THE HEADLINES::
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlights that India is advancing swiftly amid fast-changing global systems; Says core principle of governance is to make public services more capable and more sensitive to citizens.
- Parliament clears Central Armed Police Forces General Administration Bill and Jan Vishwas Amendment of Provisions Bill; Also passes bill to accord statutory status to Amaravati as sole capital of Andhra Pradesh.
- Supreme Court criticises West Bengal administration over judicial officers being held hostage during SIR drive in Malda; Allows Election Commission to seek central probe; Asks poll panel to deploy central forces.
- Campaigning gains momentum for Assembly elections in Assam, West Bengal, Keralam, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.
- New Delhi condemns recent attacks on UN peacekeepers deployed in UNIFIL and calls for ensuring their safety and security.
- And Indian boxer Aditya Pratap Yadav storms into the quarter finals of Asian Boxing Championships in Mongolia.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has emphasized that India’s rapidly changing aspirations demand a governance model that is not only efficient but deeply citizen-centric. Underscoring the need for public service to keep pace with a rapidly transforming world, the Prime Minister highlighted that India is advancing swiftly amidst fast-changing global systems and must continuously update its governance machinery. Mr Modi stated this in a video message today while addressing the Karmyogi Sadhana Sapta 2026.
The Prime Minister highlighted that improving Ease of living and quality of life should be the primary focus of governance. Turning to the critical importance of technology, the Prime Minister pointed to the deep integration of technology into government functioning over the past eleven years, spanning governance, service delivery and the economy.
A week-long Karamyogi Sadhna Saptah started from today. It aims to build the capacity, performance and efficiency of civil servants across the country.
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The government today said that full custom duty exemption will be provided on critical petrochemical products till 30th June this year amid the ongoing crisis in West Asia. Addressing the media at the Interministerial Briefing on Recent Developments in West Asia, Member of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs, Sanjay Mangal, said, this measure will also provide relief to consumers of their final products.
Talking to Akashvani News, Executive Director of the Indian Drug Manufacturers’ Association, Ashok K Madan, welcomed the government’s decision to grant customs duty exemption on critical petrochemical products.
Joint Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Sujata Sharma said crude availability in the country is normal and refineries are operating at maximum capacity. She noted that government has reduced excise duty, on petrol and diesel to keep prices stable. She said that the Government has made arrangements to ensure adequate crude supply for the next 60 days.
External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal informed that around one thousand 200 Indian nationals, including 845 students, have been assisted in exiting Iran through land borders into Armenia and Azerbaijan.
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India today condemned the recent attacks on UN peacekeepers deployed in UNIFIL and called for ensuring their safety and security. Briefing media in New Delhi, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India seeks accountability for crimes against peacekeepers as one of the largest and longest serving contributors to peacekeeping. Mr Jaiswal highlighted that there are 600 Indian troops in UNIFIL which have made significant contribution to global peacekeeping and security under the aegis of UN mandated peacekeeping missions.
The spokesperson said New Delhi is in touch with Iran and other countries in that region for unimpeded and safe transit for Indian ships carrying LPG, LNG and other products. He highlighted that six Indian ships have been able to safely cross the Strait of Hormuz, and India continues to be in touch with relevant parties.
Mr Jaiswal also informed that the UK has invited several countries including India for talks on the Strait of Hormuz. He added that the Foreign Secretary will attend the meeting.
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Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is chairing the meeting of the Informal Empowered Group of Ministers (IGoM) in New Delhi. The IGoM has been set up to monitor the evolving situation in West Asia.
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The Parliament has passed the Central Armed Police Forces (General Administration) Bill, 2026 after Lok Sabha approved it today with Voice Vote. Rajya Sabha has already passed the bill. The Bill provides for 50 per cent of posts in the CAPFs to be filled by deputation in the rank of Inspector General, and a minimum of 67 per cent of the posts to be filled by deputation in the rank of Additional Director General, and all posts in the ranks of Special Director General and Director General shall be filled by deputation only. After passage of the Bill, Speaker Om Birla informed the House that the Lok Sabha will meet on 16th of this month to discuss some important legislations. The Parliament has passed the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2026 with the Rajya Sabha approving it today. The Lok Sabha had passed the Bill yesterday. The legislation amends certain enactments for decriminalising and rationalising offences to further enhance trust-based governance for ease of living and doing business. Replying to the discussion on the Bill, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said that the Bill will help in the ease of doing business and ease of living by decriminalising minor offences. Earlier, initiating the discussion, Shaktisinh Gohil of Congress said, the government has brought the Bill in haste. Manoj Kumar Jha of RJD, Masthan Rao Yadav Beedha of TDP, Golla Baburao of YSRCP, Nirnajan Bishi of BJD, P Wilson of DMK, and Ashok Kumar Mittal of AAP also participated in the discussion, among others. After this, the Upper House was adjourned till 16th April. The Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2026, has been passed in the Parliament after Rajya Sabha approved it with the voice vote today. The Lok Sabha had already passed the Bill. It accords statutory status to Amaravati as the sole capital of Andhra Pradesh.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has completed his self-enumeration for Census 2027. In a social media post, Mr Modi said that this is the first time data collection is being done through digital means. He added, self-enumeration also empowers the people of the country to self-enumerate their household details. The Prime Minister also appealed to citizens to self-enumerate their household details themselves and participate in the Census process.
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The Supreme Court today took a serious note of an incident in West Bengal’s Malda district where seven judicial officials engaged in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise were taken hostage, terming it deplorable. Taking suo motu cognisance of the incident, the court criticised the state administration and sought responses from the state Chief Secretary, Director General of Police and other officials over their inaction on the issue. All these officers have been directed to remain present virtually before the Supreme Court on the 6th of this month. A bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M. Pancholi, permitted the Election Commission to seek a probe by the CBI or NIA into the unfortunate incident. The bench also asked the poll panel to requisition central forces from anywhere in the country to ensure the safety of officials, their families and staff involved in the SIR exercise.
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Campaigning has gained momentum for Assembly elections in Assam, West Bengal, Keralam, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. Senior BJP leader and Union Home Minister Amit Shah today joined a roadshow in Kolkata in support of party’s candidates from Bhawanipur, Rashbehari, Ballygunge, and Chowranghee assembly constituencies. Addressing the gathering, Mr. Shah stated that the lives of the people of West Bengal have become nightmares due to corruption, lack of security for women, infiltration, and subsequent demographic changes. Mr. Shah arrived in Assam this afternoon on a two-day visit to campaign for NDA candidates ahead of the Assembly elections. Addressing a poll rally in the Kaliabor constituency of Nagaon district, Mr. Shah criticised the Congress party for neglecting Assam during its tenure. Addressing a poll rally at Bokajan in Karbi Anglong district, Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said, the Indian National Congress believes in decentralisation of power.
In Puducherry, prominent star campaigners and national leaders from various political parties engaging in roadshows, public meetings and outreach activities to seek votes for their candidates. More from our correspondent:
“For the Indian National Congress Mukul Wasnik campaigned today in Puducherry. Addressing the media, he said that the Union Territory has, over the past five years, become “the worst administered place in the country.” For the BJP Suresh Gopi participated in a family gathering meeting at Mahe Beach. He said that Mahe has benefited from National Highway projects and highlighted key Central initiatives aimed at improving infrastructure and public welfare. Congress Kerala leader K. Sudhakaran MP and Indian Union Muslim League leader Munavar Ali Shihad Thangal campaigned for Congress candidate in Mahe. Puducherry Chief Minister N. Rangasamy campaigned in the Nettapakkam constituency. Opposition Leader and DMK leader R. Siva campaigned in Thillai Nagar and SMV Puram areas of Villianur. G. Ramakrishnan campaigned for CPI(M) candidates in the Lawspet and Ozhukarai constituencies. Bibin S Nath, Akashvani News, Puducherry”
In Keralam, LDF and UDF released their election manifestos today. NDA has released their manifesto earlier.
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In our constituency profile series, today we focus on Khowang assembly seat of Assam. More from our correspondent:
“The Khowang is a key constituency of Dibrugarh district and it is predominantly a rural seat. Following the 2023 delimitation exercise, the erstwhile Moran constituency was renamed as Khowang with addition or shifting of some villages from the earlier constituency. In the current Assembly election, five candidates are in the fray from Khowang. The Bharatiya Janata Party has fielded Chakradhar Gogoi, who is contesting against Lurinjyoti Gogoi, President of the Assam Jatiya Parishad, a constituent party of the Congress led opposition alliance. Prabhakar Das and Biju Dowarah are contesting as independent candidates. Khowang has over 1 lakh 57 thousand voters across 206 polling stations. In the 2021 Assembly election, there were six candidates in the fray. Chakradhar Gogoi of BJP won the election with over 49 percent of the votes. During that election, voter turnout was over 81 percent. Aminul Haque Jwadder, Akashvani News, Guwahati.”
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In Boxing, India’s Aditya Pratap Yadav stormed into the quarter finals of the Asian Boxing Championships defeating Saudi Arabia’s Mousa Alhawsaw in men’s 65kg category at Ulaanbaatar in Mongolia, today.
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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN:
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlights that India is advancing swiftly amid fast-changing global systems; Says core principle of governance is to make public services more capable and more sensitive to citizens.
- Parliament clears Central Armed Police Forces General Administration Bill and Jan Vishwas Amendment of Provisions Bill; Also passes bill to accord statutory status to Amaravati as sole capital of Andhra Pradesh.
- Supreme Court criticises West Bengal administration over judicial officers being held hostage during SIR drive in Malda; Allows Election Commission to seek central probe; Asks poll panel to deploy central forces.
- Campaigning gains momentum for Assembly elections in Assam, West Bengal, Keralam, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.
- New Delhi condemns recent attacks on UN peacekeepers deployed in UNIFIL and calls for ensuring their safety and security.
- And Indian boxer Aditya Pratap Yadav storms into the quarter finals of Asian Boxing Championships in Mongolia.
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