IBTimes

Iran has allowed friendly countries, including India, to transit the Strait of Hormuz. PM Modi spoke with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on safeguarding navigation and resolving tensions diplomatically. MEA denied reports of India paying any tolls.

Gautam Adani, Chairman of the Adani Group, visited Ayodhya with his family for darshan at the Shri Ram Temple on Hanuman Jayanti, describing it as a deeply emotional moment that symbolizes India's cultural continuity, unity, and values inspired by Lord Ram.

The Nifty closed 0.15 per cent higher, gaining 33.70 points to settle at 22,713.10. The Sensex also ended in the green, rising 185.23 points or 0.25 per cent to finish at 73,319.55.

A political row broke out in Karnataka after Siddaramaiah called BJP leaders stray bulls, drawing a sharp odents jibe from B. Sriramulu. He also accused the Congress of corruption and fearing defeat in upcoming by-elections.

Highlighting achievements, he cited top rankings in justice delivery, anti-drug operations, and cybercrime control. He also announced plans for police reforms, including recruitment drives and a permanent Police Recruitment Board, while emphasising continued efforts to strengthen law enforcement and public safety.

Anti-Naxal campaign in Chhattisgarh gained momentum as Ramko Mandavi, a close aide and security guard of a top Maoist leader, surrendered in Kanker district. This follows the recent surrender of two other hardcore Naxalites, signalling weakening morale within the Maoist ranks.

IT Dept has launched a new website, 'Kar Saathi', to simplify tax-related processes and improve user experience. The platform consolidates all direct tax information in one place and features an AI-powered chatbot to provide 24x7 assistance to taxpayers.

NASA's long-awaited Artemis II mission has launched four astronauts on a 10-day journey around the moon. The rocket lifted off at 6:35 p.m. ET from Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida.

At least nine people, mostly women, were killed in a stampede at the Sheetla Mata Temple in Maghada village, Nalanda district, Bihar, on March 31, 2026. The stampede occurred due to a heavy rush of devotees, with locals citing inadequate security arrangements.

Jubilant FoodWorks has decided not to renew its franchise agreement for Dunkin' in India after its current term ends on December 31, 2026. The company plans a phased restructuring of its Dunkin' operations, which may include store closures, asset transfers or reassignment of franchise rights, in consultation with the brand owners.

Built with an investment of around Rs 3,300 crore, the plant focuses on semiconductor assembly, packaging, and testing, producing Intelligent Power Modules (IPMs) for electric vehicles, industrial systems, and energy-efficient appliances.

Gold loans have become the largest segment in India's retail credit market, representing 36% of loan volumes and around 40% by value, driven by rising gold prices and consumer preference for secured borrowing, according to a TransUnion CIBIL report

Ahead of the Ramayana teaser launch on April 2, Ranbir Kapoor and Nitesh Tiwari attended a special screening in Los Angeles. Speaking about portraying Lord Ram, Ranbir said, Ram stands for compassion, courage, righteousness and forgiveness, adding that he is revered as Maryada Purushottam, symbolising the ideal man.

Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor, along with their kids Jeh and Taimur, sought the blessings of Jesus Christ during their visit to the church on the weekend. The church's official Instagram page shared photos of the family as they posed with fans.

The Jammu and Kashmir government has informed the Legislative Assembly that five glacial lakes in the Kashmir HimalayaBramsar, Chirsar, Nundkol, Gangabal, and Bhagsarfall under the very high susceptibility category for glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs), as per a study by the University of Kashmir published in the Journal of Glaciology.

The 2026 Iran war has moved beyond a limited, controlled conflict into a complex, multi-domain regional war with global consequences. What was initially designed as a calibrated strike by the United States and Israel has evolved into a situation where escalation is no longer contained or predictable, but shaped by interactions across military, economic and geopolitical systems.

Key reforms include replacing 'Financial Year' and 'Assessment Year' with a single 'Tax Year', revised ITR filing deadlines (July 31 for salaried, August 31 for non-audit cases), higher Securities Transaction Tax on derivatives, and tightened HRA rules with expanded metro cities.

BSE and NSE remained closed on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, on account of Shri Mahavir Jayanti, the 2624th birth anniversary of Lord Mahavira. This is the first of two holidays this week, with Good Friday on April 3 also a holiday. MCX was shut for the morning session (9 am5 pm) but resumed evening trading from 5 pm to 11:30 pm. NCDEX stayed closed for the full day.

Donald Trump has threatened to target key civilian infrastructure in Iran, including water, energy and oil facilities, if tensions escalate and the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened. Experts and rights groups warn such actions would violate international law, citing the Fourth Geneva Convention,.

President Trump just posted raw video of MASSIVE explosions lighting up the night sky over Isfahan, Iran believed to be from U.S.-Israeli airstrikes hitting a major ammunition depot with bunker-buster bombs. Huge secondary blasts and fires reported.

Inthe Gaza Strip and the West Bank, continued airstrikes, shootings and growing restrictions are making it increasingly difficult for humanitarian organisations to operate. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs warned that these developments are worsening the humanitarian crisis.

Sisi urges US President Trump to stop escalating Iran war, warns of global energy shocks, praises Trump for ending Gaza war, as Trump threatens new strikes on Iranian facilities

Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt indicated that oil traffic through the Strait of Hormuz could pick up, with around 20 tankers expected to transit the key waterway in the coming days.

Donald Trump is reportedly open to ending US military operations against Iran even if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, opting to avoid a prolonged conflict. Instead, the US plans to weaken Iran's military capabilities and rely on diplomatic pressure or allies to reopen the key oil route.

The Indian rupee fell 9.88% in FY26, marking its steepest annual decline in 14 years, driven by rising crude oil prices, foreign fund outflows, and a strong US dollar. Geopolitical tensions and tariffs further pressured the currency, despite RBI intervention, with volatility expected to persist in the coming fiscal year.

IPL 2026: Mahieka Sharma shielded Hardik Pandya's son, Agastya, after being surrounded by photographers outside Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, but social media users trolled her brutally, alleging that her care was fake.

TVK chief Vijay filed his nomination from Chennai's Perambur seat, urging voters to back his party's whistle symbol. Declaring assets worth Rs 615 crore, he attacked the ruling DMK and Chief Minister MK Stalin, promising honest governance. Vijay called for a whistle revolution.

President Donald Trump warned that if a deal is not reached and the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, key Iranian energy and desalination facilities could be targeted. He described the potential strikes as retribution for past attacks on US personnel.

(RBI) injected Rs 84,582 crore into the banking system through two variable rate repo (VRR) auctions to boost liquidity. Liquidity in the banking system currently stands at a surplus of around Rs 1.27 lakh crore.

MS Dhoni skips Chennai Super Kings' opening IPL 2026 match against Rajasthan Royals due to a calf injury sustained during pre-season. He is expected to be out for at least the first two weeks of the tournament, with the possibility of missing the entire first half.

LPG distribution continues without major disruptions, with increased domestic production and expanded delivery systems. The Centre has also urged the public to avoid misinformation and called on states to ensure accurate communication.

Normal life across Jammu and Kashmir was thrown out of gear after heavy snowfall and incessant rain affected all 20 districts, leading to the cancellation of flights at Srinagar Airport and the suspension of traffic on the JammuSrinagar National Highway.

Security forces eliminated a Pakistani terrorist affiliated with Jaish-e-Mohammad in a joint operation in the Billawar area of Kathua district, marking the first terrorist killing of 2026 in Jammu and Kashmir.

Anil Ravipudi, who is basking in on the success of Mana Shankara Varaprasad Garu, says that he will always remain indebted to his first hero Nandamuri Kalyan Ram

Ranveer Singh's Dhurandhar has made fantastic collection at the Indian box office in its seventh week, taking its 49-day domestic total collection to closer to Rs 900 crore net mark.

At least 3,688 people have lost their lives in more than 20,000 road accidents in Jammu and Kashmir over the last three and a half years, with most crashes occurring between 3 pm and 9 pm due to rash driving and speeding.

Indian Railways has achieved a major logistics milestone as the first full-length freight train carrying rice reached Anantnag Goods Terminal in south Kashmir within 24 hours of departure. The 42-BCN wagon rake operated in coordination with the Food Corporation of India.

At least 10 Army soldiers were killed and 11 others injured when an armoured vehicle carrying troops for an anti-terror operation skidded off the BhaderwahChamba interstate road and plunged into a deep gorge in Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir.

Sunny Deol's Border 2 is scheduled for grand release in 4800 cinema halls with 17,000 per day in the domestic market. The movie has record breaking advance booking for its opening day.

The trailer of directed by Vishal Bhardawaj's O Romeo starring Shahid Kapoor and Triptii Dimri has received positive response from the audience and critics. Here's a look at the early reviews.

Megastar Chiranjeevi's Mana Shankara Varaprasad Garu has crossed $4.2 million at overseas box office in 10 days. The movie has fetched a huge benefit share for its international distributors.

If Jana Nayagan is not released on 6th or 13th February, the movie might face a big delay due to impending TN Assembly election announcement by Election Commission, say the experts.

Even as Chief Minister Omar Abdullah assured relocation of SMVDIME medical students to other colleges, JKBOPEE has said it lacks the authority to conduct fresh MBBS counselling beyond the MCC schedule.

Ahead of Republic Day, Pakistan violated the ceasefire along the LoC in North Kashmir's Keran sector, prompting a strong retaliation by the Indian Army. In a major security boost, forces recovered and defused a six-kg IED in Shopian.

Haryana dominated the second day of the Khelo India Winter Games 2026 in Leh, clinching two gold medals in figure skating as the sport made its debut at the event. Ladakh thrilled home crowds by defeating ITBP 31 in an action-packed ice hockey encounter, while Haryana moved to the top of the medal standings.

A major political controversy has erupted in Jammu and Kashmir after security agencies began profiling mosques and madrasas across the Valley, seeking detailed personal and financial information from religious functionaries, a move strongly opposed by several political parties and civil leaders.

Junior NTR impressed with Dhandoraa, which he describes as a thought provoking and powerful film with outstanding performances.

MM Keeravaani says that he is honoured and privileged to have composed the music for Vande Mataram for the 26th January Republic Day Parade.

The Election Commission of India is likely to begin the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh from May, with Booth Level Officers already conducting door-to-door verification and updating voter photographs.

Gilli Nata has emerged as the winner of Bigg Boss Kannada 12. A leaked video features the actor lifting the trophy of this season, according to the reports.