Stories from India

The Gujarat state government has announced the dates for the 2026 local body elections. Voting is scheduled to take place on April 26. The announcement follows preparations by the OBC Commission regarding the election cycle.

Voting for local body elections in Gujarat is scheduled for April 26, 2026. The announcement follows discussions regarding the integrity and readable formatting of local election results.

AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal held a roadshow in the Ballygunge area of Kolkata. The rally was organized to support Trinamool Congress candidates. Kejriwal addressed issues regarding Trinamool Congress corruption and governance failures. The event aimed to strengthen the political position of the party in the region.

Tibetan exiles are voting for a government in exile to prepare for a future without the 90-year-old Dalai Lama. The Central Tibetan Administration is based in India and serves as the representative body for the exile community.

India currently possesses only 1 gigawatt hour of battery capacity despite an announced goal of 178 gigawatt hours. The country faces challenges in accessing manufacturing technology compared to rivals like Japan and South Korea. This technological gap threatens India's ability to scale its electric vehicle industry. Experts note that the country is attempting to build many of these industries from scratch.

Indian stock market values and brokerage shares declined following the central bank's tightening of lending regulations. The move aims to curb speculative trading in the F&O segment. Market volatility is expected as attention shifts to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's upcoming budget speech. Market volatility persists as investors await the budget speech by Nirmala Sitharaman.

The Safdarjung meteorological station in New Delhi, India, recorded a maximum temperature of 42.8 degrees Celsius on April 25. This is the highest recorded temperature for April in recent years for the city. This reading significantly exceeds the average for the same period and meets the India Meteorological Department's criteria for a heatwave, defined as temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius. Authorities have implemented a vigilance protocol, specifically regarding schools, due to the early and violent heat. A report from Adoula and Rally noted the extreme conditions in the capital.

Tibetan communities outside of China are conducting votes to establish a government in exile. The election comes as the community prepares for a future without the 90-year-old Dalai Lama. Beijing has characterized the election process as a farce.

Listed companies in India reported a 14.7% increase in net profit for the third quarter of fiscal year 2026. This represents the fastest growth rate recorded in two years.

An Indian official has proposed a trusted traveler scheme to assist with visa verification processes. The proposal aims to help prevent scam artists from obtaining visas through the IRCC system. The official suggested that authorities check the legitimacy of applicants before issuing visas to mitigate system abuse. This discussion follows concerns regarding the exploitation of asylum systems.