UAE Launches Probe Into Attack

The UAE did not directly blame any particular country, nor has any particular group taken responsibility for the attack. Investigation to find out the origin of drones is ongoing. The Defence Ministry said that two drones were intercepted and another struck an electrical generator near the nuclear power plant, the ministry added it was from the 'western border' without further explanation of where this was. According to Abu Dhabi Media Office the electrical generator was located outside the nuclear power plant's protected inner area.

IAEA Reports Safe Radiation Levels

The International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed the drone hit the facility with one of its reactors switching over to emergency generators.

"Military activity that threatens nuclear safety is unacceptable. The IAEA has been informed by the UAE that radiation levels at the Barakah NPP (nuclear power plant) remain normal and no injuries were reported," the agency said.

Barakah Is Arab World’s First Plant

Built by the UAE with the aid of South Korea at $20 billion, the Barakah nuclear power plant went live in 2020 and is the first and only nuclear power plant on the Arabian peninsula. The nuclear power plant can supply electricity for up to a quarter of the UAE's energy demands. 

It is the first commercial nuclear power plant within the Arab world and is located 200km to the west of the capital Abu Dhabi near the borders of Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

Peace Talks Fail To Ease Crisis

This latest drone strike occurred while negotiations continue to try and broker a lasting peace in Iran, with America urging Iran to roll back its nuclear program and ease pressure on shipping lanes around the Strait of Hormuz and Iran calling for reparations for damage from war and an end to pressure from America's ports. US president Donald Trump has declared further military action a distinct possibility should the war continue on its current trajectory.

UAE Faces Repeated Drone Attacks

Since joint US-Israeli attacks on Iran occurred on Feb 28, Iran has made repeated strikes targeting the UAE and other countries bordering the Persian Gulf which host US bases, causing casualties among civilians and on energy infrastructure. 

Targets hit on the UAE, which intensified throughout this month, came following the launch of the US naval initiative to secure the Strait of Hormuz, which only lasted for 48 hours before being called off by President Trump.

The 31 article decree, called 'Principles of Separation Between Spouses' has been passed by the Taliban supremo Hibatullah Akhundzada and has recently been printed in the regime's official gazette. The decree covers issues such as child marriage, the whereabouts of an absent husband, adultery, apostasy and forced separation. 

Silence Treated As Consent For Marriage

One of the more contentious points states that a 'virgin girl' who remains silent after reaching puberty could have her consent presumed for the marriage. However, for a boy or for a married woman this is not automatically assumed to be the case. Rights campaigners have condemned the new law. Political Commentator Fahima Mahomed explained that consent cannot exist in child marriage. This idea that silence constitutes agreement, basically silences girls altogether and takes away their right to agency. 

Child Marriage Annulment Needs Court Approval

The ruling refers to the Islamic concept of Khiyar al-bulugh or 'option upon puberty' which allows individuals married as children to annul their marriages when they reach adulthood. Under article 5, Marriages made with minors, if by someone other than a father or grandfather, are valid, provided they are suitable to society and of proper dowry. However, an annulment cannot take place without an order of a Taliban court. An invalid marriage was also said to include that of an 'incompatible' person, and marriage made for an improper dowry. 

Fathers and Taliban Judges Gain Authority

The role of fathers and grandfathers in arranging child marriages was significant, however these were able to be declared invalid if a guardian was found abusive or morally corrupt. Taliban judges were also able to step in where an allegation of adultery had occurred, or a change of religion had occurred and where the husband of the marriage had gone missing for a protracted length of time. 

Global Concern Over Taliban Women Policies

The ruling has been passed at a time when the Taliban are receiving increasing international condemnation over their stance on women's rights following their takeover in August 2021, including bans on girls attending secondary schools and universities, restricted work opportunities and a serious decline in public visibility.

CNG will be sold at Rs 80.09 per kg in Delhi, Rs 88.70 per kg in Noida, Greater Noida and Ghaziabad.The revision of Rs 1 per kg came just two days after the CNG price rose by Rs 2 per kg on May 15, bringing the overall CNG price up to Rs 3 per kg in 48 hours.

IGL Cites Higher Gas Input Costs

The fuel price increase has been initiated by major natural gas distributor Indraprastha Gas Limited (IGL) to marginally offset the rise in input gas cost along with steep appreciation of the US dollar.

“The retail selling price of CNG has been increased by Rs 1/kg wef 6 am on 17.05.2026 in all GAs of IGL. The revision in retail prices of CNG has been effected only to marginally offset the impact of increase in input gas cost along with steep appreciation of USD. Even after revision, CNG would still offer upto 45% savings towards the running cost when compared to vehicles running on alternate fuel at the current level of prices," the IGL said.

Petrol, Diesel Prices Jump by Rs 3/litre

The increase came just two days after the hike in petrol and diesel prices was announced by government-owned oil companies across the country on May 15. Petrol and diesel rates were increased by Rs 3 per litre on May 15, first in over four years, with state-run fuel retailers starting to pass on some of the losses arising out of volatile international crude oil prices amid the raging US-Iran war.

US-Iran Conflict Impacts Crude Oil Supply

Global crude oil rates have shot up over 50 per cent since US-Israeli attacks on Iran on February 28 and Tehran's retaliatory attacks disturbed energy supplies flowing through Strait of Hormuz. Despite sharp increases in the international crude oil prices retail fuel rates in India remained stagnant for weeks as the government tried to protect the consumers from immediate rise in energy costs. 

However, the opposition parties alleged that the centre delayed fuel price revision till the completion of state assembly elections in the few key states. The increase was effected on a day after completion of the Assembly elections in five states of India where BJP strengthened its position by clinching three states, including West Bengal.

Centre Urges People to Conserve Fuel

The government also announced various measures to conserve fuel. PM Narendra Modi had recently asked people to reduce travel, promote work-from-home and conserve fuel on account of the high energy prices impacting current account deficit and foreign exchange reserves of the country. Few states also announced directives for reducing travel and holding meetings in a physical form.

Bandi Sanjay Says Law Equal For All

Union minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar said everybody is equal before the law, whether it was his son or any common man and everybody should obey law. Kumar said his son repeatedly assured he committed no wrong and that they had thought of handing over him immediately to the police as the complaint was lodged. They consulted lawyers with available evidence and lawyers felt that the case would be dismissed and bail would be granted at any cost. Due to that delay it was prolonged.

He added that even now lawyers feel that bail would be granted. So he himself decided not to wait and handed over his son to the police personally with help of lawyers for the sake of investigation.

Telangana HC Refuses Interim Protection

Police had issued a look-out notice against Bhageerath by registering a case under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The Telangana High court refused to grant him interim protection from arrest in an interim anticipatory bail petition late on Friday night observing that it was not inclined to pass any interim order in the case at this stage. Bhageerath's counsel asked the court to provide him interim protection till the order was granted on his application.

Minor Girl’s Family Files Serious Charges

The police registered the case on May 8 on the complaint filed by the mother of a 17-year-old girl on the charge that Bhageerath was in a relationship with her daughter and had sexually harassed her under relevant sections of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and POCSO Act. The complainant said that the relationship with the minor started in June 2025 with the mutual acquaintance between them through Instagram and Snapchat.

The mother alleged that Bhageerath tricked the minor into trust by assuring to marry her once she attains majority and exerted emotional pressure over her and police, after recording the statement of the minor, applied severer sections under POCSO Act. 

Bhageerath Alleges Extortion And False Case

Bhageerath filed a counter complaint. He stated that the girl who got acquainted with him, invited him to family functions and group get-togethers. The police registered his FIR too. He said that he accompanied her family and friends to some holy places believing the family, which can be trusted. He said that then they insisted him to marry the girl and on refusal the parents of the girl demanded money by threatening to register a false complaint. 

Bhageerath alleged that he paid Rs 50,000 to the father out of fear and then parents demanded Rs 5 crore by threatening to commit suicide by the mother.

Naidu Announces New Population Incentives

In an event held at Narsannapeta in Srikakulam district on Saturday, Naidu addressed the public and said that it was a cabinet decision and announcement for details to be made within a month's time.

"I have thought about this many times. In the past, I worked towards family planning. But today, once again, children are our wealth, and a need has arisen for all of us to work for the sake of our children, that is why I have taken another decision, and I am coming to you this month with it. For the third child, we will give Rs 30,000 immediately upon birth. For the fourth child, we will give Rs 40,000," he said.

Govt Earlier Approved Second Child Aid

The current decision comes in addition to the incentive of R 25,000 offered for the birth of a second child. On March 5, Naidu informed the Assembly that the government was considering giving R 25,000 incentive for the birth of a second child.

Andhra Pradesh TFR Falls Below 2.1

Naidu cited a growing socio-economic trend in which families tend to go for fewer children in increasing income range and for having two children with the condition that one is not a boy. He warned against these factors that might affect state's long term population dynamics and the need to attain the total fertility rate (TFR) of 2.1 which denotes replacement level.

According to SRS 2020 data of Sample Registration System, Andhra Pradesh’s TFR has been recorded as 1.5, much lower than replacement level (2.1) and even the national TFR (2.0). TFR in urban areas is as low as 1.4 which indicates continued declining population growth in future.

Anganwadi Centres To Support Mothers

Naidu mentioned that whereas his government was always ahead in implementing family planning measures, the current situation calls to make people realize that children are wealthy. He informed that by the strengthening of Anganwadi centres through the Department of Women and Child Welfare, adequate food will be supplied to mother and child. He also informed that R 15,000 cash is being provided as 'Talli ki Vandanam' (Salute to the mother).

Rahul Gandhi said, “Twenty-two lakh NEET kids have been cheated. Yet Modi ji isn't uttering a single word. Remove Dharmendra Pradhan ji right now, or take responsibility yourself.”

"Dharmendra Pradhan ji, India's Education Minister, says, 'I have nothing to do with it.' The committee had made recommendations, which he threw into the dustbin. He said, 'Opposition people are sitting in the committee, it doesn't mean anything, there is no need for it.' The truth is that you have damaged the core, the center of India. The Prime Minister should give an immediate order that Dharmendra Pradhan ji should resign, he should be sacked, and the people who are guilty should be caught and put in jail," he added.

Sikar Flat Linked to NEET Scam

The Central Bureau of Investigation(CBI) investigation has put Rajasthan's Sikar district under close scanner regarding the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case. The probe agency has apprehended three individuals in this connection. According to official sources, the accused were suspected of procuring a 'guess' paper, which was almost similar to the NEET paper and making its copies and providing it to the coaching centres which then distribute the question papers among candidates. 

Officials further traced a flat in Sikar which is suspected of being used as a center of coordination where the distribution of papers were conducted and candidates were communicated to. 

Pune Teacher Arrested After Probe

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested a kingpin from Maharashtra over the Biology questions in the NEET-UG 2026 test. The Kingpin, identified as Manisha Gurunath Mandhare, a botany teacher at Pune, was employed as an expert by the National Testing Agency.

The agency stated that the accused made recruitment of candidates who would have given the NEET examinations with the assistance of Manisha Wagmare.

NTA Cancels Disputed NEET-UG 2026 Exam

The National testing agency (NTA) cancelled the NEET-UG 2026 test that was conducted on May 3 after the discovery of evidence pointing out similarities in the question papers conducted that day with those which was already circulated on the prior date.

After investigating the issue, the examination results were postponed, and the entire process was transferred to the Central Bureau of investigation (CBI). The rescheduled test is expected to be held on June 21.

The Botany teacher from Maharashtra was arrested in Delhi after being questioned for many hours by the CBI. She was granted access to both Botany and Zoology question papers in her capacity as an expert associated with the National Testing Agency (NTA).

Manisha Accused of Sharing NEET Questions

According to sources, the accused Manisha Mandhare was associated with the Modern College of Arts, Science and Commerce, located in Shivajinagar, Pune. Sources claimed that Mandhare had been contributing to the preparation of NEET question papers for the past five to six years. 

Mandhare was involved in preparing Botany and Zoology sections of NEET UG 2026 examination and was at that time in the service of the aforementioned Pune college. The allegation is that the investigation system enabled her to gain unrestricted access to the questions during the examination.

Mandhare Conducted Classes at Her Residence

The CBI claimed that she gathered students for the NEET entrance examination through Manisha Wagmare of Pune, who had already been taken into custody in May on the 14th. According to the CBI, Manisha conducted special coaching for students in her home where she leaked some Botany and Zoology questions and asked the students to copy them in their notebooks and textbooks.

They added that the majority of those questions appeared in the NEET-UG 2026 conducted on May 3 (now cancelled) and also that those had matches with the original question paper.

Nine Accused Arrested After Probe

The investigation is spreading over many states. Six locations were searched and laptop, mobile phones, bank details and various documents seized in the past 24 hours and their digital and financial analysis is on. Thus far nine persons are under arrest in different places like Delhi, Jaipur, Gurugram, Nashik, Pune and Ahilyanagar. Many accused have been remanded to police custody.

“Landed in Amsterdam. This visit to the Netherlands comes at a time when the India-E.U. Free Trade Agreement has given a major impetus to trade and investment linkages,” Modi said in a social media post.

Dutch Leaders Welcome PM Modi At Airport

PM Modi was received by Rear Admiral Ludger Brummelaar, Adjutant-General and Chief of the Military Household of His Majesty the King, Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen and India’s Ambassador to the Netherlands Kumar Tuhin among others on his arrival at the airport.

The Prime Minister's visit to the European country, from May 15-17, is his second trip there after his 2017 visit and comes at what officials noted is an important juncture in India-Netherlands relations.

Modi Praises Democracy While Addressing Diaspora

Addressing the Indian community in The Hague, Netherlands, the PM said that India’s democracy is getting stronger day-by-day and development work is enabling large participation in voting.

He said that during the recently concluded elections, highest ever voter turnouts in multiple states, including Tamil Nadu, Bengal, and Assam, demonstrate that people are placing trust in the Modi government's developmental agenda and the government's work in the country. He also lauded the high number of women's participation in the elections.

MEA Highlights Warm Welcome By Indian Community

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, said that it was very special that Indians living in the Netherlands showering their love and warmth upon PM Modi during his visit.

"PM Narendra Modi received a heartwarming welcome from the Indian community in the Netherlands upon his arrival yesterday. The warmth, energy and affection of the diaspora were truly special," he said on social media platform X.

Ties Expand In Technology And Defence

Both the countries' partnership has deepened in recent years beyond its traditional elements like trade and investment, and priority areas like water, agriculture, and health. MEA stated that the two nations' engagement now includes areas such as technology, defense, security, semiconductors, renewable energy, education and the maritime sector.

Kulkarni Linked to NEET Paper Setting

PV Kulkarni was an integral part of the examination process of the NTA (which organized the examination) and thus, had the answers and questions of the entrance test which was conducted on May 3rd. 

He was one of the main setters of the NEET question paper over many years. The former college professor was apprehended by the central agency on the evening of Thursday, May 14th. 

Kulkarni Held NEET Coaching Sessions

Investigations showed that Kulkarni, aided by another accused Manisha Waghmare, organized coaching classes for students who paid to get the NEET examination questions in the last week of April. Waghmare was arrested by the central agency on Thursday, May 14th as well. The students used to attend private training sessions at this Pune home. 

In these exclusive lessons Kulkarni wrote down the questions, the given answer choices, and the correct answers in their notebooks, and the written questions exactly matched the official question paper set on May 3rd. 

Eight Accused Arrested in Leak Case

Currently, 7 suspects have been arrested from Jaipur, Gurugram, Nashik, Pune, and Ahilyanagar in connection to the case. The latest arrest means that 8 persons have been taken into custody to date.

The first seven arrested had been brought before court, and were remanded for seven days into police custody, so the authorities can obtain further details about the paper leak. Those arrested on Thursday are to be presented before a Pune court, and will eventually be brought to Delhi for more proceedings, so that the transit remand can be procured. 

NEET Re-Exam To Be Conducted in June

The undergraduate admissions test which was conducted on May 3rd, was cancelled on the 12th, due to allegations of a question paper leak, the Center has since handed the case over to the CBI for further investigations. The NEET UG 2026 will be re-conducted on June 21st between 2PM to 5:15PM.

Adhikari Cites Probe Mishandling Allegations

Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari made this announcement from the state secretariat and stated that, on the grounds of a departmental inquiry instituted against them, former Kolkata police commissioner Vineet Goyal and former deputy commissioners Indira Mukherjee and Abhishek Gupta had been dismissed.

He asserted that the three officers were responsible for the 'mishandling' of the RG Kar case, which included allegations of bribery to the parents as a bribe and an 'unauthorized press conference' with reference to the August 2024 incident. 

"The Bengal government suspended three police officers for ‘lapses’ in the investigation of the RG Kar rape-murder case. The government will start a departmental probe against ex-Kolkata CP Vineet Goyal, two other officers", said Adhikari.

Inquiry Ordered Under Home Secretary

Adhikari clarified that the government was not interfering with the actual criminal investigation and that it was under judicial investigation and the purview of the Central Bureau of Investigation. The Chief Minister asserted that disciplinary procedures would be held by the state's home secretary under the supervision of the chief secretary. 

Victim’s Mother Seeks Arrest of Three Accused

The Sealdah court received on Wednesday, on a petition filed by her, from the mother of the victim of the RG Kar Medical College rape-murder (who is now an MLA), assisted by her husband for the arrest of former Panihati MLA Nirmal Ghosh, Somnath Das and Trinamool Congress activist Sanjib Mukhopadhyay, alleging that the three were the perpetrators of evidence destruction in the rape and murder of the postgraduate trainee doctor and that it was essential for the investigation that they be arrested. 

RG Kar Doctor Found Murdered in Hospital

The postgraduate student at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital was raped and murdered at her workplace on August 9, 2024. On Friday morning (August 9), her body was discovered inside a seminar room of the state-run hospital's chest department, bearing extensive injury marks and the preliminary report of autopsy confirming violent sexual assault.

The Sealdah court at Kolkata had convicted former civic volunteer Sanjay Roy of rape and murder in RG Kar case, but he still claimed that he was being framed. 

According to the communication, all the students will be singing the national song at the beginning of each day. All heads of institutions have been directed to strictly follow it.

CM Congratulates Students After Exam Results

The announcement was made by the Chief Minister while addressing students and the gathering after the announcement of the results of Class 12 examinations and it is expected to take place from Monday. He also congratulated all the students who have qualified themselves in the Higher Secondary examinations and said they must march ahead in life with the confidence and principles drawn from Indian thinkers.

“I want to congratulate all those who have passed class 12 exams. They should all move ahead in life inspired by the vision of Swami Vivekananda. I would like to send my best wishes to the future generation. From Monday, all schools should sing Vande Mataram. I shall reach secretariat and issue an order,” Adhikari said.

Schools To Record Assemblies For Monitoring

As per the communication released on May 13, the Director of Education informed the school heads that they must sing the national anthem in the beginning of the day, before classes begin. A few officers in the department also revealed that the schools will also have to record the meetings they held to showcase their correct implementation.

Centre Pushes Stronger Respect For National Symbols

This step is being taken in view of the Union Government's move to intensify and strengthen all the provisions relating to respects for national symbols which has also prompted the latter to amend the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971 to include punishment for anyone obstructing the singing of Vande Mataram.

The final decision to be made as the result of the lengthy discussion over the last few days came at noon Thursday where a press conference was convened by Congress leaders Ajay Maken and Deepa Dasmunshi where the formal announcement was made to the public.

Three names in particular: KC Venugopal, V D Satheesan and Ramesh Chennithala were speculated for the CM post.

Satheesan Stresses Teamwork and Unity

VD Satheesan, who has been chosen by the party as the next Kerala CM said it was a team responsibility rather than a personal one and thanked his peers KC Venugopal and the rest of the leaders who are involved in the decision making process of the Kerala CM race and said the team's hard work was to achieve the goal that was set out by the public.

"I do not see this position as a personal achievement, but as something divine. It was KC Venugopal who coordinated all the activities of the AICC. His support was immense. Ramesh Chennithala is also my leader. I will take all of them into complete confidence. I seek the support of every section of people in Keralam. Only a collective effort can build a new Keralam. No one can do it alone; a team can achieve it," Satheesan said.

KC Venugopal Welcomes Congress Decision

KC Venugopal appreciated the decision taken by the Congress party president to appoint VD Satheesan as the Kerala CM, thanked the members, functionaries and MLAS for their support. He also claimed that the decision to appoint VD Satheesan as the new Kerala CM was an outcome of exhaustive discussion and consideration at every level in the Congress.

Venugopal said, "The final decision has come, and the Congress high command decided VD Satheesan as the Chief Ministerial candidate for Keralam Government. I am welcoming that decision wholeheartedly. I am congratulating VD Satheesan on this position. I think that people of Keralam have given a big verdict for the UDF. The government and the leadership of VD Satheesan can fulfil the aspirations and promises of the people of Keralam. Certainly, we are totally behind the government of Keralam.”

Rahul, Kharge Held Final Discussions

The UDF coalition, which is headed by the Congress, had gained over two-thirds of the seats but couldn't announce its candidate as its chief minister owing to worker's protests in the ground level due to the existence of lobby groups and individual campaigns throughout the state. The leader appointed on Thursday has been accepted by all members of the Congress party although it is after a great deal of effort from the Congress leadership at various stages.

The declaration came a day after former Congress president Rahul Gandhi was in conversation with the Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge for roughly 40 minutes where later confirmed that all discussions at the high command were complete and final. 

His statements came in the wake of severe condemnation from the opposition parties toward the BJP government as NTA cancelled NEET-UG exam following the leak allegations.

Kejriwal Attacks Centre over NEET Row

During the press conference the AAP supremo stated that the faith of the exam aspirants was broken due to the series of paper leaks, asking whether stringent action has ever been taken against the culprits for past leak cases investigated by the CBI.

“If Gen Z in countries like Bangladesh and Nepal could change the government, then Indian youth could also ensure accountability in cases of paper leaks,” he said.

Kejriwal Questions Effectiveness of CBI Probe

In his response over the past CBI investigation in the paper leak cases the leader also doubted whether those responsible have been subjected to a severe punishment or not and he also alleges that the probe in the case of NEET paper leak by CBI would be "fruitless" as the same has happened in other cases too.

Citing multiple paper leak cases since 2014, Kejriwal stated that crores of student's lives were destroyed because of this, and most of the cases occurred in BJP ruled states.

NEET Paper Leak Through Guess Paper

On Tuesday the National Testing Agency cancelled the NEET-UG test conducted on May 3, with reports of questions worth about 600 marks were allegedly leaked prior to the conduct. Investigators have revealed a widespread, countrywide network of coach centres, hostellers, impersonators, and solvers. 

The actual question paper was purportedly used to set a 410-question "guess paper" with around 120 actual NEET questions incorporated, which was widely disseminated through coaching centres, hostels and paid WhatsApp groups. The CBI is now investigating the matter.

SPG Asked to Increase Use of EVs

The Prime Minister has also asked the Special Protection Group (SPG) to increase the use of electric vehicles (EVs) in his convoys but not by buying any new cars. According to recent reports, the SPG has started following this directive and has kept intact the mandatory safety protocols outlined in the 'Blue Book'.

Yogi Adityanath Follows PM’s Austerity Call

During a Union Cabinet meeting chaired by the Prime Minister, he reportedly asked his ministers that they must be thrifty and cut down spending of resources consciously due to the West Asia crisis.

Sources said the Prime Minister had appealed to the ministers to cut down the number of vehicles accompanying them as well as their trips abroad and some ministers did respond to the appeal.

Following in the footsteps of the Prime Minister, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has also asked for the fleet of vehicles in his entourage as well as ministers to be cut by 50 percent immediately.

BJP-led States Begin Cost-Cutting Measures

The cost-cutting drive is being followed by the BJP-led states. Ministers like Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav are among others who have also decided to cut down the number of vehicles used in their convoys.

The trend is seen to be a step towards fuel conservation and administrative austerity following a recent appeal made by the Prime Minister for the people to minimise unnecessary travel and national spending.

Modi Appeals to Save Fuel and Forex Reserves

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had asked the people on Sunday to participate collectively to navigate global economic challenges and supply chain problems, inflation among other things.

Modi also appealed to the people not to buy gold for one year, so that they do not put pressure on foreign exchange out flows, and advised them not to travel abroad.

He said that maintaining forex reserves was a part of patriotism, and appealed to people not to plan foreign holidays and international weddings and instead promote tourism within the country. 

Prateek Yadav Died After Sudden Illness

Prateek, 38, suddenly fell sick in the morning, was admitted to civil hospital early hours but died there itself, the sources said. Although he belonged to a renowned political family, Prateek has stayed out of active politics.

"The demise of Shri Pratik Yadav Ji is extremely heartbreaking! May God grant peace to the departed soul. Humble tribute!," the Samajwadi Party posted on social media platform X.

Yogi Adityanath Calls Demise Heartbreaking

Yogi Adityanath, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, said that the 'sudden demise' of Prateek Yadav was "extremely heartbreaking" while extending his condolences to his family.

He wrote, “The sudden demise of Mr. Prateek Yadav, son of the late Mulayam Singh Yadav, former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and ‘Padma Vibhushan’, and husband of Mrs. Aparna Yadav, Vice Chairperson of the Uttar Pradesh State Women’s Commission, is deeply saddening. Humble condolences." 

“My condolences are with the bereaved family. We pray to Lord Shri Ram to grant salvation to the departed soul and strength to the bereaved family to bear this immense sorrow. Om Shanti,” on X.

Postmortem Confirms Cardiorespiratory Collapse

The postmortem report on Prateek Yadav's body reveals that he died of a massive blockage in the blood vessels of lungs causing collapse of heart and respiratory system. The provisional cause of death was declared as "Cardiorespiratory collapse due to massive pulmonary thromboembolism" according to the post mortem report.

Simply put doctors say there was a huge blood clot causing blood not to flow to the lungs causing his breathing and heart to fail. The report further said the doctors preserved the entire heart along with a clot-like mass recovered from the lungs in formalin for thorough histopathological examination.

This is the first order issued by the actor-turned-politician, whose party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam won big in last month’s Assembly election. 

717 TASMAC Shops to Close Soon

The order is to be implemented within two weeks for the public good, said a press release. 

The release said, "With the welfare of the general public in mind, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, C Joseph Vijay, has issued orders to close - within two weeks - 717 retail liquor shops situated within a 500-meter radius of places of worship, educational institutions, and bus stands."

“TASMAC currently operates 4,765 liquor shops in the state, 276 are near places of worship, 186 are near educational institutions, and 255 are near bus stands," it added.

Survey Identified Outlets Near Public Spaces

Soon after taking office as CM, Vijay had ordered a detailed survey of the TASMAC shops to ascertain their location relative to sensitive public places like religious sites, educational institutions and major bus stops. The survey revealed that 276 shops were located near temples, 186 near educational institutions and 255 near bus stands, making a total of 717 liquor shops that were designated to be closed down. 

TVK Begins Promise of Drug-Free Tamil Nadu

Officials indicated that the move will ensure that more stringent regulations are applied to liquor outlets and that public concerns over the proximity of TASMAC outlets to sensitive public areas are addressed. Many supporters following TN politics had already anticipated this move, as the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam's election manifesto included a "drug-free Tamil Nadu." 

This is considered one of the first actions to enact the party's pre-election promises, even though closing liquor shops has been a persistent demand by many opposition parties, activists and residents due to their considerable revenue. 

The exam, which is mandatory for all undergraduate medical admissions in India, will be re-conducted on new dates, the announcement of which will be made shortly. 

NTA Cancels NEET UG 2026 examination

The National Testing Agency said the cancellation was in accordance with the need to preserve the transparency and sanctity of the national examination and evaluation system and had received the sanction of the government.

"On the basis of inputs subsequently examined by the National Testing Agency and investigative findings shared by law enforcement agencies, the NTA, with the approval of the Government of India, has decided to cancel the NEET (UG) 2026 examination conducted on May 3," the agency said.

No Fresh Registration for Students Required

Despite the difficult situation created by the re-examination to the students and their respective families, the same was inevitable for protection of the sanctity of the national examination system and maintenance of the people's trust in it. 

The NTA added that the registration details, candidatures and center locations will also remain unchanged, so students will not be required to register or pay any additional fee. The exam itself will be re-conducted with NTA's own resources. 

Government Orders CBI Inquiry into Leak Allegations

The central government has also mandated a CBI inquiry to investigate the alleged discrepancies surrounding the exam. 

“The Government of India has further decided to refer the matter to the Central Bureau of Investigation for a comprehensive inquiry into the allegations therein. NTA will extend full cooperation to the Bureau and will provide all materials, records, and assistance the inquiry requires," the agency said.

Guess Paper Claims Spark Integrity Concerns

This comes after evidence was found indicating that a so-called "guess paper," that supposedly contains most of the same questions as the real exam, was made available to students prior to the test. According to NTA's statement regarding the cancellations, it made this decision due to the fact that the inputs from central agencies and law enforcement officials demonstrated a lack of transparency and faith in the examination system.

Anti-Sabotage Squad Seizes Gelatin Sticks

A policeman deployed on special duty was on duty when he spotted the gelatin sticks and informed the anti-sabotage squad. An anti-sabotage team arrived at the scene and seized two gelatin sticks. A special task force team has been constituted to inquire into the issue.

The explosives were found 25 ft away from the main road to the Art of Living ashram where Modi was scheduled to arrive on Sunday. Security officials were alerted and panic struck the officials due to the presence of the explosives which led to major concerns regarding the security during the PM's high-profile visit.

Police Investigate Motive Behind Explosives

Police are investigating whether the gelatin was planted or for what purpose. Kaggalipura police are investigating the matter.

Deputy Inspector General of Police (Central range) S. Girish stated that there is a task force in place to investigate explosives planted along the convoy route and he congratulated the police constable who spotted the explosives and immediately alerted the anti-sabotage squad.

Officials Assure No Immediate Explosion Threat

Police stated that they were not concerned about any imminent blast as there was no detonator with the gelatin sticks and were concerned whether the gelatin was planted to cause alarm and attraction during PM Modi's visit.

"There was no possibility of an explosion as no detonator was found. We suspect someone who has issues with the Art of Living may have dropped the gelatin sticks at the spot to create panic. However, the investigation is on from all possible angles," a police officer said.

Man Detained After Hoax Threat Calls

Meanwhile, 40-year-old Lohit of Koramangala has been detained as he allegedly called the police around 7:30am stating that there were bomb blasts in HAL airport and Art of Living ashram. However, Lohit's involvement is unlikely as they think it is unrelated. He has previously been held in similar incidents before Modi visits. It is learned he is mentally unwell.

PM Asks People to Save Petrol and Diesel

Addressing a large public gathering in Hyderabad, Modi highlighted that India lacks oil wells to a large extent, which also becomes a reason for saving of petrol and diesel by the citizens.

He said, "When the supply chain continues to be in crisis, no matter what measures we take, the difficulties only increase. Therefore, now we must fight unitedly, keeping the country and Mother India first. We must remember that patriotism is not just about dying for the country. Living for the country and fulfilling our duties to the country is also patriotism.”

Car-pooling and Work From Home Encouraged

The Prime Minister requested the citizens to try car-pooling and travel through metro trains where available and even promoted electric vehicles (EV). Sending the couriers should be done through the rail networks, he requested.

"During COVID-19 pandemic, facilities like work from home, online meetings, video conferencing were used. Today, we should start using them again. Work from home, online meetings, video conferencing must be prioritised again," Modi said.

Citizens Urged to Avoid Foreign Vacations

The PM urged the contry's people to shun overseas holidays, abroad wedding parties, among others in order to save foreign exchange. 

“The growing culture of weddings abroad, travelling abroad and vacationing abroad is becoming prevalent among the middle class. We must decide that during this time of crisis, we should postpone travelling abroad for at least a year,” he said.

PM Advises Against Buying Gold Items

Modi asked to forego the luxury of buying non-essential gold products for a year, whereas in case of families, to avoid usage of edible oils which also aids both nation as well as the citizen in terms of their health and money.

The citizen should instead try to support made-in-India and local products from daily items such as footwear, bags and other accessories to locally manufactured and supported business establishments.

Leavitt Announces Birth Of Daughter

On Thursday, the White House Press Secretary announced the arrival of her child, a daughter named Viviana and posted a photo of her cradling the baby daughter to her breast in a nursery and thanking people who sent her prayers throughout her pregnancy.

Leavitt said, “On May 1st, Viviana aka 'Vivi' joined our family, and our hearts instantly exploded with love".

"She is perfect and healthy, and her big brother is joyfully adjusting to life with his new baby sister. We are enjoying every moment in our blissful newborn bubble," she added on social media platform X.

Iran Links Baby Post To Minab Tragedy

Iran congratulated Leavitt on the birth of her daughter and criticized her on the school bombing in Minab claiming that the children killed there were no different from her daughter.

The Iranian Embassy in Armenia said, " Congratulations to you. Children are innocent and lovable. Those 168 children that your boss killed in the school in Minab, and you justified, were also children. When you kiss your baby, think of the mothers of those children" on X.

Minab School Strike Claimed Many Lives

73 boys and 47 girls died in the air raid on an elementary school in Minab on 28 February. The bombing was carried out as the USA and Israel launched attacks on targets across Iran. Retaliating against this, Tehran launched air strikes against targets in Israel and countries in the Gulf.

In addition to the children killed there were 26 teachers, 7 parents, a school bus driver and a pharmacy worker at the clinic beside the school.

Leavitt Earlier Defended US Military Actions

Last month before taking her maternity leave Leavitt, as White House Press Secretary, was one of the key faces that relentlessly pushed the war policy of the Trump administration. In March in response to a question from the press regarding the US role in the bombing of the Minab school bombing stated that the US was not targeting civilians.

"While the Department of War is currently investigating this matter, the Iranian regime targets civilians and children, not the United States of America," Leavitt had said.

Gujarat Titans Post Huge Total of 229

Yashasvi Jaiswal is leading the Rajasthan Royals for the first time this season with Riyan Parag being ruled out with a hamstring problem. Jaiswal won the toss and chose to bowl against Shubman Gill led Gujarat Titans.

GT's batting line-up dominated with Gill scoring 84 off 44 balls, including nine boundaries and three sixes. Despite receiving some treatment for a discomfort in his left foot, he was brilliant, and Sai Sudharsan finished with an unbeaten 55. The opening pair put on 118 runs for the opening wicket and GT crossed the 100-run mark in the 9th over. GT's scoring was then strengthened by the sixes of Rahul Tewatia and Washington Sundar (37) as they finished 229/4.

RR Collapse After Strong Powerplay Start

The RR chase started on a positive note with a six hit by 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi on the first ball of the innings, and followed up by some attacking play by Dhruv Jurel that got them to 62/2 in five overs.

Then, Rashid Khan completely altered the course of the game. He took the wickets of both Jurel and Donovan Ferreira in one over, then pinned Ravindra Jadeja lbw to end with figures of 4/33. Mohammed Siraj and Kagiso Rabada picked up the other vital wickets and Jason Holder ensured it was an early end to the RR innings, claiming 3/12.

Gill Satisfied With Team Effort

Gujarat Captain Shubman Gill said, “I think this was a clean win for us. Definitely. I think we got above maybe 10-15 runs extra on the board. We thought there was a little bit in for the spinners in the middle. It wasn’t easy to hit sixes or get the boundaries. The ball was gripping a little bit. We got 230 runs on the board. We always knew, if we get a couple of wickets in the powerplay, we’re going to have a good game.”

“And I know there was a phase, I think, for about a couple of overs where we didn’t get the boundary in the 17th, 18th over. But I think we covered it well in the last over. We believe it’s important to hold the fort up front. That’s where the thought process comes from,” regarding the match.

Playing Xl's: GT AND RR

Gujarat Titans- Shubman Gill(c), Sai Sudharsan, Jos Buttler(w), Nishant Sindhu, Washington Sundar, Jason Holder, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Arshad Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj

Rajasthan Royals- Yashasvi Jaiswal(c), Dhruv Jurel(w), Shimron Hetmyer, Donovan Ferreira, Ravindra Jadeja, Shubham Dubey, Dasun Shanaka, Jofra Archer, Tushar Deshpande, Brijesh Sharma, Yash Raj Punja.

Emotional Moment At Oath Ceremony

PM Modi had an emotional meeting with the Sarkar as he touched the latter's feet as a gesture of reverence.

"Today, as the first ever BJP Government takes oath in West Bengal, it is natural for all of us to remember Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee and his everlasting contribution to the nation and West Bengal in particular. No stone will be left unturned to fulfil his vision. During the swearing in ceremony in Kolkata, had the opportunity to meet Shri Makhanlal Sarkar Ji. A devout nationalist, he worked with Dr. Mookerjee and was even arrested in Jammu and Kashmir while accompanying him," Modi posted on social media platform X.

Sarkar’s Decades Of BJP Service

Sarkar, who is considered one of the very few first grassroots workers associated with the nationalist movement post-Independence India, was the first BJP district President of the Siliguri organisational district and travelled to Kashmir along with Syama Prasad Mookerjee in 1952 for hoisting the Indian tricolour and was arrested in Kashmir.

Even at the age of 97, he continues to be a prominent worker. In 1980, Sarkar was appointed organisational in-charge for West Dinajpur, Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling districts when the party was first formed and recruited close to 10,000 members to the party in just one year.

BJP Workers Cheer For Modi In Kolkata

The Prime Minister reached the State on Saturday to witness the oath-taking ceremony of Suvendu Adhikari. On his arrival, he reached Brigade Parade Grounds along with the Chief Minister-designate Suvendu Adhikari and state president Samik Bhattacharya and took a ride in an open jeep to wave at thousands of BJP workers and supporters who were present to witness the ceremony. 

Modi arrived amid thousands of "Jai Shri Ram" chants and was seen waving at his supporters from an open vehicle. He landed in Kolkata shortly before 10 am and later reached Race Course ground before proceeding to the Brigade Parade Grounds by road from Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport.

Searches Conducted in Delhi and Gurugram

The teams from ED arrived at the Industries Minister's official residence in sector 2, Chandigarh around 7 am and started searches slightly after 7.25 am. As many as nearly 20 vehicles entered the residential complex of Arora whereas three dozens of CIA personnel and Special Forces were also deputed at his residence in order to provide security. Along with Chandigarh, search operations have also been carried out at two places in Delhi and in Hampton Sky Realty Ltd in Udyog Vihar, Gurugram.

Kejriwal Attacks BJP over ED Action

Lashing out at the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the ED raids, Arvind Kejriwal said that the people of Punjab are unhappy with the BJP's alleged misuse of central agencies such as the ED.

“A Punjabi will give you everything he has out of love, but if you shove him around, he'll hit back with full force. Modi ji, go ahead and carry out four more ED raids - BJP's deposits on all their seats will get forfeited. The ones you arrest will be out in four days, but the BJP won't be fit to set foot in Punjab for the next twenty years,” he said on social media platform X.

Bhagwant Mann Calls Agencies Political Tools

Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann slammed the BJP and claimed that the central agencies such as ED, CBI and the IT department were being used as political weapons.

“For a long time, they have been using them for their politics. Be it Maharashtra, Odisha, Bihar, Karnataka, West Bengal. Now, Punjab is on their target," Mann said.

"The purpose of ED raids is not to recover black money or documents. The real intention is to pressure leaders into joining the BJP by threatening their businesses and reputation," he added.

Arora Faced Earlier ED Raids Too

In April, Arora and entities related to him were also raided by the ED, but under the civil proceedings of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA). Following the action, Arora had stated that he would cooperate fully with all investigating agencies and that the truth would ultimately come out.

In January 2024 he also had to undergo ED raids in relation to an ongoing money laundering case against him, wherein the ED is looking into allegations of alleged misuse of industrial plots for residential projects, and back then he was a Member of Parliament from Rajya Sabha.

Probe Linked to Fake GST Transactions

The current searches are part of a newly registered case under the criminal provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). According to the agency, the money laundering probe relates to fake GST purchases of mobile phones worth over Rs 100 crore and the subsequent exports are alleged to have been utilized to round trip illicit funds from Dubai to India. It further claimed that fake GST purchase bills were allegedly taken from non-existent firms in Delhi to fraudulently claim input tax credit (ITC).

Spin Collapses Delhi's Batting Order

Sent into bat first, the DC saw KL Rahul getting out within the powerplay but Pathum Nissanka held the innings together with his 2nd fifty of the IPL 2026.

It was however KKR's spin duo that stifled the middle order of Delhi Capitals as the they collapsed from 74/1 from to 89/5.Left arm spinner Anukul Roy being the chief destroyer of the Capitals, taking wickets of Nissanka and Tristan Stubbs in an over of just 5 deliveries. One wicket each was taken by Sunil Narine, Cameron Green and Vaibhav Arora and despite a brave 39 from Ashutosh Sharma, the Delhi Capitals did not reach 150 runs.

Finn Allen Leads Chase with Century

The chase got underway with a slow start as skipper Ajinkya Rahane got run out before Angkrish Raghuvanshi was unlucky after the ball ricocheted from the glove to the stumps. However this was not enough as the Impact substitute Finn Allen took over the match from here. A violent assault on the Delhi attack saw Allen smash 10 sixes and 5 fours in his match-winning century of 47 deliveries, the openers maiden T20 hundred. Green played an important support role and the chase was completed in just 14.2 overs as the Knights recorded their 4th straight victory to get back in the playoff race.

Rahane Credits Bowlers and Fielders for Win

Kolkata Knight Riders Skipper Ajinkya Rahane said, “First of all, let me just say I'm really happy for Finn Allen. He was struggling first four or five games, working really hard, but the way he batted tonight was fantastic. But I want to praise our bowlers again. We did well because of them. And they've been doing it so well consistently, especially those middle overs and the death overs. Our spinners, Sunil Narine, Varun and Anukul Roy, has been fantastic. Fielding-wise, yes, we are working really hard. Our fielding coach has been really strict with us. And that's what has been helping us. The result which you've been seeing about the catches and the ground fielding, credit goes to our fielding coach as well,” regarding the match win.

Playing Xl's: KKR AND DC

Delhi Capitals: Pathum Nissanka, KL Rahul(w), Nitish Rana, Sameer Rizvi, Tristan Stubbs, Axar Patel(c), Ashutosh Sharma, Vipraj Nigam, Mitchell Starc, Lungi Ngidi, Mukesh Kumar

Kolkata Knight Riders: Ajinkya Rahane(c), Angkrish Raghuvanshi(w), Cameron Green, Rovman Powell, Manish Pandey, Rinku Singh, Sunil Narine, Anukul Roy, Kartik Tyagi, Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakaravarthy

Personalized Photo Gifts

The family photo will turn into something truly special, and it is ready to go within a couple of minutes! Send your photo and order prints on mugs, cushions, or key chains with apps such as Printvenue or Canva. For Delhi or Mumbai-based gifters, many services provide same-day delivery. Add a personal message such as "To the mom who captures every smile." 

Spa-at-Home Kits

You can order a hamper from Nykaa or Lush that contains face masks, bath bombs and candle holders, which can be delivered within 30 minutes. A lavender oil would be the perfect addition after a long day. Enjoy it with a "Mom's Spa Day" playlist on Spotify.

Gourmet Treat Hampers

Gifts of food are always welcome if the cook at home needs a break! Send her a box of chocolates from Ferns N Petals, a basket of dried fruits from Blinkit or even local snacks like besan laddoos from BigBasket. If she is a coffee connoisseur, get her a filter coffee kit for under 400 and she can have it delivered in an hour.

Stylish Accessories

Add a touch of elegance and style to her wardrobe with simple, beautiful accessories. Shop for scarves, jhumkas or hand bags from Myntra’s flash sales with express delivery. Earthy colours are great for everyday wear and silk is perfect for special occasions. You can even get her initials engraved at a local jeweller and have them delivered in hours. 

Experience Vouchers

You do not need to give her a gift – give her a lifetime of memories! Choose one of the many instant digital voucher options from Urban Company etc. These codes arrive via email in a snap and are a perfect last-minute present, especially for working mothers who need some ‘me’ time. 

Tech Gadgets for Daily Use

When your mom is looking for convenience, ask about boAt wireless headphones (Amazon offers same-day delivery), a kitchen timer, or a portable blender for healthy smoothies. A Kindle e-reader with romances could be a great gift for the book lover.

Handwritten Letter with Flowers

Old-fashioned charm goes a long way. You can write a heartfelt letter praising 10 Reasons You’re My Super Mom and send it along with a floral arrangement that is delivered in an hour. 

Suvendu Promises “Sonar Bangla”

Addressing new BJP MLAs at Biswa Bangla Convention Centre following the announcement Suvendu Adhikari became emotional as he said it was time for "bhoy out, bhorsha in" and vowed for a government of delivery women's safety and a "Sonar Bangla". 

He said, “Today, I assure you that in the coming days, our government and organisation will remain committed to the ideology of the party and to the cultural spirit of West Bengal. We will fulfil every promise made in our manifesto within the stipulated time.”

“We need to create a Sonar Bangla. We need to make Bengal a safe place for women. Amit Shah said we have been able to remove fear. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given us trust. It is time for bhoy out, bhorsha in. For that, we need to work more and talk less,” he added.

Shah Calls BJP Victory Historic

Union Home Minister Amit Shah congratulated Suvendu Adhikari for becoming new CM of West Bengal and also mentioned the victory of BJP in the state was a "historic mandate". He also mentioned that Suvendu Adhikari's leadership in the state will bring good governance.

“I extend my heartfelt congratulations and best wishes. I hope this historic mandate becomes the means to fulfil the aspirations and expectations of the people of Bengal,” Shah said.

He added, “I have known Suvendu Adhikari for a long time. He is a fighter. I have seen both his political rise and his connection with the grassroots.”

Suvendu Defeats Mamata In Bhabanipur

Suvendu Adhikari created one of the symbolic victories of the election as he defeated the outgoing CM Mamata Banerjee in Bhabanipur which was one of her strongest political forts. 

He retained Nandigram which is also a politically important constituency since the start of the anti-land acquisition movement that turned him into one of the major political leaders of West Bengal. 

Grand Swearing-In Ceremony On Saturday

Adhikari and his Council of Ministers are scheduled to be sworn at a grand ceremony at the Brigade Parade Grounds on Saturday, with the Prime Minister, top Union ministers and some 20 BJP-ruled state CMs likely to attend in large numbers. 

BJP won the West Bengal assembly elections historically and ended the Mamata Banerjee led Trinamool Congress(TMC) 15 years in power. The West Bengal Governor RN Ravi had dissolved the state assembly on Thursday which gave the way for the new government. 

This current assembly was formed in May 2021 after Mamata Banerjee-led TMC won assembly elections, and the dissolution marks the end of the current assembly following the recently-held two phases of elections. 

Notification issued under Article 174

A government order from Lok Bhavan, Kolkata, has said that the Governor has used the powers vested under sub-clause (b) of Clause(2) of Article 174 of the Constitution of India, to dissolve the Assembly with effect from May 7. 

“In exercise of the power conferred on me by sub-clause (b) of Clause (2) of Article 174 of the Constitution of India, I hereby dissolve the Legislative Assembly of West Bengal with effect from 07th of May, 2026,” the official notification said.

Banerjee Refuses to Resign

TMC Supremo Mamata Banerjee met newly-elected MLAs on Wednesday, and said she will continue as the Chief Minister of West Bengal even after poll results. 

“If we have not lost the election, then why should I go to Raj Bhavan? I am not taking oath. And, why do I have to resign? We didn’t lose. It is their forceful attempt to defeat us. Our fight was not against BIP but against the EC,” she said.

Mamata attacks BJP and EC

Banerjee has accused the ruling BJP government of booth rigging, ballot stuffing, and EVM manipulation during the state assembly elections. She further accused the Election Commission of collusion with the BJP for overthrowing her government and described the win as "immoral". 

Banerjee also said that the TMC has "morally defeated" the BJP. Banerjee's refusal to step down had led to an unprecedented political scenario in the state, thus raising concerns over a possible constitutional crisis in West Bengal. 

Yadav Praises TMC’s Election Fight

The meeting was cordial according to the party's official sources, in which TMC National general secretary Abhishek Banerjee was also present. According to party sources, the three leaders exchanged pleasantries. 

According to sources, the conversation held at the meeting was constructive with Akhilesh Yadav telling Abhishek Banerjee, "What a commendable battle you all have fought." He also told Mamata Banerjee, "Didi, you have not lost."

SP Chief Alleges Election Manipulation

Talking to the reporters after meeting Mamata Banerjee, Akhilesh Yadav claimed that elections were manipulated with what he called 'multi-layered mafiagiri'.

“Today, all Opposition leaders must stand together against election fraud. When elections were held honestly, Didi won. This time, no one could have imagined such manipulation involving the BJP, the Election Commission and others working together,” Yadav said.

BJP Accused Of Misusing Agencies

Yadav also blamed BJP for weakening democratic institutions. He also questioned the political violence taking place in the state, citing attacks on workers and damages caused to offices as examples and asking, who would be held accountable for the security lapse during polls?

Further allegations of an 'excessive presence' of central forces made a "parallel structure" during polls were also cited by Akhilesh, who alleged personnel from many states like Uttar Pradesh were brought to organize polling.

Akhilesh Demands Answers From Amit Shah

On the killing of Suvendu Adhikari's personal assistant Chandranath Rath , Yadav alleged that Union Home Minister Amit Shah was responsible and demanded that his statement be recorded.

“How did Suvendu Adhikari’s PA get murdered? The Home Minister must answer how this happened,” he said.

Mamata Refuses To Resign After Defeat

On May 5th, Mamata refused to resign as chief minister saying her party had won but the elections were manipulated by the EC, Central forces and BJP. She also said that TMC voters were assaulted and driven out of count centres and she herself was pushed when she entered the count centre for Bhabanipur constituency.

BJP Registers Massive Victory In Bengal

This meeting comes after BJP's landslide victory in West Bengal, securing 207 seats on Monday, while the TMC, in power for 15 years won 80. Akhilesh Yadav had earlier in the day claimed that democracy in West Bengal had been subverted and alleged that voters were pressured during elections not exercising their franchise freely.

IAF Shares Powerful Anniversary Video

This 88-second video gives us a gripping visual of the magnitude, precision and the level of coordinated operations undertaken by the Indian forces during one of India's recent counter-terror strikes.

The video demonstrates the impeccable Tri-Services co-ordination and technological prowess displayed during operation Sindoor, a response that was initiated by India following the deadly Pahalgam terror attack of April 2025.

Showcasing visuals of fighter jets and naval vessels used in the operation, the video highlights the tri-services nature of the offensive. It also included visuals of destroyed terror infrastructure following the strikes, and a list of the nine places where targets were located across both Pakistan and POK.

PM Modi Pays Tribute To Armed Forces

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also changed his social media display pictures to commemorate the first anniversary of Operation Sindoor and asked all other citizens to do the same as a tribute to India's armed forces and their successful undertaking.

Modi's profile pictures on all his social media accounts-X, Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp channel-were changed to an image bearing the name 'Operation Sindoor' against a black background. The display picture included the Indian tricolour, and one of the 'O's within the word 'SINDOOR' had been filled with vermilion -a traditional symbol of married Hindu women.

Operation Sindoor Launched After Pahalgam Attack

Launched in the early hours of May 7, 2025, Operation Sindoor was initiated after an April 22 terror attack occurred in Baisaran Valley near Pahalgam, claiming the lives of 26 civilians, predominantly tourists, as attackers opened fire on a group of unsuspecting visitors. 

India launched pinpoint strikes targeting terror-related infrastructure. The Indian government clarified that the strikes were carefully planned as focused, measured and non-escalatory, and no Pakistani military installations were attacked.

The resultant days saw intensified border tensions, including cross-border firings and aerial confrontations between both nations, until military activity was called off by both sides on May 10, following dialogue between their Directors General of Military Operations.

Rath Shot Dead In Madhyamgram

The incident occurred at Madhyamgram in the North 24 Parganas district and Rath sustained bullet injuries in his head, chest and stomach, after which he was rushed to hospital and was declared dead.

The visual from the murder site shows that the bullet fired to kill Chandranath Rath had broken the glass of the car in which he was travelling and his car, marked with 'West Bengal Legislative Assembly On Duty' symbol was covered in blood after the incident.

Adhikari Calls Murder Heart-Wrenching

At around midnight, Suvendu Adhikari arrived at the hospital and called the killing "heart-wrenching". The BJP leader added that attackers carried out prior recce before carrying out the killing and termed the incident as cold-blooded and premeditated murder.

Adhikari said: “The killing of my aide Chandranath Rath is heart-wrenching; we condemn this. We appeal to everyone not to take the law into their own hands.”

He added, “The DGP assured me police will investigate the cold-blooded murder of my aide Chandranath Rath. Besides my aide, one of our cadres was shot at in Basirhat and another stabbed in Baranagar.”

TMC Alleges Attacks On Party Workers

BJP accused the Trinamool Congress of the attacks and questioned who is to be blamed now after the death. The TMC hit back saying that its workers are being targeted in different districts.

The party said: “We strongly condemn the brutal murder of Chandranath Rath in Madhyamgram tonight, along with the killing of three other TMC workers in incidents of post-poll violence allegedly carried out by BJP-backed miscreants over the last three days, despite the Model Code of Conduct being in force.”

Eyewitnesses Claim Attack Was Pre-Planned

An eyewitness at the scene said that the SUV in which Rath was travelling was intercepted by a small four-wheeler near Doharia junction and thereafter a man riding on a bike fired bullets at close range and they later abandoned the car and escaped on the bike. Another eyewitness at the murder of Chandra said that the firing at him was done from a close range and that it was a planned murder.

Hyderabad Post Huge Total of 235 Runs

Heinrich Klaasen and Ishan Kishan hit fifties as SRH managed 235/4 after being asked to bat. Abhishek Sharma was sent back after scoring just 35 off 13 balls while Travis Head 38 off 19 balls. The duo put on a 54-run opening stand off 3.3 overs. Ishan Kishan followed with 55 off 32 balls while Klaasen scored a brilliant 69 off 43 balls helping SRH set a huge total. 

Punjab Collapse Early In Big Chase

PBKS were off to a bad start (4/2 in 1.1 overs and 23/3 in 3.2 overs) in the second innings and never managed to recover from there. Punjab never looked on track during the chase with SRH skipper and pacer Pat Cummins striking for the hosts in the first over of the match, dismissing Priyansh Arya for a duck and Nitish Kumar Reddy striking on the very next ball to remove Prabhsimran. 

Wickets continued to fall at regular intervals with Marcus Stoinis (28) and Suryansh Shedge (25) losing their wickets to Shivang Kumar and Cummins respectively. Connolly battled it out on his own at the other end and had a 68-run stand with Marco Jansen (19) but the stand only went to reduce the margin of defeat for the hosts. Hyderabad bowlers stopped Punjab at 202-7 in the end despite Australia's Cooper Connolly striking a century at his maiden T20 ton of the career in the IPL. 

SRH Tops As Punjab Slip Down to Second

The win for SRH takes the PBKS's spot at the top of the table after spending the first week of April there and the third loss for Punjab in a row, placing them one point above Gujarat Titans and in danger of missing out on the 2026 Indian Premier League Playoffs. 

Topping the table is SRH with 14 points in 11 matches and are winners in 7 and lost in 4 matches with a good net run rate of +0.737. Punjab Kings are in second place with 13 points in 10 matches with six wins, three losses and one no-result along with a strong NRR of +0.571 in spite of this loss.

Playing Xl's: PBKS AND SRH

Punjab Kings- Prabhsimran Singh (WK), Cooper Connolly, Shreyas Iyer (C), Shashank Singh, Suryansh Shedge, Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen, Lockie Ferguson, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Arshdeep Singh and Yuzvendra Chahal.

Sunrisers Hyderabad - Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Ishan Kishan (WK), Heinrich Klaasen, Salil Arora, Ravichandran Smaran, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Pat Cummins (C), Shivang Kumar, Eshan Malinga and Sakib Hussain.

An Indian ship MV Gautam had developed a complete breakdown in technology while on its way from Oman to India and thus got stuck in the sea.

Pakistan Navy Sends Rescue Support

The Pakistan Navy provided rescue and assistance to the stranded crew of 6 Indians and 1 Indonesian upon being contacted by the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Mumbai asking them for support.

After the alert, the Pakistan Navy responded swiftly by dispatching the ship PMSS Kashmir to carry out the rescue mission. Food, medicine and other supplies were provided to the MV Gautam in order to ensure the well being of the stranded crew and also stabilize the vessel, it was added.

The Pakistani Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) is also understood to have lent its support to the rescue efforts.

ICG Discovers Fault in Main Generator 

The ICG was apparently informed of the incident at 11:22pm on May 4th and also learned that the incident happened due to the failure of the generator on May 3rd leading to a complete power failure onboard MV Gautam, said NDTV sources. At the time the incident happened, MV Gautam was in Pakistan's Search and Rescue Region (SRR). 

ICG Ship Rajratan Sent for Assistance

The ICG ship Rajratan was dispatched in response and on approaching the ship was able to see that it had limited use of communication, primarily restricted to VHF radio and AIS on battery backup.

"It was further ascertained that technical personnel from the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) had boarded the vessel. Following assessment, the main generator was declared beyond repair," the sources said.

Although initially, police claimed the explosion in Jalandhar occurred due to the scooty catching fire, sources added that initial probe pointed towards the usage of improvised explosive devices in both blasts. 

Scooty Explosion Sparks Panic In Jalandhar

A scooty parked just outside the BSF Punjab Frontier Headquarters in Jalandhar caught fire around 8 pm which panicked the area and the locals there claim to have heard an explosion-like sound from the scooty. The headquarters is located on the road which connects Jalandhar with the Amritsar-Delhi highway. 

As soon as the accident occurred the locals started to fear that a bomb explosion took place outside the headquarters and after receiving the report the police quickly took charge of the situation and made an immediate alert, Police did not report any casualties and further investigation to check how the scooty caught fire are going on however, CCTV visuals of the scooty suddenly exploding then taking the form of fire have also surfaced. 

Second Blast in Khasa Cantonment Amritsar

A blast occurred near the Khasa Cantonment area of Amritsar a few hours later around 10:50pm and quick action was taken by the security and police department. No loss of life and injuries have been reported but the whole city was alerted after the two explosions occurred, police said it was an unknown suspect. 

After police received information, senior army officials posted in the Cantonment rushed to the spot along with their security officers and the Bomb Disposal Squad. Samples have been sent for the tests to find out if the explosion was carried out by the locals and a preliminary inquiry into the whole matter is on and further information is expected. 

Opposition Slams Punjab Security Situation

Opposition parties are blaming the AAP government and saying the ruling government is responsible for this. Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring said that the two blasts near two army installations in Punjab in three hours is a sign of deteriorating security situation in the state. 

He said, "A blast in a delivery scooter in a crowded area exposes a serious collapse of law and order. Punjab is a sensitive border state; such incidents raise grave national security concerns. Yet, while the AAP-led Punjab government is busy parading its MLAs before the President, the BJP-led Centre is equally distracted and failing in its responsibility to ensure security. People deserve safety, not political theatre.”

DC Batting Struggles After Decent Start

Delhi Capitals won the toss and decided to bat first. The openers KL Rahul and Pathum Nissanka gave the team a positive start hitting a couple of boundaries each but they failed to convert their start. Nissanka was caught in the deep mistiming a slower delivery by Mukesh Choudhary for 19 while KL Rahul was caught in the deep hitting straight to the spinner Akeal Hosein. Delhi reached 37/2 in powerplay. 

Middle order was further dismantled by left arm chinaman Noor Ahmad as he bagged two wickets of Karun Nair and Nitish Rana who went for risky sweep shots to left arm spinner. Later some fighting display from Tristan Stubbs (38 from 31) and Sameer Rizvi (40* from 24) took DC closer to 150 with 65 runs partnership in the death overs.

Kartik and Samson Seal Comfortable Chase

CSK too got to a slow start and failed to create momentum and was seen only having 44 runs at the powerplay as they lost their captain Ruturaj Gaikwad. Urvil Patel hit a couple of sixes and a four as he played a cameo knock of 17 runs of nine balls.

After the fall of Urvil Patel they were seen to be on 45/2 at the seventh over and then Kartik Sharma was sent at no.4. He partnered with Samon and together they made a massive century partnership which remained unbroken. Kartik smashed an impressive 41 from 31 balls which contained four fours and two sixes.

Ruturaj Praises Team Effort and Bowling Unit

Ruturaj Gaikwad, CSK Captain said, “I think even initially after the 2nd and 3rd game, Flem and myself were positive, we were closer to what we were last year. Sanju had come along and the bowling was doing well. We then got a couple of wins and everyone started to gel together. On the batting side, more than grateful to have Sanju after the tournament he had in the WC, he's our backbone, but it's the bowlers who do the job. Akeal and Jamie come and silently do the job, Anshul is someone who does his job silently, he had a bad game today, but they've all come well together. We don't really well, we just let each other know what the wicket is doing and then assess the situation. Then it's all about how the match is going,” regarding the match.

Playing Xl's: CSK AND DC

Delhi Capitals- KL Rahul (WK), Pathum Nissanka, Karun Nair, Tristan Stubbs, Nitish Rana, Axar Patel (C), Ashutosh Sharma, Lungi Ngidi, Mitchell Starc, Kuldeep Yadav and T Natarajan.

Chennai Super Kings- Sanju Samson (WK), Ruturaj Gaikwad (C), Urvil Patel, Kartik Sharma, Dewald Brevis, Jamie Overton, Akeal Hosein, Noor Ahmad, Anshul Kamboj, Mukesh Choudhary and Gurjapneet Singh.

PM Modi Condemns Civilian Targeting

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also denounced the strike, calling "unacceptable" the targeting of civilians and infrastructure.

Modi said on social media platform X, "Strongly condemn the attacks on the UAE that resulted in injuries to three Indian nationals. Targeting civilians and infrastructure is unacceptable.

India stands in firm solidarity with the UAE and reiterates its support for the peaceful resolution of all issues through dialogue and diplomacy. Ensuring safe and unimpeded navigation through the Strait of Hormuz is vital for enduring regional peace, stability and global energy security."

MEA Calls Strike Unacceptable

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had described the attack as "unacceptable". In the statement New Delhi stated it still stands for diplomacy and dialogue to overcome the situation so that peace and stability can be restored all over the Middle East.

Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "The attack on Fujairah that resulted in injury to three Indian nationals is unacceptable. We call for immediate cessation of these hostilities and the targeting of civilian infrastructure and innocent civilians," in a post on X.

UAE Reports Missile Interceptions

On Friday, a large fire broke out at the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone as authorities stated that it had occurred due to a drone attack from Iran. For the first time, an attack occurred with that magnitude of damage in the UAE since a cease-fire was in progress last month.

The UAE Ministry of Defence had reported that 12 Ballistic missiles, four drones and three cruise missiles had been detected while entering the country and had been intercepted yesterday. Residents all over the UAE received an emergency warning – since the ceasefire had been active – that urged them to seek shelter away from windows and open spaces.

UAE Warns of Strong Response

The United Arab Emirates strongly condemned the drone and missile strikes by Iran. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, they deemed it as a serious escalation and violation of the UN Charter and International law and said it threatened the safety and stability of the nation. 

UAE made it clear that it would not tolerate such actions and has kept its right to react according to the international laws for protecting its region and residents. Furthermore it declared targeting citizens and infrastructure a transgression that is not acceptable under legal and human aspects, thus asking for an instant ceasefire and putting the complete responsibility on Iran for the attack and the results thereof.

Gujarat Dominates Punjab in Last Over Thriller

Suryansh Shedge smashed an impressive 57 from 29 balls as PBKS recovered from a disastrous start to score 163 for 9. Batting first, Punjab were reeling at 47/5 within the 9th over of the innings. However, Suryansh Shedge brought Punjab back with a partnership of 79 runs off 44 balls with Marcus Stoinis (40) for the 6th wicket. As soon as the pair got out, Punjab lost momentum. 

For Gujarat, Jason Holder had an impressive bowling spell of 4 for 24, Kagiso Rabada (2 for 22) and Mohammed Siraj (2 for 28) took two wickets each. In the run chase, Said Sudharsan's well paced innings of 57 off 41 kept Gujarat in the chase but once they were dismissed, Punjab pulled themselves back into the game as they managed to pressure the batting side and the game was taken down to the final over. GT required 3 runs of two balls, they won with the help of Washington Sundar smashing a six to end the game.

Gujarat Move Closer in Tight Playoff Race

Punjab Kings currently stand at top of the table however, their lead is beginning to shrink and there are now four teams who share 12 points from second to fifth position. Gujarat Titans are finally beginning to find their groove at the right time along with some teams in the mid table.

GT are the only team within the top 5 who currently have a negative NRR which seems to be down to their approach of batting and problems with the middle order. If the chase for fourth position comes down to NRR, they are not in a very strong position. Though the three consecutive wins at this moment puts GT firmly in the race for the playoffs.

Gill Praises Calm Chase and Sundar’s Finish

Shubman Gill, GT captain said, “I think in chases like these, we would have liked to not take it as deep as it went but two crucial points. This is not the kind of wicket where we'll chase in 15-16 overs. So we thought maybe one over before or a couple of overs before. That was the talk. If someone is set they should go deep because it's not easy to hit from ball 1. Length balls weren't coming the way they do on other wickets. It was important for the batsman who is set. Luckily we had Washi and he finished the game for us. Just sent the best batter that we thought in that situation,” regarding the match win.

Playing Xl's: GT AND PBKS

Punjab Kings: Prabhsimran Singh(w), Priyansh Arya, Cooper Connolly, Shreyas Iyer(c), Marcus Stoinis, Suryansh Shedge, Nehal Wadhera, Marco Jansen, Xavier Bartlett, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal

Gujarat Titans: Shubman Gill(c), Sai Sudharsan, Jos Buttler(w), Washington Sundar, Nishant Sindhu, Jason Holder, Rashid Khan, Arshad Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, Manav Suthar

The blaze is believed to have begun in one of the higher floors in the four-storey building. The emergency services came to the spot upon notification and evacuated more than 10 people from the building. The injured who are believed to have smoke inhalation are undergoing medical treatment.

CM Rekha Gupta Extends Condolences

Rekha Gupta, Chief Minister of Delhi has described it as deeply tragic and has extended her deepest sympathies to the families who have lost their dear ones in the blaze. She has said that while the injured persons are being attended to, she prays for their quick recovery. The Chief Minister assured the public that the government is monitoring the situation constantly and providing necessary relief. 

LG Saxena Orders Full Assistance

The Lt Governor of Delhi Vinai Kumar Saxena has sent condolences to all the victims' families and has urged for the victims to be taken care of medically and helpfully. Lieutenant Governor has said that a team of fire fighters and emergency services was already in place trying to bring the situation under control and that he wishes for the speedy recovery of those injured and strength for the family members who have lost their loved ones. The fire has now been controlled and efforts are on to recover any remaining individuals. 

Police Identify Victims After Deadly Fire

The bodies were recovered from the second floor where the blaze was strongest, said Rajendra Prasad Meena, DCP, Shahdara District. There were three persons in the locked stairwell, while five others were found on the second floor and one in the first floor. 

The dead are Arvind Jain (60), Anita Jain (58) and their son Nishant Jain (35), his wife Anchal Jain (33) and grandson Akash Jain, and three from another family, Nitin Jain (50) and his wife Shailey Jain (48) and their son Samyak Jain (25). Shikha Jain (45) and Naveen Jain (48) (her husband) were found on the first floor, the former was found dead and the latter was injured.

KKR Deliver Complete Team Performance

Sunil Narine (2 for 31) and Varun Chakravarthy (3 for 36) led with the ball, cutting down SRH to 165 all out in 19.4 overs. Narine’s second wicket in the fourth over marked his 200th in the IPL, making him just the third bowler after Yuzvendra Chahal and Bhuvneshwar Kumar to reach that milestone.

Chasing 166, KKR lost Finn Allen in the fourth over at 49, but captain Ajinkya Rahane held things together with a solid 43 from 36 balls. Angkrish Raghuvanshi chipped in with a steady 59 off 47, and together they put on 84 for the second wicket. Rinku Singh then finished it off, blasting 22 from just 11 balls and staying unbeaten.

KKR Strengthen Playoff Hopes

KKR now has 7 points from 9 matches, riding high on three wins in a row. If they win their remaining games, 17 points pretty much guarantees a Top 4 spot. If they win four out of five, though, their Net Run Rate will decide if they reach the 2026 IPL playoffs.

Rahane Credits Spinners and Preparation for Win

KKR Skipper Ajinkya Rahane said, “Very good game. The way we came back with the ball. Looked like they will get 190-200. It was a good wicket to bat on. 190-200 would've been challenging to chase. But credit to our bowling unit, especially the spinners. They kept taking wickets. Those small moments are really important, really happy with the win. The bowling unit has been doing really well last 5-6 games. Credit to our bowling coaches - Bravo and Southee. During practice sessions, lot of talking, lot of planning, different oppositions, different grounds. It's all about planning and executing. Here and there you will go for runs, but as long as you're clear in your head, that's important,” regarding the match win.

Playing Xl's: KKR AND SRH

Kolkata Knight Riders - Ajinkya Rahane (C), Angkrish Raghuvanshi (WK), Cameron Green, Rovman Powell, Manish Pandey, Rinku Singh, Sunil Narine, Anukul Roy, Kartik Tyagi, Vaibhav Arora and Varun Chakaravarthy

Sunrisers Hyderabad - Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Ishan Kishan (WK), Heinrich Klaasen, Salil Arora, Aniket Verma, Ravichandran Smaran, Pat Cummins (C), Harshal Patel, Shivang Kumar and Eshan Malinga

MI Lose Momentum After Strong Start

MI captain Hardik Pandya won the toss and elected to bat first against CSK. MI got off to a bright start as they reached 57 for 1 in the powerplay with the help of boundaries from Ryan Rickelton and Naman Dhir. However, CSK pulled it back in the form of Noor Ahmad who picked up Rickelton's wicket at a crucial time.

Ramakrishna Ghosh then grabbed his first wicket in the IPL and dismissed Suryakumar Yadav. Things were not in favour of MI as Tilak Varma then departed due to a mistimed shot. Hardik Pandya struggled to find the boundary as he only scored 18 in 23 balls as MI looked to be lacking momentum despite Dhir's half-century. The visitors were still able to score 159 with Anshul Kamboj chipping in with 3 wickets in the end for MI.

Gaikwad and Kartik Seal Easy Chase

CSK's reply began with a brisk start before their first big star Sanju Samson departed to Jasprit Bumrah. Skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad held his nerve in the chase and hit 6 off Boult as CSK kept their required rate below 7 an over.

Kartik Sharma steadied the innings with a half-century. Ruturaj Gaikwad and Kartik Sharma then got hold of the run-chase with a composed partnership that gave them a win with the pair both getting past the half-century mark as the CSK skipper ensured the chase did not slip away from them.

Playing Xl's: CSK AND MI

Chennai Super Kings: Sanju Samson (wk), Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Urvil Patel, Dewald Brevis, Shivam Dube, Jamie Overton, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Prashant Veer, Noor Ahmad, Anshul Kamboj, Mukesh Choudhary

Mumbai Indians: Will Jacks, Ryan Rickelton (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Naman Dhir, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya (c), Robin Minz, Trent Boult, Krish Bhagat, Jasprit Bumrah, AM Ghazanfar

DoT, MHA and NDMA launch initiative

Operated utilizing the SACHET framework produced by the C-DOT, the service is being rolled out throughout each of the states and Union Territories of India to produce a reliable communication framework which is more conscious and resilient with all of its people. This service has been launched by the Dept of Telecommunications along with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) as well as the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). 

Scindia Calls it Proactive Disaster Step

The service, which was introduced by the Union Communications Minister, Jyotiraditya Scindia, indicates a new age for Indian disaster administration procedures because authorities now suggest they are able to deliver very fast, up-to-date warnings that are not obstructed by community congestion or delays. 

"The launch of the Cell Broadcast System marks a transformative step in India’s disaster management framework, reflecting our shift from a reactive to a proactive approach in safeguarding citizens,” Scindia said.

Phones Received ‘Extremely Serious Alert’

An ‘Extremely Serious Alert’ warning sound went off on telephones around the nation on Saturday, as the Centre unveiled a broadcast system for timely communication throughout times of emergencies and disasters. 

It said, “India, launches Cell Broadcast using indigenous technology, for instant disaster alerting service for its citizens. Alert citizens, safe nation. No action is required by the public upon receipt of this message. This is a test message. - Government of India.”

System to Warn During Natural Disasters

Cell broadcast notifications are a significant update to sms-based alerts. They have been made to obtain quick attention and would certainly overtake some other telephone options if utilized, to trigger loud alarms with on-screen notifications whether a person has their smartphone turned off. The system can be utilized for delivering necessary info throughout normal and man-made catastrophes, for example earthquakes, tsunamis, lightning strikes, chemical leakages, among others. 

Nationwide Trials Underway Before Official Launch

The advancement followed a declaration in the earlier days that the govt would be carrying out tests around the new mobile alerts as well as cautioned the general public to not pay attention to alerts produced throughout those trials. 

"As part of the pan-India rollout and the launch of the Cell Broadcast (CB) facility, nationwide testing and trials are currently being conducted to assess the system's performance and reliability prior to its formal inauguration and dedication to the nation. During this period, members of the public may receive test messages in English, Hindi and regional languages on their mobile devices," the statement said.