Amidst soaring temperatures and intense heat wave conditions, the Congress has accused the Rajasthan government of concealing the true extent of heatstroke-related deaths in the state. The opposition party has expressed concerns over the reliability of the official data and called for an independent probe to ascertain the correct death toll. This allegation has triggered a heated political debate, with the ruling party defending its figures and the Congress demanding greater transparency.

India's final election phase commenced, pivotal for Narendra Modi's potential third term. Modi's campaign, initially focused on economic promises, shifted to polarizing rhetoric against Muslims. Stiff opposition, led by Rahul Gandhi, challenges Modi's narrative, focusing on economic grievances. Regional dynamics, particularly in West Bengal, underscore the broader contest between Modi's BJP and regional forces.

Punjab recorded a voter turnout of 23.91% till 11 am in the polling for the 13 Lok Sabha constituencies. Chandigarh's voter turnout was at 25.03% amid tight security arrangements. Various leaders also casted their votes at their respective constituencies.

Google commemorates the final voting phase of India's 18th Lok Sabha Elections 2024 with a symbolic index finger Doodle. The 7th phase covers 57 constituencies across 8 states and 1 UT, with notable political leaders like PM Modi, Rahul Gandhi, and Kharge. More than 10.06 crore electors are expected to vote, overseen by the Election Commission of India.

Union Minister Anurag Thakur and former Himachal Pradesh CM Prem Kumar Dhumal voted in Hamirpur. Thakur highlighted the enthusiasm at polling booths and the BJP's work for the people.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lambasted opposition parties on Friday for ridiculing PM Modi's meditation session in Kanyakumari. «PM Modi is meditating at the world-renowned Vivekananda Rock Memorial in Kanyakumari, the same spot Swami Vivekananda had dreamed of a developed India. It is unfortunate that Congress and INDI Alliance are troubled by this,» BJP's chief spokesperson Anil Baluni said in a statement.

The Jammu administration established a 24-hour helpline after a meeting to assist the families of the victims. The initiative aims to provide support and information to those affected by the incident.

BJP criticizes Congress for boycotting Lok Sabha exit poll debates post Phase 7 polling. Amit Shah predicts Congress's defeat in upcoming exit polls due to 'denial mode'. BJP accuses Congress of conceding 2024 elections. Congress opts out citing TRP speculation. Results on June 4.

An investigation has revealed that an Israeli company, STOIC, attempted to interfere in the recent Lok Sabha elections in India by peddling an anti-BJP agenda. This covert influence operation, dubbed «Zero Zeno,» was part of a larger effort by the firm to manipulate public opinion across various regions, including Canada, the United States, Israel, and Ghana.

​​With the heatwave season extending from March to June, many regions in India are experiencing record-high temperatures, putting immense pressure on infrastructure, health services, and the agricultural sector. This unrelenting heat is rendering parts of the country nearly unlivable. Writing an opinion piece on high temperatures and climate change in Bloomberg, David Fickling says that «India’s scorching heat is making it unlivable».

The Border Security Force (BSF) has seized two drones and a substantial quantity of narcotics in two separate incidents near the India-Pakistan International Border in Punjab's Tarn Taran district. In a coordinated operation, BSF personnel recovered a total of 1,060 grams of suspected methamphetamine from the drones. The first drone was confiscated at around 8:10 pm on Friday from a farming area in CB Chand village. The second drone was intercepted on the outskirts of Kalsian village around 10:35 pm the same evening.