India

India-US Trade Deal Postponed; New Global Tariff Framework and West Asia Crisis Reshape Timeline

India-US Trade Deal Postponed; New Global Tariff Framework and West Asia Crisis Reshape Timeline

New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh)— India has deferred the signing of its highly anticipated trade agreement with the United States, originally slated for March 2026. On Monday, Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agarwal clarified that the deal will now be finalized only after Washington clarifies its evolving global tariff architecture. The delay stems from significant legal and structural shifts in U.S. trade policy. According to Agarwal, traditional tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act are currently in flux following rulings by the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS). As a result, the March deadline is no longer applicable. The "New Tariff…
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Supreme Court to Hear PIL Seeking 4-Year LLB and New “Legal Education Commission”

Supreme Court to Hear PIL Seeking 4-Year LLB and New “Legal Education Commission”

New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh)— The Supreme Court of India has agreed to hear a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that could fundamentally reshape the country’s legal education landscape. On Monday, March 16, 2026, a Bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi took note of a petition seeking to replace the current five-year integrated law course with a streamlined four-year LLB degree after Class 12. The petition, filed by Ashwini Upadhyay, argues that the existing five-year BA-LLB and BBA-LLB programs are disproportionately long and place an "excessive financial burden" on middle- and lower-class families. Judicial Reflections:…
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“Motivated and Biased”: India Slams USCIRF Report After Panel Recommends Sanctions on RSS and R&AW

“Motivated and Biased”: India Slams USCIRF Report After Panel Recommends Sanctions on RSS and R&AW

New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh)— India has issued a blistering rejection of the 2026 Annual Report by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), labeling the document "motivated and biased." The sharp rebuttal from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) comes after the U.S. federal advisory body recommended unprecedented sanctions against prominent Indian organizations and once again urged the U.S. State Department to designate India as a "Country of Particular Concern" (CPC). In a move that has further strained diplomatic rhetoric, the commission specifically called for targeted sanctions on the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)—the ideological parent of the ruling…
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Kejriwal and Sisodia Move Supreme Court to Transfer Excise Case Bench

Kejriwal and Sisodia Move Supreme Court to Transfer Excise Case Bench

New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh): Following the Delhi High Court's refusal to administratively transfer the CBI’s excise policy case, AAP leaders Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court on Sunday, March 15, 2026. The petition, filed under Article 32, seeks to move the matter away from the bench of Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma. The AAP leadership has cited a "grave and bona fide apprehension" that they will not receive a neutral hearing, pointing to the judge's past rulings and her initial observations in the current revision plea. The legal standoff centers on the CBI's challenge…
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Election Commission Sounds Poll Bugle for 2026 Assembly Elections; Five States Set for High-Stakes Battle; Dates Announced

Election Commission Sounds Poll Bugle for 2026 Assembly Elections; Five States Set for High-Stakes Battle; Dates Announced

New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh): The Election Commission of India (ECI) has officially declared the schedule for the 2026 Assembly Elections across West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam, and the Union Territory of Puducherry. During a high-stakes press conference on Sunday evening, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar outlined a comprehensive timeline covering 824 constituencies, with the counting of votes for all regions scheduled for May 4, 2026. The electoral process kicks off on April 9 with single-phase polling in Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry. Tamil Nadu will cast its ballots in a single phase on April 23, while West Bengal will…
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Delhi-NCR Restaurants Allowed Temporary Use of Wood and Coal in Tandoors Amid LPG Gas Shortage

Delhi-NCR Restaurants Allowed Temporary Use of Wood and Coal in Tandoors Amid LPG Gas Shortage

Rajeev Sharma :- Amid an ongoing shortage of LPG and natural gas supplies, authorities have granted temporary relief to restaurants and hotels across Delhi and the National Capital Region, allowing them to use wood and coal in traditional tandoors for cooking. The relaxation aims to ensure that food businesses continue operating smoothly despite disruptions in gas availability. Officials said the decision was taken after reviewing the situation with concerned ministries and gas distribution agencies, as many establishments were facing operational difficulties due to limited fuel supply. The move comes in the backdrop of global energy supply disruptions and the Centre’s…
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NHAI to Revise FASTag Annual Pass Fee from 1st April 2026 for FY 2026–27

NHAI to Revise FASTag Annual Pass Fee from 1st April 2026 for FY 2026–27

New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh): National Highways Authority of India has announced the revision of the applicable fee for the FASTag Annual Pass from the current Rs. 3,000 to Rs. 3,075 for the Financial Year 2026–27. The increased fee will be applicable from 1st April 2026. The revision in the fee has been carried out in accordance with the provisions of the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008. With over 56 lakh users, the adoption of the FASTag Annual Pass has been growing among private vehicle owners. The revised rate will be applicable for eligible non-commercial vehicles with a valid FASTag seeking to avail the Annual Pass facility at…
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Infiltration Bid Foiled in Uri, Pakistani Militant Shot Dead in Joint Security Operation

Infiltration Bid Foiled in Uri, Pakistani Militant Shot Dead in Joint Security Operation

Srinagar (Gurpreet Singh): Security forces thwarted an attempted cross-border infiltration in the Uri sector of Jammu and Kashmir after a joint operation by the Indian Army and the Jammu and Kashmir Police led to the killing of a Pakistani militant. Officials said the operation was launched late on the night of March 14–15 following intelligence inputs about a possible attempt by militants to enter Indian territory through the Line of Control. According to the Srinagar-based Chinar Corps, troops moved into the Buchhar area of Uri after receiving the information and set up an ambush to intercept the suspected infiltrator. During…
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Army JCO Sacrifices Life During Anti-Terror Operation in Poonch

Army JCO Sacrifices Life During Anti-Terror Operation in Poonch

Poonch (Gurpreet Singh): A Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) of the Indian Army made the supreme sacrifice on Saturday after a tragic accident during an ongoing anti-terrorist mission in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district. The soldier, identified as Subedar Sandeep Kumar Dhaka, lost his life after sustaining fatal injuries from a fall in the region's notoriously difficult terrain. According to an official statement from the Army’s White Knight Corps, the incident occurred at approximately 2:30 pm during "Operation Sheri Kalan." Subedar Dhaka was part of a team navigating the rugged and challenging landscape of the general area in Poonch when he…
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Supreme Court Orders Nationwide Audit of Illegal Encroachments Along River Ganga

Supreme Court Orders Nationwide Audit of Illegal Encroachments Along River Ganga

New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh): The Supreme Court of India has expressed "serious concern" over the widespread illegal encroachments along the banks of the River Ganga and has directed the National Mission for Clean Ganga Authority (NMCGA) to submit a comprehensive report on the current status. The Bench, comprising Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice KV Viswanathan, issued this directive on March 12, 2026, after reviewing an older affidavit that highlighted massive, unauthorized structures across the river's plains and periphery. The scope of this investigation is vast, as the Ganga basin extends across several states and Union Territories. The court has specifically…
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