Cabinet Committee on Security approves $7-billion deal to procure 26 Rafale Marine jets from France

The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) approved the deal for 26 Rafale Marine fighter jets from France for the Indian Navy worth over $7bn, official sources confirmed on Wednesday. This includes 22 single seater jets that can operate off aircraft carriers and four twin seater trainers that aren’t carrier compatible. The CCS approval for the Government-to-Government deal is the final step and now awaits formal conclusion, which is expected to be inked when the French Defence Minister visits India, likely later this month. This approval leaves another mega deal with France for three more Scorpene-class conventional submarines awaiting CCS approval before it can be concluded.

Cabinet approves ₹1,878-cr Zirakpur Bypass road project in Punjab, Haryana

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved a 19.2-km Zirakpur Bypass road project in Punjab and Haryana to be built at a cost of ₹1,878.31 crore. “The six-lane Zirakpur Bypass will start from the Junction with NH-7 (Zirakpur-Patiala) and end at the Junction with NH-5 (Zirakpur-Parwanoo) with a total length of 19.2 km in Punjab and Haryana. The total capital cost of the project is ₹1,878.31 crore,” an official release said.

China raising its retaliatory tariff on the U.S. to 84%, up from 34%, effective April 10

China has raised tariffs to 84% on goods coming from the U.S. in an additional countermeasure. Last week, China said it would levy 34% tariffs on all U.S. goods. On Wednesday, Mr. Trump’s tariffs of 104% went into effect on Chinese exports to the U.S. The government declined to say whether it would negotiate with the White House, as many other countries have started doing. “If the U.S. insists on further escalating its economic and trade restrictions, China has the firm will and abundant means to take necessary countermeasures and fight to the end” the Ministry of Commerce wrote in a statement introducing the white paper.

Mallikarjun Kharge calls SC order on TN Governor a ‘slap on the Modi govt’s face’

The Supreme Court’s order to “operationalise“ the bills which were being blocked by the Tamil Nadu Governor is a “slap” on the face of the Narendra Modi government, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said on Wednesday even as he accused the ruling side of “electoral fraud” in Maharashtra. In his inaugural address to the 86th All India Congress Committee (AICC) session, Mr Kharge led a scathing attack on the Modi government on a range of issues, including questioning the fairness of the electoral procedures. The Congress chief accused the government of trying to have a “tailormade process that can destroy democracy and defeat the Opposition”.

Murshidabad anti-Waqf Bill violence: 22 arrested; internet suspended; Prohibitory Orders imposed

“At least 22 people were apprehended following an incident of violence and arson during a protest rally against the passage of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, at West Bengal’s Murshidabad on Tuesday (April 8, 2025),” a police officer said on Wednesday. The District Magistrate of Murshidabad Rajarshi Mitra passed a 48-hour Prohibitory Order on Tuesday evening under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita for the areas under the Raghunathganj and Suti police stations of Murshidabad. It prohibits the assembly of five or more people in one place.

People being denied house due to caste or religion ‘disheartening’: Maharashtra Governor

Maharashtra Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan has said it is “disheartening” to hear people are sometimes denied a house because of their caste or religion and asserted this discrimination must end. Speaking at the ‘Lokmat World Peace and Harmony Through Interfaith Dialogue’ on Tuesday (April 8, 2025), the Governor said the concept of interfaith dialogue is not new, and it can bridge divides and dismantle prejudices. Bihar Governor Arif Mohammad Khan, Maharashtra Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha, and Vijay Darda, former Rajya Sabha MP and the chairman of the Lokmat Media Group, were also present at the event.

Fake doctor row: police probe N. John Camm’s ‘forged’ documents; NHRC on ‘malpractice’ by hospital

“A court in Madhya Pradesh’s Damoh district on Tuesday (April 8, 2025) granted five days of police remand to Narendra John Camm, even as multiple teams continue to investigate the allegations of him posing as a doctor at a local hospital and performed various heart surgeries that led to multiple deaths,” officers said. Speaking to The Hindu, Damoh Additional Superintendent of Police Sandeep Mishra said that the investigating team is currently interrogating the accused, Narendra John Camm, in detail and trying to verify his alleged involvement in the complaints received so far. 

Tahawwur Rana, accused in 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, likely to be extradited to India ‘shortly’: report

Mumbai terror attack accused Tahawwur Rana is expected to be extradited to India from the U.S. “shortly”, sources have said. According to government sources in India, a multi-agency team from India has gone to the U.S., and all paperwork and legalities are being completed with U.S. authorities. Sources said “very high possibility” that Rana “could be extradited shortly.” It is also learnt that Rana is not coming to India on Wednesday and the extradition process is in the works.

Justice Sanjeev Kumar appointed as acting Chief Justice of Jammu & Kashmir High Court

Justice Sanjeev Kumar was appointed as the acting Chief Justice of the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court on Wednesday, according to the Law Ministry. In a notification, it said Justice Kumar, a judge of that high court, has been appointed as the acting chief justice as incumbent Tashi Rabstan demits office this evening on attaining the age of 62 years. On April 4, the Supreme Court Collegium recommended the appointment of Justice Arun Palli, a judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, as the Chief Justice of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.

MPC cuts repo rate by 25 basis points, changes stance to accommodative

The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) voted unanimously on Wednesday to reduce the policy rate (repo rate) by 25 basis points (bps) to 6% with immediate effect. This is the second time in a row that the MPC has cut rates by 0.25%. Consequently, the standing deposit facility (SDF) under the liquidity adjustment facility (LAF) will stand adjusted to 5.75%. The MPC also changed its stance from neutral to accommodative, considering the current global economic situation.

RBI Governor Malhotra hints at more in coming months after two back-to-back cuts

After effecting two back-to-back 25 basis points rate cuts, Reserve Bank Governor Sanjay Malhotra on Wednesday (April 9, 2025) hinted at another reduction in key policy rate by changing the central bank’s monetary stance to ‘accomodative’ from ‘neutral’, which may further lower EMIs for consumers. The bi-monthly monetary policy is scheduled to be announced on June 6, 2025. Unveiling the April monetary policy after meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), Governor Malhotra said that in the context of the RBI, the stance of monetary policy signals the intended direction of policy rates going forward.

Nirmala Sitharaman chairs India-U.K. investors meeting, highlights India’s investment opportunities

India offers a compelling growth opportunity for foreign banks, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman told investors in the U.K. Ms. Sitharaman’s remarks came as she chaired an India-U.K. Investor Roundtable in London, attracting around 60 U.K. investors representing various pension funds, insurance companies, banks and other financial institutions. According to the Ministry of Finance, the high-level roundtable on Tuesday (April 8, 2025) evening outlined the priorities of the government for enabling sustained economic growth and investment opportunities, with the policy support that is shaping “New India”.

Donald Trump says ‘Tariff-hit countries dying to make a deal’

U.S. President Donald Trump mocked tariff-hit nations on Tuesday (April 8, 2025), stating that they were ready to do anything while trying to negotiate with him. While speaking at the National Republican Congressional Committee, Mr. Trump said he was a better negotiator than the Congress. He said, “I’m telling you — these countries are calling us up, kissing my ***. They are dying to make a deal — ‘please sir make a deal, I’ll do anything, I’ll do anything sir.’

Beijing rejects Ukraine’s claim significant numbers of Chinese troops are fighting alongside Russia

Ukraine’s claim that significant numbers of Chinese nationals are fighting alongside Russia’s invading army is “totally unfounded,” a Beijing official said Wednesday. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Tuesday (April 9, 2025) that the Ukrainian military had captured two Chinese men fighting alongside the Russian army in the eastern Donetsk region and had information that “significantly more” are with Russian forces. It was the first time that Ukraine had made such a claim about Chinese fighters on its soil amid Russia’s almost three-year invasion.

Ravichandran Ashwin surpasses Bhuvneshwar Kumar to become 3rd-highest wicket-taker in IPL

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin surpassed Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) right-arm swinging seamer Bhuvnesh Kumar to become the third-highest wicket-taker in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL). During Tuesday (April 8, 2025) night’s clash against Punjab Kings (PBKS), the 38-year-old off-spinner scythed two wickets in four overs, giving away 48 runs at an economy of 12. With these two wickets, Ashwin breezed past Bhuvneshwar to emerge as the third-highest wicket-taker in the history of the cash-rich league.

Pant’s middling white-ball record not in tune with his talent

As Rishabh Pant began his disconsolate walk back to the dressing room after being dismissed against Mumbai Indians in Lucknow Super Giants’ Indian Premier League (IPL) match, the television cameras panned to Sanjiv Goenka offering a wry smile in the VIP enclosure. The reaction of the LSG honcho whenever Pant loses his wicket has been a matter of recurring interest in this year’s IPL. And it isn’t merely because the franchise shelled out a record ₹27 crore for the star wicketkeeper-batter in the last mega-auction.