Rahul Gandhi encountered a man dressed as Yamaraj during his Kerala campaign, humorously suggesting the UDF's proposed Rs 25 lakh health insurance scheme would render the God of Death jobless. This initiative aims to alleviate financial burdens from medical crises, ensuring healthcare as a right for all Keralites.
The Supreme Court imposed Rs 25,000 costs on the Centre for challenging a High Court order reinstating a CISF official. Upholding the High Court's ruling, the bench found the dismissal disproportionate, noting the official had taken medical leave and the woman involved had no grievance. The court emphasized the government's role as a major litigant contributing to case backlogs.
Delhi lost approximately Rs 1,717 crore to digital payment fraud and online cheating between 2023 and 2025, with only 10% recovered. The Delhi Police reported a significant rise in cases, prompting enhanced measures like the '1930' helpline and a specialized financial fraud mitigation center to expedite fund recovery and raise public awareness.
Mirza Waheed is a novelist and essayist born and raised in Kashmir and living in London. His debut novel, ‘The Collaborator’, was a finalist for the Guardian First Book Award and the Shakti Bhatt Prize and was longlisted for the Desmond Elliott Prize. His second novel, ‘The Book of Gold Leaves’, was shortlisted for the DSC Prize and longlisted for the Folio Prize. His third novel, ‘Tell Her Everything’, won The Hindu Literary Prize. In this conversation, he discusses his new novel, ‘Maryam & Son’.
The Centre has issued a detailed advisory on GLP-1 receptor agonist drugs, emphasizing their use for type 2 diabetes and obesity must be strictly under medical supervision. Authorities are increasing regulatory surveillance and warning of strict action against violations in their sale or prescription.
Once a dominant force, West Bengal's Congress party has seen its influence dwindle significantly over five decades. From landslide victories to being overshadowed by communist rule and then Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress, the party now struggles for relevance.
A Times of India Production | NCPA, Mumbai | March 2026
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a strong attack on Congress in Assam, dubbing Rahul Gandhi a «Rajkumar» and predicting electoral defeats. He expressed confidence in the BJP-led NDA securing a «hattrick» in the state, highlighting development under Sarbananda Sonowal and Himanta Biswa Sarma. PM Modi also promised a Uniform Civil Code and positioned Assam as a future tech hub.
Congress has opposed a bill to increase Lok Sabha seats by 50%, arguing it disadvantages southern, northeastern, and western states. The party claims the proposal, which would significantly boost representation for northern states, is deceptive and could be a 'weapon of mass diversion' from government failures.
Nearly 27 lakh electricity workers are set to strike nationwide against the proposed Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2025. The bill aims to introduce competition by allowing multiple distributors in one area, but faces opposition from workers, farmers, and unions concerned about privatization, job losses, and potential tariff hikes.
In a post on X, the chief minister emphasised the progress of Uttar Pradesh towards the goal of 'Zero Waste to Zero Carbon Emissions', crediting the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for steering the state toward smart and environmentally conscious urbanisation.
Delhi faces challenges in HIV treatment coverage, with only 70% of identified patients linked to care. The Union health ministry is intensifying district-level action to improve testing, treatment linkage, and patient follow-up, aiming to bridge the gap in the HIV care continuum. Efforts focus on patient-centric models and addressing barriers like stigma and mobility.
The National Medical Commission (NMC) has expedited counselling for super-specialty postgraduate seats by allowing those cleared by its First Appeal Committee to be included immediately. This move aims to reduce delays and provide clarity for medical aspirants, enabling counselling authorities to proceed without waiting for final approval letters.
Private hospitals have been granted a final extension until April 30, 2026, to complete mandatory empanelment formalities for the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS). This move follows technical hurdles on the new digital portal, with non-compliance leading to de-empanelment from May 1.
