THE HEADLINES::
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi pitches for dialogue and diplomacy to restore peace in West Asia; Assures smooth supplies of oil, gas and fertilizers.
- US President Donald Trump calls up Prime Minister Modi to discuss West Asia situation.
- Defence Minister Rajnath Singh reviews preparedness amid global and regional developments.
- Lok Sabha passes Transgender Persons Protection of Rights Amendment Bill to ensure respect and dignity.
- Supreme Court grants pensionary benefits to women Short Service Commission officers denied permanent commission.
- Israel and Iran continue to exchange missiles as war enters 25th day.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for dialogue and diplomacy to restore peace in the West Asia region. Speaking in the Rajya Sabha today over the ongoing conflict in West Asia, Mr Modi said, India has raised the issue of de-escalation and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
Mr Modi said, India is continuously making efforts through diplomacy to ensure the safe movement of Indian ships even in this war environment. He assured that government is ensuring smooth supplies of petrol, diesel, oil, gas and fertilizers. He said, the government has consistently made efforts to reduce its dependency on other countries in every sector.
The Prime Minister said, the fundamentals of India’s economy are strong, and the government is closely monitoring the rapidly changing situation.
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Prime Minister Modi today held a telephonic conversation with US President Donald Trump. In a social media post, Mr Modi said, he received a call from President Trump and they had a useful exchange of views on the situation in West Asia. Prime Minister Modi said that India supports de-escalation and restoration of peace at the earliest, ensuring that the Strait of Hormuz remains open, secure and accessible which is essential for the whole world. Mr Modi said that both leaders agreed to stay in touch regarding efforts towards peace and stability.
External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar met Iran’s ambassador to India, Dr. Mohammad Fathali this afternoon. In a social media post, Dr Jaishankar said that during their meeting they discussed the conflict in West Asia.
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The Government has assured that there is a sufficient stock of petrol and diesel in the country and domestic production of LPG has been stepped up and all refineries are operating at the highest capacity. Joint Secretary in Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Sujata Sharma was addressing an inter-ministerial briefing in New Delhi today on recent developments in West Asia.
Special Secretary of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Rajesh Kumar Sinha informed that 2 Indian flagged LPG carriers- Pine Gas and Jag Vasant have safely crossed the Strait of Hormuz and are heading towards the country.
External Affairs Ministry’s Additional Secretary (Gulf) Aseem Mahajan said, the government continues to closely monitor the evolving situation in the West Asia region.
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Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today chaired a high-level review meeting in view of recent global and regional security developments. The review comes as the ongoing West Asia conflict enters its fourth week, significantly disrupting global trade routes, particularly through the Strait of Hormuz. Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi, and Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi attended the meeting.
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The West Asia conflict entered its 25th day today, with tensions remaining high as Israel and Iran continued to exchange missiles, despite US President Donald Trump’s claim of ongoing negotiations, which Tehran has dismissed as fake news. An Iranian missile struck Tel Aviv today, killing at least four people and injuring six people, besides damaging buildings and vehicles.
On the other hand, the Israeli army said, it has completed a wave of extensive strikes targeting production sites in Iran.
“Across the wider region, the conflict is expanding both militarily and diplomatically. In Lebanon, tensions have escalated sharply, with Beirut declaring the newly appointed Iranian envoy persona non grata, accusing Tehran of drawing the country deeper into conflict. Hezbollah continues to exchange heavy fire with Israeli forces along the southern border, vowing to resist any long-term Israeli presence. In the Gulf, countries are tightening both defence and diplomatic responses. Bahrain has called for urgent discussions at the United Nations, while Kuwait, UAE and Saudi Arabia report intercepting multiple incoming drones and missiles. Qatar has renewed calls for an immediate ceasefire, warning that disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz pose a serious threat to global trade and energy supplies. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia and the UAE are signalling a shift towards more active military coordination, with Riyadh granting expanded access to U.S. forces at King Fahd Air Base and warning that its patience is not unlimited following direct threats to its territory. Vinod Kumar, Akashvani News, Dubai.”
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The Lok Sabha has passed the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026. The Bill aims to amend the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019. Under the Act, a transgender person may apply to the District Magistrate for issuing a certificate of identity as a transgender person. The Bill adds that the District Magistrate will issue the certificate after examining the recommendation of a designated medical board.
Replying to the debate on the Bill, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Dr Virendra Kumar said, the Government’s goal is to build a strong, prosperous and developed India, a modern, compassionate, and inclusive society in which everyone can live with respect and dignity.
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The Supreme Court today ruled that women Short Service Commission (SSC) officers in the Army, Navy, and Air Force who were denied Permanent Commission due to arbitrary evaluation processes will now be entitled to full pension benefits. A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, along with Justices Ujjal Bhuyan and N. Kotiswar Singh, held that these officers will be treated as having completed the required 20 years of service for pension eligibility, even if they were released earlier.
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The Apex Court has ruled that only individuals belonging to Hindu, Sikh, or Buddhist faiths are eligible to claim Scheduled Caste status. The Court clarified that conversion to any other religion, such as Christianity, results in the immediate and complete loss of Scheduled Caste status.
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A Delhi court today sentenced Kashmiri separatist Asiya Andrabi to life imprisonment following her conviction in an Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) case. Additional Sessions Judge Chander Jit Singh announced the verdict on Andrabi after concluding the arguments on the quantum of sentence. The court also sentenced two associates of Andrabi, Sofi Fehmeeda and Nahida Nasreen, who were also convicted for 30 years in prison in the same case.
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Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw today announced five reforms as part of Indian Railways resolve to undertake 52 reforms in 52 weeks this year in New Delhi. Briefing media in New Delhi, the Minister announced reforms in cancellation of tickets and refund rules, change of train boarding, salt transportation, automobile transportation, and quality of construction. Highlighting the reforms in cancellation of tickets and refund rules, Mr Vaishnaw informed that only minimum flat cancellation charge per passenger will apply to tickets cancelled in more than seventy two hours before the departure of the train. He added that 25 percent of the fare will be levied as a cancellation charge for tickets cancelled in less than seventy two hours and upto 24 hours before the train departure.
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The scrutiny of nomination papers for Assam, Keralam and Puducherry assembly elections was held today. The filing of nomination papers ended yesterday. The last day for withdrawal of candidature is Thursday.
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Karmayogi Bharat CEO Chhavi Bhardwaj today said that the Department of Personnel and Training, Capacity Building Commission, and Karmayogi Bharat will collectively organise a week-long Sadhna Saptah from the 2nd of next month in New Delhi. The CEO was talking exclusively to Akashvani News.
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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi pitches for dialogue and diplomacy to restore peace in West Asia; Assures smooth supplies of oil, gas and fertilizers.
- US President Donald Trump calls up Prime Minister Modi to discuss West Asia situation.
- Defence Minister Rajnath Singh reviews preparedness amid global and regional developments.
- Lok Sabha passes Transgender Persons Protection of Rights Amendment Bill to ensure respect and dignity.
- Supreme Court grants pensionary benefits to women Short Service Commission officers denied permanent commission.
- Israel and Iran continue to exchange missiles as war enters 25th day.
