The Times of India

Naga men, women, and children were abducted by suspected militants along Manipur's Ukhrul-Imphal Road, potentially escalating ethnic tensions. A Naga organization blamed Kuki militants, demanding their immediate release. The Manipur Chief Minister appealed for the unconditional release of all civilians and urged stakeholders to maintain peace.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah strongly criticized Rahul Gandhi in Lok Sabha, citing his poor attendance and foreign trips coinciding with key sessions. Shah defended Speaker Om Birla against the Opposition's removal motion, calling it unprecedented and damaging to parliamentary traditions. He highlighted Gandhi's lack of participation in crucial debates and accused the opposition of spreading misinformation.

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.