Stories from India

Indian President Droupadi Murmu issued a message marking Buddha Purnima, describing the day as commemorating the advent, enlightenment, and Mahapari Nirvāne of Lord Buddha. Union Home Minister Amit Shah is expected to inaugurate a Sacred Holy Relics exposition.

The National Asset Reconstruction Company Limited (NARCL) recovered 43,500 crore rupees during the current year. This amount represents approximately 70 percent of the company's total recoveries. The ministry stated that NARCL's recovery efforts saw progress over the past year.

A court has rejected a petition by the Trinamool Congress regarding the appointment of election staff. Justice Krishna Rao ruled that the Election Commission holds the authority to appoint counting supervisors and assistants. The ruling stated that the central government or central public sector undertakings cannot appoint these specific roles. The decision impacts how election personnel are assigned during the counting process. The Supreme Court refused to intervene in the Trinamool Congress's plea challenging the appointment of central government employees for the West Bengal assembly election counting. A special bench comprising Justices P.S. Narasimha and Joymalya Bagchi stated that the Election Commission has the authority to appoint personnel for vote counting.

The Gujarat local body elections for 2026 have been scheduled with voting taking place on April 26. The announcement follows the release of specific dates for the local government polls.

The High Court in Rajasthan has issued a contempt notice regarding delays in Panchayat and municipal elections. The court requires a formal response within four weeks.

Members of the BJP and BRS parties are protesting the postponement of the Khanapur Municipal Chairman election. The local chairman's election has been delayed, causing tension between the political groups.

A severe hailstorm in Bengaluru, India, resulted in ten fatalities. The storm caused property damage, including shattered windows and damage to vehicles and buildings.

The Kolkata High Court has dismissed a petition filed by the Trinamool Congress. The petition challenged the appointment of central government employees to serve as supervisors in vote counting centres. The court dismissed claims of partisan bias in the counting process.

The Andhra Pradesh government has released its 2026-27 budget outlay of Rs 3.32 Lakh Crore. The budget focuses on fiscal discipline and capital growth initiatives.

India's indigenous Tejas MK2 light combat aircraft is entering a critical development phase. This aircraft is described as a deep reconstruction rather than a simple upgrade to the Tejas MK1. The MK2 variant will utilize a new aviation engine provided by the United States. The Tejas MK2 medium fighter jet is scheduled for its maiden flight in mid-2026. Liang Yongchuan noted that the MK2 represents a deep structural upgrade over the MK1, specifically improving safety and reliability. The aircraft has a maximum takeoff weight of 17.5 tons, which is higher than the Tejas MK1. It is expected to be equipped with an Indian-developed control radar that was previously rejected by the Indian Air Force due to performance issues. The aircraft will also feature canards to improve maneuverability, though the source notes improper use could lead to loss of control.