The Times of India

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a telephonic conversation with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, discussing the ongoing Middle East conflict. Both leaders emphasized the importance of ensuring freedom of navigation and keeping shipping lines open and secure, while India reiterated its condemnation of attacks on energy infrastructure.

How Hormuz disruptions, benchmark volatility and refinery economics are testing India's energy resilience and why the government moved to shield every pump in the country

Tamil Nadu's political landscape is shifting from a bipolar contest to a multi-cornered fight, with the DMK facing anti-incumbency and a fragmented opposition. New entrant TVK and established players like AIADMK and NTK are vying for influence, making this election a crucial transition phase for the state's political future.

India reaffirmed its support for Bangladesh's pursuit of justice over Pakistan's 1971 atrocities, noting Islamabad's continued denial of its crimes. Marking March 25 as Genocide Day, Bangladesh remembers the systematic murder and mass sexual crimes during Operation Searchlight. India stands with Bangladesh in its desire for accountability for these historical events.

As the political landscape of West Bengal gears up for the 2026 elections, Mamata Banerjee's government is capitalizing on an extensive welfare system. Programs such as Lakshmir Bhandar and Khadya Sathi are at the forefront, addressing critical issues related to women's empowerment, food access, educational advancement, and job creation for the youth.

BJP spokesperson CR Kesavan slammed the Congress in Tamil Nadu, citing MP Jothimani's public criticism of opaque constituency selection for the 2026 Assembly polls. He alleged a deep divide and disarray within the party, linking it to alleged ticket selling and a compromised Congress.

The Congress party has sharply criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi following reports of Elon Musk's alleged presence during a call with US President Donald Trump. The opposition questioned the transparency and protocol of a private businessman participating in a high-level diplomatic discussion on the West Asia crisis.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Phase I of the Noida International Airport, a significant addition to India's aviation infrastructure. Developed under a PPP model, this airport aims to enhance regional and international connectivity for the NCR, easing pressure on existing facilities and supporting India's global aviation ambitions.

Petrol and diesel prices remained largely stable across major Indian cities today, despite global crude oil surges due to the US-Iran conflict. The government's excise duty cuts and strategic measures aim to shield consumers from international price volatility and ensure uninterrupted fuel supply.

Traditionally, India has sourced most of its crude from the Middle East, particularly Iraq, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, owing to geographical proximity, established contracts and reliable shipping routes.

Microsoft's Chief People Officer Amy Coleman has announced a significant restructuring of the HR division, prioritizing adaptability and speed to align with the company's AI-first strategy. This overhaul includes leadership changes and the formation of new teams focused on accelerating HR operations, shaping culture, and fostering workforce acceleration.

An overhaul of the 153-year-old Cattle Trespass Act will decriminalise key offences, replace jail terms with financial penalties and route collected fines to animal welfare. The definition of cattle, so far limited to bovines, is being expanded to include camels, buffaloes, horses, pigs, sheep and goats. Govt has proposed to reduce the jail term for interfering with seized items, such as food and vehicles, under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, from a maximum of six months to three month

For the moment, it has managed to ensure that consumers are fully protected as the oil retailers and govt will split the burden of higher crude prices. For the oil marketing companies (OMCs), which will have to take a hit during the March quarter, the impact will not be significant if the Indian basket remains around the current level of $112 a barrel.

Credit growth outpaced deposit mobilisation through the current financial year, with incremental credit at Rs 25.3 lakh crore exceeding incremental deposits of Rs 24.3 lakh crore. As a result, the incremental credit-deposit ratio stood at 103.9%. Historically, an 80% credit-deposit ratio is seen as healthy as it factors in the 3% of bank deposits that have to be maintained as cash reserves (CRR) and 18% in liquid govt bonds (statutory liquidity ratio)

The sell-off left investors poorer by nearly Rs 9 lakh crore with BSEs market capitalisation now at Rs 422.2 lakh crore, exchange data showed.Foreign funds were again the main sellers of stocks with the net outflow figure at Rs 4,367 crore, BSE data showed. Since the war between the US-Israel and Iran started, the sensex has lost a little over 7,700 points or 9.5% while investors are poorer by about Rs 41.4 lakh crore.

Pankaj Chadha, chairman of engineering exports body EEPC India, said the measure will help steel mills, particularly smaller units, maintain production. Steel is a key segment of the engineering goods sector, and its shortage could severely impact the production chain. The additional LPG allocation should minimise supply bottlenecks and ensure steady output, he added.

Many analysts are forecasting that oil prices will remain above $100 per barrel for several weeks, pushing up the import bill and inflation. Dealers said that pressure on the rupee has been driven more by heavy foreign investor selloffs than by the West Asia conflict, with outflows crossing $13 billion this month, an all-time high.

With her statement seen as a provocation to TMC women workers and supporters to launch attacks at polling stations in rural areas, posing a risk to the central armed police forces deployed there, of facing criminal charges were they to intervene and stop them, EC will examine if the statement amounts of provocation and interferes in discharge of duties by poll and security personnel.

RCom, Ambani, his close associates and some family members are under investigation in the purchase and sale of an apartment worth over Rs 70 crore in Manhattan, New York. Sources said the chargesheet has mentioned Vaishali Jairam Mane, besides Garg, as an accused. Mane was an RCom employee based in the US. ED had questioned Ambani and his son in this case earlier.

Noting that VVIPs use air travel frequently for electioneering and other purposes in (small) aircraft and choppers, DGCA said, Analysis of earlier accidents/incidents associated with aircraft operations to/from airstrips/temporary helipads and during election flying has often revealed violation of instructions and safety was jeopardised. It is essential that adequate measures are taken by all concerned to ensure the highest standards of safety for operation of such flights.

As was the case when Election Commission released the first supplementary rolls close to midnight last Monday, there were more questions than CEO Manoj Agarwal had answers for. About 37 lakh of the 60 lakh pending cases have been disposed of till now. After receiving the list from Calcutta HC, EC will take 4-6 hours to process and upload it on our server, he said in the afternoon.

This is the first time a govt functionary has clarified on record that the groups interest lay in Myanmar and India was merely a transit point. No threat was posed to Indias security. It is our policy that any foreigner who visits India for any wrong act will not be spared, he said.

The contract for the procurement of Tunguska systems, valued at Rs 445 crore, for the Indian Army, was signed with JSC Rosoboronexport of Russia in the presence of defence secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh in New Delhi. These cutting-edge missiles will enhance Indias multi-layered air defence capabilities against aerial threats. Tunguska is designed to provide day-and- night protection for infantry and tank regiments against low-flying aircraft, helicopters, and cruise missiles in all-weather conditi

The approval for additional S-400 Sudarshan systems, which had helped neutralise Pakistani missiles during last years conflict in May and had also to its credit the worlds longest-range kill of an enemy aircraft, has come at a time when IAF teams are in Russia to receive the fourth squadron under the earlier contract for five such systems. The fourth system is likely to arrive by May while the fifth squadron is expected by Dec.

The case stemmed from the allocation in Maharashtras Bandar and led to the first CBI chargesheet in the larger coal block controversy dating back to the time Congress-led UPA was in office. The FIR was filed in 2012 and the chargesheet in 2014. Judge Sunena Sharma held that there was no proof of criminal conspiracy, noting the case was based on conjectures and lacked evidence of a meeting of minds or illegal agreement.

A bench of Justices Sanjay Karol and N K Singh expressed concern that despite statutory safeguards and repeated directions from SC, such lapses persist. The court made the observation while convicting a rape accused, noting that the name of the minor survivor was mentioned in lower court orders. The court rejected the argument of the womans family.

The PM is scheduled to arrive at the airport at 11.30am on Saturday, go on a walkthrough of the terminal building, and formally inaugurate the airport around noon before addressing a public gathering. The event is expected to draw large crowds from Noida, Greater Noida, Ghaziabad, Bulandshahr and other parts of western UP. Three pandals have been set up to accommodate more than one lakh people.

Ships in the region are reporting repeated radio broadcasts over maritime channels warning vessels against transit. Attention all ships This is the Sepah Navy navigation through Strait of Hormuz is forbidden no ship is allowed to pass until further notice, the radio messages repeatedly blare. Crews attributed these announcements to Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy.

In a letter to chief secretaries of states and UTs, petroleum secretary Neeraj Mittal said only those industrial units that have registered with oil marketing companies, declaring the end use of gas cylinders, and have also signed up for the piped gas network will be eligible for the additional quota of LPG. He added that if LPG is used by certain industrial units for special purposes that cannot be substituted by natural gas, such requirements would stand waived.

Home minister Shah accused opposition parties of spreading panic over the West Asia crisis, including the claim that a lockdown may be imposed. I want to assure everyone. Do not fear, nothing will happen. We have adequate reserves of petroleum products, he said. While many countries had taken emergency measures, India was working to tide over the crisis without compromising the daily lives of people, he said, adding that it had ensured regular gas supply to homemakers.