Bihar Police have arrested a 22-year-old man accused of offering to assassinate Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in exchange for money. The suspect, Aman Tiwari from Araria village in Bihar’s Buxar district, allegedly emailed the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in October 2025, claiming he could carry out the act within 22 days. He was arrested on April 8, 2026, and police seized his laptop and other electronic devices, sealing his residence.

According to Buxar Superintendent of Police Shubham Arya, Tiwari, who is unemployed, sent the email seeking payment for compromising the Prime Minister’s security. Investigators believe his motive was financial, as he demanded money in exchange for confidential information. During interrogation, Tiwari gave inconsistent statements but admitted to writing the email for monetary gain.

Police have detained two additional individuals for questioning and are examining possible links. Forensic teams are analyzing the seized devices, and no evidence has yet been found implicating Tiwari’s family members in the crime.

Legendary Indian playback singer Asha Bhosle passed away on Sunday, April 12, 2026, at Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai. She was 92 years old. Hospital sources said she had been suffering from age-related ailments for several months and was admitted on Saturday with heart and respiratory complications. Her condition worsened that night, leading to her transfer to the ICU. Her son Anand Bhosle confirmed her death, and her funeral is scheduled for Monday.

Born in 1933 into the musically renowned Mangeshkar family, Asha Bhosle began her professional singing career at the age of nine and recorded her first film song in 1943. By the 1950s, she had established herself as a major voice in Bollywood, known for her versatility and distinctive style alongside her sister Lata Mangeshkar. Over her long career, she won seven Filmfare Awards for Best Female Playback Singer and two National Film Awards.

Her death marks the end of a golden era in Indian music, leaving behind a legacy that spanned decades and genres.

Veteran Indian playback singer Asha Bhosle has been hospitalized in Mumbai after suffering a cardiac arrest. According to Indian media reports, she was admitted to Breach Candy Hospital on Saturday and is currently receiving treatment in the emergency unit. Her condition is described as critical.

Her granddaughter Zanai shared on Instagram that Asha Bhosle was admitted due to extreme fatigue and a chest infection. She requested privacy for the family and expressed hope for a positive recovery, assuring that updates would be shared in due course.

Asha Bhosle is a legendary figure in Hindi cinema, with a career spanning nearly eight decades. She has recorded songs in multiple Indian languages and received numerous honors, including the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the Padma Bhushan in 2008, and several National Film and Filmfare Awards. She was also nominated for a Grammy in 1997.

Ahead of elections in West Bengal, political tensions have risen over the issue of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s stay in India. Trinamool Congress general secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Friday sharply criticized the Narendra Modi government, asking why Hasina has been sheltered in Delhi for the past one and a half years and whether any major industrial interest is behind this decision.

Banerjee suggested that Hasina’s stay in India may not be solely for diplomatic reasons but could involve deeper economic considerations. He questioned whether the Modi government’s decision was influenced by the interests of major business groups such as Adani or Ambani. According to him, India’s involvement in Bangladesh’s internal politics and the use of Hasina as a political shield may be linked to corporate motives.

The controversy follows Hasina’s flight to India after a student-led uprising in Bangladesh. Although the Indian government initially described her stay as temporary and humanitarian, the prolonged duration has sparked domestic debate, which Banerjee has used to criticize the government’s “Neighbourhood First” policy.

India has appointed Pranay Verma, currently serving as the country's High Commissioner to Bangladesh, as its next ambassador to Belgium and the European Union. The Ministry of External Affairs announced the appointment in a statement on Friday, confirming that Verma will soon assume his new responsibilities in Brussels. His tenure in Dhaka, which began in September 2022, is now nearing completion.

Reports in Indian media had recently indicated that Verma would be transferred to Brussels, a posting that has gained importance following the signing of a trade agreement between India and the European Union on January 27. The agreement aims to expand bilateral trade in goods, services, and investments, with implementation expected by early 2027.

According to India’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the free trade agreement is designed to create a future-ready trade framework supporting emerging economic sectors. India has set an export target of 300 billion dollars, particularly focusing on engineering and manufacturing industries.

Trinamool Congress general secretary Abhishek Banerjee has sharply criticized the Indian central government for allowing former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to remain in Delhi for about one and a half years. Speaking ahead of the West Bengal elections, Banerjee questioned why Hasina continues to be sheltered in India and suggested that powerful industrial interests might be influencing the decision.

He implied that Hasina’s stay in India may not be purely diplomatic but could involve deeper economic motives. Banerjee directly asked whether major business groups such as Adani or Ambani were being protected through this arrangement. He accused the Modi government of prioritizing corporate interests over public welfare and using Hasina’s presence as a political shield in Bangladesh’s internal affairs.

Banerjee further argued that the government should focus on domestic issues like unemployment and inflation instead of hosting foreign leaders at public expense. His remarks have sparked debate over India’s foreign policy and the relationship between political power and corporate influence.

A special National Investigative Agency (NIA) court in New Delhi sentenced Kashmiri separatist leader Aasiya Andrabi to three life terms on March 24. Andrabi, 64, founded the banned all-women’s group Dukhtaran-e-Millat (DeM). Her associates Sofi Fehmeeda, 36, and Nahida Nasreen, 61, received 30-year prison terms. The three were arrested in 2018 under India’s Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and sections of the Indian Penal Code. The court dropped major terrorism charges but convicted Andrabi for provoking hostility between communities, undermining national integration, and instigating public disorder.

Legal experts and activists condemned the verdict, calling it part of a broader pattern of India’s suppression of dissent in Kashmir. They argued the conviction was based mainly on speech and ideology rather than violent acts. The court acknowledged no direct evidence of inciting violence but cited Andrabi’s statements endorsing separatist ideas. Critics, including the Kashmir Times, questioned the court’s emphasis on her lack of remorse, saying it risked punishing beliefs rather than proven crimes.

The case has reignited debate over India’s use of the UAPA, which was expanded in 2019 to allow individuals to be labeled as terrorists, and its implications for free expression in the disputed region.

India has appointed Pranay Verma, currently serving as the country's High Commissioner to Bangladesh, as its next ambassador to Belgium and the European Union. The appointment was announced by the Ministry of External Affairs on Friday, April 10, 2026. According to the official statement, Verma, an Indian Foreign Service officer from the 1994 batch, will assume his new responsibilities in Brussels soon.

Verma has been leading India’s mission in Bangladesh since September 2022. His new posting comes at a time when India’s engagement with the European Union has gained strategic importance following the signing of a bilateral trade agreement on January 27. The agreement aims to expand trade in goods, services, and investments between India and the EU and is expected to take effect in early 2027.

India’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry stated that the free trade agreement will create a future-ready trade framework to support emerging economic sectors, particularly targeting a $300 billion export goal in engineering and manufacturing.

India has expressed deep concern over the rising civilian casualties caused by ongoing Israeli attacks in Lebanon. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that the large number of civilian deaths is extremely worrying for India. He emphasized that as a country contributing troops to the United Nations peacekeeping mission UNIFIL and being involved in Lebanon’s peace and security, India views the current situation with serious concern.

Jaiswal also underscored the importance of adhering to international law and respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states. His remarks came as reports indicated that Israel launched extensive strikes in Lebanon on the same day a two-week truce, aimed at halting U.S.-Iran tensions, took effect. The attacks reportedly resulted in over a thousand civilian casualties, including at least 254 deaths, drawing condemnation from several countries.

The statement highlights India’s cautious diplomatic stance as violence escalates in the region, with global actors reacting strongly to the renewed hostilities.

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.