External affairs minister S Jaishankar stressed the strategic importance of the semiconductor industry, comparing it to the next global battleground. He highlighted India's renewed focus on semiconductor manufacturing, citing recent partnerships and investments as evidence of the government's commitment to becoming a major player in the sector.

The BJP-Shiv Sena-NCP alliance has secured a resounding victory in the Maharashtra assembly elections, winning 236 seats in the 288-member assembly. The BJP emerged as the single largest party with 132 seats. The opposition MVA alliance suffered a crushing defeat, with internal divisions and the popularity of the Mahayuti's welfare schemes cited as contributing factors.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, in a sweeping victory, secured the Wayanad Lok Sabha bypoll seat. Expressing gratitude towards the people of Wayanad and her family, she acknowledged her brother Rahul Gandhi's contributions and the unwavering support of her mother, husband, and children, Raihan and Miraya.

The Congress party expresses surprise at the unexpected victory of the Mahayuti alliance in the Maharashtra elections. They plan to thoroughly analyze the results and investigate concerns regarding electoral transparency, citing discrepancies between the recent state elections and the Lok Sabha results.

Ajit Pawar, leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), secured a resounding victory in the Baramati assembly constituency, defeating his nephew and solidifying his political standing. This win marks his eighth consecutive term and a significant power shift within the Pawar family.

Shiv Sena's Dadaji Bhuse and AIMIM's Mohammed Ismail Abdul Khalique secured victories in the Malegaon outer and Central elections respectively. Maharashtra's political landscape, marked by alliances and shifts, saw the ruling Mahayuti alliance leading in 225 out of 288 assembly seats based on early counting trends, while the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi trailed behind with leads in only 46 seats.

Recent by-elections saw significant victories for the ruling BJP and its allies. The BJP dominated in Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, and Rajasthan, while also sweeping Bihar alongside its NDA partners. Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi secured her first electoral win in Kerala's Wayanad, while the TMC maintained its stronghold in West Bengal.

Congress candidate Rahul Mamkootathil is leading in the Palakkad Assembly bypoll with 17,276 votes, surpassing BJP's C Krishnakumar by 1,366 votes, according to the latest Election Commission data. The bypoll was necessitated following the resignation of Congress leader Shafi Parambil.

In the upcoming 2024 Jharkhand assembly elections, BJP candidate Raj Sinha will face Congress's Ajay Dubey in Dhanbad. Sinha, a two-time incumbent, seeks to maintain BJP's stronghold against Dubey, whose last-minute nomination has fueled speculation about potential shifts in the constituency's political landscape.

In the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections, the Sakoli constituency will witness a close contest between BJP's Avinash Anandrao Brahmankar and Congress's Nana Falgunrao Patole. This primarily rural constituency, with a mix of agricultural and tribal populations, has been a Congress stronghold, with Patole winning in 2019. However, the BJP's victory in 2014 suggests a tight race is in store.

Over 100 monkeys died in an FCI warehouse in India after inhaling pesticide sprayed on wheat sacks. Workers attempted to conceal the incident by burying the carcasses in a pit. The incident came to light after concerns were raised by members of the Vishva Hindu Parishad, leading to an investigation and the exhumation of the bodies for postmortem.

As Maharashtra and Jharkhand await election results, both the BJP-led NDA and the opposition INDIA bloc are preparing for potential post-poll scenarios, including the possibility of a hung assembly. Exit polls present a mixed bag of predictions, leading to speculation about potential alliances and realignments. Both states have a history of political maneuvering, adding to the uncertainty surrounding the outcome.

The Indian Army is accelerating its technological advancement by focusing on 16 technology clusters, including cyber, space, and AI, to enhance its capabilities for future warfare. The Army is collaborating with academic institutions and industries to develop and integrate these technologies. To support this transformation, the Army will induct domain specialists in fields like cyber and linguistics, starting in mid-2025.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the News9 Global Summit, emphasizing the significance of the 25-year India-Germany strategic partnership. He highlighted Germany as a crucial partner and praised the growing economic ties, citing over 1800 German companies operating in India and USD 15 billion invested in recent years.