West Bengal's political landscape is witnessing a significant rise in dynastic representation for the 2026 assembly elections. Across major parties like TMC, BJP, Congress, and CPI(M), candidates from established political families are increasingly being fielded. This marks a departure from Bengal's traditional grassroots politics, as parties now prioritize candidates with existing voter recognition and organizational support.

The Trinamool Congress has sharpened its attack on Union Home Minister Amit Shah ahead of his visit to West Bengal, recommending local non-vegetarian delicacies. This move aligns with the TMC's campaign, which portrays the BJP as out of touch with Bengal's cultural traditions, particularly regarding food habits.

Rahul Gandhi released the Congress party's manifesto for the Assam Assembly elections. The document details commitments across eleven key sectors. This release is a significant step in the party's campaign. The Congress aims to regain power in Assam after a decade. Polling is scheduled for April 9. Vote counting will occur on May 4.

The bench arrived at the finding while answering a reference made by a division bench of the court in view of conflicting judgments of two different division benches of the HC on the issue.

Raghav Chadha has been removed as the Aam Aadmi Party's deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha. Ashok Mittal has been appointed in his place. The party has also requested the Rajya Sabha secretariat not to allot speaking time to Chadha from its quota. This move comes amid reports of indiscipline and not adhering to the party line.

Tamil Nadu's election campaign intensified as Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin filed his nomination from Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni, aiming for a second consecutive win. Actor-politician Vijay also entered the fray, filing nominations from both Trichy East and Perambur constituencies, with his party manifesto emphasizing a drug-free Tamil Nadu.

The Supreme Court has strongly condemned the hostage situation involving judicial officers in Malda, issuing showcause notices to top West Bengal officials. The court cited a «complete breakdown of law and order» and an «abdication of duty,» ordering central forces deployment and allowing probes into the incident. Leaders are urged to avoid politicizing the matter.

Indian Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi revealed the Navy was moments from striking Pakistan by sea during Operation Sindoor. Pakistan requested a halt to military actions. The operation, launched after the Pahalgam terror attack, targeted terrorist bases. The Navy's swift deployment and aggressive posture demonstrated its capabilities. Nine major terrorist camps were identified and struck with precision.

The Supreme Court criticized the government for filing unnecessary appeals, imposing a Rs 25,000 cost on the Centre for challenging a High Court order. The High Court had reinstated a CISF official terminated for allegedly helping a couple elope, ruling the girl was an adult and married willingly. The apex court questioned the government's role in court pendency.

India's defence ministry has smartly deployed its revised capital expenditure of Rs 1.86 lakh crore for FY2025-26, mirroring the momentum from the previous year. This fiscal strategy highlights intense investments in aerial assets, ground defense technologies, and cutting-edge electronic warfare systems. Additionally, the endorsement of multiple new procurement strategies showcases a dynamic approach towards bolstering the nation’s defense arsenal.

The Students Federation of India, Pondicherry University unit (SFI PU), condemned the arbitrary decision of the university to prepone the examinations and to direct the students to vacate the hostel.

President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Union Home Minister Amit Shah have all participated in the self-enumeration for Census 2027. This initiative marks the commencement of the first phase, focusing on house listing and housing census, with a 15-day window for self-enumeration in Delhi starting Wednesday.

Eight women workers were killed on the Nagpur-Mumbai Expressway in Jalna district, Maharashtra, after a truck collided with a tempo they were standing in. The truck driver, who changed lanes and struck the tempo from behind, has been taken into custody. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed his condolences and announced Rs 5 lakh aid for the deceased's families.

Rahul Gandhi encountered a man dressed as Yamaraj during his Kerala campaign, humorously suggesting the UDF's proposed Rs 25 lakh health insurance scheme would render the God of Death jobless. This initiative aims to alleviate financial burdens from medical crises, ensuring healthcare as a right for all Keralites.

The Supreme Court imposed Rs 25,000 costs on the Centre for challenging a High Court order reinstating a CISF official. Upholding the High Court's ruling, the bench found the dismissal disproportionate, noting the official had taken medical leave and the woman involved had no grievance. The court emphasized the government's role as a major litigant contributing to case backlogs.

Delhi lost approximately Rs 1,717 crore to digital payment fraud and online cheating between 2023 and 2025, with only 10% recovered. The Delhi Police reported a significant rise in cases, prompting enhanced measures like the '1930' helpline and a specialized financial fraud mitigation center to expedite fund recovery and raise public awareness.

Mirza Waheed is a novelist and essayist born and raised in Kashmir and living in London. His debut novel, ‘The Collaborator’, was a finalist for the Guardian First Book Award and the Shakti Bhatt Prize and was longlisted for the Desmond Elliott Prize. His second novel, ‘The Book of Gold Leaves’, was shortlisted for the DSC Prize and longlisted for the Folio Prize. His third novel, ‘Tell Her Everything’, won The Hindu Literary Prize. In this conversation, he discusses his new novel, ‘Maryam & Son’.

The Centre has issued a detailed advisory on GLP-1 receptor agonist drugs, emphasizing their use for type 2 diabetes and obesity must be strictly under medical supervision. Authorities are increasing regulatory surveillance and warning of strict action against violations in their sale or prescription.