India's chief negotiator Rajesh Agrawal will visit Washington DC next week to meet with US counterparts, paving the way for initial discussions on a proposed bilateral trade agreement. This visit aims to resolve outstanding issues before the formal trade talks commence.

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar criticized the Supreme Court's ruling that set a timeline for the President and governors to decide on bills. He questioned the court's authority to direct the President and expressed concern over the use of Article 142, deeming it a 'nuclear missile' against democratic forces.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah praised the CRPF for significantly curbing Naxal influence, confining them to a few districts and aiming to eliminate Naxalism by March 2026. He highlighted the crucial role of the CoBRA battalion in this effort, noting a 70% reduction in violence due to CRPF's presence.

Bill Aitken, the Scottish-born writer renowned for his insightful explorations of India's spiritual and geographical landscapes, passed away in Dehradun at the age of 90. Aitken, who had made India his home in 1959, leaves behind a rich literary legacy encompassing travel, railways, and mountain culture.

Despite strained trade relations with Bangladesh, India asserts its commitment to regional trade, clarifying that the trans-shipment facility withdrawal aimed to ease port congestion without impacting Bangladesh's exports to Nepal and Bhutan. India has expressed concerns over Bangladesh's restrictive trade measures, including port closures and yarn import blocks, alongside its renewed ties with Pakistan, raising security concerns for India.

The Supreme Court intervened by ordering a stay on the demolition notice for the Hazrat Saatpeer Sayed Baba dargah in Nashik. However, the Nashik Municipal Corporation had already demolished the structure before the hearing, leading to violence and injuries to 21 policemen.

A Bhopal court has reopened the investigation into the 1997 death of Mahila Congress activist Sarla Mishra, who died from severe burns. The court questioned the validity of her dying declaration, citing the extent of her injuries.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, was introduced after receiving numerous complaints from the Muslim community, particularly women and widows, regarding the previous system. He emphasized that the new law aims to address these grievances and empower those who suffered under the old regulations, ensuring justice for victims, especially widows.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Governor CV Ananda Bose are at odds over Murshidabad, with Banerjee urging against visits to avoid escalating tensions following Waqf law-related violence. Bose intends to assess the situation and report to the Centre, having met with affected individuals.

Farooq Abdullah disputes A S Dulat's claim of supporting Article 370 abrogation, but Dulat clarifies he meant Abdullah's desire to align with Delhi on his terms. Dulat's book praises Abdullah's leadership, revealing insights into the Rubaiya Sayeed abduction and IC-814 hostage swap, highlighting Farooq's initial opposition and eventual acquiescence to decisions.

Jaipur is making preparations to welcome US Vice-President J D Vance, his wife Usha, and their children on April 22. During their visit, Vance will meet with industry leaders and government officials, as well as tour Amber Fort and City Palace. He is also scheduled to speak at an industry event focused on trade and technology.

The Supreme Court overturned a Delhi High Court order that directed Wikimedia to remove all allegedly defamatory content about ANI, deeming the order too broad and impractical. The court allowed ANI to file a new application in the High Court for the removal of specific content.

A U.S. veteran, identified as Akinyela Taylor, hijacked a passenger plane in Belize, stabbing three passengers with a knife. A licensed passenger shot and killed Taylor after being stabbed himself. The injured passengers were hospitalized, with the shooter in critical condition due to stab wounds to the back and lungs. U.S.

Adani Enterprises will share approximately 42% of revenue with NHLML for the Sonprayag-Kedarnath ropeway project, a 13 km route expected to drastically cut travel time to 36 minutes. This Rs 4,081 crore project, approved on PPP mode, aims to transport 18,000 pilgrims daily.

A recent report evaluating India's Information Commissions reveals that a majority of commissioners, particularly chief commissioners, are retired government officials, defying the RTI Act's call for diverse backgrounds. Gender disparity persists, with women holding only a small fraction of positions. Case disposal rates vary significantly across commissions, with some returning a high number of cases without orders.

In a shocking incident at New Medical College Hospital in Kota, Jagdish Panchal, a 60-year-old partially paralysed man, was mistakenly operated on after responding to a call for another patient with the same name. The error occurred while his son, Manish, was undergoing surgery, leading to an incision before the mix-up was discovered.

The PDP and NC are engaged in a heated dispute over the abrogation of Article 370, sparked by claims in a new book. PDP defends its alliance with BJP as principled and aimed at protecting Article 370, while accusing NC of secret deals with the BJP. Mehbooba Mufti alleges Omar Abdullah proposed an NC-BJP alliance after the 2014 elections.

India has withdrawn transhipment facilities for Bangladeshi exports due to actions by Dhaka affecting bilateral trade, according to the External Affairs Ministry. This decision follows Bangladesh's suspension of Indian yarn imports and closure of three land ports. The move aims to address congestion at Indian ports and airports.

Pakistan's army chief, Gen Asim Munir, delivered a provocative speech urging Pakistanis to uphold the 'two-nation theory,' sparking concerns in India. Intelligence sources view this as a diversionary tactic amid internal security challenges and escalating conflicts with the TTP and Baloch insurgents.

Following Tahawwur Rana's extradition, India has urged Pakistan to bring the perpetrators of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks to justice, emphasizing Pakistan's continued shielding of those responsible. India reiterated its commitment to cooperating with Pakistan for a swift conclusion to the trial, while also highlighting Pakistan's reputation as a hub for global terrorism and ISI's involvement in the attacks.

India strongly refuted Pakistan's «two-nation» theory, asserting that Pakistan's sole connection to India is the liberation of illegally occupied territories. This response followed Pakistan's army chief's endorsement of the theory, emphasizing fundamental differences between Hindus and Muslims. Assam's Chief Minister reacted by stressing the need to strengthen India's nationhood, dharma, and civilizational values.

BJP leader Sambit Patra has intensified the attack on Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, labeling the National Herald case a «robbery» rather than money laundering. He accused them of being «modern dacoits» involved in a blatant robbery. This statement follows the Enforcement Directorate's chargesheet against them and others in connection with the case, scheduled for court arguments on April 25.

Following recent violence in Murshidabad, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee announced she would visit the area and requested Governor CV Ananda Bose to postpone his trip. The state government will build houses for victims, while an SIT investigates the unrest. The Governor plans to assess the situation and address future prevention, with over 250 arrests made and security forces deployed.

The Bombay High Court has issued summons to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis regarding a petition challenging his 2024 victory in the Nagpur South West assembly seat. Congress' Prafulla Vinodrao Gudadhe filed the petition, alleging procedural lapses and corrupt practices during the election. The court has set a returnable date for the summons on May 8.

Indian Institute of Astrophysics researchers have revisited the ultra-diffuse galaxy, NGC 1052-DF2, challenging previous assumptions about its dark matter deficiency. The study suggests the galaxy possesses a 'cored' dark matter halo, unlike earlier 'cuspy' models. This new model indicates a more evenly spread dark matter distribution, potentially aligning NGC 1052-DF2 with standard galaxy formation theories.

The Supreme Court has temporarily suspended key provisions of the Waqf Act, directing the government to maintain the status quo until the next hearing. This decision comes amid challenges to the Act's constitutional validity, with concerns raised about the registration of waqfs by user and potential impacts on existing properties.

An Indian national's US B1/B2 visa application was swiftly denied after a brief interview, sparking online discussion. The applicant, planning a Florida vacation, was rejected due to lack of travel history and having a girlfriend in the US, raising concerns about potential overstay. Reddit users suggest building a travel record and being cautious about revealing personal connections during interviews.

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar has criticized the Supreme Court's directive setting a timeline for the President to decide on bills, arguing it undermines the constitutional role of the office. He questioned the judiciary's authority to issue such directives, emphasizing the President's immunity from prosecution.

The Supreme Court was informed that a forensic report on leaked audio clips, potentially implicating former Manipur CM N. Biren Singh in ethnic violence, is ready and will be submitted in a sealed cover.

Rajesh Kumar Singh and David Williams co-chaired the India-UK Defence Consultative Group meet in London. They discussed strengthening military cooperation and defence capabilities. Nirmala Sitharaman and Rachel Reeves held the India-UK Economic and Financial Dialogue. The UK announced 400 million euros in export and investment deals with India. Both sides reaffirmed commitment to collaboration in financial services and digital economy.

Rahul Gandhi, the former Congress president, is scheduled to visit the United States next week. During his visit, he will engage with faculty members and students at Brown University in Rhode Island on April 21 and 22, delivering a talk and participating in discussions.