills has withdrawn the night curfew imposed across the district since March 9. District Magistrate Vibhor Aggarwal issued the order under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, after a review showed significant improvement in the law and order situation. The administration stated that the restrictions were no longer needed for public convenience. Normal movement of people, shops, co ...Read More >
SHILLONG, April 2: The IMD has forecast above-normal temperatures and below-normal rainfall for Meghalaya during the hot weather season from April to June. According to the IMD outlook, both maximum and minimum temperatures are likely to remain normal to above normal across most parts of the state. For April specifically, daytime and nighttime temperatures are expected to stay above the seasonal average. Despite the warming trend, the weather office stated that no heatwave days are likely in M ...Read More >
GUWAHATI, April 2: Union home minister Amit Shah on Thursday campaigned for Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) candidate from Kaliabor constituency, Keshab Mahanta, claiming that the 10 years of development and positive transformation achieved under BJP-led NDA government 'should be written in golden words in Assam's history'. "The AGP-BJP gathbandhan (alliance) in Assam has been there for the past decade and will certainly be there in the future, like the sun and the moon. The Congress says the alliance ...Read More >
Agartala, April 2: In a clear sign of low female representation, only 4.62 per cent of the 173 candidates contesting the April 12 elections to the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) are women. The autonomous council, set up in 1982 to promote the socio-economic development of tribal communities, is regarded as the state's second most important constitutional body after the Assembly. Officials of the Tripura State Election Commission (SEC), which is conducting the polls, s ...Read More >
Lucknow, April 1: Sameer Rizvi gave ample display of his talent, coming in as an 'Impact Substitute', as Delhi Capitals cantered home by six wickets against Lucknow Super Giants despite initial stutters to make a winning start in the IPL here on Wednesday. Chasing a lowly target of 142, DC were reduced to 26 for 4 within first five overs but Rizvi (70 not out off 47 balls), substituting T Natarajan, conjured an unbroken 119-run stand for the fifth wicket with the seasoned Tristan Stubbs (39 not ...Read More >
Kolkata, April 1: Sunrisers Hyderabad head coach Daniel Vettori has played down Kolkata Knight Riders' poor start with the ball, saying experienced spinners Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy remain a major threat and the "battle" against them will be crucial in their IPL match here on Thursday. Chakravarthy has lost his rhythm since he was taken to cleaners by South Africa in the T20 World Cup in February as he looked ordinary in a wicketless spell against Mumbai Indians. Narine too has not ...Read More >
Mumbai, April 1: India will head to Zimbabwe for a three-match T20I series in July scheduled to be played at the Harare Sports Club. The BCCI informed in a statement on Wednesday that the Indian men's team will play three games against hosts Zimbabwe on July 23, 25 and 26. India will be taking on Ireland in an away series for their first assignment since winning the T20 World Cup in two T20Is to be played on June 26 and 28 respectively. India will then head to England for five T20Is from July ...Read More >
CHANDIGARH, April 1: A blast outside the Punjab BJP headquarters in Chandigarh on Wednesday evening triggered panic, though no casualties were reported. Police said a "crude" device appeared to have been hurled at the party office around 5 pm. A team from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) was dispatched to investigate. An unverified social media video showed two individuals, one allegedly throwing a grenade-like object while the other recorded the act, though their identities and the aut ...Read More >
KOCHIN, April 1: Senior BJP leader and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh launched a fierce attack on Kerala's ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) while campaigning in Paravur ahead of the Assembly elections on April 9. Singh claimed that "God was not secure" in Kerala, citing the Sabarimala gold loss cases, and compared the LDF's actions to Judas betraying Jesus, asserting that the Left had betrayed Lord Ayyappa for a few pieces of gold. He promise ...Read More >
Tiruchirappalli, April 1: DMK President and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Wednesday launched a strong attack on the NDA and AIADMK ahead of the April 23 Assembly polls, alleging that if the NDA comes to power in the state, it will not hesitate to rename Tamil Nadu as "Dakshina Pradesh." Stalin urged the people of Tamil Nadu to unite against the AIADMK-BJP alliance, claiming it threatens the state's identity and the Dravidian model of governance. Speaking at a public meeting, Stalin c ...Read More >
NEW DELHI, April 1: India witnessed a historic surge in Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) prices on Wednesday, driven by soaring global crude rates amid the ongoing West Asia conflict. Domestic airlines will face an 8.5% increase, while foreign carriers, non-scheduled, charter, and adhoc operators will see a massive 114.5% hike, pushing ATF to a record Rs 2,07,341 per kilolitre -- the first time it has crossed the Rs 2 lakh mark. The sharp rise comes as global energy supply chains face disruptions, ...Read More >
New Delhi/Alappuzha, April 1: A discussion on the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) Amendment Bill, 2026, scheduled in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, was deferred after a heated political exchange. The opposition alleged that the bill could restrict minority rights and tighten government control over NGOs, while the BJP defended it as necessary for national security and transparency, asserting it does not target any religion. Introduced on March 25, the bill aims to curb misuse of foreig ...Read More >
Shillong, April 1: Excitement among Meghalaya's passionate football fans will reach new heights with the start of the fifth edition of the Meghalaya State League (MSL 5), which is set to begin on April 11. This year's iteration will be the biggest in the history of the statewide football tournament, with 33 eligible teams divided among eight groups scheduled to contest the first stage. The number of teams is still provisional, however, as all must complete the pre-tournament formalities in orde ...Read More >
Hyderabad, April 1: Sreenidi Deccan FC and Shillong Lajong FC played out a goalless draw in a top of the table clash of the Indian Football League (IFL) 2025-26 at the Deccan Arena here Wednesday. The two teams came into the match level on points, and the contest lived up to expectations with a tactical battle where both defences held firm and goalkeepers stood out with crucial saves. Sreenidi Deccan FC moved to the top of the table with 11 points, while Shillong Lajong sit just behind them, l ...Read More >
NEW DELHI, April1: In a unique multilingual initiative to develop sports culture in India, the "Sports Alphabet Booklets" were released simultaneously in 21 languages in a first-of-its-kind event, here on Wednesday.Developed by sports researcher Dr. Kanishka Pandey under the aegis of "Sports: A Way of Life", the booklets aim to integrate sports with early education by using alphabets to introduce children to sporting concepts. The booklets have been prepared in Hindi, English, Urdu, Sanskrit, M ...Read More >
NEW DELHI, April 1: The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has constituted a four-member ad-hoc committee to run the affairs of the Equestrian Federation of India (EFI), acting on directions of the Delhi High Court, which had called for restoration of democratic governance in the sport. The ad-hoc panel will be headed by Yashodhara Raje Scindia as chairperson, according to the IOA office order dated March 27.The IOA said the committee has been constituted with immediate effect to "administer and ...Read More >
New Delhi, April 1: Silver prices surged by Rs 9,000 to Rs 2.46 lakh per kg, while gold jumped by Rs 3,500 to Rs 1.55 lakh per 10 grams on Wednesday, following firm global trends. According to the All India Sarafa Association, the white metal appreciated by Rs 9,000, or 3.8 per cent, to Rs 2,46,000 per kg (inclusive of all taxes) from Monday's closing level of Rs 2,37,000 per kg. Gold of 99.9 per cent purity also increased by Rs 3,500, or 2.3 per cent, to Rs 1,55,000 per 10 grams (inclusive of ...Read More >
Mumbai, April 1: Stock markets closed nearly 2 per cent higher on Wednesday, with the Sensex and Nifty rallying in tandem with global peers amid hopes of de-escalation in the West Asia conflict. Starting the new fiscal year on a high note, the 30-share BSE Sensex jumped 1,186.77 points or 1.65 per cent to settle at 73,134.32. During the day, it surged 2,017.03 points or 2.80 per cent to 73,964.58. Snapping its two-day falling streak, the 50-share NSE Nifty climbed 348 points or 1.56 per cent t ...Read More >
Mumbai, April 1: Amid sharp depreciation in the rupee, the Reserve Bank on Wednesday announced more actions focused on authorised dealers (ADs). The moves follow a "review of evolving market conditions" and are applicable immediately. Authorised dealers (ADs) -- banks authorised by RBI to deal in foreign exchange -- will not be able to offer non-deliverable derivative contracts involving the Indian rupee to resident or non-resident users, the central bank said in a late-evening notification. ...Read More >
Mumbai, April 1: US tariff orders are likely to moderate India Inc's credit profiles in the second half of FY26, and the West Asia conflict, especially its duration, will play a crucial role in determining how it pans out in the future, rating agencies said on Wednesday. Crisil Ratings, which rates over 7,300 entities, conducted a stress test on the likely impact of the West Asia crisis on Indian companies, which revealed that 23 of the 30 sectors with exposure to the Gulf region will be resili ...Read More >
SHILLONG, April 1: Even as officials of the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department continue to insist there is no shortage of domestic LPG cylinders, Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Wednesday admitted that the state is indeed facing a mild shortage for household use. Speaking to media persons here, the Chief Minister said the state government is actively managing the situation. "There is some shortage but not so much," Sangma remarked, adding that the government is closely mon ...Read More >
SHILLONG, April 1: The Government of Meghalaya on Wednesday signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) with Starlink India to enhance digital connectivity across the state, with Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma witnessing the signing ceremony via video conference. The agreement aims to expand connectivity, particularly in remote and underserved areas, and aligns with the state's vision of achieving a $10 billion economy by 2028, with digital infrastructure identified as a key driver of inclusive growth. T ...Read More >
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