The government has raised the price cap on natural gas from legacy fields, resulting in a 4% increase in effective prices from April 1. This change affects state-run ONGC and Oil India Ltd., with notable implications for city gas operators and consuming industries, although government subsidies will protect fertilizer units.
Shashi Tharoor praises PM Modi for India's vaccine diplomacy contrasting with past criticism from Congress leaders like Rahul and Sonia Gandhi. Tharoor's remarks have embarrassed his party, giving BJP an opportunity to mock Congress. BJP welcomes these acknowledgments of Modi's successful global initiatives.
The team has commenced site reconnaissance for establishing the Field Hospital and is currently undergoing orientation of the Area of Operations, the Indian Army said.
India and the US completed their initial discussions on a bilateral trade agreement, aiming to finalize the first part by fall 2025. The negotiations focus on lowering tariffs and non-tariff barriers to enhance market access and deepen supply chains, aligning with shared goals of growth and job creation.
Multiple Hindu temples in the United States have been defaced with anti-India graffiti, prompting significant concern from both temple authorities and the Indian government. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has condemned these acts, calling for increased security measures and thorough investigations into these hate crimes.
The critically-acclaimed film 'Santosh,' which addresses serious social issues in rural north India, will not be released in India due to censorship demands by the Central Board of Film Certification. The filmmakers decided against making significant edits that would compromise the film's essence.
The Cabinet is expected to approve a new 120-km greenfield highway from Patna to Sasaram, costing around Rs 3,700 crore. The project will improve connectivity and will be built in a public-private partnership mode, with completion targeted in three years.
The government plans to expand 25,000 km of two-lane highways to four lanes within the next two years, with an investment of Rs 10 lakh crore. Traffic threshold criteria for expansion have been revised for smoother traffic flow, and the detailed project reports for 3,500 km have been prepared.
The Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar introduced a new initiative to train over 1 lakh booth level officers (BLOs) nationwide to improve voter enrolment processes and rectify electoral rolls. This initiative, involving states such as Bihar, West Bengal, and Assam, aims to create a well-trained network to ensure the accuracy of voter lists ahead of upcoming elections.
The government has found around 5.6 lakh beneficiaries over 100 years old under the food security scheme through e-KYC. Over 30.6 lakh Antyodaya Anna Yojana ration cards have been issued to the poorest families, and 2.2 crore beneficiaries are in the 'silent ration card' category.
The parliamentary panel on transport has urged for CAG audits of highway project consultants' work, especially under the Bharatmala Pariyojna, to enhance accountability. It highlighted irregularities in the project reports and contractors' poor performances. The panel recommended stricter financial screening of contractors due to issues of financial capacity leading to stalled infrastructure projects.
Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee announced that the party will focus on the central government's alleged deprivation of West Bengal's funds as the main campaign theme for the upcoming assembly elections. He emphasized the establishment of micro-level committees to address electoral fraud concerns.
India's DGCA plans to rank flying training organisations (FTOs) based on factors like CPL completion time to promote transparency and competition. High costs, delays, and quality issues have led many students to seek training abroad. This initiative aims to help prospective students make informed choices.
Nearly 77% of beneficiaries of the first batch of PM Awas Yojna (Urban) 2.0 are women, including single women and widows. About 3.1 lakh out of 3.5 lakh approved houses will be allotted to SC, ST, and OBCs. The scheme, promoting inclusiveness and equality, also benefits transgenders, senior citizens, unmarried women, widows, and separated female beneficiaries.
India's Election Commission is hosting nationwide all-party meetings led by state, district, and electoral registration officers until March 31, 2025, to address poll-related issues. Additionally, the EC is offering training for political party representatives on electoral laws and seeking suggestions to enhance poll conduct by April 30, 2025, focusing on better voter participation and seamless electoral processes.
Satish Salian, father of Disha Salian, has petitioned the Bombay high court for a fresh investigation into her June 2020 death, alleging she was raped and murdered. He seeks an FIR against Aaditya Thackeray and a CBI probe, citing a politically-motivated cover-up.
India is experiencing a significant disparity in tariffs on its top five import and export items with the US. Data from the commerce ministry shows India pays higher duties on imports from the US compared to the duty it earns on exports.
In 2024, the Border Security Force (BSF) seized 294 drones in Punjab, as stated by junior home minister Nityanand Rai. In efforts to curb narco-smuggling via drones along the Indo-Pakistan border, anti-drone systems have been deployed. Information sharing and close coordination with various security agencies have been reinforced to track and intercept these devices.
Opposition parties in Maharashtra have criticized the state government for failing to maintain law and order after violence erupted in Nagpur. They accuse the administration and ministers of inciting tensions with provocative speeches to divert attention from key issues like inflation and farmers' distress.
Tej Pratap Yadav, son of Lalu Yadav, celebrated Holi with RJD party workers in Patna. He mocked Bihar CM Nitish Kumar by shouting provocative remarks near his residence. Yadav also asked a police officer to dance under the threat of suspension in a festive, yet controversial, Holi celebration.
Jammu and Kashmir Assembly approved Rs 7,019.18 crore for key departments, targeting infrastructure expansion, job creation, and industrial growth. Deputy CM Choudhary highlighted initiatives like PMGSY, CRIF projects, startup support, and measures to curb illegal mining. The government aims to augment governance, digital reforms, and modernise vocational training, fostering overall regional economic development.
In West Godavari district, a Santro car travelling from Hyderabad to Mandapeta collided with a stationary vehicle on the National Highway, resulting in the deaths of Bhogella Venkata Satya Suresh, his wife Navya, and their daughter Vasavi. A severely injured woman, Uppuluri Sri Ramya, was hospitalized. Police registered a case and are investigating the accident.
India opens mineral and rare earth elements exploration to the private sector with 13 acreages up for auction, aiming to unlock untapped resources. The new policy encourages private investment, offering incentives like cost reimbursements and long-term mining leases. Around 25 companies showed interest, and the government hopes to create a thriving mineral exploration ecosystem.
An Indian Army soldier stationed at the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir was injured by cross-border firing from Pakistan in the Rajouri district. The incident occurred at Kalsiyan of Nowshera sector. Another explosion took place in the Poonch district later, though no casualties were reported.
Chinar trees in Kashmir now have unique numbers under the 'Digital Tree Aadhaar' initiative. This helps in real-time tracking and monitoring using GIS and QR codes. Over 28,560 trees have been identified and geotagged. This initiative aims to protect these trees from urbanization, climate change, and illegal felling.
The ministry of home affairs has returned a proposal to prosecute three IAS officers in the Jammu and Kashmir arms licences scam due to missing documents. They must resubmit the full documentation within a week. CBI is investigating irregularities in granting over 278,000 arms licences between 2012 and 2016, implicating several IAS officers for issuing licences in exchange for money.
The Karnataka government withdrew the CID probe into police involvement in the Ranya Rao gold smuggling case. A Bengaluru court reserved its bail plea verdict for March 14, with allegations of procedural lapses during her arrest, while the DRI disputed such claims. Gold worth ₹12.56 crore was seized from her.
The Shaheed Bhagat Singh Front and Vishwa Hindu Parishad have launched a campaign urging the Delhi government to ban the sale of tobacco products within 100 meters of temples, gurudwaras, and other religious sites. They have also recommended setting up a monitoring cell to ensure implementation and curb ongoing violations around religious sites to safeguard public health.
