India's Navy has launched Operation Urja Suraksha. More than five frontline warships are ensuring safe passage for India-bound cargo ships. These vessels carry vital supplies like LPG and crude oil. The operation escorts ships out of the troubled Strait of Hormuz. This protects critical maritime routes and Indian crew. Key successes have already been achieved.

Indian space company Agnikul Cosmos has successfully tested its 3D-printed booster engine, 'Agnite'. This single-piece Inconel engine, a meter long, can be fully printed within a week, significantly reducing production complexity and turnaround time. The successful in-house testing marks a crucial end-to-end cycle completion for their larger engines.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced that the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) will develop infrastructure along the 1,600 km Indo-Myanmar border to bolster management capabilities. The BRO is also ensuring all-weather connectivity in remote regions and adopting modern construction techniques to enhance operational mobility and defence preparedness.

Home Minister Amit Shah is leading an informal Group of Ministers to address strategic issues arising from the West Asia conflict, including impacts on cooking gas and LNG supplies. Another GoM, headed by Manohar Lal, is focusing on energy supply matters, particularly piped gas for homes, as the government prioritizes PNG adoption.

Hotels and restaurants face strict action for levying additional charges like «LPG charges» or «fuel cost recovery» on food bills. The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) stated these are unfair trade practices, as operational costs should be included in menu prices. Consumers can dispute such charges and file complaints.

The Supreme Court ruled that financial burden cannot deny fair compensation for land acquisition, upholding the principle that fiscal implications don't override landowners' entitlements. However, the court limited this liberal compensation regime to claims pending since March 28, 2008, preventing delayed appeals for enhanced payouts.

Government and major oil companies have strongly refuted rumors of petrol and diesel shortages, urging the public to avoid panic buying. Officials confirmed ample fuel stocks nationwide and assured citizens that there are no impending price hikes.

A UK court has dismissed fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi's plea to reopen his extradition order, bringing him closer to facing charges in India for a Rs 6,500 crore Punjab National Bank scam. The High Court found no exceptional circumstances to revisit the earlier decision, despite Modi's concerns about ill-treatment. This development follows years of legal proceedings since his 2019 arrest.

The Union cabinet has approved the continuation of the immigration and visa tracking scheme for five more years until March 2031 with a Rs 1,800 crore outlay. This initiative aims to enhance national security and streamline the visa and immigration process for foreign visitors by inter-linking multiple databases for informed decision-making.

Indian Institutes of Technology are solidifying their global standing in engineering, with multiple disciplines ranking in the world's top 50. Management education is also advancing, as seen with IIM Ahmedabad's rise. Overall, India's higher education system shows significant quality improvement and global competitiveness.

Households with access to piped natural gas but still using LPG cylinders will face a supply cut in three months. This government move aims to reduce LPG imports, with exceptions for technically infeasible PNG connections. City gas firms will notify eligible consumers, while authorities must now grant pipeline permissions within set deadlines.

Parliament passed the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill 2026, sparking immediate resignations from two National Council for Transgender Persons members protesting the lack of community consultation. The bill removes self-perceived gender identity, introducing a medical board for transgender certificates, a move critics deem regressive and a step backward for fundamental rights.

PDP legislator Waheed Parra's bill proposing 16 new districts and two divisions in J&K has drawn sharp criticism. The ruling NC called it a sabotage attempt to undermine sub-region empowerment, while the BJP alleged it aligns with Pakistan's ISI agenda to create a 'Greater Kashmir' by dividing Jammu.

Jammu and Kashmir administration defended its ban on 25 Kashmir-related books in high court, citing state security and public order. The government also justified the legal provision used for the ban. Petitioners challenging the order have been given time to respond. The full bench will hear the case.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh reviewed the Border Roads Organisation's (BRO) progress on critical infrastructure projects, including over 1,000 road and connectivity initiatives under the 2023-28 plan. The focus is on enhancing all-weather access in remote areas, bolstering defence preparedness, and strengthening border management, particularly along the Indo-Myanmar frontier.

Congress questioned the government's stance on diplomatic mediation, citing Prime Minister Modi's past efforts to broker peace between Russia and Ukraine. This comes after External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar stated India is not a «broker nation.» Opposition leaders expressed dissatisfaction with the government's response to the West Asia crisis, demanding a parliamentary debate.

Opposition parties pledged full support to the government on the Middle East crisis following an all-party meeting. Ministers addressed concerns regarding the Iran-Israel-US conflict's impact on India, including energy supplies and citizen safety. While most parties expressed satisfaction, some, like the TMC, skipped the meeting, and a few voiced lingering concerns about parliamentary debate.

Two new reports highlight India's growing role as a global AI hub, detailing the impact of artificial intelligence on its startup and Global Capability Center (GCC) ecosystems. The studies reveal how AI is accelerating innovation and forcing GCCs to shift from execution to co-creation to avoid displacement, emphasizing India's unique advantages in this transformation.

The BJP has nominated Ratna Debnath, mother of the RG Kar Medical College rape and murder victim, from Panihati for the West Bengal Assembly elections. Her decision to contest on a BJP ticket stems from her pursuit of justice for her daughter and a broader fight for women's safety. This move has sparked debate among activists.

Keralam Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has strongly condemned misogynistic remarks made by a UDF leader against MLA U Prathibha, terming them an insult to all women in public life. Prathibha plans legal action, stating the comments were beyond character assassination and aimed at discouraging women. The UDF candidate distanced himself from the remarks.

AIADMK has finalized seat-sharing with seven NDA allies in Tamil Nadu for the April 23 Assembly elections, allocating 65 seats to partners like BJP (27), PMK (18), and AMMK (11). The AIADMK will contest the remaining 169 constituencies. This move solidifies the alliance's structure ahead of the crucial contest against the ruling DMK.

Veteran Congress leader Sonia Gandhi is stable and under observation at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital after being admitted Tuesday night due to feeling unwell following a weather change. Doctors are conducting investigations for potential stomach and urinary tract infections, with antibiotics administered as part of her treatment. Her condition is being closely monitored by a medical team.

Kerala's 2026 Assembly elections are poised for close contests, mirroring the 2021 polls where narrow victory margins and fragmented vote shares were prevalent. Despite a consistent but limited NOTA presence, the focus remains on micro-level swings and party strength, as recent local body elections indicate potential shifts in tightly contested constituencies.

Gujarat has passed its Uniform Civil Code Bill, 2026. This makes it the second Indian state to adopt a unified law for marriage, divorce, and inheritance. Union Home Minister Amit Shah hailed it as a historic step for equality. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel stated the UCC will ensure equal rights and dignity for women across all communities.

The Supreme Court has sharply criticized Haryana Police and the Child Welfare Committee for their insensitive handling of a three-year-old rape survivor's case. The court condemned summoning the minor to the police station and expressed concern over the apparent downgrading of charges under the Pocso Act, emphasizing the need for a child-sensitive approach.

As West Bengal assembly elections approach, the BJP and TMC are trading sharp accusations. BJP chief Nitin Nabin alleged Hindus need court permission for puja pandals while Muslims can offer namaz freely. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee countered, calling the BJP an 'anti-Bengali' party and raising concerns about voter roll deletions and citizenship.