IBTimes
Elections 2026Top News / IBTimes
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.
Sonam Kapoor and Anand Ahuja got married in 2018 and welcomed their first child, Vayu, in August 2022. The couple welcomed their second son on March 29, 2026.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his Mann Ki Baat address, lauded the Jammu and Kashmir cricket team for scripting history by winning their maiden Ranji Trophy title. He highlighted the team's perseverance, praised captain Paras Dogra and bowler Aaqib Nabi.
It was a star-studded night at Mohit Kamboj's daughter Mishka Kamboj's birthday party, attended by Anant Ambani, Radhika Merchant, Shah Rukh Khan, Ranveer Singh, Preity Zinta, and Sanjay Dutt, among others.
Despite global challenges, LPG supply remains stable, with over 54 lakh refills delivered and no reported shortages. The government has increased monitoring through Delivery Authentication Codes (DAC) and conducted raids to curb black marketing.
The incident adds to a series of recent road accidents across Afghanistan, including fatal crashes in Jawzjan, Baghlan, and Badakhshan provinces. Officials continue to urge adherence to traffic rules as accidents remain frequent due to poor road conditions, reckless driving, and limited infrastructure.
Equipped with advanced manufacturing, testing, and precision facilities, the hub has an annual production capacity of up to 100,000 weapons, with over 90% domestic sourcing. Supported by Adani Defence's Kanpur ammunition complex, the initiative strengthens India's defence manufacturing ecosystem, reduces reliance on imports
Domestic LPG production has been increased, with full supplies prioritized for domestic PNG and CNG transport, while industrial and commercial users receive 80% of average consumption. Around 2,900 raids have been conducted to curb hoarding and black marketing, with over 1,700 cylinders seized.
India Gate in New Delhi will go dark on Saturday from 8:30p.m. to 9:30p.m. IST as part of Earth Hour 2026, a global initiative promoting climate awareness and environmental sustainability. Marking the 20th anniversary of the movement, this year's theme is Give an Hour for Earth. Organised by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF),
Trump emphasized that unlike other politicians, he does not have questions screened beforehand and encouraged attendees to ask anything. His speech also highlighted U.S. military actions against Iran, claiming that Operation Epic Fury has weakened the regime.
Aneet Padda's sister, Reet Padda, went viral for calling films like Dhurandhar, The Kerala Story, and The Kashmir Files propaganda in a social media post. Her comments sparked backlash online, with netizens criticising both Reet and Aneet for the statements.
The J&K government has retrieved over 3,700 kanals of land belonging to displaced Kashmiri Pandits across the Kashmir Valley, much of which was under encroachment. Acting on thousands of complaints, authorities launched a large-scale drive under the Migrant Immovable Property Act, with most cases already resolved.
Toxic substances were detected in samples, but no link to viral outbreak; SIT and central teams continue probe as cause of deaths remains unknown.
Elon Musk joined a PM Narendra Modi-US President Donald Trump call on the Iran war, an unusual move for a private citizen during wartime diplomacy, raising questions about protocol, influence and the billionaire's growing geopolitical footprint.
The simultaneity of conflicts in Iran, Ukraine, and adjacent regions marks a structural inflection point in global geopolitics, signaling a shift from traditional warfare and stable globalisation toward persistent, multi-domain contestation. Modern conflict now integrates military, economic, and technological dimensions, collapsing old distinctions between war, commerce, strategy, and supply chains.
The airport is set to serve as a key international gateway for the Delhi-NCR region, complementing Indira Gandhi International Airport and helping reduce congestion while enhancing passenger capacity and global connectivity. Initially, it will handle 12 million passengers annually, with expansion potential up to 70 million.
This marks at least his third major car accident since 2021, when he suffered severe injuries. The arrest sparked widespread concern in the golf community and reactions on social media, with users sharing memes and sarcastic remarks about the incident.
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.

32 C