THE HEADLINES:
- Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar takes oath as Rajya Sabha member.
- President Droupadi Murmu nominates former Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh to the Upper House.
- BJP releases its manifesto for West Bengal Assembly elections; Promises to implement Uniform Civil Code within 6 months of forming government in the state.
- Justice Yashwant Varma submits resignation as Allahabad High Court Judge amid impeachment process.
- India and United States agree to expand cooperation under Pax Silica and broader economic and technology ties.
- In IPL Cricket, Rajasthan Royals to face Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Guwahati this evening.
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Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today took oath as Rajya Sabha member. Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan administered oath to Nitish Kumar in the Parliament House.
Leader of the House in the Rajya Sabha J P Nadda, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Minister Rajiv Ranjan, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Arjun Ram Meghwal, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar Samrat Choudhary among others were present on the occasion.
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President Droupadi Murmu has nominated former Deputy Chairman of the Upper House Harivansh as a Rajya Sabha member. The tenure of Harivansh as a member of the Upper House ended yesterday. He has been nominated as a member of the Rajya Sabha after a vacancy was created following the retirement of former chief justice of India Ranjan Gogoi. The Ministry of Home Affairs issued a notification today in this regard.
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Union Home Minister and senior BJP leader Amit Shah released the party’s manifesto – ‘Sankalp Patra’ for West Bengal Assembly Elections today. The BJP’s Sankalp Patra promises to implement the 7th pay commission and Uniform Civil Code (UCC) within six months of coming to power in the state. Mr Shah, while releasing the manifesto said that the public feel fearful, disillusioned, and is seeking change from the heart. He said that in the last 10 years, the Bharatiya Janata Party has established itself as a constructive opposition in West Bengal and today, BJP is working as the principal opposition party in the state assembly.
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Allahabad High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma submitted his resignation to President Droupadi Murmu today. Justice Verma is facing impeachment proceedings. He was repatriated from the Delhi High Court to the Allahabad High Court after burnt wads of currency notes were found at his official residence in New Delhi on the 14th March last year.
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Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan today released the latest version of the Constitution of India in Sindhi language in New Delhi. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Radhakrishnan said that Sindhi is one of the oldest and most melodious languages. He said, for the first time since India’s independence, the Sindhi version of the Constitution of India, in the Devanagari Script, has been released.
The Vice President said, that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made special efforts in making this sacred document available in various languages. He added that this is a significant step towards ensuring that every citizen, regardless of language, can fully understand and engage with the ideals of the country. Mr Radhakrishnan said that when citizens can read and understand the Constitution in their own language, the distance between governance and the people narrows.
On the occasion, Law and Justice Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said, this event is not merely a celebration of linguistic heritage, but also a testament to the country’s unity and its commitment to cultural diversity. He said, when the Constitution becomes available in all languages, ordinary people will also be able to read it and understand their rights.
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Today marks the 108th anniversary of the Champaran Satyagraha, a defining moment in India’s freedom struggle led by Mahatma Gandhi. On this day in 1917 in the Champaran district of Bihar, the movement was launched to address the grievances of indigo farmers who were compelled by British planters to cultivate indigo under the oppressive Tinkathia system. We have a report:
In response to the persistent efforts of local farmer Raj Kumar Shukla, Mahatma Gandhi visited the region and undertook a detailed inquiry into the plight of the peasants. Defying British orders to leave, he mobilised farmers through non-violent resistance and brought national attention to their suffering. The movement eventually led to the formation of an inquiry committee, with Gandhiji as a member, and by 1918, the movement successfully forced the abolition of the forced indigo system. The Champaran Satyagraha not only secured justice for farmers but also marked the rise of Gandhi as a mass leader, laying the foundation for India’s larger freedom movement. This is Vishnu PS for Akashvani News.
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India and the US agreed to further their cooperation under Pax Silica and broader economic and technology engagements, including in AI and critical minerals. The issues figured during discussions between Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and US Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs Jacob S Helberg. India formally joined Pax Silica on the sidelines of the AI Impact Summit in February, marking a significant step in technology cooperation between New Delhi and Washington. Pax Silica brings strategic partnerships and coordinated action across every layer of the supply chain. Misri is on a three-day visit to the US to review the bilateral relationship, particularly in trade and defence sectors.
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External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said that India is finalising an agreement for the supply of oil and gas to Mauritius to strengthen its energy security amid the West Asia crisis. Dr Jaishankar said in Port Louis that the ongoing crisis in West Asia has underscored the importance of strategic partnerships, especially in the energy sector. The External Affairs Minister said, he is also pleased to note that an Indian public sector enterprise is developing the country’s first floating solar power project. Recalling Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to Mauritius in March last year, he said the two countries jointly agreed to elevate bilateral ties to an ‘Enhanced Strategic Partnership’.
The External Affairs Minister will participate in the 9th Indian Ocean Conference beginning in Mauritian capital Port Louis today. We have a report from Saira Mujtaba.
“The External Affairs Minister will also deliver the keynote address at the 9th Indian Ocean Conference. On the sidelines, Dr Jaishankar is expected to hold discussions with counterparts from other participating nations. The visit underscores India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy, Vision MAHASAGAR, and commitment to the Global South. Earlier, Dr Jaishankar met Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam in Port Louis. Speaking to the media, he hailed the significant progress in the India-Mauritius partnership over the past year. Dr. Jaishankar said, their discussions covered a wide range of areas, including maritime cooperation, development partnership, health and education among others. The External Affairs Minister added that Mauritius holds a unique place in India’s three core foreign policy priorities- the Neighbourhood First policy, Vision Mahasagar and commitment to the Global South. He reiterated India’s continued support to Mauritius in line with its development priorities.”
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Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri discussed cooperation in countering terrorism, organised crime and narcotics in a meeting with Director of US security agency FBI, Kash Patel, in Washington yesterday. The Indian Embassy in the US informed in a social media post.
The Foreign Secretary also held a meeting with United States of America (USA) Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington DC. In a social media post, the Indian Embassy in USA said that India looks forward to deepen the engagement with USA in important sectors and to strengthen the Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership between the two countries.
Mr Misri is on a three-day visit to the US and has met several top US officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The visit comes after the US agreed to a ceasefire with Iran, bringing a testy truce to the war that began on the 28th of February over Tehran’s refusal to give up its nuclear stockpile.
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Israel has strongly criticised remarks made by Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, calling them “outrageous” and questioning Pakistan’s credibility as a neutral mediator in ongoing West Asia tensions. In a statement, the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office said, calls for Israel’s annihilation are unacceptable from any government, particularly one positioning itself as a facilitator of peace.
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The Supreme Court today dismissed a plea seeking a direction to the Centre to stop caste Census. The bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi, dismissed the plea, which also sought a direction to the Centre to formulate policies to provide economic incentives to families with a single child. On 2nd February, the top court had refused to entertain a separate PIL questioning the procedure to be adopted to record, classify and verify the caste data of citizens in the 2027 general Census.
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Uttar Pradesh has set an example for other states in procurement through the GeM portal in the financial year 2025-26, Securing the top position in the country. Uttar Pradesh made purchases worth rupees 22,337 crore through the GeM portal during this period. Appreciating Uttar Pradesh’s GeM procurement policy, the Centre has declared the state a role model in transparent procurement.
Among all departments in the state, the Urban Development Department had the highest share, making purchases worth rupees 3,606 crore through the portal.
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World Homoeopathy Day is being observed today. Ayush Minister Pratap Rao Jadhav today said that Homoeopathy is not merely an alternative but a science rooted in compassion and evidence. Addressing a gathering on World Homoeopathy day at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi, Mr Jadhav said that the popularity of Homoeopathy is significantly increasing as people are prefering homoeopathy based treatment. He urged countrymen to move forward with a robust scientific approach. Mr Jadhav said that Homoeopathy is establishing itself as a sustainable health system in India’s health model.
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More than five lakh 72 thousand households have availed the Self-Enumeration facility so far during the first phase of the Census 2027. The Registrar General of India stated that this reflects increasing public participation in the digital initiative for Census 2027. The first phase of Census began on 1st April and Self-Enumeration facility will continue until the 15th of this month.
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In IPL Cricket, Rajasthan Royals will face Royal Challengers Bengaluru at ACA Stadium in Guwahati this evening. The match is scheduled to begin at 7:30 PM.
Earlier, Lucknow Super Giants defeated Kolkata Knight Riders by 3 wickets in a thrilling last-ball finish at Eden Gardens last night. Chasing a target of 182 runs, Lucknow Super Giants reached the total on the final delivery with three wickets in hand.
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Benchmark domestic equity indices were trading one per cent higher in the afternoon session. The Sensex rose 810 points to 77 thousand 442, while the Nifty gained 240 points to 24 thousand 15 when reports last came in. Barring IT, all other sectors were trading in the positive zone, with Consumer Durables, Auto, and Realty stocks leading the charge.
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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN :
- Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar takes oath as Rajya Sabha member.
- President Droupadi Murmu nominates former Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh to the Upper House.
- BJP releases its manifesto for West Bengal Assembly elections; Promises to implement Uniform Civil Code within 6 months of forming government in the state.
- Justice Yashwant Varma submits resignation as Allahabad High Court Judge amid impeachment process.
- India and United States agree to expand cooperation under Pax Silica and broader economic and technology ties.
- In IPL Cricket, Rajasthan Royals to face Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Guwahati this evening.
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