Indian stock markets opened in the negative on Friday, following a day’s break due to the Ram Navami holiday. The Sensex and Nifty both began trading in the red, reflecting concerns over global uncertainties, particularly related to the ongoing Iran conflict. Global markets have also shown signs of weakness, with major indices in the US and Asia recording declines. This uncertainty has weighed heavily on investor sentiment, contributing to the sluggish start on the Indian bourses.

Starting April 1, India will implement the revised Income-tax Act, 2025, replacing the six-decade-old Income-tax Act of 1961. While tax rates and slabs remain unchanged, significant changes will affect how income, deductions, salary, capital gains, and disclosures are reported. The new law aims to simplify tax reporting, with stricter compliance requirements and a more precise reporting structure. A key change involves meal card exemptions for salaried employees. The exemption limit

Senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi is responding positively to treatment for a systemic infection, according to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in New Delhi. The 79-year-old leader was admitted to the hospital on the night of March 24 after experiencing a fever. The hospital confirmed that she is being treated with antibiotics and remains under the close supervision of a team of senior doctors. Her health has been stable since admission, and the medical team is carefully monitoring her recovery.

In a landmark move, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) has been acquired by a consortium led by the Aditya Birla Group (ABG) for a whopping Rs 16,700 crore (USD 1.78 billion). The acquisition has made RCB the most expensive IPL franchise to date. Along with ABG, other partners in the consortium include Blackstone’s BXPE, Bolt Ventures (owned by investor David Blitzer), and media giant Times of India. The transaction has sparked speculation about whether the iconic name "Royal Challengers Ben

India is accelerating the signing of contracts for crude oil and LPG imports, aiming to diversify its supply sources amidst disruptions caused by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The country's need for oil has been rising, with daily imports averaging 5.5 to 6 million barrels. After Russia's oil imports were reduced as part of an agreement with the U.S., India has been exploring new avenues to ensure stable oil supplies, including from Russia, despite the geopolitical tensions.

Iran has stated that the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global oil transport, will remain open for select countries, including India, despite ongoing tensions in the Middle East. The strait is crucial for international trade,

The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) has released its first list of 23 candidates for the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, signaling an aggressive push for the polls. The list features prominent leaders, including party General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami, who will contest from his home constituency of Edappadi. The inclusion of seasoned leaders such as P Munusamy, Dindigul Srinivasan, and C Vijayabaskar demonstrates the party's focus on experienced leadership and

After four weeks of conflict, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed optimism over the possibility of peace talks with Iran, stating that recent discussions had been "very good and productive." However, Iran quickly dismissed Trump’s claims, with a military spokesperson declaring, "Do not call your defeat an agreement." The strong rebuttal from Tehran suggests any resolution is far from imminent and casts doubt on Trump's diplomatic efforts. While Trump has attempted to engage Iran

The global economy faces significant risks if oil prices reach $150 per barrel, warns Larry Fink, CEO of BlackRock. In recent days, Brent crude surpassed $110 per barrel, causing a substantial market reaction, and a new report suggests that prices could climb even further, especially if the ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict escalates. Fink emphasized that if oil prices continue to rise, the world would face a major economic shock rather than a gradual adjustment. The impact would be felt a

The Congress party has been directed by the government to vacate its long-standing office at 24, Akbar Road, Delhi, by Saturday. This property has served as the headquarters for the Congress for 48 years. In recent times, following the inauguration of its new headquarters, Indira Bhavan, at Kotla Marg, the party had not yet vacated the Akbar Road premises, continuing its activities there. The Indian Youth Congress office at 5, Raisina Road has also been asked to vacate. In

In a significant political development, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) secured all five Rajya Sabha seats from Bihar in the recent biennial elections, further strengthening its position in the Upper House. The alliance also won two seats in Odisha, aided by cross-voting from Opposition MLAs. In Bihar, key NDA candidates included Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and BJP national president Nitin Nabin. Both leaders secured 44 votes each in the Bihar Assembly. Meanwhile, Rashtriya L

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday announced that four special Lok Adalats will be conducted in 2026 to expedite the disposal of pending cases before the Debt Recovery Tribunals (DRTs) and Debt Recovery Appellate Tribunals (DRATs). A significant number of these cases involve high-value claims exceeding ₹100 crore and have remained unresolved for an extended period, prompting the government to take steps to accelerate the judicial process. Responding in the Lok Sab

NCP (SP) working president Supriya Sule on Monday announced that her party will not contest the upcoming Baramati Assembly bypoll, scheduled for April 23, 2026. The by-election was necessitated following the tragic demise of senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar in a plane crash earlier this year. Sule, who retained the Baramati parliamentary seat in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, stated that the NCP (SP) would not field a candidate against Sunetra Vahini, who is expected to contest the bypol

The biennial elections to the Rajya Sabha are underway today, March 16, 2026, to fill 37 seats across 10 states. Voting began at 9 am, with the counting of votes scheduled for later in the day at 5 pm. The seats vacated by members from states such as Maharashtra, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Telangana will be filled during this election. Out of the 37 seats, 26 candidates have already been elected unopposed, including me