Gherao of judicial officers in Bengal a challenge to SC: CJI

The Supreme Court on Thursday said a mob gherao of seven judicial officers, confining them without food or water for more than nine hours at a government office in Malda district of West Bengal, reportedly after several voters were struck off the electoral rolls in the special intensive revision (SIR) was not only a "brazen attempt" to browbeat the officers but also amounted to a challenge to the authority of the top court.

Governor bound by Cabinet's advice on remission: Madras HC

A Full Bench of the Madras High Court on Thursday held that the Governor, whether he/she likes it or not, is bound by the advice of the Council of Ministers while exercising powers under Article 161 of the Constitution in matters relating to remission and premature release of convicts.

Iran fires missiles at Israel, Gulf states as Trump talks of winding down war

Iran fired more missiles at Israel and Gulf Arab states on Thursday, demonstrating Tehran's continued ability to strike its neighbours even as U.S. President Donald Trump claimed the threat from the country was nearly eliminated and predicted the war would end soon.

Hit by West Asia crisis, manufacturing activity slows to 45-month low in March

Manufacturing sector activity slowed to its lowest level in nearly four years in March 2026, dragged down by the impact of the war in West Asia on costs, demand, and new order levels, according to a survey of private sector companies.

HC directs Maharashtra govt. to file reply to petition challenging scrapping of 5% Muslim quota

The Bombay High Court on Thursday directed the Maharashtra government to file a response within three weeks to a petition challenging a government resolution (GR) scrapping 5% reservation for Muslims in education. 

Karnataka law providing internal quota to SCs put on hold for now

Over a month after Gover-nor Thaawarchand Gehlot gave his assent to The Karnataka Scheduled Castes (Sub-classification) Bill, 2025, that provides for internal reservation among the 101 Scheduled Castes within the 17% SC reservation quota, the State government is yet to gazette the same. 

ECI transfer controversy, top court's clarifications

Article 324 does not give unfettered powers to the Election Commission of India. 

Artemis II: what is at stake for U.S.?

The mission will spend 24 hours in high earth orbit to check the capsule's life-support and environment systems, followed by a translunar injection burn and tests of manual piloting, communications and navigation systems.

The capsule is expected to enter earth's atmosphere at around 40000km / hr with its heat shield enduring temperatures as high as 5000 °C as NASA collects important data after erosion issues in Artemis I.

The Artemis programme was overhauled recently to reduce complexity, revise timelines, and increase the launch frequency to respond to competition from China.

Govt. confirms extra sittings to debate amendments to women's reservation Act

The Budget Session of Parliament went into a short recess to be reconvened on April 16, instead of the original schedule of ending on Thursday. It will now end on April 18. In the two extended sitting of two days, Parliament will take up amendments to the Constitution (One Hundred and Sixth Amendment) Act, popularly known as the women's reservation Act, 2023. 

India leads 16-nation maritime initiative

With the West Asia conflict entering its fifth week and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz triggering economic and energy instability, the Indian Navy on Thursday flagged off INS Sunayna as the Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) SAGAR, reinforcing its commitment to regional maritime security and cooperation. 

CAPF Bill passed in LS amid Opposition walkout

The Central Armed Police Force (General Administration) Bill, 2026 was passed by a voice vote in the Lok Sabha as the Opposition walked out due to the absence of Home Minister Amit Shah in the Lower House on Thursday. 

Education Ministry notifies NCERT as deemed university

The Education Ministry has issued a notification declaring the National Council for Educational Research and Training, or NCERT, an institution deemed to be a university, enabling it to offer courses or programmes and grant degrees.

As supply chain vulnerabilities rise, experts press for energy security

As global fault lines deepen and old alliances shift, policymakers are being forced to rethink strategy in real time. At a panel discussion on "Policy Frameworks in Times of Geopolitical Uncertainty", held as part of the Future Career Conversations Series, experts unpacked how energy, geopolitics and foreign policy were increasingly intertwined in shaping the global order. 

'Must get preferential access under U.S. trade deal as agreed'

As one year lapses of U.S. President Donald Trump's 'Liberation Day' tariff announcement, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said India and the U.S. continue to have a "very robust and deep" strategic partnership and India's current stance was it should receive preferential market access to the U.S. compared with its competitors as was agreed to in the joint statement between the two countries.

Govt. axes duty on 40 petchem items

The Union government has provided full Customs Duty exemption for about 40 petrochemical products till June 30 in view of the ongoing conflict in West Asia.

An April 1 notification listed 40 items, including polypropelene, polystyrene, polyols, poly butadiene, styrene butadiene and anhydrous ammonia. 

FY26 indirect tax mop up past estimate of 15.52 lakh crore

The government has marginally exceeded the indirect tax collection target for fiscal 2025-26, an official said on Thursday. The total indirect tax collection, which includes customs, excise and GST, as per Revised Estimates (RE) was pegged at over 15.52 lakh crore for FY26.

Captive coal output up 10.2% in 2025-26

Coal production from captive and commercial mines increased 10.2% in the financial year 2025-26 to 210.46 million tonnes on a year-on-year basis, the Centre said. Also, dispatches from captive and commercial mines rose 7.35% to scale 204.61 MT.

The Centre said 12 captive and commercial coal blocks were operational ised via mine opening permission in FY2025-26. 

NASA launches 4 astronauts on a crewed lunar mission

Four astronauts blasted off aboard a massive NASA rocket on Wednesday on a long-anticipated journey around the Moon, the first crewed lunar flyby in more than 50 years.

Running around in circles to secure insurance for transplantations

As India's burden of non-communicable diseases soars, the country is facing a widening gap between growing burden of organ failure and the limited financial protection available to patients; if organs are failing at a mass scale in India, care prior to a transplant, during a transplant and after a transplant needs to be recognised and prioritised.