Stay updated for your March 21 school assembly with news on the West Asia conflict, new Indian tax rules, and major sports updates regarding IPL 2026.

NATIONAL

  • Navigational rights and freedoms of merchant and commercial vessels must be respected: India
    London: Voicing deep concern over the evolving situation in West Asia, India has called for de-escalation through dialogue while asserting that the navigational rights and freedoms of merchant and commercial vessels must be respected in accordance with international law.
  • TMC manifesto: Party promises to make Bengal gateway to trade in eastern India
    Kolkata: The Trinamool Congress on Friday promised to make West Bengal the gateway to trade in eastern India, while claiming that the state's GDP has grown sixfold during its 15-year rule.
  • People of Kerala ready for change: Rahul Gandhi
    New Delhi: People of Kerala are ready for change, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said on Friday, as he pitched for a UDF government in the state.
  • MEA confirms 6 Indians dead, 1 missing in Gulf conflict; 3 lakh repatriated since February 
    New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs confirmed on Friday that six Indian nationals have died and one remains missing across the Gulf region as the conflict in West Asia continues to disrupt the lives of expatriates.
  • Kerala can't remain reliant on remittances, lotteries, liquor: Tharoor slams LDF govt
    New Delhi: The LDF government in Kerala keeps the state reliant on remittances, lotteries, and liquor, a model that will not work anymore, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has said, as he batted for the UDF, which has been out of power in the state for a decade.
  • Power tussle in Cong reached climax, CM change inevitable: Karnataka BJP chief
    Kalaburagi (Karnataka): Karnataka BJP President B Y Vijayendra on Friday said that "power tussle and internal bickering" within the ruling Congress in the state have "reached the climax and a chief minister change is inevitable".
  • Middle East war: IEA suggests carpooling, less air travel, speed curbs to ease oil shock
    New Delhi: Reducing highway speed limits by at least 10 km/h, switching to electric cooking, avoiding air travel where alternatives are possible and increasing car sharing - these are among the recommendations made in a new report by the International Energy Agency (IEA) to ease the economic impacts on consumers from oil market disruptions stemming from the Middle East war.
  • Excise officials, GRP personnel clash in Bihar over rail station raid
    Katihar (Bihar): A team of the Excise & Prohibition Department officials and GRP personnel clashed in Katihar railway station on Friday over a raid, leaving a constable injured, officials said.
  • Bihar CM's son Nishant Kumar plans tour of all 38 Bihar districts
    Patna: A day after formally joining the JD(U), Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's son Nishant Kumar on Monday said he will embark on a statewide tour of all 38 districts of the state in the coming days.
  • NDA-constituent Bodoland People’s Front names candidates for 11 seats
    Kokrajhar (Assam): NDA constituent Bodoland People’s Front (BPF) has announced candidates for 11 seats it will be contesting in the April 9 Assam Assembly elections, which include its lone minister in the current government, besides the wife of the party chief.
  • CJI Surya Kant recuses from hearing on EC appointments law
    New Delhi: Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Friday recused himself from hearing a batch of petitions challenging the constitutional validity of a 2023 law that removed the CJI from a committee responsible for appointing the chief election commissioner and the ECs to the poll panel.
  • Premium petrol price up Rs 2, industrial diesel up Rs 22; no change in normal petrol, diesel rates
    New Delhi: The price of premium or higher-grade petrol price on Friday was increased by Rs 2 per litre while the rate of bulk diesel sold to industrial users was hiked by about Rs 22 a litre, reflecting the spike in global oil prices amid conflict in the Middle-East.
  • CBDT notifies rules for simplified income tax law, to be effective from April 1
    New Delhi: The Central Board of Direct Taxes on Friday notified the rules for Income-tax Act, 2025 which provided enhanced tax benefit for HRA to salary earner but makes disclosure of landlord-tenant relationship mandatory.
  • Cabs should accommodate wheelchairs or assistive devices of persons with disabilities: SC
    New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday emphasised the need to find ways to assist people with disabilities, and suggested that cab services should be equipped to accommodate wheelchairs and other assistive devices for them.
  • Husband has to equally participate in household chores as he is not marrying a maid: SC
    New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday said a husband has to equally participate in household chores like cooking, cleaning and washing as he is not marrying a maid but a life partner.
  • India's forex reserves drop USD 7 bn to USD 709.76 bn
    Mumbai: India's forex reserves dropped USD 7.052 billion to USD 709.759 billion during the week ended March 13, the RBI said on Friday.
  • Govt cracks down on illegal gambling, betting websites; 300 sites, apps blocked
    New Delhi: In a massive crackdown against illegal gambling and betting websites, the government has blocked 300 such websites and applications, sources said on Friday.

INTERNATIONAL

  • MRO services in India to grow to USD 5.7 billion by 2030
    Singapore: Demand for Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) services in India is expected to grow to USD 5.7 billion by 2030 from USD 4.4 billion in 2025, a 5.4 per cent growth per annum, a Singapore-based consultancy said Friday.
  • Navigational rights and freedoms of merchant and commercial vessels must be respected: India
    London: Voicing deep concern over the evolving situation in West Asia, India has called for de-escalation through dialogue while asserting that the navigational rights and freedoms of merchant and commercial vessels must be respected in accordance with international law.
  • ‘We said no’: Sri Lanka rejects US request to station missile-armed warplanes
    Colombo: President Anura Kumara Dissanayake informed Parliament on Friday that Sri Lanka denied a United States request to deploy two missile-armed warplanes to a civilian airport in the island’s south earlier this month, citing the need to safeguard national neutrality.
  • Hours after issuing fiery warning to US-Israel, Iran Guard spokesman Naini killed
    Tehran: Iran’s Revolutionary Guards confirmed on Friday that their spokesperson, Ali Mohammad Naini, was killed in US-Israel airstrikes, marking a major escalation in the ongoing Middle East conflict.

SPORTS

  • Huge blow for Chennai Super Kings as prime pacer Nathan Ellis ruled out of IPL 2026
    Chennai: Five-time champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have suffered a big blow just a week before the start of the 19th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 as their prime bowler Nathan Ellis has been ruled out of the whole tournament due to a hamstring injury.
  • Laxman Sivaramakrishnan retires from BCCI commentary; alleges 'colour discrimination' in shock exit
    Chennai: Former India leg-spinner Laxman Sivaramakrishnan announced his retirement from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) commentary panel on Friday, ending a 23-year broadcasting career while levelling explosive allegations of "colour discrimination" and systemic bias within the industry.