National News Updates

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President J.P. Nadda is scheduled to visit Odisha on April 28 (Sunday) for election campaigning, a party leader said on Friday.

In a remarkable unearthing, palaeontologists have discovered a massive fossil of a snake in Gujarat being reported as the ‘largest snake’ that ever existed! The researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee had reported that the snake had likely lived 47 million years ago during the middle Eocene period.

Assuring that it is a 'Modi ki Guarantee' (PM Modi's guarantee), Home Minister Amit Shah said on Friday that the government led by the BJP will implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) across the country.

The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a batch of petitions seeking mandatory cross-verification of the votes cast in Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) with Voter-Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips. However, a bench headed by Justice Sanjiv Khanna asked the Election Commission of India to examine the suggestion if the VVPAT slips may have unique barcodes on them in addition to the party symbol, which in turn could be counted by an electronic machine.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi criticized the Mamata government for corruption, linking it to job losses and misused Central funds in West Bengal. He highlighted issues like the non-implementation of the Ayushman Bharat scheme and protection of sexual harassment culprits.

The Supreme Court rejected petitions for mandatory cross-verification of EVM votes with VVPAT slips but directed the Election Commission to explore adding barcodes to VVPAT slips. Justice Khanna introduced measures for securing and verifying Symbol Loading Units and burnt memory semicontrollers post-election, with associated costs covered by requesting candidates unless tampering is detected.

Today’s voting will see some of the most closely watched contests as some high profile names including Rahul Gandhi, Hema Malini, Tejasvi Surya, Rajeev Chandrashekhar and Shashi Tharoor are seeking seats.

India advocates for comprehensive UN reform, including the Security Council, to address current geopolitical realities and enhance effectiveness. This is crucial for the upcoming Summit of the Future where world leaders will negotiate the Pact of the Future.

The second phase of the Lok Sabha elections covers 88 constituencies in 12 states and a Union Territory. High-profile candidates like Rahul Gandhi are contesting. Polls are staffed by over 1.6 lakh officers and feature advanced accessibility for elderly and differently-abled voters.

Four proclaimed offender terrorist handlers' properties in Handwara, Kupwara district were attached on court orders. These individuals, based in Pakistan or PoK, are accused of orchestrating terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir since the 1990s.

Bollywood actress Tamannaah Bhatia has been summoned by Maharashtra Cyber Police concerning her alleged involvement in promoting the Fairplay app, linked to the Mahadev online gambling scam involving over Rs 6,000 crore. The investigation also highlights a broader inquiry with multiple FIRs and an Enforcement Directorate probe into money laundering.

Six family members died and two were injured in a car crash when their SUV hit a stationary truck on the Hyderabad-Vijayawada highway near Kodada, Telangana. The accident was attributed to overspeeding.

Indian Army Chief Gen. Manoj Pande emphasized the need for self-reliance in warfighting technology and critical tech self-sufficiency through indigenous R&D. At a seminar, he highlighted the role of technology in modern warfare and called for a unified defense ecosystem among various stakeholders to enhance soldier empowerment and readiness.

Delhi court extended Manish Sisodia's judicial custody till May 7 in a money laundering case linked to an excise policy scam. Despite withdrawing his bail plea to campaign, his regular bail request is pending, with arguments focused on his influence and potential to tamper with evidence.

The Election Commission of India detailed to the Supreme Court the secure, tamper-proof design of Electronic Voting Machines, emphasizing that microcontrollers in EVM units are one-time programmable and sealed against unauthorized access. This was part of a hearing involving technical clarifications and previous mandates on cross-verification with VVPAT slips.