The Allahabad High Court allows whitewashing and decorative lighting of Sambhal Jama Masjid’s exterior, with no structural changes. ASI is tasked with inspecting the site and reporting the necessity of these changes. The court has scheduled the next hearing for April 8.
BJP MLA Haribhushan Thakur criticized Darbhanga mayor Anjum Ara for her Holi advisory, calling it a display of ‘terrorist mentality’. Ara requested a two-hour break in Holi festivities to coincide with Friday prayers during Ramzan. Thakur insists Holi celebrations will proceed uninterrupted, warning of strict actions against any disruptions.
The Delhi high court has issued a notice to the NIA regarding a plea by jailed J&K MP Engineer Rashid to attend the ongoing Parliament session. Rashid, arrested in 2019 on terror funding charges, seeks permission to fulfill his legislative duties. The court had earlier rejected his custody parole request, with a bail decision expected soon.
Maharashtra minister Nitesh Rane supports Malhar certification as an alternative to halal mutton for Hindus, claiming it aligns with Hindu practices. His comments received criticism from Congress MLA Nana Patole, who called for the Chief Minister to take action. BJP MLA Sanjay Upadhyay backed Rane, citing health concerns about halal practices. The initiative aims to promote Hindu-owned mutton shops.
The Supreme Court emphasized that north-eastern states must ensure diverse and inclusive representation in public services. It upheld the 2016 BJP government’s decision to cancel the interview-based recruitment process initiated by the previous Congress government in Assam due to irregularities and lack of representation from 16 districts.
The Indian embassy in the United States has issued a warning about fraud calls from scammers pretending to be from the embassy. These callers claim there are errors in passports or visa forms, demanding money for corrections and threatening deportation or imprisonment. The embassy advises the public to ignore these calls and not to share personal information or transfer money.
US Vice President JD Vance, along with his wife Usha Vance, will visit India later this month. This marks Vance’s second international trip after criticizing European leaders at the Munich Security Conference. Usha Vance, of Indian origin with a strong legal background, brings cultural significance to the visit.
In recent years, the Jaffar Express has faced multiple attacks by Baloch rebels and TTP, causing numerous casualties. These attacks highlight the ongoing insurgency in Balochistan and the rising use of suicide bombings by BLA, particularly targeting Chinese nationals and Pakistani forces. The increased frequency and intensity of these attacks pose significant challenges for the Pakistani government.
Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman accused DMK of hypocrisy regarding the Tamil language controversy while defending her colleague. The Lok Sabha passed supplementary demands for grants, including Rs 51,463 crore additional spending. She assured financial support for Manipur’s economic development and criticized TMC’s Kriti Azad for not addressing corruption issues in West Bengal.
Home Minister Amit Shah has announced an investment of Rs 2.5 lakh crore in the NorthEast, aiming to prevent youth migration for employment within the next 10 years. The Modi government has significantly increased the region’s budget and improved infrastructure, resulting in a 70% reduction in violent incidents and the surrender of 10,500 insurgents.
India ranked as the fifth most polluted country worldwide in 2024, with Byrnihat in Meghalaya being the most polluted metropolitan area globally. High pollution levels are linked to rapid industrialisation and unregulated emissions. Despite some improvement, Delhi remains the most polluted capital, and India’s cities continue to exceed WHO PM2.5 guidelines.