Here is a roundup of today’s important news headlines, covering significant political updates, economic developments, law enforcement actions, and international events.

NATIONAL NEWS

Congress to bring in law to protect infiltrators in Assam, if it comes to power: PM

Gogamukh/Behali (Assam): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday alleged that the Congress, if it comes to power in Assam, will bring in a law to protect infiltrators, which the BJP and its allies will not allow.

Amended bill on rights of transgender persons gets Presidential assent

New Delhi: An amendment bill which provides graded punishment for bodily harm to transgender persons has received the assent of President Draupadi Murmu.

Be cautious while filing nominations, new officers may reject them: Mamata to TMC nominees

Kolkata: Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday alleged that newly appointed officials by the Election Commission were entrusted to reject nominations of her party candidates and urged them to be cautious while filing their nominations.

Blast outside BJP office in Chandigarh; NIA rushed, no casualties

Chandigarh: A blast outside the Punjab BJP headquarters here Wednesday evening sent people panicking, with police saying a "crude" device appeared to have been hurled. No casualties were reported.

Indian Navy was minutes away from striking Pak from sea during Op Sindoor: Admiral Tripathi

Mumbai: The Indian Navy was minutes away from striking Pakistan from the sea during Operation Sindoor when Islamabad requested stoppage of kinetic actions, Navy chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi said on Wednesday.

As BJP and Oppn spar, debate on FCRA amendment bill in LS deferred

New Delhi/Alappuzha: A discussion in the Lok Sabha on a bill to amend the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) scheduled for Wednesday was deferred amid a political slugfest, with the opposition alleging that the new measures could curb minority rights and tighten government control over NGOs

Priyanka Gandhi slams Himanta, says one family looting Assam

Nazira/Tingkhong (Assam): Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday slammed Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and alleged that "only one family is looting" everything in the resource-rich state, while the people "don't have anything".

Stalin accuses BJP of ''plotting'' to create violence in TN, similar to ''riots seen in UP, Manipur''

Tiruchirappalli (Tamil Nadu): Chief Minister MK Stalin on Wednesday accused the BJP of conspiring to carry out violence in Tamil Nadu, allegedly on the lines of Uttar Pradesh and Manipur and asserted that it was outmanoeuvred.

FCRA amendment sparks row; Oppn flags minority rights concerns, BJP cites national security

New Delhi: The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, saw a sharp political divide on Wednesday, with the BJP defending the move as necessary for national security and transparency, while the Opposition alleged it will curb minority rights and tighten government control over NGOs.

Lok Sabha passes bill to recognise Amaravati as sole and permanent capital of Andhra Pradesh

New Delhi: A bill seeking to recognise Amaravati as the sole and permanent capital of Andhra Pradesh was passed by the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, with the opposition Congress also supporting it along with the NDA.

BJP's Nishikant Dubey apologises for remarks on Biju Patnaik, PM hails ex-Odisha CM

Bhubaneswar: BJP MP Nishikant Dubey on Wednesday tendered an unconditional apology for his claim that former Odisha chief minister Biju Patnaik was the link between Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and the CIA during the war against China in the 1960s

'NDA will not hesitate to change TN's name as Dakshina Pradesh,' alleges Stalin

Tiruchirappalli: DMK President and Chief Minister M K Stalin on Wednesday alleged that if the NDA assumed power in the state, they will not hesitate to even change Tamil Nadu's name into Dakshina Pradesh.

SIR in West Bengal: 47 lakh objections resolved; SC sets Apr 7 deadline for completion

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday expressed optimism over the progress of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal, noting that approximately 47.4 lakh objections out of a total of 60 lakh have been disposed of as on March 31.

SC stays trial court proceedings against TN minister Durai Murugan in disproportionate-assets case

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday stayed trial-court proceedings against Tamil Nadu minister and DMK general secretary Durai Murugan in a disproportionate-assets case.

ATF hike for domestic airlines limited to 8.5%; commercial LPG, premium petrol prices rise

New Delhi: Aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices for domestic airlines were raised by a calibrated 8.5 per cent on Wednesday, instead of more than doubling as warranted by a war-driven surge in global oil prices, even as rates for commercial LPG and premium petrol were also increased amid firm energy trends.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

USCIS completes H-1B cap selection process for FY 2027

Washington: The US Citizenship and Immigration Services said it has met the annual quota of 85,000 H-1B cap beneficiaries for FY-2027 and completed the regular and advanced-degree selection lotteries.

Israeli defence firm supplies first batch of light machine guns to India

Jerusalem: A leading Israeli small arms manufacturer has delivered the first batch of light machine guns (LMGs) to India under the 'Make in India' initiative with technology transfer.