India

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will begin his West Bengal Assembly election campaign from Malda district on April 14, marking his return after seven years. His rally at Kalambagan ground in Chanchal is expected to draw over one lakh people. Gandhi will campaign for four Congress candidates, focusing on constituencies like Chanchal, Sujapur, Malatipur, and Ratua.

Senior advocate Prashant Bhushan and activist Yogendra Yadav have raised concerns over the deletion of nearly 91 lakh names from West Bengal’s electoral rolls under the Special Intensive Revision exercise. They warned that the move could extend beyond voting rights, potentially affecting identity-linked entitlements such as Aadhaar.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has accused the BJP of striking a Rs 1,000-crore deal to oust the Trinamool Congress from power, citing a viral video involving Aam Janata Unnayan Party chief Humayun Kabir. While Kabir gave conflicting statements about the video’s authenticity, Banerjee dismissed claims of it being AI-generated.

Sreenidi Deccan FC defeated Rajasthan United 2-1 in the Star Cement Indian Football League at Deccan Arena. Brandon Vanlalremdika and Lalthankhuma scored for the hosts, while Issac Nortey netted for Rajasthan. Both teams finished with 10 men

The Supreme Court will hear a plea on April 13 seeking immediate enforcement of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, which mandates one-third reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state Assemblies. The hearing coincides with Parliament’s special session beginning April 16, where the Women’s Reservation (Amendment) Bill is expected to be tabled.

Sunrisers Hyderabad face unbeaten Rajasthan Royals in an IPL clash at Rajiv Gandhi Stadium. With SRH struggling in bowling and Royals powered by Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Suryavanshi, the match promises a stern test for the home side

The government has approved Rs 1.53 lakh crore for 100 railway projects covering over 6,000 km in 2025-26. The expansion aims to improve connectivity, reduce congestion, boost freight capacity and support economic growth across India

TVK president Vijay outlined an AI-driven governance model in Kanyakumari, promising corruption-free welfare delivery and a unified digital platform. He criticised Chief Minister M K Stalin, alleging corruption and rising debt, and pledged reforms within six months of coming to power

Uttar Pradesh Hockey defeated Madhya Pradesh 5-2 to win the 16th Hockey India Sub Junior Men National Championship in Rajgir. Punjab secured bronze with a 1-0 win over Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu Hockey, finishing third in Division ‘A’

Gujarat Titans defeated Lucknow Super Giants by seven wickets in the IPL. Prasidh Krishna’s 4/24 restricted LSG to 164, before Shubman Gill (56) and Jos Buttler (60) powered GT’s chase. Washington Sundar and Rahul Tewatia finished the job

Shubman Gill became the youngest player to reach 4,000 IPL runs during Gujarat Titans’ match against Lucknow Super Giants. He achieved the milestone in 118 innings, becoming the second-fastest Indian to the mark, behind KL Rahul

Arjun Singh and Aditya Singh won India’s first gold medal at the US Open Pickleball Championship 2026 in Naples, Florida, defeating top seeds Ryder Brown and Soli Messiri. Naga Moksha added a bronze in women’s singles, boosting India’s tally

Rajasthan Royals will look to strengthen their hold on the top spot when they face Sunrisers Hyderabad in Hyderabad. With four wins already, RR’s strong batting and bowling contrast SRH’s inconsistency, making the clash a test of momentum and resilience

Monalisa Bhosle’s mother alleged that her minor daughter was lured away, prompting a POCSO case against Farman Khan. An enquiry confirmed her age as 16, raising questions over the marriage and alleged fake birth certificate

At a rally in Siliguri, Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused the TMC of supporting the "tukde-tukde" gang that allegedly threatened to sever the strategic Siliguri Corridor, vital for connecting the Northeast to the rest of India. He labelled the TMC as anti-tribal, anti-women, and anti-youth, criticising its appeasement politics and alleged neglect of North Bengal.

India rejected China’s move to rename places in Arunachal Pradesh, calling it a baseless attempt to assert claims. The MEA said such actions cannot change reality and urged Beijing to avoid steps that harm bilateral ties

Around 65 closely contested seats and large-scale voter deletions under SIR could play a decisive role in West Bengal’s 2026 elections, with both TMC and BJP focusing on marginal constituencies where even small vote shifts may change results

TMC and BJP are targeting women, youth and welfare beneficiaries through their West Bengal poll manifestos, while shaping narratives around identity and nationalism, with the Left and Congress focusing on jobs as they try to regain political relevance

Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared a video from his Siliguri rally showing strong public support and criticised the Trinamool Congress over appeasement politics, governance issues, and alleged obstruction of Central schemes, while also addressing concerns about national security and development

Mamata Banerjee alleged that the BJP is threatening TMC candidates for support if it falls short of a majority, and warned of a delimitation plan to divide West Bengal, while also accusing the party of bribery and poll manipulation

Security forces continued combing operations in Manipur’s Ukhrul district after a BSF constable was killed, destroying 21 illegal bunkers and recovering arms and explosives, while police intensified surveillance and urged the public to avoid rumours and misinformation

President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President C P Radhakrishnan and Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the passing of legendary singer Asha Bhosle at 93, calling her an iconic voice whose music will continue to inspire generations

Women’s participation in contractual and flexible roles in India’s IT and ITeS sector has increased to 40 per cent in FY26, driven by rising demand for flexible work. Finance, data roles lead preferences, with major concentration in metro cities

Indian equity markets rallied sharply last week, adding Rs 4.13 lakh crore to eight of the top-10 firms. Banking stocks led gains, while Infosys and Reliance Industries saw marginal declines despite the overall positive market sentiment