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

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

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