India’s state assembly elections began on Thursday with voting held in Assam, Kerala, and the union territory of Puducherry. Millions of voters participated in the first phase, marking the start of four key regional elections this month. The Election Commission announced that results for all five participating regions will be declared on May 4. A total of 296 seats were contested on the first day, including 126 in Assam, 140 in Kerala, and 30 in Puducherry.

The commission reported that 174 million voters are eligible across the five regions, representing about 18 percent of India’s electorate. The elections take place amid an energy shortage linked to the Middle East conflict. Assam remains under BJP control, while Puducherry is governed by a coalition including the party. However, the BJP has never formed governments in West Bengal, Kerala, or Tamil Nadu, where it faces strong regional rivals.

Opposition parties view the elections as a test of unity against the BJP’s dominance. The vote also comes amid controversy over the Special Intensive Revision process, which opposition groups allege has unfairly removed Muslim voters from rolls—an accusation denied by both the BJP and the Election Commission.

India has welcomed the two-week ceasefire between the United States, Israel, and Iran but made no mention of Pakistan’s role in facilitating the truce. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs issued a statement supporting the ceasefire and expressing hope for lasting peace in West Asia, emphasizing the importance of dialogue and diplomacy. However, the statement omitted any reference to Pakistan, which several world leaders have praised for mediating the agreement.

The omission has drawn criticism from India’s opposition parties and analysts, who described it as a diplomatic setback. Congress leader Rashid Alvi said Pakistan’s role should have been India’s, while former foreign secretary Nirupama Menon Rao urged India to clarify its position and support de-escalation without aligning with any side. Analysts such as Ashok Swain and Abhinav Singh argued that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s attempt to isolate Pakistan has instead left India diplomatically sidelined.

Commentators noted that Pakistan’s mediation has enhanced its global standing, while India’s silence has raised questions about its regional influence and foreign policy direction.

Former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, sentenced to death for crimes against humanity, has refused India’s proposal to move to a third country such as Qatar. She fled to India on August 5, 2024, following a nationwide uprising that forced her from power and has remained in Delhi since then. Despite repeated requests from the Bangladeshi government for her repatriation, New Delhi has declined, creating a diplomatic dilemma for the Modi administration.

Analysts note that India’s stance has become contradictory. While the government publicly campaigns against illegal immigration from Bangladesh, it continues to shelter Hasina and other former Bangladeshi leaders who entered without proper documentation. This inconsistency, they argue, undermines India’s credibility both domestically and in its relations with Dhaka.

Diplomatic sources suggest India initially sought to reorganize Bangladesh’s Awami League leadership through intermediaries but failed due to Hasina’s firm refusal to cooperate. Observers believe her continued stay has turned into a political burden for India, complicating its efforts to balance regional diplomacy and internal policy narratives.

Farmers in India’s Punjab state are expressing deep concern over a looming fertilizer shortage that could threaten crop yields. The disruption stems from the Iran–US conflict that began after a joint American–Israeli strike on Iran on February 28, leading Tehran to close the Strait of Hormuz. The closure has disrupted global energy supplies, creating a gas shortage that has forced India to cut gas supply to fertilizer plants by 30 percent.

Agriculture experts warn that the conflict is already straining India’s fertilizer supply chain, particularly for urea, a nitrogen-based fertilizer central to the country’s farming. Although most urea is domestically produced, its production depends on imported natural gas. Farmers in Punjab, Haryana, and other key grain-producing states fear that shortages during the upcoming kharif season could reduce yields of rice and cotton. The government insists that fertilizer plants are operating normally and that buffer stocks are higher than last year.

Despite official assurances, anxiety persists among small farmers already burdened by debt and losses. Observers note that prolonged supply disruptions could mirror Sri Lanka’s past fertilizer crisis, which severely affected its agriculture sector.

India has confirmed that crude oil supplies from Iran remain uninterrupted despite escalating instability in the Middle East. The country's Ministry of Petroleum stated that domestic refineries continue to meet their crude oil requirements without disruption, including imports from Iran. The ministry also clarified that there are no payment difficulties related to Iranian oil transactions, dismissing circulating rumors as baseless.

The statement, released on social media platform X, emphasized that Indian refineries have ensured a steady supply of crude oil to maintain national energy stability. This assurance comes amid growing regional tensions that have raised concerns about potential disruptions in global energy flows.

According to the ministry, maintaining stable energy supplies is part of India’s broader strategy to safeguard its fuel security amid geopolitical uncertainties in the Middle East.

Indian Premier League (IPL) chairman Arun Dhumal has admitted a mistake and expressed regret over the exclusion of Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman from Kolkata Knight Riders in the ongoing IPL season. Mustafizur was initially signed for 92 million rupees in the mini auction but was dropped from the squad before the tournament began following a directive from the Indian cricket board citing security concerns.

In an interview with the Financial Times, Dhumal described the situation as unfortunate and said he had limited knowledge of the details. He added that government interference in cricket operations was unnecessary, though sometimes external circumstances influenced decisions. Dhumal expressed hope that reason and fairness would prevail in the future to prevent similar incidents.

Following the decision, the Bangladesh Cricket Board and the government expressed concern over player safety, leading Bangladesh to withdraw from the subsequent World Cup. Mustafizur is currently playing in the Pakistan Super League for Lahore Qalandars under a direct contract worth 64.4 million rupees.

India is facing a worsening currency crisis as the rupee continues to weaken amid the ongoing Iran war and surging oil prices. The rupee, which fell 5 percent in 2025, has already lost another 5.5 percent since January 2026, making it Asia’s worst-performing currency. Analysts warn that if the conflict persists, the rupee could fall to between 95 and 100 per US dollar. The Reserve Bank of India has been selling large amounts of dollars to stabilize the currency, but results remain limited.

High oil prices, now above 100 dollars per barrel, have increased India’s monthly import bill by about 5 billion dollars. Economists say the pressure on the rupee could become a major political challenge for the Modi government. The situation has also affected banking stocks, with State Bank of India shares dropping 4 percent. Officials maintain that foreign reserves are sufficient for 11 months of imports, but analysts caution that sustainability depends on global energy and geopolitical conditions.

Experts note that structural weaknesses, including a persistent trade deficit and limited manufacturing growth, have amplified the impact of the crisis, highlighting the gap between government rhetoric and economic reality.

Several members of Mir Jafar’s family in Murshidabad district, West Bengal, have reportedly been removed from India’s voter list. The issue emerged during the special summary revision process ahead of the upcoming state assembly elections, sparking widespread attention across the state. According to reports, the names of more than a hundred members of the Nawab family were deleted, raising uncertainty over their right to vote.

Family members said they received hearing notices from the Election Commission and submitted the required documents. However, they claimed that most names were permanently excluded even after the hearings. The affected individuals live in the Killa Nizamat area of Murshidabad, where Mir Jafar’s descendants have resided for generations.

The incident has drawn attention because of the family’s historical significance. Mir Jafar became the Nawab of Bengal after the Battle of Plassey in 1757 with British support, and his 15th-generation descendant, Reza Ali Mirza, currently lives in the same area.

India is renewing its strategic partnership with Russia as the Iran war disrupts global energy and diplomatic alignments. On March 27, the Modi government approved a $25 billion purchase of Russian defense equipment, including fighter jets, S-400 air defense systems, drones, and anti-tank munitions. This move follows India’s earlier $40 billion arms deal with France and comes as energy security becomes a central concern due to disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.

The conflict in Iran has severely affected global energy flows, raising prices and exposing India’s vulnerability as much of its oil and gas imports pass through the Gulf. India’s earlier decision to reduce discounted Russian oil purchases under U.S. pressure has intensified domestic inflation and energy costs. Analysts see India’s renewed engagement with Moscow as a pragmatic shift prioritizing energy stability over alliance politics.

While the move risks straining relations with Washington and potential sanctions, it underscores India’s long-standing strategy of maintaining autonomy between major powers. For Russia, deepening ties with India offers an economic lifeline as Asian markets replace Europe in its energy exports.

Two LPG tankers carrying about 94,000 metric tons of liquefied petroleum gas have successfully crossed the Hormuz Strait and are now heading toward India, according to the country's petroleum ministry as reported by Al Jazeera. The vessels, flying the Indian flag, are expected to arrive at Mumbai port later this week, marking them among the latest ships to navigate the narrow maritime passage.

Ship tracking data from LSEG indicated that as of Friday, a total of four LPG tankers had already passed through the strait, while three more were positioned in its western section. Official figures also show that 18 Indian-flagged vessels and 485 Indian sailors remain stranded in the western Gulf region.

India, the world’s second-largest LPG importer, consumed 33.15 million tons of LPG last year. Around 60 percent of its total demand is met through imports, with nearly 90 percent of that supply originating from the Middle East.

A severe energy shortage triggered by the Middle East war has forced the shutdown of India’s $6.5 billion ceramic production hub in Morbi, Gujarat. The once-bustling factories now stand idle, with only a few workers loading the last shipment produced three weeks ago. The disruption stems from the Iran war and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which has halted gas supplies critical to ceramic manufacturing.

According to the local producers’ association, most factories in Morbi, which accounts for about 80 percent of India’s ceramic output, have been closed for nearly a month due to the gas crisis. The industry, valued at around $8.1 billion, employs roughly 400,000 workers who are now affected. Factory owners report that both propane and natural gas supplies have dwindled, forcing them to suspend operations.

Advisers to the Morbi Ceramic Manufacturers Association said about 550 factories have stopped production, with only a few operating where gas is still available. The shutdown is expected to continue until April 15, raising concerns of domestic shortages as inventories decline from April onward.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been accused of promoting several women to ministerial positions in exchange for sexual favors, according to BJP leader Subramanian Swamy. The allegation surfaced during a recent podcast where Swamy referenced the case of Jeffrey Epstein and suggested that India should investigate powerful figures within the country. He called for a thorough inquiry into the matter.

Following Swamy’s remarks, Hindutva writer Madhu Purnima Kishwar echoed similar claims in a social media post. She alleged that some women MPs were appointed ministers based on personal relationships with the Prime Minister and mentioned ministers Hardeep Singh Puri, S. Jaishankar, and former education minister Smriti Irani in suggestive comments. Kishwar also claimed to have heard controversial stories about Modi’s personal life during a 2014 foreign trip.

Kishwar, once known as a supporter of Modi and the Hindutva ideology, has drawn attention for her sudden change in stance. However, neither Swamy nor Kishwar has provided evidence to support their claims, and the Prime Minister’s Office has not issued any official response.

Seven people were killed and five others injured in a series of avalanches that struck the Srinagar-Leh National Highway in Jammu and Kashmir on Friday. The incidents occurred between Zero Point and Minimarg, where several vehicles were buried under snow and debris. The casualties were reported as rescue efforts continued in the affected area.

India’s federal minister and Jammu and Kashmir BJP leader Jitendra Singh confirmed the deaths and injuries in a post on social media platform X. He also expressed condolences to the families of the victims. The avalanches disrupted traffic and caused significant damage along the highway, a key route connecting Srinagar with Leh.

Authorities are monitoring the situation as weather conditions remain unstable in the region, raising concerns about further avalanches and travel disruptions.

Amid an energy crisis caused by the ongoing Iran war, speculation spread on social media that India might impose a new lockdown. However, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government dismissed these rumors on Friday. Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri stated that no lockdown proposal is under consideration and urged the public not to spread misinformation during this sensitive global period.

The speculation intensified after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent parliamentary speech, where he mentioned preparations due to disruptions in energy supply and international markets. Officials clarified that Modi did not refer to any lockdown or movement restrictions. Government representatives described the panic as irresponsible and warned that false claims could cause unnecessary fear and disrupt daily life.

Puri added that the government is closely monitoring energy and power supply conditions, prioritizing stability and continuity over restrictions. Rising tensions near the Strait of Hormuz have strained global crude oil and energy markets, leading to confusion linking the current situation with India’s 2020 COVID-19 lockdown experience.

Public protests have intensified across West Bengal over the ongoing voter list revision process, with many citizens alleging wrongful exclusion of their names. The final list, published on February 28, 2026, marked around six million names as 'under consideration' under judicial supervision. The Election Commission has since released an additional list on Monday and plans to publish a second supplementary list on Friday.

In Kolkata’s Dharmatala area, several civic and human rights groups organized a public meeting on Friday to protest the exclusions. Among those affected is Afroza Khatun, a college professor whose name remains under review, raising concerns about her right to vote. Human rights activist Ranjit Shur warned that those whose names are omitted could face broader loss of citizenship rights.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed anger over the process, alleging that names are being selectively removed despite the adjudication continuing for an extended period.