Election Commission teams have seized over Rs 650 crore in potential voter inducements across five poll-bound states, with West Bengal leading seizures at Rs 319 crore. Freebies, drugs, and cash formed the bulk of the confiscated items. This figure is on track to surpass last year's record of Rs 1,000 crore in seizures.

Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma has brought beef consumption into his election campaign, targeting Congress ally AJP's candidate Kunki Chowdhury. He accused her parents of eating beef and vowed action under the Cattle Prevention Act post-election. Sarma challenged Chowdhury to disown her parents' actions, emphasizing the religious sentiments of 'Sanatani' people and the sanctity of religious sites.

Prime Minister Modi criticized Bengal's law and order, citing the confinement of judicial officers in Malda as evidence of «jungle raj.» He linked electoral roll revision to identifying «illegal settlers» and accused the TMC of protecting infiltrators, while also questioning their manifesto's name and warning of accountability after the elections.

North-west India will experience two western disturbances this week. Peak activity is expected on April 7-8. This will bring below normal to near normal day temperatures and a wet spell to the region. Other parts of the country will also see wet spells with thunderstorms and lightning until April 9.

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Odisha has banned the open sale of LPG cylinders to combat black marketing. Only customers who have completed e-KYC can now purchase them from authorized dealers. The government assures sufficient supply, with delivery timelines of 25 days for urban and 45 days for rural consumers. This move follows recent seizures of cylinders for illegal resale.

A nine-judge Supreme Court bench, comprising judges from diverse faiths and a woman, will hear crucial cases on women's rights versus religious practices starting April 7. This bench aims to settle long-standing disputes, including women's entry into temples, mosques, and Parsi fire temples, and the practice of FGM. The court's 2018 Sabarimala judgment sparked these broader legal challenges.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar spoke with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi amid escalating Middle East tensions. The call, confirmed by the Iran Embassy in India, covered bilateral relations and regional developments. This follows Jaishankar's recent discussions with UAE and Qatar leaders, as Iran faces a US deadline over the Strait of Hormuz.

Environmentalist Sonam Wangchuk urged the Centre to restore democratic rights in Ladakh, advocating for a win-win approach in talks for statehood and Sixth Schedule status. Following his release from NSA detention, Wangchuk emphasized constructive dialogue, noting previous inconclusive discussions. He aims for a resolution to allow focus on nation-building.

Kashmir's prized saffron is under siege from an unexpected foe: the Indian crested porcupine. These nocturnal rodents are burrowing underground, destroying saffron corms and decimating harvests. Production has plummeted, threatening the livelihoods and identity tied to Pampore's «red gold.» Authorities are assessing damage and proposing deterrents, but farmers fear the crisis will worsen without significant state intervention.

Transgender rights activists have filed a Supreme Court petition challenging the constitutional validity of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Act, 2026. The amendments remove self-perceived identity as the basis for TG certificates and introduce a medical board, moving away from the NALSA judgment's affirmation of personal dignity and choice.

On most days, India's economic heartbeat is invisible. It does not pulse through stock exchanges or policy corridors but across vast, restless waters where ships move quietly between continents. Yet, when conflict erupts in narrow choke points like the Strait of Hormuz, that invisible system becomes the country’s most visible vulnerability. The ongoing tensions have done exactly that, forcing India to confront a reality it has long managed but rarely foregrounded.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused the BJP of bringing in «paid supporters» and hooliganism to influence elections, while also warning her party workers about potential EVM tampering. Union Home Minister Amit Shah urged voters to cast ballots without fear, as Prime Minister Modi criticized the state's law and order.

Far from being a PM Modi vs Rahul showdown, the 2026 elections are a test of regional resilience. Despite the visibility of the two national leaders on the campaign trail, neither is the decisive factor in these contests. Instead, the real battles are being fought by state satraps defending their turf or reclaiming relevance and the results will hinge on regional leadership, local alliances and governance records.

Authorities have busted a terror network allegedly linked to ISIS and foreign handlers, accused of radicalizing Indian youth online. Teams across multiple states apprehended suspects involved in spreading jihadi propaganda, including videos of extremist figures. The group reportedly aimed to establish an Islamic State in India, with links traced to Pakistan, Afghanistan, Syria, and Bangladesh.

Tensions surge as Donald Trump issues a fierce warning to Iran amidst escalating regional strikes. Meanwhile, Assam's CM faces legal threats over passport allegations, and a suspected ISIS terror module is busted across multiple states. PM Modi champions women's reservation in Bengal, while Iran declares a 'bitter defeat' for the US after a rescue mission.

Congress leader P. Chidambaram criticized the Centre's decision to convene Parliament from April 16-18, just days before assembly elections in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.

Rahul Gandhi attacked Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, labeling him the 'most corrupt and hate-spreading CM' and vowing to jail him. Gandhi also promised SC/ST status for six communities, higher tea worker wages, and monthly cash transfers for women if Congress forms the government in Assam.

DMK leader A Raja has sent a legal notice to a YouTube channel, alleging a fabricated AI-generated audio clip was used to misrepresent his speech. He criticized AIADMK leader Edappadi K Palaniswami for using the unverified recording to make defamatory remarks against DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi and CM MK Stalin.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma danced to a BJP campaign song at a rally in Bongaigaon, celebrating the party's outreach for the upcoming assembly elections. He had previously released three theme songs, penned and composed by party workers, to connect with voters emotionally and convey the BJP's vision of protection and development for Assam.

Astrophysicist Priyamvada Natarajan discusses the challenges facing international students in the US due to shrinking research funding and the transformative impact of AI on scientific methods. She highlights her journey from India, emphasizing the importance of curiosity and lifelong learning, and her contributions to understanding dark matter and black holes.

Grieving families of the Air India flight crash victims have appealed to Prime Minister Modi for the release of black box data. Ten months after the tragedy that claimed 260 lives, they seek answers regarding the cause of the disaster. The families are demanding transparency, requesting either public disclosure or private sharing of the crucial cockpit and flight recorder information.