THE HEADLINES::
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi launches development projects worth about twenty thousand crore rupees in Vav-Tharad district of Gujarat; Says, Government has not allowed the impact of West Asia conflict to affect citizens.
- Centre extends National PNG Drive till June this year to sustain momentum in PNG expansion across the country.
- First phase of Census-2027 to begin from tomorrow; Major tax and banking reforms also to come into effect.
- US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth warns, upcoming days will be decisive for Iran.
- And in IPL Cricket, match between Punjab Kings and Gujarat Titans underway in New Chandigarh.
<><><>
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said that even amid the West Asia conflict, India has kept the situation under control. Mr. Modi said this after inaugurating and laying the foundation stone of development projects worth over 19,800 crore rupees at Nani in Vav-Tharad district of Gujarat this afternoon. He added that the Central Government has not allowed the impact of the West Asia conflict to affect the citizens of the country.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr Modi said, projects, which were launched today, will improve connectivity and support socio-economic development of the region.
Mr Modi added that the airbase opened at Deesa in North Gujarat is important for the national security of Western India. These development projects are related to Energy, Roads, Transport and Highways and Railways, Urban Development, Water Resources, Health and Family Welfare, Tourism and Tribal Development Departments.
Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister also inaugurated the OSAT plant of Kaynes Semiconductor in Sanand. On this occasion, he said that India is emerging as a leading partner in the field of semiconductors.
The Prime Minister inaugurated the Samrat Samprati Museum at Koba in Gandhinagar on the occasion of Mahavir Jayanti today. The museum is dedicated to Jain history and the life of Samrat Samprati, his rule and the message of Non-violence.
<><><>
The Government has extended the National PNG Drive 2.0 till 30th June 2026 to sustain momentum in PNG expansion across the country. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said that during the month of March, more than 3.1 Lakh connections including domestic, commercial, hostel, mess and canteens have been gasified. In addition more than 2.7 Lakh new connections have been given and are being gasified.
The Government further assured that the country has sufficient stock of petrol, diesel, LPG, and PNG. In order to curb rumours, It has urged states and union territories to disseminate correct information through press briefings.
<><><>
The first phase of Census-2027 will begin from tomorrow. The Census-2027 will be the world’s largest census. For the first time, the Census will be conducted digitally and the option of Self-Enumeration will also be available. Mritunjay Kumar Narayan, Registrar General & Census Commissioner of India, speaking exclusively with Akashvani, explained the advantages of a digital census and mentioned how a migrant can get enumerated in the Census 2027.
Self-enumeration will begin from tomorrow till 15th April and House Listing and Housing Census will be conducted for a month from 16th April to 15th May in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, NDMC area and Delhi Cantonment Board, Goa, Karnataka, Lakshadweep, Mizoram, Odisha, and Sikkim.
<><><>
With the start of the new financial year tomorrow, a set of reforms including key financial rules changes will come into force. A report –
“Over six decade old Income tax Act will be replaced by the new Income Tax Act, 2025 from tomorrow. It is designed to simplify the tax system by removing outdated provisions, streamlining complex rules and making compliance more straightforward for taxpayers. All digital payment transactions in the country will be required to meet the norms of two-factor authentication from tomorrow as directed by the Reserve Bank of India. The revised FASTag annual pass fee for financial year 2026-27 will also be in force from tomorrow. The revised rules for applying for or updating a Permanent Account Number PAN card will also come into effect from tomorrow. Anupam Mishra, Akashvani News, Delhi.”
<><><>
The Bharatiya Janata Party today released its manifesto for the 2026 Assam Assembly Elections in Guwahati. It was unveiled by Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in presence of Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
The manifesto lists 31 commitments under the theme “Surakshita Asom, Viksita Asom.” It includes measures to clear illegal encroachment from government land, implement the Immigrants (Expulsion from Assam) Act, 1950 and land rights to all genuine citizens.
The manifesto includes a proposal for a Uniform Civil Code, excluding Sixth Schedule areas and tribal communities. The party has promised two lakh government jobs and implementation of the 8th Pay Commission. It also proposes increasing Orunodoi assistance to 3,000 rupees and free education for the poor from KG to Post Graduate. It also proposes investment in expressways and Vande Bharat train projects in the state.
<><><>
Keralam will go to polls on April 9 to elect a new Assembly. In our series of constituency profiles, today we take a look at Pathanapuram constituency of Kollam district.
Punalur Assembly constituency of Kollam district in Kerala is having six candidates in the fray. C. Ajayaprasad of the CPI is LDF candidate at Punalur. UDF is fielding Indian Union Muslim League’s Noushad Unus. NDA candidate at Punalur is Twenty 20 Party’s Reghunadh Kamukumchery. Bahujan Samaj Party’s Jose Saranath, K. Mahesh of SUCI Communist and Nedumoncavu Gopalakrishnan of Equity Party of India are other candidates here. In the 2021 Assembly elections. P S Supal of CPI defeated Indian Union Muslim League’s Abdul Rahman Randathaani for a margin of more than 37 thousand votes. Smithy M Palluruthy, Akashvani News, Thiruvananthapuram.”
<><><>
In Chhattisgarh, thirty-three Maoists surrendered today in the Bastar division. Among them are seventeen women Maoists. More from our correspondent.
“In Bijapur district of the Bastar division, twenty-five Maoists surrendered today. In addition, five Maoists surrendered in Dantewada district, two in Kanker district and one in Narayanpur district. Acting on information received from the surrendered Maoists, security forces recovered around seven kilograms of gold and nearly three crore rupees in cash hidden by Maoists in Bijapur district. This is the largest recovery in the history of Maoist operations so far. Security forces also seized ninety-three weapons, including AK-47 rifles, light machine guns and self-loading rifles. Vikalp Shukla, Akashvani News, Raipur.”
<><><>
The Defence Ministry today signed a 1 thousand 950 crore rupee contract with Bharat Electronics Limited for the procurement of two Mountain Radars for the Indian Air Force in New Delhi. The Ministry informed that the deal, signed under the Buy (Indian-Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured) category, aligns with the government’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives.
The Indian Navy today received Malwan, the second Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft, built by Cochin Shipyard Limited at Kochi. The Ministry of Defence informed that the vessel has been indigenously designed and constructed as per Indian Navy specifications and complies with classification rules of DNV.
<><><>
US Secretary of War and Pentagon chief, Pete Hegseth today said that the upcoming days of war with Iran will be decisive. During a news conference, his first in nearly two weeks, he said, talks on ending the conflict were gaining strength even as the more than month-long US-Israeli military campaign against Iran continued.
For more updates on the West Asia conflict, we have a desk report:
“The Pentagon Chief, however, refused to rule out US ground forces playing a role in the conflict. The top US military officer, General Dan Caine, spoke alongside Mr Hegseth, saying that US forces have struck more than 11,000 targets so far. He said, the United States continues to destroy Iran’s ballistic missile and drone capabilities. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump in a social media post again criticized European allies for not getting more involved in the war. In a related development, a Kuwaiti oil tanker carrying millions of barrels of crude oil has been hit near Dubai, with officials blaming Iran for the strike. Media reports said, the 24 crew aboard are safe and the blaze is under control. New strikes and interceptions are reported in Israel, Iran and the UAE, with multiple people injured from falling debris in Dubai. On the other hand, fighting in southern Lebanon intensified this afternoon as Israeli ground forces pushed deeper into border areas. The Israeli military reported that four of its soldiers were killed and two others wounded during intense combat with Iran backed armed group Hezbollah in the western sector of southern Lebanon in the past few hours. According to the Israeli Defence Forces, troops are continuing operations to expand a security buffer zone. At least three UN peacekeepers, including Indonesian personnel, were killed in separate incidents in southern Lebanon over the past day, prompting strong condemnation from the United Nations. Swati Rakheja, News Desk……..“
<><><>
Mahavir Jayanti, the birth anniversary of the 24th and last Jain Tirthankar Bhagwan Mahavir is being celebrated across the country today. Mahavir Jayanti is considered to be one of the most auspicious days for the Jain community and holds a lot of importance in their religious life.
<><><>
On to Sports, in IPL Cricket, Gujarat Titans were 149 for 5 in 18.4 overs against Punjab Kings in the fourth match of the tournament in New Chandigarh, when reports last came in. Earlier, Punjab Kings won the toss and opted to bowl.
<><><>
On the seventh day of the Khelo India Tribal Games in Chhattisgarh, competitions in athletics, wrestling, football and hockey were held today. In athletics events held at Jagdalpur, Prithvi Oraon of Jharkhand won the gold medal in the 100 meters race in the women’s category. Basanti Manjhi of Odisha clinched gold in the 100 meters hurdles, while Rithushree of Karnataka won the 400 meters event.
<><><>
THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi launches development projects worth about twenty thousand crore rupees in Vav-Tharad district of Gujarat; Says, Government has not allowed the impact of West Asia conflict to affect citizens.
- Centre extends National PNG Drive till June this year to sustain momentum in PNG expansion across the country.
- First phase of Census-2027 to begin from tomorrow; Major tax and banking reforms also to come into effect.
- US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth warns, upcoming days will be decisive for Iran.
- And in IPL Cricket, match between Punjab Kings and Gujarat Titans underway in New Chandigarh.
<><><>
