THE HEADLINES:-
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi stresses, citizen-centric governance guided by Nagrik Devo Bhava mantra; Addresses Karmayogi Sadhna Saptah 2026.
- Government fully exempts customs duty on 40 critical petrochemical products till 30th of June amid West Asia conflict.
- Defence exports hit record 38 thousand 424 crore rupees in previous financial year.
- 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.
- Filing of nominations begins for second phase of West Bengal Assembly Elections.
- In IPL Cricket, Hosts Kolkata Knight Riders to face Sunrisers Hyderabad this evening.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi today emphasized that India’s rapidly changing aspirations demand a governance model that is not only efficient but deeply citizen-centric. Mr Modi stated this in a video message while addressing the Karmayogi 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. The event is being collectively organised by the Department of Personnel and Training, Capacity Building Commission, and Karmayogi Bharat. It aims to build the capacity, performance and efficiency of civil servants across the country. The event also coincides with the Commission’s Foundation Day and five years of Mission Karmayogi.
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The Government has decided to provide full Customs Duty exemption on a total of 40 critical petrochemical products till the 30th of June, in view of the ongoing conflict in West Asia and the consequent disruptions in global supply chains. The Finance ministry, in a statement said, customs duty have been exempted on items including Methanol, Anhydrous ammonia, Toluene, Styrene, Dichloromethane (methylene chloride), and Vinyl chloride monomer among others. It said, the measure has been taken as a temporary and targeted relief to ensure continued availability of critical petrochemical inputs for domestic industry. It noted that the step will help reduce cost pressures on downstream sectors and safeguard supply stability in the country.
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Defence exports have touched an all-time high of 38 thousand 424 crore rupees in the Financial Year 2025-26. The growth marks a significant rise of over 14 thousand 802 crore rupees which is 62.66 percent compared to the previous fiscal year’s exports of 23 thousand 622 crore rupees. The Defence Ministry said Defence Public Sector Undertakings accounted for 54.84 per cent of the achievement, while the private sector contributed 45.16 per cent. The Ministry said, the sharp rise highlights the increasing global acceptance of Indian made defence products and the sector’s growing integration into the international supply chains. Lauding the performance, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh asserted that India is marching ahead towards becoming a global manufacturing hub for defence equipment.
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Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju has informed the Rajya Sabha that the Parliament will be adjourned today and will again meet after two to three weeks for an important legislation related to Women’s reservation. Replying to Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on legislative business of the House, Mr Rijiju said, the government has consulted with over 80 per cent of parties on the matter. He however, said that the principal opposition party, Congress, has written to the government for convening the Parliament after the conclusion of the Assembly elections. The Minister said, the government is not going arbitrarily and consulting with all the parties and MPs. Mr Rijiju said, women’s Reservation is an issue that should be passed unanimously in Parliament.
Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, demanded an all-party meeting on the matter so that all parties can present their views and move the proposal forward.
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Union Power Minister Manohar Lal has clarified that prepaid electric smart meters are not compulsory for all consumers. The Minister was replying to supplementaries during Question Hour in the Lok Sabha today.
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Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu has said that there will be no compromise when it comes to the safety and security of civil aviation operations. He said, as a responsible country, India is committed to fully adhering to these policies, guidelines, and rules. The Minister was replying to supplementaries during Question Hour in the Lok Sabha today. On weather forecasting, Mr Naidu said, the Ministry of Civil Aviation is working closely with the India Meteorological Department to improve accuracy.
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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. The top court observed that the incident appeared to be a calculated and motivated attempt to demoralise judicial officers and disrupt the ongoing electoral process, adding that the state’s law and order machinery seemed to have broken down. Referring to media reports, the bench described the episode as a brazen attempt to intimidate judicial officers and challenge the authority of the court. According to officials, protesters initially sought a meeting with the judicial officers. After being denied entry, they staged a demonstration and gheraoed the premises, trapping seven judicial officials inside, including three women.
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The filing of nomination papers have begun for the second phase of assembly elections in West Bengal with the issuance of notification today. 142 constituencies will go to polls in this phase on the 29th of this month. Candidates may submit their nominations till the 9th of April. The submitted nomination papers will be scrutinized the following day. The last date for withdrawal of candidature is the 13th of April.
Meanwhile, campaigning has intensified for Assembly elections in Assam, Keralam and Puducherry where single-phase polling will be held on the 9th of this month.
In our constituency profile series, today we focus on Kanjirappally assembly seat in Kottayam district of Keralam. With four key candidates in the fray, the political contest in Kanjirappally is set to draw significant attention this election season.
Kanjirappally Assembly constituency of Kottayam District lies between the mid land and high ranges of Keralam. And known for the rubber based agrarian economy. Kanjirappally constituency with more than 1,77,500 voters is having four candidates in the fray this time. Union Minister of State and BJP leader George Kurian is the NDA candidate here. Sitting MLA and Chief Whip of the Government Dr. N Jayaraj from Kerala Congress M is the LDF candidate. Rony K Baby of Indian National Congress is the UDF candidate. BSP had fielded Thampi Kavumpadam. Smithy M Palluruthy Akashvani News, Thiruvananthapuram.”
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Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia today said India Post is now moving fast to become a major logistics powerhouse in the country and aims to be a global player by 2030. The Minister made these remarks while releasing a commemorative stamp marking 75 years of Postal Training Centre(PTC) Saharanpur in New Delhi.
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US President Donald Trump has said that American forces will finish the job in Iran as soon as core strategic objectives near completion. In a televised address from White House, President Trump touted the successes of the US campaign Operation Epic Fury against Iran, saying the US is winning bigger than ever before.
Meanwhile, the US Embassy in Baghdad has issued an urgent security alert warning that Iran aligned Iraqi armed groups could carry out attacks in central Baghdad within the next 24 to 48 hours.
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Hanuman Jayanti is being celebrated today in different parts of the country with religious fervor. The day commemorates the birth of Lord Hanuman. In the national capital, devotees are thronging the Hanuman temples since early morning to offer prayers. In Uttar Pradesh, a long queue of people can also been seen at Hanuman Temples across the state.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Home Minister Amit Shah have extended greetings to the nation on the occasion.
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Benchmark domestic equity indices pared some of their early losses but were still trading about 0.7 per cent lower in the afternoon session today. The Sensex shed 516 points to 72 thousand and 618, while the Nifty lost 147 points to 22 thousand and 532, when reports last came in.
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In IPL Cricket, Hosts Kolkata Knight Riders will take on Sunrisers Hyderabad in Kolkata this evening. The match will begin at 7:30 PM. Last night, Delhi Capitals defeated Hosts Lucknow Super Giants by six wickets.
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The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast heavy rainfall at isolated places over Arunachal Pradesh today. Parts of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Telangana and north-eastern states are expected to witness thunderstorms and lightning during the day.
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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN:-
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi stresses, citizen-centric governance guided by Nagrik Devo Bhava mantra; Addresses Karmayogi Sadhna Saptah 2026.
- Government fully exempts customs duty on 40 critical petrochemical products till 30th of June amid West Asia conflict.
- Defence exports hit record 38 thousand 424 crore rupees in previous financial year.
- 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.
- Filing of nominations begins for second phase of West Bengal Assembly Elections.
- And, in IPL Cricket, Hosts Kolkata Knight Riders to face Sunrisers Hyderabad this evening.
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