States

An explosion at the Vanaja Firecracker Factory in Tamil Nadu killed 18 workers and injured six others. The blast, likely caused by friction during production, destroyed parts of the unit and triggered a large-scale rescue operation

A passenger bus fell 200 feet into a gorge near Pushkar Valley in Rajasthan’s Ajmer, killing two women and injuring 31 people. Rescue teams and locals carried out emergency operations as authorities investigate the cause and search for the driver

A goods train wagon derailed in Bokaro, Jharkhand, after colliding with a car at a level crossing near a DVC power plant. No injuries were reported, and officials are investigating the incident involving the rolling train and open gate situation

Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi will present his stand in the Allahabad High Court over allegations of dual British citizenship. The court is examining a petition seeking FIR registration, after earlier orders directed police inquiry into the complaint by a BJP worker

The All India Trinamool Congress denied reports that I-PAC halted operations in West Bengal, calling them baseless and alleging BJP-linked intimidation. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused central agencies of targeting the party’s campaign machinery ahead of polls

A sexual harassment and conversion case at Tata Consultancy Services in Nashik has triggered arrests and multiple FIRs. The family of accused employee Raza Rafiq Memon alleges internal rivalry and office politics behind what they claim are false allegations

Tamil Nadu CM M. K. Stalin released DMK’s ‘Chennai Super-6’ manifesto ahead of Assembly polls, promising improved urban infrastructure, AI-enabled transport, 1,000 mini-buses, stormwater upgrades, and initiatives in emerging tech and civic management

Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused the All India Trinamool Congress of protecting infiltrators and enabling corruption during a rally in Jhargram. He claimed the upcoming West Bengal election is a battle to protect the state’s identity

The Election Commission of India warned parties ahead of West Bengal and Tamil Nadu polls against AI-manipulated content, mandating clear labelling. Over 11,000 illegal social media posts have been removed since March 15 under monitoring and enforcement actions

The Himachal Pradesh Government has deferred salaries of officers and employees for six months from May 2026 to manage finances. Higher officials face up to 30% deferment, with assurances of later release and no impact on benefits

A Lashkar-e-Taiba operative Umer Harris alias ‘Khargosh’ reportedly fled India using forged documents and is believed to be in Saudi Arabia. Investigations by Srinagar Police uncovered a wider inter-state terror module involving fake identities, infiltration routes, and arrests across states

A BDS student’s death in Kannur sparked controversy as college authorities denied caste discrimination claims, attributing it to a loan app issue. Police booked faculty for abetment and SC/ST Act violations, while investigations continue amid conflicting allegations

Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi and Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw launched India’s first advanced 3D glass chip packaging unit in Bhubaneswar, aiming to boost semiconductor innovation, jobs, and position Odisha as a global electronics manufacturing hub

Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused the All India Trinamool Congress of appeasement, infiltration and neglect of tribals in West Bengal. He alleged corruption and “jungleraj”, positioning the BJP as a development-focused alternative ahead of state elections

The Election Commission of India ordered the transfer of IPS officer K.A. Senthil Velan, appointing Avinash Kumar as IG (Intelligence) ahead of Tamil Nadu polls. The move aims to ensure neutrality, transparency, and free, fair elections

Gulab Chand Kataria approved the Punjab sacrilege amendment law, making the Sri Guru Granth Sahib protection act stricter with life imprisonment and heavy fines for desecration. The move aims to deter sacrilege and preserve religious sanctity in Punjab

Fresh snowfall in Kashmir’s higher reaches, including Zojila Pass and Gurez Valley, along with rain in plains, lowered temperatures and forced closure of key routes like the Srinagar-Kargil and Mughal Road

Mumbai International Airport Limited fined AI Airport Services Limited ₹10 lakh after a detached dolly damaged a Gulf Air aircraft, causing operational disruption, financial losses, and reputational damage at the busy Mumbai airport

The Election Commission of India has enforced strict measures for West Bengal’s April 23 polls, including 100-metre security perimeters, multi-level voter verification, and door-to-door slip distribution to ensure free, fair, and disturbance-free voting across 152 constituencies

Rahul Gandhi accused Narendra Modi and Amit Shah of using the women’s reservation bill to push delimitation, alleging a bid to weaken states, while attacking BJP and AIADMK during Tamil Nadu poll campaign rallies

Ahead of Assembly polls, the Election Commission of India said media entry inside polling stations will be strictly regulated by presiding officers, prohibiting photography inside voting compartments and enforcing verification processes to ensure secrecy, security and integrity of the electoral process

Two Naga civilians were shot dead by unidentified gunmen along the Imphal–Dimapur National Highway (NH-2) in Manipur, triggering outrage and conflicting claims between community groups, as security forces launched operations amid rising tensions in the conflict-hit region

A devastating road accident near Pollachi claimed nine lives from a Malappuram school community, leaving Pang village in mourning as bodies returned in ambulances, prompting grief, government aid assurances, counselling support, and calls for investigation into the tragedy

Facing financial strain, the Himachal Pradesh government led by Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has deferred salaries of public representatives for six months, including the Chief Minister, ministers and MLAs, clarifying it is a temporary measure to ease fiscal pressure