Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the BIMSTEC summit on April 4, where leaders will focus on strengthening maritime cooperation. A key highlight of the summit will be the signing of the Agreement on Maritime Transport Cooperation, which aims to improve cargo and passenger transport across the Bay of Bengal. This agreement is expected to boost trade and connectivity among BIMSTEC member countries—Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand—by enhancing maritime links and making better use of the region’s strategic location.

During the summit, leaders will also unveil the Vision 2030 document, which lays out a long-term plan for regional development. This vision will cover important areas such as agriculture, food security, connectivity, climate change, disaster management, and sustainable development. Member countries are expected to align their policies with this vision to ensure stronger regional cooperation and economic growth.

India’s women’s No. 1 Anahat Singh showed exactly why she is at the top of the pile, as she despatched the challenge from Helen Tang to clinch the JSW Indian Open title in grand style, at the lawns of the Bombay Gymkhana, on Friday evening. Supported by JSW, this was the 17-year-old Anahat’s sixth title on the bounce.

In the women’s singles final, India’s teenage sensation Anahat Singh was in fine form against Helen Tang. The India No. 1 had Helen fighting hard in the other corner during the first set, but Anahat did enough to clinch a 1-0 lead.

To promote tourism and wildlife conservation in Punjab, the government has planned to develop the Jhajjar-Bachauli Wildlife Sanctuary of Sri Anandpur Sahib into an eco-tourism and the first Leopard safari destination in the state. This was announced in the state’s budget presented yesterday for the year 2025-26. It has also been announced to develop Nangal as Punjab’s next big tourist spot for which a provision of Rs. 10 Crore has been kept in the budget.

In the 120th episode of his 'Mann ki Baat' programme, PM Modi on Sunday unveiled a unique calendar for children to make summer vacations more productive and creative,

The PM said that the special 'MY-Bharat' calendar" would share a study tour where children could learn about how 'Jan Aushadhi Kendras' operate, experience border village by becoming a part of the vibrant village campaign and many other activities.

"I would also like to discuss with you the special calendar of MY-Bharat, which has been prepared for this summer vacation. At the moment, copy of this calendar is kept in front of me. I want to share some unique efforts from this calendar. For example, in the study tour of MY-Bharat, you can know how our 'Jan Aushadhi Kendras' function. You can undergo a unique experience in the border villages by becoming a part of the vibrant village campaign. Along with this, you can definitely become a part of the cultural and sports activities there. At the same time, by participating in the padyatra on Ambedkar Jayanti, you can also spread awareness about the values of the Constitution." PM Modi said.

The three-day Viksit Bharat Youth Parliament by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports will kick off in New Delhi today. Like traditional Youth Parliament, the event will serve as a powerful platform to connect young individuals with politics and public policy, fostering their engagement in governance and nation-building. For the first time since COVID-19, all 300 District Nodal Rounds were conducted in person, and over 75 thousand young people from every State and Union Territory submitted their video entries through the MY Bharat portal.

After successful district and state rounds, the top 3 candidates from each State and UT, totaling 108 youth, have been selected to participate at the national level. Participants will engage in high-level discussions and activities, including Question Hour on “One Nation, One Election” and “Viksit Bharat”. The participants will also attend sessions in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha for firsthand exposure to governance. The event will conclude on Thursday, as the Viksit Bharat Youth Parliament Awards and National Youth Awards will be conferred.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) announced the extension of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) for another six months in parts of Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, and Nagaland, starting tomorrow.

In Manipur, AFSPA will continue in all districts except for those under the jurisdiction of 13 police stations in five districts – Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal, Bishnupur, and Kakching. The state has been grappling with ethnic violence since May 2023.

The law has also been extended in eight districts of Nagaland and parts of five others, while in Arunachal Pradesh, AFSPA applies to Tirap, Changlang, Longding districts, and certain areas in Namsai district.

Hindustan Aeronautics rose 2.71% to Rs 4,289.30 after it has signed two contracts with the Ministry of Defence for the supply of 156 Light Combat Helicopters (LCH), Prachand, along with training and other associated equipment, worth Rs 62,700 crore.

The official announcement was made after market hours on 28 March 2025.

The first contract is for the supply of 66 LCHs to the Indian Air Force (IAF), and the second is for the supply of 90 LCHs to the Indian Army. The supply of these helicopters will commence in the third year and will be spread over the next five years. These contracts will enhance the combat capability of the Armed Forces at high altitudes.

The Bombay High Court allowed a 32-year-old woman to terminate her 26-week pregnancy at a private hospital of her choice in the city due to foetal anomalies.

The court allowed her plea to medically terminate the pregnancy considering her medical condition, right to reproductive freedom, bodily autonomy and right of choice.

A bench of Justices Revati Mohite-Dere and Neela K Gokhale on March 28 passed an order on plea by the woman argued through advocate Meenaz Kakalia, who was unwilling to continue her pregnancy.

mid India's ongoing Operation Brahma to assist Myanmar following last week's devastating earthquake, India and the United States (US) will commence the fourth edition of Exercise Tiger Triumph, a bilateral tri-service humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) exercise, on Tuesday. The 13-day exercise, taking place on the Eastern Seaboard, will continue till April 13.

"The exercise is aimed at developing interoperability for conducting HADR operations and for the formulation of standard operating procedures to establish a combined coordination centre that would enable rapid and smooth coordination between Indian and US joint task forces during exercises and in times of crises or contingencies," said an Indian Navy spokesperson.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) will be participating in Exercise INIOCHOS-25, a prestigious multinational air exercise hosted by the Hellenic Air Force. The exercise will take place at Andravida Air Base, Greece, from 31 March 2025 to 11 April 2025. The IAF contingent will include Su-30 MKI fighters along with combat enabler IL-78 & C-17 aircraft, according to the Defence Ministry.

INIOCHOS is a biennial multinational air exercise hosted by the Hellenic Air Force. It serves as a platform for air forces to hone their skills, exchange tactical knowledge, and strengthen military ties. The exercise will integrate multiple air and surface assets from fifteen countries under realistic combat scenarios, designed to simulate modern-day air warfare challenges, the ministry's statement said on Sunday.