April 13, 2026
108 articles published on this date
India received highest number of regressive tax recommendations from IMF: Oxfam
Oxfam International released a report analysing 1,049 tax-related recommendations issued by the IMF to 125 countries between 2022 and 2024 The report found t...
Rise in middle class vulnerability
A World Bank policy paper argues that India's welfare analysis must shift from simply counting people below a poverty line to measuring how far people are fr...
Panel examining SC status for Dalits post-conversion gets a third extension
The Commission of Inquiry chaired by former Chief Justice of India Justice K.G. Balakrishnan, set up to examine whether Scheduled Caste (SC) status and assoc...
Iran, India in touch on passage of ships through Strait of Hormuz: Envoy Mohammad Fathali
Iran's Ambassador to India, Mohammad Fathali, stated that India and Iran are in active diplomatic contact regarding the safe passage of ships through the Str...
Amid a looming spectre of El Nino, IMD says monsoon likely to be 'below normal'
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted the 2026 southwest monsoon will be "below normal," with rainfall forecast at 92% of the Long Period A...
Monsoon poor in every 7 out of 10 El Nino years
Historical analysis of El Niño years since 1980 shows that approximately 70% of El Niño years coincided with deficient or below-normal Indian summer monsoon ...
Norwegian co to supply 18 big waterjet systems for Indian Navy's next-gen missile vessel project
Norwegian company Kongsberg Maritime has been awarded a contract to supply 18 large Kamewa waterjet propulsion systems for the Indian Navy's Next Generation ...
Vikram's 'hop' unravels surficial 'layers' near lunar south pole region
A new study using data from Chandrayaan-3's Vikram lander hop experiment has revealed information about the near-surface layered structure ("surficial layers...
A strategic ethanol shift amid West Asia tensions
With elevated oil prices triggered by the West Asia conflict and growing uncertainty over Strait of Hormuz transit, India's ethanol blending programme has em...
IMF, World Bank, IEA urge countries to stop hoarding energy supplies, imposing export controls
The International Energy Agency (IEA), International Monetary Fund (IMF), and World Bank Group jointly formed a coordination group to manage the global econo...
Punjab Assembly passes Bill with strict provisions against acts of sacrilege
The Punjab State Assembly passed the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Bill, 2026, providing life imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs 25 la...
Russia offers to take in Iran's enriched uranium
The Kremlin publicly repeated Russia's offer to take custody of Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium as part of any future peace settlement between Ir...
Opposition slams delimitation formula in women's quota bill
Opposition leaders across parties united to challenge the Modi government's approach to implementing the Women's Reservation Act (Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniya...
Resisting delimitation can be more harmful for southern States
Analysis of the government's proposed delimitation formula suggests that southern states may actually gain more from participating constructively in the proc...
Food, fuel prices push up March retail inflation to 3.4%
India's retail (CPI) inflation rose to 3.4% in March 2026 from 3.21% in February, driven by food and fuel price pressures Food inflation climbed to 3.87%, wi...
SC wants govt response to PIL seeking hike in MSP for grains
The Supreme Court sought responses from the Centre and states on a PIL demanding MSP for farmers that at minimum covers C2 (comprehensive cost of production)...
India and France conduct comprehensive review of defence and nuclear cooperation
India and France conducted comprehensive Foreign Office Consultations in Paris, co-chaired by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and France's Secretary-General M...
India's global Ammonia tender likely ahead to secure fertilizer production
India is planning a global tender for ammonia, a critical feedstock for urea and other nitrogen-based fertilisers, to secure supplies for domestic production...
Delimitation must be preceded by census: Sonia Gandhi
Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi articulated the Congress party's formal position ahead of the April 16–18, 2026 special Parliament sess...
Big boost for India as GE signs contract with IAF to set up engine repair facility in country for Tejas fleet
GE Aerospace formally signed a contract with the Indian Air Force on April 13, 2026 to establish an in-country depot-level repair and overhaul facility for t...
IMD predicts ‘below normal’ monsoon rainfall over the country amid growing risk of El Niño
IMD's official forecast warns of below-normal rainfall at 92% of the Long Period Average (LPA) for the 2026 South West Monsoon (June–September), with a 35% p...
Japan’s JARTS trains 1,000 engineers for Bullet Train; second TBM assembly starts in Mumbai
Japan's JARTS (Japan Railway Technical Service) has trained 1,000 Indian engineers for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail (MAHSR) project — India's first b...
Two tankers with Iranian oil anchor off Indian ports; Iran-flagged Felicity off Sikka, Curacao-flagged Jaya near Paradip
Two crude oil tankers carrying Iranian crude anchored off key Indian port locations, marking India's first Iranian oil imports in seven years. The Felicity, ...
Consumer prices rose 3.4% in March, early signs of West Asia war’s impact
India's consumer price inflation rose to 3.4% in March 2026 from 3.21% in February — marking an inflection after months of moderation, with early signs of We...
US blockade: India says monitoring developments, calls for ‘unimpeded freedom of navigation’ through Hormuz
India's government stated it was "monitoring developments" relating to the US naval blockade of Iranian ports and called for "unimpeded freedom of navigation...
‘Parliament making history’: PM Modi says special session to end decades of wait for women’s reservation
Prime Minister Narendra Modi convened a special three-day session of Parliament beginning April 16, 2026, to introduce amendments enabling implementation of ...
Railways expedites 827 km line projects to improve border connectivity in Rajasthan
Indian Railways is expediting three strategic rail corridors totalling 827 km in Rajasthan's border districts, aimed at improving connectivity to areas near ...
IMD forecasts ‘below-normal’ monsoon rainfall
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast that the 2026 southwest monsoon (June–September) is likely to be "below normal," with seasonal rainfal...
What’s Keytruda, why is it a big deal in India’s cancer fight
Pembrolizumab (brand name Keytruda), a first-in-class cancer immunotherapy drug made by US pharmaceutical company MSD (Merck Sharp & Dohme), has become a sig...
US to blockade Iran’s ports from Monday, Iran threatens ‘severe’ response: Why the strategy reversal
The United States announced a naval blockade of Iranian ports starting April 13, 2026, after peace talks between the two countries collapsed over the weekend...
What the US-Iran talks collapse says about their approach to negotiations
After 21 hours of talks in Islamabad, brokered by Pakistan, the US and Iran failed to reach a ceasefire or peace agreement — the latest and most intensive ro...
As Centre seeks tighter control over online content, why it may lead to pre-censorship
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) circulated a draft amendment to the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digita...
Why farmers in Haryana are protesting against biometric verification in mandis
Haryana farmers staged protests — including sit-ins under the Samyukt Kisan Morcha banner — against new state government rules requiring Aadhaar-based biomet...
US begins blockade on Iranian ports: What it means, its implications
The United States military commenced a naval blockade targeting vessels entering or departing Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman, fol...
Racing to build a quantum computer in Hyderabad
Researchers and institutions in Hyderabad are actively competing to build India's first functional quantum computer, part of a broader national race energise...
South West Monsoon rainfall to be below normal or deficient in 2026
IMD's April 2026 forecast classifies the upcoming southwest monsoon as "below normal or deficient," with projected rainfall at 92% of the Long Period Average...
India strengthens Sri Lanka maritime push, counters China with strategic bets
India is strengthening its maritime and logistics presence in Sri Lanka, with an emphasis on countering China's expanding footprint in the Indian Ocean Regio...
GE Aerospace, IAF to set up engine repair facility for Tejas fleet in India
The Indian Air Force and GE Aerospace signed a formal agreement on April 13, 2026 to establish an in-country depot-level overhaul facility for F404-IN20 turb...
Congress issues three-line whip to LS MPs; unlikely to back delimitation proposal
Congress issued a three-line whip requiring all its Lok Sabha members to be present during the special three-day parliamentary session (April 16–18, 2026) co...
FTAs to aid India’s export growth despite global turmoil: Piyush Goyal
Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal stated that India's portfolio of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with developed economies will help sustain export growth despite...
Kerala University researchers develop high-efficiency, lead-free solar cell
Researchers at Kerala University have developed a high-efficiency perovskite solar cell that replaces toxic lead with a combination of tin and rare earth met...
IMD forecast of below-normal Indian monsoon poses risk to agriculture, economy
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) released its first long-range forecast for the 2026 South West Monsoon (SWM), predicting below-normal rainfall at a...
'Stop hiring humans'? Silicon Valley confronts AI job panic
More and more companies in Silicon Valley and beyond are explicitly citing AI and automation as the reason for job cuts, with approximately 47.9% of Q1 2026 ...
Can the apex court’s high-powered panel file a report that prioritises conservation and protection of the Aravallis?
The Supreme Court constituted a 10-member High Powered Expert Committee (HPEC) in March 2026 to redefine the Aravalli hills — a decision that followed the Co...
Food, fuel push up retail inflation to 3.4% in March; pressure likely to persist
India's retail inflation, measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), rose to 3.40% in March 2026 from 3.21% in February, according to data released by the N...
Bird flu outbreak confirmed in Kottayam district
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 has been confirmed in Ward 16 of Udayanapuram grama panchayat in Vaikom taluk, Kottayam district, Kerala, as of...
West Asia Conflict: Govt hints at 21% ethanol blending
With West Asia tensions disrupting global oil supplies through the Strait of Hormuz, the Indian government has signalled it is considering raising the ethano...
US naval blockade on Iran begins; UKMTO confirms maritime restrictions
The United States naval blockade of Iranian ports officially commenced on April 13, 2026, with UKMTO (United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations) issuing a for...
IMF chief warns global monetary system not ready for AI cyber threats
IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva issued a stark warning that the global monetary system lacks adequate defences against rapidly escalating AI-drive...
India retail inflation hits 13-month high at 3.4% in March on LPG, food prices
India's headline Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation rose to 3.40% year-on-year in March 2026, up from 3.21% in February — a 13-month high The uptick was pr...
Iranian crude returns to India after seven years as tankers dock at key ports
Two supertankers carrying Iranian crude oil arrived at Indian ports, marking the first such deliveries in nearly seven years — since May 2019 when US sanctio...
US’ Hormuz blockade: Indian exporters brace for double trouble
Indian exporters expressed acute concern about a "double trouble" scenario as the US naval blockade of Iranian ports disrupted both the key shipping route th...
EU weighing tighter regulation for OpenAI under Digital Services Act
The European Commission is assessing whether to designate OpenAI's ChatGPT as a "Very Large Online Search Engine" (VLOSE) under the EU's Digital Services Act...
GE Aerospace-IAF tie up for depo-level maintenance iof F404 -IN20 engines
GE Aerospace signed a contract with the Indian Air Force (IAF) on April 13, 2026 to establish an in-country depot-level maintenance facility for F404-IN20 tu...
India to see ‘below normal’ monsoon, says India Meteorological Department
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast the 2026 southwest monsoon (June–September) to be "below normal," with seasonal rainfall at approximat...
South Korea, Poland to upgrade ties as Donald Tusk calls Seoul key ally after U.S.
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk elevated bilateral ties to a "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership," with defence i...
Rial hits 1.58 mn per USD: Iran economy on brink ahead of Trump’s blockade bid to squeeze oil exports
Iran's rial has collapsed to approximately 1.58 million per US dollar — a record low — as the US blockade of Iranian ports takes effect Tehran introduced its...
Govt extends EV subsidies, nudges auto-makers to adopt cleaner fuel amid energy supply crisis
Amid the 2026 Strait of Hormuz crisis — the most severe disruption to global energy flows since the 1970s — the Indian government extended EV subsidies and u...
India, Iran share ‘common fate’ in West Asia region, says Iranian envoy Mohammad Fathali
Iranian Ambassador to India, Mohammad Fathali, stated that India and Iran share a "common fate" in the West Asia region On the status of the Strait of Hormuz...
Kirloskar Brothers boosts naval capability with contribution to INS Taragiri
Kirloskar Brothers Limited, a major Indian engineering conglomerate, contributed key pumping systems to INS Taragiri (F41), India's fourth Project 17A stealt...
GE Aerospace to set up engine maintenance facility for IAF’s Tejas jets
GE Aerospace has signed a contract with the Indian Air Force to help establish an engine maintenance facility within India for the F404-IN20 engines that pow...
PM calls for dialogue, cooperation to amend women’s quota law
The Prime Minister called for cross-party dialogue and cooperation to amend the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam (Women's Reservation Act) to enable its implemen...
Harivansh likely to return as Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha
The government reached out to opposition parties to build consensus for the return of Harivansh Narayan Singh as Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. If elect...
PM E‑DRIVE e‑truck push for 5600 electric trucks stalls despite ₹500 cr outlay
A Parliamentary Standing Committee (332nd Report, March 2026) flagged "nil physical achievement and no expenditure" under the PM E-DRIVE scheme's electric tr...
Oil tankers steer clear of Strait of Hormuz ahead of US blockade
Shipping industry sources reported that oil tankers were actively rerouting away from the Strait of Hormuz after the US announced a naval blockade of Iranian...
IMF flags global slowdown risk from Middle East war shock: Georgieva
IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva described the Middle East war's economic impact as a "classic negative supply shock," warning of slower global gro...
Indian Railways clears 100 major projects worth ₹1.53 lakh crore for FY 2025-26
Indian Railways has sanctioned 100 major projects in FY 2025-26 with a total investment of ₹1.53 lakh crore, covering over 6,000 km of new and upgraded rail ...
Oil rises 7% to above $100 ahead of US blockade on Iran
Global crude oil prices surged more than 7% to cross $100 per barrel after the US announced a naval blockade of Iranian ports following the failure of peace ...
India received highest number of regressive tax recommendations from IMF: Oxfam
A new report by Oxfam International, drawing on analysis of IMF tax advice to 125 countries between 2022 and 2024, found that India received the highest numb...
IAF ties up with GE to build own facility for repair, overhaul of Tejas engines with quicker turnaround
GE Aerospace signed a contract with the Indian Air Force (IAF) to help establish an in-country depot-level maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facility f...
Activists slam ‘opaque’ manner of bringing in women’s Bill amendments
A group of prominent academics, activists, and retired civil servants issued a statement criticising the government's secretive and non-consultative approach...
SC notice to Centre, others on plea concerning MSP
A Supreme Court bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi issued notices to the Union Government and other respondents, including...
'All-party meeting' on April 15 to dicuss women's reservation: Kharge
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge announced that opposition parties will convene their own all-party meeting on April 15, 2026, to discuss the implementa...
Philippines accuses China of poisoning disputed waters
The Philippines' National Security Council (NSC) accused Chinese fishermen of pouring cyanide into waters around Second Thomas Shoal (Ayungin Shoal) in the S...
U.K. will not back blockade of Strait of Hormuz, says PM Starmer
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that Britain will not support the US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, stating "we are not supporting the blockade" ...
India unveils new security standards for its digital payments system to drive global adoption
The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has introduced comprehensive new security norms for India's digital payments ecosystem, covering biometric authenticatio...
No immediate impact of US blocking Iranian vessels on India’s crude cargoes
India has cut its dependence on crude oil transiting the Strait of Hormuz to just 30% of total imports, down from over 50% earlier in 2026 India now sources ...
Centre vs Tamil Nadu: Sitharaman hits back at Stalin on paddy, wheat bonus row
The Centre's Department of Expenditure sent a January 9, 2026 letter to all Chief Secretaries, advising states to "review" their bonus policies above MSP for...
France, UK to lead multinational mission to restore navigation in Strait of Hormuz: Macron
French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France and the United Kingdom would jointly lead a "peaceful, multinational mission" to restore freedom of na...
Rainfall below normal? How accurate are predictions by Skymet, IMD?
Both the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and private forecaster Skymet have independently predicted a below-normal monsoon for 2026, with IMD forecasti...
PM Modi says Parliament set to amend Women’s Reservation Act for 2029 rollout
Addressing a women's conference, the Prime Minister confirmed that Parliament will amend the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam to enable its implementation before...
India's March palm oil imports fall 19% to three-month low
India's palm oil imports declined nearly 19% month-on-month in March 2026 to approximately 689,462 tonnes — the lowest in three months — as high global price...
Rupee weakens by 56 paise to settle at 93.39 against U.S. dollar
The Indian rupee depreciated 56 paise to settle at 93.39 against the US dollar on April 13, 2026 Forex analysts attributed the fall to uncertainties over the...
World Bank chief sounds alarm about looming jobs crisis even after war ends
World Bank President Ajay Banga warned that developing economies will face a deficit of 800 million jobs in the next 10–15 years At current trajectories, the...
Manickam Tagore questions 'sudden rush' in delimitation, targets Centre over Women's Reservation Bill timeline
A Congress MP questioned the government's plan for the Women's Reservation Bill, arguing that the constitutionally correct sequence must be: Census first, th...
Supreme Court seeks government response on plea to pay farmers weighted average cost of production of crops
The Supreme Court issued notice to the Union Government and states on a PIL seeking directions to fix the Minimum Support Price (MSP) at no less than the com...
Donald Trump vows U.S. will sink any Iran boats that challenge blockade
US President Donald Trump announced that the US Navy would immediately eliminate any Iranian fast-attack vessels approaching the naval blockade enforced arou...
Rajasthan highway modernisation project gets $225 million World Bank boost, to benefit 3 million people
The World Bank's Board of Executive Directors approved a $225 million loan on April 10, 2026 for the Rajasthan Highway Modernization Project (RHMP) The proje...
'Assault on Constitution': Sonia Gandhi criticises delimitation exercise, says govt turned down all-party meet
Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi described the proposed delimitation exercise to increase Lok Sabha seats as an "assault on the Constitu...
Atlantic current shows steady decline, with scientists warning collapse could amplify global warming and disrupt climate systems
A new study published in *Science Advances* (2026) reveals that the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) has been weakening consistently over t...
Adding 8% more green cover can cool Delhi neighbourhoods by 1°C, but benefits remain uneven, finds study
A study by Artha Global surveyed 2,368 households across all 70 of Delhi's assembly constituencies, combining primary survey data with high-resolution satell...
Dual risks of monsoon deficit and rising input costs threaten India's rural economy in 2026: Report
A recent economic report has flagged a dual threat to India's rural economy in 2026: the southwest monsoon is projected at 94% of the Long Period Average (LP...
Retail inflation inches up to 3.4 pc in March, shows govt data
India's Consumer Price Index (CPI)-based retail inflation edged up to 3.4% in March 2026, from 3.21% in February, according to official data released by the ...
India’s March retail inflation quickens to 3.4% as US war on Iran disrupts global trade flows
India's retail inflation (CPI-based) ticked up to 3.4% in March 2026, from 3.21% in February — still below the RBI's 4% medium-term target Consumer Food Pric...
Sitharaman accuses Stalin of creating false narrative over Centre’s advisory on paddy bonus
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman accused Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin of creating "false narratives" over a January 9, 2026 advisory letter...
Only women leaders to represent BJP in TV debates for a week ahead of Women's Reservation Act discussion
Ahead of the special Parliament session (April 16–18, 2026) to discuss amendments to the Women's Reservation Act, the BJP announced it would field only women...
Rajya Sabha to elect its deputy chairman on Apr 17; NDA likely to renominate Harivansh
The Rajya Sabha was scheduled to elect its Deputy Chairman on April 17, 2026, after the post fell vacant when Harivansh Narayan Singh's tenure as a Rajya Sab...
'Ab kya hoga, ye rab jane': Tharoor takes dig at failed US-Iran talks in Pakistan
Marathon peace talks between the United States and Iran in Islamabad, Pakistan, concluded without a deal on April 12, 2026 US Vice President JD Vance, specia...
Southwest monsoon to be 8% below Long Period Average: IMD
IMD's April 2026 long-range forecast places the southwest monsoon at 92% of the Long Period Average — 8 percentage points below the normal threshold. The for...
On this day: 10 minutes that changed India forever - 107 years of Jallianwala Bagh massacre
April 13, 1919 marks the 107th anniversary of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre in Amritsar, Punjab, when British Brigadier-General Reginald Dyer ordered troops ...
Those hit by SIR deletions may see their other rights diluted: Prashant Bhushan
Approximately 91 lakh voters were removed from West Bengal's electoral rolls following the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise co...
SC seeks Centre’s response on plea over MSP linked to cost of cultivation
The Supreme Court issued notice to the Union Government and other respondents, including the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP), on a plea s...
IMD flags below-normal monsoon for 2026; rainfall seen at 92% of long-term average
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) released its first long-range forecast on April 13, 2026, predicting below-normal southwest monsoon rainfall for th...
Why energy shock from Iran war has not spread to food
Despite Brent crude oil crossing $100 per barrel following the 2026 Iran war and US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, global food prices have not spiked prop...
Israel-Iran war LIVE updates: U.S. announces to block Hormuz today
US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on April 13, 2026, that it would begin blockading the Strait of Hormuz while still allowing ships traveling between no...
As the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway is opened tomorrow, new study documents 18 wildlife species using key underpass near Haridwar
A joint study by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), titled "Landscapes Reconnected," documented 18 wi...
Oil jumps 8% to above $100 ahead of U.S. blockade on Strait of Hormuz
President Donald Trump announced on April 12, 2026 that the US Navy would begin blockading the Strait of Hormuz following the failure of marathon peace negot...
US-Iran peace talk failure to hit market recovery; rupee; oil may see setback
The failure of US-Iran peace negotiations has sent shockwaves through financial markets, with stocks, currency, and energy markets all expected to take signi...