TODAY NEWS ON March 21, 2026

LPG situation might be worrisome, says Petroleum Ministry

In a briefing, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG), on Friday (March 20, 2026) said that petrol prices increase restricted to premium variant of fuel. It was increased by ₹2-3/litre, and not the regular version which remains unaffected. Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary said “common public will not be affected.” Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNB) Joint Secretary Sujata Sharma said “40% increase in average daily domestic production of LPG.” She added “LPG situation might be worrisome, but not at the stage where we cannot provide to domestic consumers. We are also procuring cargoes from wherever we can.”

China welcomes Vikram Doraiswami’s appointment as India’s new Envoy

China on Friday (March 20, 2026) welcomed the appointment of veteran diplomat Vikram Doraiswami as the new Indian Ambassador, expressing hope that he will make a positive contribution to the sustained improvement of Sino-India ties. Mr. Doraiswami, a 1992-batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer, is currently serving as the Indian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom. The 56-year-old diplomat was on Thursday (March 19, 2026) appointed as India’s new envoy to China. He will succeed Pradeep Kumar Rawat.

Rupee crashes 82 paise to settle at 93.71 against U.S. dollar

The rupee crashed 82 paise, or nearly 1%, to settle at an all-time low of 93.71 (provisional) against the U.S. dollar on Friday (March 20, 2026), weighed down by persistent foreign fund outflows and a steep rise in crude oil prices amid mounting geopolitical tensions.

Forex traders said the Indian rupee is under tremendous pressure as surging crude oil prices and a shift toward risk-aversion dented investor sentiments.

Trump says considering ‘winding down’ Iran war but rules out ceasefire

President Donald Trump said that the United States was considering “winding down” military operations against Iran but was not seeking a ceasefire with the Islamic republic. Mr. Trump, in a post on Truth Social, said the United States was “getting very close to meeting our objectives as we consider winding down our great Military efforts in the Middle East”.

Growth of eight core sectors halved to 2.3% in February, before West Asia crisis began

India’s core industrial growth slowed sharply even before the crisis in West Asia began, with government data showing growth in the eight core sectors of the economy slowing to a three-month low of 2.3% in February 2026. This slowdown in February, as shown by the data on the Index of Eight Core Industries released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry on Friday, comes at a time when economists and policymakers are expecting a further slowdown in March in response to the supply and export constraints brought on by the war in West Asia.

UNI office sealed in Delhi; staffers allege manhandling by the police

The Delhi Police along with paramilitary forces allegedly dragged at least 50 journalists out of the United News of India’s (UNI) Rafi Marg office following a court order over a land dispute. Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) Sachin Sharma told The Hindu that the Delhi Police along with the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel visited the premises of the UNI office to provide security to the Land and Development Office after the High Court gave an order to vacate the premises in favour of the latter. “

‘Lethargic’ officials who left Chambal sanctuary to the mercy of sand miners will be held liable: SC

The Supreme Court observed that State officials who by their “lethargy and inaction” allowed sand mining to flourish in the fragile lotic ecosystem of the National Chambal Sanctuary would be vicariously liable aiding and abetting. A Bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta, in a suo motu case, reminded Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, in whose tri-junction the sanctuary is located, that every act of destruction of wildlife habitat in a protected area would attract offences and penalties under multiple laws, including the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.

U.S. to deploy 3 more warships and roughly 2,500 more Marines to the West Asia, official says

The U.S. military is deploying three more warships and roughly 2,500 more marines to the West Asia, an official says. One U.S. official confirmed that the USS Boxer and two other amphibious assault ships, along with roughly 2,500 Marines of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, have deployed from their home port of San Diego and are bound for the West Asia.

The Voice of Hind Rajab banned in India orally by CBFC, distributor says

The Voice of Hind Rajab, an Oscar nominated film about a 5-year-old girl who was killed by Israeli forces in early 2024 in the Gaza war, has been orally rejected by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), the film’s India distributor Manoj Nandwana said. The theatrical ban on the film was first reported by Hollywood trade publication Variety.

Work from home, avoid air travel to deal with higher energy prices: International Energy Agency

The International Energy Agency (IEA), which this month agreed a record ​release of oil from strategic stockpiles to deal ‌with the effects of the U.S-Israeli war ​with Iran, outlined proposals to ease oil price pressures on consumers, such as working-from-home and avoiding air travel. The ​IEA said such ‌proposals included working from home, reducing highway speed limits by at least 10 km per hour, and avoiding air travel ‌if other means of transport were available.

Israel hits Tehran with airstrikes on Persian New Year as war jolts energy markets

Israel pounded Tehran with airstrikes as Iranians marked Nowruz, or the Persian New Year, in the midst of a war that has sent shock waves through the global economy and risked drawing Iran’s Arab neighbors directly into the conflict. Activists reported hearing strikes around Iran’s capital. The attacks came a day after Israel pledged to refrain from more strikes on a key Iranian gas field and Iran intensified attacks on oil and natural gas facilities around the Gulf.

Bhatti presents welfare oriented budget for Telangana with emphasis on urban and rural development

Telangana Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka presented a welfare oriented budget for the 2026-27 financial year in the Legislative Assembly with a heavy accent on both urban and rural development.

Trump calls NATO ‘cowards’ over lack of support in Iran war

President Donald ​Trump assailed NATO allies over ‌their lack of support for the ​U.S.-Israel war against ⁠Iran, calling the longtime U.S. allies “cowards.” “Without the U.S.A., NATO IS A PAPER TIGER!” ‌Mr. Trump said in a social media post. Mr. Trump has been ‌calling for major U.S. ‌allies ⁠and others, none of which ⁠were consulted or advised on the war, to help secure the safety of ​shipping through ‌the Strait of Hormuz.

EC directs political parties to get advertisements pre-certified

Ahead of the Assembly polls in four States and one Union Territory, the Election Commission (EC) directed political parties to get their advertisements pre-certified by Media Certification and Monitoring Committees (MCMC) and individual candidates to share details of their authentic social media accounts at the time of filing nominations.

Chuck Norris, martial arts master and actor whose toughness became internet lore, dies at 86

Chuck Norris, the martial arts grandmaster and action star whose roles in “Walker, Texas Ranger” and other television shows and movies made him an iconic tough guy — sparking internet parodies and adoration from presidents — has died at 86. Norris died on Thursday (March 19, 2026), in what his family described as a “sudden passing.” “While we would like to keep the circumstances private, please know that he was surrounded by his family and was at peace,” the family said in a statement posted to social media.