Times of India

The Sensex dropped for the fifth consecutive session, closing at an eight-month low of 74,454 points. Weak global sentiment and substantial foreign fund outflows affected the market. IT, telecom, and metal stocks led the decline, while the broader Nifty also fell significantly. Despite the selloff, optimistic forecasts suggest potential recovery.

The CPM issued a detailed note to explain why their draft political resolution does not label the Modi government as fascist, which has created tensions with its ally CPI. The CPM contends the BJP's rule shows emerging neo-fascist traits but avoids directly naming it a neo-fascist state.

At a wedding in UP's Bareilly, a drunken groom mistakenly garlanded the bride's best friend, and later others, causing confusion and leading to the bride calling off the marriage. The bride's family felt humiliated. The groom was arrested and booked under the Dowry Act after medical examination confirmed intoxication. The bride refused to proceed with the wedding despite apologies.

CM Mamata Banerjee announced pay hikes for junior and senior doctors at state-run hospitals and increased the private-practice distance cap. She urged doctors to ensure a minimum of eight working hours and senior doctors to not leave crucial tasks to juniors. The CM addressed these expectations during her first conclave with health professionals.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated his dedication to farmers' welfare by distributing over Rs 22,000 crore to farmers nationally through the 19th instalment of the PM-Kisan scheme. Notably, around 75 lakh farmer families in Bihar benefited, with Rs 1,600 crore directly credited to their accounts.

India has affirmed PM Modi's attendance at the Bimstec summit in Thailand on April 3-4. The summit serves as a pivotal platform for enhancing regional cooperation, connectivity, and security, especially in light of the stalled SAARC summit process. Bangladesh will assume the Chair from Thailand this year.

Home Minister Amit Shah assured young children from Jammu and Kashmir that the day is near when no weapons will be present in the region, making armed forces' presence unnecessary except for guarding borders. He emphasized their role in maintaining permanent peace and seizing opportunities nationwide while sharing their experiences with their communities.

India's tech sector is projected to reach $300-$350 billion in five years. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh emphasizes innovation and self-reliance in defence, urging IIT-Mandi to enhance contributions in defence technologies like AI and quantum tech. India leads in digital growth with the world's second-largest telecom sector.

Hopes for rescuing the two engineers and six labourers trapped in the Srisailam Left Bank Canal tunnel are fading due to rising water levels and shifting silt after over 48 hours of rescue efforts. Authorities are reassessing their strategy to avoid risking additional lives amid concerns about the tunnel's structural integrity.

French engineering firm Systra accuses senior Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority officials of corruption and stalling payments. Systra claims undue favours were sought and payments suspended, prompting it to seek diplomatic intervention. The MMRDA labels the allegations baseless and has issued termination notices, citing contractual violations. Systra has taken the matter to Bombay High Court, alleging continued financial pressure tactics.

Five students from Classes VIII and IX in a Chhattisgarh school planned a blast in the washroom to target a teacher using sodium bought online. The explosion injured a nine-year-old girl instead. Four of the students have been detained and will undergo counseling, while a fifth will appear before the Juvenile Justice Board.

A 23-year-old man named Affan murdered his girlfriend, brother, grandmother, uncle, and aunt on Monday evening due to debts from business losses. He also attempted to kill his mother and later surrendered to the police. Affan admitted to the murders, and police are investigating his claims and checking if he is addicted to drugs. The incident occurred in Thiruvananthapuram.

Two deportees from Punjab recounted being forced by armed smugglers to cross into the US from Mexico despite their protests. They describe mistreatment in US detention centers and the experiences of their group members, including instances of passports being snatched and being held in Panama under strict conditions.

FDA officials have identified nine more companies allowed to manufacture and export a banned, lethal drug combination linked to the opioid crisis in West Africa. While seven companies never produced the drug, Aveo Pharmaceuticals and two Boisar firms exported it, prompting the seizure of shipments and investigation into related exports.

The Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind Halal Trust refuted the Centre's claim that it collects "lakhs of crores" through halal certification. The trust clarified that it never certified cement or iron bars and stated that their annual collection is around Rs 2.1 crore. Halal certification ensures products are free from animal components.

On the third anniversary of the Russia-Ukraine war, India abstained from two UN General Assembly resolutions calling for peace and Ukrainian sovereignty. The US abstained from voting on its own resolution after European amendments altered the text. France and the UK might still influence the outcome in the Security Council.

A Delhi court ordered a perjury inquiry against a woman for falsely alleging that BJP functionary Shahnawaz Hussain raped her in 2018. The court noted her claims included consuming cow meat to harm Hussain's political career, finding sufficient grounds for perjury proceedings.

Sharad Pawar criticized Shiv Sena MLC Neelam Gorhe for her statement that gifting Mercedes cars could secure posts in the party, deeming it foolish and immature. CM Devendra Fadnavis urged restraint in political statements at literary events, following controversy at the Akhil Bhartiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan.

A 35-year-old man and a 24-year-old woman married at a mass wedding program in Amroha to claim government benefits worth Rs 51,000. The fraud was discovered due to a tip-off, resulting in a case being filed and the suspension of a gram panchayat secretary for negligence.