South Korean President Lee Jae-myung received a red-carpet welcome in New Delhi as he began his state visit to India. On Monday, he held key talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi focusing on shipbuilding and artificial intelligence (AI) as major agenda items. The meeting also included discussions on trade, investment, semiconductors, and emerging technologies, according to India’s Ministry of External Affairs.

In a social media statement, President Lee said that amid global economic instability and supply chain disruptions following conflicts in the Middle East, South Korea and India are becoming vital strategic partners for each other. Ahead of the visit, South Korea’s National Security Advisor Wi Sung-lak noted that the two leaders would also discuss maintaining regional peace, including on the Korean Peninsula.

The two countries are working to strengthen their 2010 economic partnership agreement. Bilateral trade has grown from 14.2 billion to 26.89 billion dollars in the 2024–25 fiscal year, marking nearly a 90 percent increase.

The Narendra Modi government faced a major setback in the Lok Sabha on April 18, 2026, as it failed to secure passage of the constitutional amendment bill aimed at increasing the number of seats and implementing women’s reservation. The proposed amendment required a two-thirds majority in the lower house, but the ruling NDA alliance managed only 298 votes in favor against 230 votes opposed. Following the defeat, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju announced that the government would not proceed with the remaining two amendment bills.

The debate in Parliament centered on the 33 percent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, as well as the delimitation of constituencies. Home Minister Amit Shah responded to opposition members before the voting took place. During the session, the government unexpectedly implemented the women’s reservation law passed about two and a half years earlier, effective from April 16, 2026.

The defeated 131st Constitutional Amendment Bill had proposed that women’s reservation be enforced based on the redrawing of electoral boundaries, linking the reform to future delimitation exercises.

An Indian commercial vessel named Sanmar Herald came under attack while crossing the Strait of Hormuz, according to a senior Indian government source cited by Reuters on Saturday. The ship, which was carrying crude oil, was fired upon by two gunboats belonging to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard. Despite the assault, all crew members and the vessel were reported safe.

The incident forced the Sanmar Herald and at least one other Indian ship, including a supertanker carrying about two million barrels of Iraqi oil, to alter their routes and return. The attack occurred shortly after Iran reimposed restrictions and sanctions on the vital waterway amid heightened tensions with the United States.

In response, New Delhi summoned Iranian Ambassador Mohammad Fatali to lodge a strong protest and demanded assurances for the safety of Indian vessels navigating international sea routes.

The Indian Income Tax Department conducted a raid on the home and campaign office of Trinamool Congress candidate Debashis Kumar in the Rashbehari constituency of West Bengal. The operation began on Friday morning, just days before the state assembly elections. Searches were also carried out at his mother-in-law’s flat. The raids drew a crowd of Trinamool workers and supporters outside Kumar’s residence.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee criticized the action, alleging that authorities were targeting Trinamool offices while ignoring illegal money operations elsewhere. The reason for the raid has not yet been clarified. Recently, the Enforcement Directorate had summoned Debashis Kumar in connection with a land fraud case.

Debashis Kumar is contesting against BJP candidate Swapan Dasgupta in the Rashbehari seat, where the BJP expects a strong performance. The timing of the raid, so close to the election, has added political tension in the constituency.

A new political controversy has emerged in West Bengal ahead of the upcoming state elections after Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma declared that beef consumption would be prohibited if the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) comes to power in the state. Speaking at an election rally in Cooch Behar, Sarma said that while other meats would remain allowed, beef eating would not be permitted under a BJP government. His remarks have sparked strong reactions across the political spectrum.

The ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) has long accused the BJP of intending to interfere with Bengal’s food culture, warning that the party’s vegetarian image could lead to restrictions on local dietary traditions. Sarma countered that TMC was spreading confusion, noting that in Assam, where the BJP has governed for years, there is no general ban on meat consumption. He emphasized that the proposed restriction would apply only to beef and cattle smuggling, citing Hindu religious beliefs that regard cows as sacred.

Political analysts suggest the statement reflects a strategy to appeal to religious sentiments without directly confronting Bengal’s non-vegetarian culture, making food habits a key election issue alongside development and employment.

The Indian government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi failed to secure parliamentary approval for the 131st Constitutional Amendment Bill, which sought to expand Lok Sabha seats and introduce women's reservation. The bill received 298 votes in favor and 230 against, falling short of the required two-thirds majority. The vote took place on Friday during a special parliamentary session that began on Thursday. Following the bill’s failure, the government did not proceed with two other planned bills on delimitation and union territory law amendments.

Opposition parties under the INDIA alliance opposed the bill, arguing that the government was using women’s reservation as a pretext to increase parliamentary seats and consolidate power. They claimed the move aimed to favor northern states where the ruling party holds greater influence, potentially reducing southern states’ representation. Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah assured that southern states would not be disadvantaged and urged lawmakers to view the bill as a matter of national interest.

The defeat marks a setback for the government’s legislative agenda, particularly after the 2023 passage of the Women’s Reservation Act, which had tied seat reallocation to the next census.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs has confirmed that it is reviewing Bangladesh’s request to extradite former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who has been residing in New Delhi since leaving Dhaka on August 5, 2024. Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated at a weekly press briefing in New Delhi on Friday that the request is being examined as part of ongoing judicial and internal legal processes, and that India will continue constructive discussions with all concerned parties.

The statement follows Bangladeshi Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman’s visit to India on April 8, during which he met Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval. Rahman later told reporters that Bangladesh had reiterated its earlier request for Hasina’s return under the existing extradition treaty but declined to disclose further details for strategic reasons. Jaiswal emphasized that both sides agreed to explore proposals to deepen bilateral cooperation and that follow-up meetings between officials are expected soon.

The discussions also covered regional and global issues of mutual interest, reflecting both governments’ intent to strengthen ties under Bangladesh’s new administration.

A large-scale citizenship and voter registration crisis has emerged in India’s West Bengal, where many Muslim residents report being excluded from the electoral rolls following the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. Families such as that of Aminul Islam in Murshidabad have lost voting rights despite presenting valid documents, leading to fears of statelessness and social exclusion. Reports indicate that around 9.2 million people have been removed or placed under adjudication, with Muslims disproportionately affected.

Data from the Shabar Institute and Alt News suggest that 60 percent of those excluded are Muslim, far exceeding their population share. In constituencies like Nandigram and Bhabanipur, Muslim voters have been disproportionately disenfranchised. Human rights concerns are rising as residents in border districts such as Malda and Murshidabad face harassment, surveillance, and intimidation by security agencies, drawing comparisons to Kashmir.

Observers warn that the exclusion could trigger forced displacement toward Bangladesh, with both BSF and BGB reporting incidents of attempted pushbacks. Rights groups fear the situation may escalate into a regional humanitarian and security crisis affecting South Asia’s stability.

Indian Home Minister Amit Shah stated that there is no question of granting any reservation based on religion. He made the remark on Thursday, April 16, while presenting the Women’s Reservation Bill, the Delimitation Bill, and amendments to Union Territory laws in Parliament. Shah emphasized that the Indian Constitution does not permit religion-based reservations and reaffirmed the government’s position that providing such benefits to Muslims would be unconstitutional.

Following his statement, Samajwadi Party leader and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav asked whether Muslim women would be included under the proposed reservation framework. In response, Shah said that the Samajwadi Party could nominate Muslim women candidates if it wished, and the government would have no objection. During the discussion, Shah also mentioned that the government’s work on the national census is ongoing and that a caste-based count has been decided.

The remarks, reported by The Times of India, underline the government’s firm stance on constitutional limits regarding religion-based quotas and its ongoing demographic initiatives.

Indian Home Minister Amit Shah said that if the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) wins the upcoming West Bengal assembly election, no structure resembling the Babri Mosque will be allowed to be built in the state. Speaking at a rally in Gangarampur, South Dinajpur, on Tuesday, Shah accused Humayun Kabir, founder of the Aam Janata Unnayan Party, of announcing plans to build such a mosque in Murshidabad at the behest of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. He asserted that the BJP’s rise to power would prevent such plans from materializing.

Shah also criticized Banerjee for allegedly opposing the removal of illegal immigrants from the voter list during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. He pledged that a BJP government would expel all illegal immigrants and strengthen border security by allocating 600 acres of land for fencing within 45 days of taking office. Additionally, he promised to build cold storage facilities in every block of Malda district to support farmers.

The West Bengal assembly elections are scheduled for April 23 and 29, with results to be announced on May 4, amid a high-stakes contest between the ruling Trinamool Congress and the BJP.

On March 21, during Eid-ul-Fitr, many residents of Indian-administered Kashmir took part in a humanitarian initiative to support civilians affected by war in Iran. People donated gold jewelry, cash, household items, and personal belongings. In Budgam, 55-year-old Masrat Mukhtar gave away her father’s gifted earrings on her birthday, while others contributed copper utensils, livestock, bicycles, and savings. Children also broke their piggy banks to join the effort.

The gesture reflects Kashmir’s long-standing cultural and historical ties with Iran, dating back to the arrival of Sufi saint Mir Syed Ali Hamadani from Persia six centuries ago. This connection has earned Kashmir the nickname “Iran-e-Saghir” or “Little Iran.” Around 10 to 15 percent of Kashmir’s population are Shia Muslims, but the donations came from both Shia and Sunni families, many of whom reduced Eid expenses to contribute.

Local sources estimate that about 600 crore rupees (around 64 million dollars) have been collected so far. Indian authorities have expressed concern about possible misuse of unverified funds and emphasized transparency, while organizers insist the campaign is purely humanitarian and aimed at helping Iranian civilians.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has proposed a constitutional amendment to expand the Lok Sabha from 543 to 850 seats, making it the world’s largest democratically elected lower house. The plan also includes reserving one-third of the seats for women. Three draft bills were introduced to parliament on Tuesday, and a special session was scheduled to begin on April 16 to discuss them. Modi said stronger female voices in the legislature would strengthen democracy.

Women’s rights leader Ranjana Kumari welcomed the move as long overdue, noting that women currently hold only 13 percent of seats. However, critics argue that the redistricting would benefit Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) by increasing representation in northern states where it dominates, while reducing seats in opposition-controlled southern states. Opposition leaders said they support women’s quotas but oppose the seat redistribution.

The amendment requires a two-thirds majority to pass. The government aims to implement the women’s reservation law before the 2029 general election using 2011 census data, though opposition figures warn that the delimitation could unfairly shift political power among states.

India is planning to host a foreign ministers’ meeting of the Quad alliance after its 2025 rotating presidency ends, as no leaders’ summit has been scheduled. Multiple sources said New Delhi intends to present the meeting as a high-level discussion despite the absence of top leaders, including the U.S. president. The move comes amid growing unease in Indo-Pacific diplomacy, particularly in the context of India-China relations.

Analysts view this as an attempt by India to ease diplomatic discomfort, since organizing a full Quad summit without U.S. President Donald Trump has become difficult. Reports suggest Trump is seeking warmer ties with Chinese President Xi Jinping, adding to the complexity. Washington-based expert Sourabh Gupta criticized the initiative, calling it ineffective and likening it to “putting lipstick on a pig.”

The Quad, comprising India, the United States, Japan, and Australia, was revived in 2017 to counter China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific. Analysts believe India’s current approach could raise new questions about the alliance’s unity and effectiveness in the future.

India’s bond market has come under pressure as new restrictions on foreign exchange transactions have made it more expensive and complicated for foreign investors to hedge against rupee fluctuations. The Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) measures, aimed at stabilizing the rupee, include limits on arbitrage trading, which have reduced currency pressure but increased hedging costs in both onshore and offshore markets. Onshore one-year hedging costs have risen by about 30 basis points, while offshore non-deliverable forward (NDF) costs have surged by around 70 basis points, reaching their highest level in over 12 years.

Portfolio managers say these higher costs are eroding nearly all returns from Indian government bonds, discouraging foreign participation. The situation has been worsened by the Middle East war, which has driven up global oil prices and added strain to India’s economy, heavily dependent on imported oil. Since the conflict began on February 28, foreign investors have sold about $2.26 billion worth of Indian government bonds, with outflows accelerating after the RBI’s currency restrictions.

Analysts suggest investor sentiment may remain weak even if oil prices fall, as concerns over rupee stability persist and higher yields may be needed to attract capital back.

At least 11 workers were killed and 22 others injured in a boiler explosion at a thermal power plant in Chhattisgarh, India. The incident occurred on Tuesday afternoon at Vedanta Limited’s facility in Singhitarai village of Shakti district. Local authorities and law enforcement agencies launched a rescue operation soon after the explosion, and the injured were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment.

Police suspect that several workers may still be trapped inside the boiler room, raising fears that the death toll could rise further. District Superintendent of Police Prafulla Thakur confirmed that four workers died at the scene, while seven others succumbed to injuries in hospital. State Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai described the incident as tragic, assuring government support for the victims’ families and ordering an investigation to determine the cause and hold those responsible accountable.

Vedanta Limited stated that the boiler room was not directly under its control and was operated by subcontractor NTPC GE Power Services Limited. The company pledged assistance for affected families and promised full medical care for the injured.