Trinamool Congress revealed its candidate list for the West Bengal Assembly elections, contesting 291 out of 294 seats. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will run from Bhabanipur, while allies will contest three seats in Darjeeling. The party expressed confidence in retaining power with a significant majority, aiming for over 226 seats.

Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, released after NSA detention, stated Ladakh's goal is dialogue with the Centre. He called his release a «win-win,» enabling trust-building for meaningful talks. Wangchuk, detained for six months, expressed relief at avoiding sharing his «horror stories» from jail, hoping for constructive engagement.

Israel claims senior Iranian official Ali Larijani was killed in an airstrike, though Iran has not confirmed. Meanwhile, India condemned Pakistan's alleged airstrike on a Kabul hospital, calling it a "massacre.

The Supreme Court has struck down a provision in the Social Security Code 2020 that limited maternity leave for adoptive mothers. The court declared the provision irrational, stating adoptive children are no different from biological ones. Consequently, adoptive mothers are now entitled to 12 weeks of maternity leave, irrespective of the child's age at adoption.

TVK functionary Aadhav Arjuna had alleged that the DMK family threatened actor Rajinikanth when he tried to enter politics. ​​Arjuna said he was not criticising Rajinikanth but added that Vijay had the courage to withstand such pressure. TVK organised protests at district headquarters across Tamil Nadu on Thursday, accusing the state government of failing to maintain law and order.

India's energy crisis persists due to Middle East conflict, but the government assures consumers about LPG supplies. While urging judicious consumption and alternate fuel use, authorities are conducting raids to curb hoarding and black marketing of LPG cylinders across several states.

The Supreme Court has granted approval for passive euthanasia for Harish Rana, a 32-year-old man in a vegetative state for over 13 years. This historic verdict allows the withdrawal of life support, offering a dignified death and ending his family's prolonged agony. The decision follows recommendations from medical boards and personal interaction with Rana's parents.

India's national mental health helpline, Tele-MANAS, has received over 34.34 lakh calls since its October 2022 launch, indicating a significant rise in demand for psychological support. Uttar Pradesh leads in call volume, with other states like Tamil Nadu and Karnataka also showing high engagement.

Tamil Nadu deputy chief minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, who aslo happens to be the son of chief minister MK Stalin, said no «conspiracies» can break the relationship between the urling DMK and the Muslim coummunity. «As long as brotherhood and unity exist, no matter how many attempts or conspiracies take place, no one will be able to break the relationship between the DMK and the Muslim community,» said Stalin, who is DMK's heir apparent.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has mandated registration or licenses for all independent milk producers and vendors nationwide. This directive aims to bring unregistered sellers into the food safety regulatory system, addressing concerns over milk adulteration and ensuring better traceability and safety for consumers.

The National Medical Commission has fined seven medical colleges ₹1 crore each for failing to disclose stipend details for interns and residents. This action follows repeated directives and court orders mandating transparency in payments. The NMC warned of further disciplinary measures for continued non-compliance.

India has voiced strong concerns at the UN regarding the dangerous trend of weaponizing religious identity for political gain by both state and non-state actors. Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish highlighted atrocities in India's western neighborhood, criticizing fabricated Islamophobia claims and brutal repression of minorities. He asserted that Muslims in India have elected representatives and enjoy peaceful coexistence.