The Times of India

On March 29, 2026, thousands of runners will gather in the heart of the capital as the city hosts one of its most anticipated community fitness events, the Times Internet Delhi Half Marathon. The race will begin at the iconic Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in New Delhi, transforming the citys streets into a course of energy, determination, and celebration of fitness.

Indian Railways is shifting food outlets to microwaves and induction stoves. This change follows LNG supply cuts due to the Middle East conflict. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has pledged full support for Indians stranded in the Gulf. Reports also indicate Iran's potential acquisition of a Chinese missile. India has purchased Russian crude oil following a US waiver.

Arvind Kejriwal and other accused in the excise policy case have requested the Delhi High Court Chief Justice to transfer their criminal revision petition from Justice Swarna Kanta Sharma's bench. They allege bias and express concerns over the bench's prima facie view and interim directions without hearing all parties.

An Air India Express Boeing 737 MAX experienced a hard landing in Phuket, with its nose wheels detaching upon the second touchdown. The aircraft, carrying 138 people, made a bounce after the initial impact. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation is investigating the incident.

Opposition parties, led by the Trinamool Congress, are planning an impeachment motion against the Chief Election Commissioner over alleged irregularities in West Bengal's electoral roll revision. Citing concerns over a large number of voters under scrutiny, parties like Congress and Samajwadi Party have voiced support.

India gears up for Census 2027, a comprehensive, paper-free digital headcount after a decade-long delay. This exercise will include caste enumeration for the first time since 1931 and will be crucial for Lok Sabha delimitation, potentially impacting women's reservation. The digital approach aims for efficiency and transparency.

Despite increased forest cover in the Aravallis, built-up areas have surged 53%, leading to a 13.8% rise in annual soil loss. Researchers found that massive land conversion, particularly of rangelands and croplands, overwhelms local conservation efforts like afforestation. This trend, linked to human activity and climate change, threatens the delicate balance of this ancient mountain range.

Indian students in Iran are arranging to leave due to escalating conflict fears. Evacuation routes via Armenia and Azerbaijan are being offered, with some opting for commercial flights back home. Concerns are high across multiple universities, prompting student associations and political representatives to coordinate safe passage efforts for departing batches.

Census 2027 will be conducted in two phases, starting with Houselisting and Housing Census from April to September 2026, followed by Population Enumeration in February 2027. This digital exercise will involve house-to-house visits and an option for online self-enumeration to ensure comprehensive data collection.

An Air India Express flight from Hyderabad to Phuket encountered a nose-wheel issue during landing on Wednesday, causing a rough touchdown and a temporary suspension of airport operations. The Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft became stuck on the runway. The airline confirmed the incident, stating the crew followed all protocols and passengers were safely deplaned.

India's Supreme Court has permitted passive euthanasia, reigniting the debate on 'letting die' versus 'active killing'. While passive euthanasia involves withdrawing life support, active euthanasia means deliberately ending life. The court's ruling in the Harish Rana case underscores the complex ethical and legal considerations in end-of-life care, balancing life preservation with patient autonomy and suffering.

The Supreme Court has directed all publicly funded educational institutions to remove Professor Michel Denino and two associates from curriculum and textbook preparation. This decision follows concerns over offending content in an NCERT Class 8 social science textbook that allegedly misrepresented the Indian judiciary. The court also suggested the Centre form an expert committee for curriculum review.

External affairs minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar spoke with Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi. They discussed regional developments and shipping security. Concerns were raised about maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. Iran detailed recent attacks by the US and Israel. Both ministers emphasized strengthening bilateral ties and regional stability.

India is contemplating deploying naval ships to escort its merchant vessels through the Strait of Hormuz amidst escalating Middle East tensions. This consideration follows urgent pleas from Indian shipowners seeking protection for their commercial fleets navigating the crucial, now high-risk, waterway.

Army columns were deployed in Meghalaya's West Garo Hills after two died in security forces' firing during violent clashes over GHADC election nominations. Tensions flared between tribal and non-tribal groups regarding candidate eligibility. A curfew is in effect, and internet services are suspended to quell unrest and restore order.

Indian Army troops thwarted an infiltration attempt along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir's Jhangar sector on Tuesday. Acting on intelligence, alert soldiers engaged two terrorists, successfully eliminating one Pakistan-sponsored infiltrator and preventing any breach of the LoC. A search operation is underway for the second terrorist.

The Union Cabinet has approved declaring Madurai airport an international airport, a move aimed at boosting global connectivity to the temple city. This decision is expected to enhance air connectivity, strengthen Madurai's role as an educational and healthcare hub, and attract international pilgrims and businesses, supporting regional trade and economic activity.

Lok Sabha witnessed a heated debate as the opposition moved a resolution to remove Speaker Om Birla. Congress MPs questioned the authority of Jagdambika Pal, who was presiding, citing a constitutional vacuum due to the absence of a Deputy Speaker. The government defended Pal's position, leading to sharp exchanges.

The BJP has criticized Rahul Gandhi for backing the Youth Congress' shirtless protest at the AI Impact Summit in Delhi. Party leaders accused Gandhi of orchestrating the disruption, which they claim embarrassed India globally. Meanwhile, a court reserved its order on the bail pleas of three Youth Congress workers involved in the protest.

Two IndiGo flights were diverted to Bhopal due to loose bitumen on Indore's runway during recarpeting work. The issue was resolved within 20 minutes, and operations resumed. Separately, a fire in dry grass at the non-operational area of Indore Airport caused no casualties or flight disruptions.