Two-phase elections in West Bengal; Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry to vote in one phase

The Election Commission of India, on Sunday (March 15, 2026), announced the schedule for the Assembly elections in Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Puducherry. While West Bengal will vote in two phase, all the other elections will happen in a single phase.

Assam, Kerala and the Union Territory of Puducherry will go to polls on April 9, 2026. In Tamil Nadu, the election will be conducted on April 23. The first phase of elections will happen on April 23, 2026 in West Bengal and the second phase on April 29, 2026. The counting for all these elections will be held on May 4, 2026.

LPG bookings fall to 77 lakh; Indian crude tanker sails out of UAE’s Fujairah safely

Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) refill bookings have declined to about 77 lakh from 88.8 lakh earlier, indicating some easing of panic buying, even as the government said there is no shortage of petrol, diesel or cooking gas, and supplies remain stable despite the West Asia conflict. All domestic “refineries are operating at high capacity and maintaining adequate crude oil inventories,” the update said. “The country remains self-sufficient in the production of petrol and diesel, requiring no imports of the fuels to meet domestic demand.” Oil marketing companies have reported no dry outs at fuel retail outlets or LPG distributorships, and petrol, diesel and LPG supplies are being maintained regularly.

Three years on, justice eludes 2 Kuki-Zo women who were stripped, paraded, gang-raped in Manipur

Nearly three years after two Kuki-Zo women were stripped, paraded and gang-raped by a mob in Manipur’s Thoubal district — an attack in which the brother and father of one of the survivors were killed — three accused in the case remain absconding, two are out on bail, and the bail application of another will come up for hearing in the Supreme Court later this month. The husband of one of the victims, an ex-Army jawan and key witness in the case, told The Hindu that a prime suspect identified as Loya, accused of killing the two men, continues to roam free.

Iran warns against wider war as Trump asks allies to escort ships

Iran warned countries against getting involved in its war with the United States and Israel, after President Donald Trump urged world powers to escort oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz chokepoint in the Gulf. Tehran also sent a stern message to its Arab neighbours, telling them that the Islamic republic has what its Foreign Minister called “ample evidence” that U.S. bases on their territories were being used to launch attacks.

17.4 crore voters eligible for assembly polls in TN, Bengal, Assam, Kerala, Puducherry

A total of 17.4 crore voters are eligible to take part in the forthcoming Assembly elections in four States — Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Assam and Kerala, and one Union Territory, Puducherry, to elect 824 MLAs, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar said. Addressing a press conference, Mr. Kumar also said that voting will be held at 2.19 lakh polling stations across the four States and Union Territories while 25 lakh election officials will be on duty to ensure free and fair elections.

Pakistan says hit military facilities in Afghanistan

Pakistan said its forces had attacked military facilities in southern Afghanistan, as well as “terrorist hideouts”, in the latest strikes between the two sides. Security sources said troops “effectively destroyed technical support infrastructure and equipment storage facility in Kandahar”, which is home to the Taliban administration’s supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada.

Trump says U.S. strikes ‘demolished’ Iran’s Kharg Island, warns of more attacks

U.S. President Donald Trump threatened further strikes on Iran’s Kharg Island oil export hub and urged allies to send warships to secure the Strait of Hormuz, as Tehran vowed to ‌step up its response and the war showed no sign on Sunday of coming to an end. Mr. Trump said the U.S. ​strikes had “totally demolished” most of Kharg Island and warned that more could follow, telling NBC News, “We may hit it a few more times ⁠just for fun.” While he said Tehran appeared ready to make a deal to end the conflict, he added that “the terms aren’t good enough yet.”

UPSC’s new rule: Supreme Court nod must for delay in choosing State DGPs

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has revised the rules for the empanelment of the State Director General of Police and Head of Police Force. State Governments will now have to get the consent of the Supreme Court for any delay in submitting the list of DGP-rank officers to the UPSC for empanelment.

PM lauds Speaker for conducting Lok Sabha proceedings with ‘dedication, patience and impartiality’

Prime Minister Narendra Modi commended Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla for conducting the House proceedings with “dedication, patience, and impartiality”, saying that his actions would strengthen the country’s parliamentary democracy. In a letter to Mr. Birla, the Prime Minister congratulated the members of the House for rejecting “political misconduct” by defeating the Opposition’s no-confidence motion brought against the Speaker in the Lok Sabha.

Assam inks settlement with Hmar, Kuki extremist groups

The Assam government signed a memorandum of settlement with three Kuki extremist groups as well as a Hmar group. The organisations involved are the Hmar People’s Convention-Democratic (HPC-D), United Kukigam Defence Army (UKDA), Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA), and the Kuki Liberation Organisation (KLO), which is also known as the Kuki Liberation Army. The members of all these groups had laid down their arms in 2012.

Sri Lanka switches to QR code-based system to ration fuel sales

Sri Lanka switched to a digital QR code-based system to ration fuel sales, a move authorities described as a “precautionary measure” amid persisting uncertainty in West Asia. Citing “prevailing geopolitical developments” in West Asia and their adverse impact on global supply chains, Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Energy said the country’s existing fuel stocks were depleting amid an “abnormal increase” in demand. “Therefore, it has become necessary to carefully manage the available fuel reserves in order to sustain the country’s economic activities,” it said in a public notice announcing the switch to a QR code system.

Trump says U.S. not ready to agree deal to end Iran war

Donald Trump warned that he is not ready to seek a deal to end the war with Iran, as U.S. ally Israel launched a new wave of strikes on Sunday (March 15, 2026) and Tehran’s Revolutionary Guards threatened to hunt down and kill the Israeli leader. The U.S. President, in an interview with NBC News, said he thought Tehran was keen to come to the table but that Washington would fight on for better terms and might bomb targets on Iran’s oil hub Kharg Island once, again, “just for fun”.

Antonelli takes first F1 win with Mercedes one-two in China

A tearful Kimi Antonelli celebrated a breakthrough first ​win of his Formula One career on Sunday (March 15, 2026) after ⁠leading championship-leading teammate George Russell in a Mercedes one-two in China from pole position. The 19-year-old Italian driver became the second-youngest race winner in ‌the sport’s history after four-time world champion Max Verstappen, who took his first victory with Red Bull at ‌18 in 2016.

Mandhana, Gill win top BCCI awards

Prolific batters Smriti Mandhana and Shubman Gill were named the Best International Cricketers (Men’s and Women’s) at the BCCI Naman Awards 2026 on Sunday (March 15, 2026), recognising their outstanding performances in the 2024–2025 season. Gill won the prestigious Polly Umrigar Award, while Mandhana received the award for the fifth time.