Amid growing speculation about a possible nationwide lockdown in India, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri has clarified that such rumours are entirely false. In a statement aimed at dispelling public concerns, Puri emphasized that there are no plans for any lockdown or restrictions on public movement. He urged citizens to stay calm, responsible, and united during these uncertain times. Puri took to social media to reassure the public, explaining that the government is closely monito

In a significant ruling for the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), a civil court in Chennai has refused to freeze the party’s 'mango' symbol, which has been at the center of a family dispute within the party. The decision, which comes ahead of Tamil Nadu’s upcoming assembly elections, is seen as a win for Anbumani Ramadoss, the son of PMK founder Dr. Ramadoss, as it clears the path for his faction to use the symbol in the elections. Dr. Ramadoss had sought the court's intervention, ar

Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS), the AIADMK leader, kicked off his campaign for the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections in Chennai, drawing inspiration from the late Jayalalithaa’s iconic campaigning style. EPS began the campaign with a symbolic gesture at the Kapaleeswarar temple in Mylapore, marking the start of his first Assembly polls as the leader of the AIADMK. The scene outside the temple resembled the grand events Jayalalithaa often hosted, with women in traditional attir

Indian airlines are reducing their operations by approximately 10% in response to rising costs and uncertainty stemming from the ongoing Iran conflict. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has released the summer schedule, which shows a reduction in the number of weekly domestic flights from 25,610 to 23,049. This cut affects several airlines, including Air India, IndiGo, SpiceJet, and Akasa Air. The primary reason for the flight reduction is the impact of the Middle Eas

In response to concerns over rising fuel prices amid global tensions, the Indian government has announced a significant reduction in excise duties on petrol and diesel. Starting Friday, the excise duty on petrol has been slashed to Rs 3 per litre, while the excise on diesel has been reduced to zero. This move comes after fears that the ongoing US-Israel conflict with Iran could lead to higher fuel prices, especially as global crude prices surged past $100 per barrel. Despite the dut

The LPG tanker Jag Vasant, carrying 47,600 metric tonnes of LPG, arrived at Gujarat's Vadinar port on Thursday after being stranded in the Strait of Hormuz for 23 days due to escalating tensions in the Middle East. The vessel’s delayed arrival brings much-needed relief amid concerns about potential LPG shortages in India. The ongoing geopolitical instability in the region has disrupted shipping routes, leaving several tankers stranded. This delivery, along with a second L

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.

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

India created history by becoming the first team to successfully defend a T20 World Cup title after securing a dominant 96-run victory over New Zealand in the 2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cup final. The match, played at the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday, showcased an outstanding performance from the Indian team with both bat and ball. In a high-intensity f