April 18, 2026
75 articles published on this date
Tenth Indian-flagged ship crosses Hormuz, two others fired at by IRGC
The tenth Indian-flagged ship successfully crossed the Strait of Hormuz even as the IRGC (Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) opened fire on two other ...
10th Indian ship crosses Strait amid firing by Iranian gunboats
A tenth Indian-flagged vessel successfully transited the Strait of Hormuz and entered the Arabian Sea, even as Iranian gunboats opened fire on other vessels ...
Strait of Hormuz closure economic terrorism… is impacting India too: UAE minister
UAE's Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al-Jaber — also the Managing Director and CEO of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) ...
Four cheetahs from South Africa arrive in Bengaluru, to be housed at Bannerghatta National Park
Four cheetahs (two male, two female) from South Africa arrived at Bengaluru's Bannerghatta Biological Park on April 18, 2026, under an Animal Exchange Progra...
Why has Punjab introduced a new law on sacrilege?
The Punjab Legislative Assembly unanimously passed the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Bill, 2026 — an anti-sacrilege law prescribing lif...
India ‘calls in’ Iranian envoy, conveys ‘deep concern’ after two oil tankers prevented from crossing Strait of Hormuz
India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) called in Iranian Ambassador Dr. Mohammad Fathali for a meeting with Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri after Iranian ...
Eight India-bound ships return after attempting to cross Strait of Hormuz
Eight India-bound ships carrying energy cargo — crude oil, LPG, and LNG — were forced to return after attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz when Iran reim...
Iran fully closes Strait of Hormuz over U.S. blockade
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) declared the Strait of Hormuz fully closed to commercial traffic, citing the continued U.S. naval blockade of...
Opposition to move fresh motion seeking removal of CEC Gyanesh Kumar
The opposition is drafting a fresh motion to seek the removal of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, citing new allegations against him, followi...
Is India’s Maoist insurgency finally over?
India's decadeslong Maoist insurgency has reached a historic turning point, with the government declaring near-total victory by March 2026 following sustaine...
Iran envoy says US backtracked on agreed 10-point plan, stalling peace talks
Iran's Supreme Leader's representative in India stated that recent Iran-U.S. peace talks — held in Islamabad, Pakistan, in early April 2026 — failed because ...
India must remain ready for West Asia fallout, says Rajnath Singh
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh chaired the fourth meeting of the Informal Group of Ministers (IGoM) on the West Asia situation on April 18, 2026, stressing t...
At Cabinet meeting, PM Modi tells ministers to expose opposition's 'anti-women' mindset before people: Sources
The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026 was put to a vote in the Lok Sabha on April 17, 2026 and failed to secure the required two-thirds majority: 298...
Jagan Mohan Reddy, Chandrababu Naidu criticise Opposition after Constitution Bill defeat; warn of impact on South’s representation and women’s quota
The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026 was defeated in the Lok Sabha on April 17, 2026, marking the first time in 12 years that the government failed ...
Priyanka Gandhi, Dimple Yadav back 2023 women's quota act, but reject 2011 census link; target BJP over delimitation row
Following the defeat of the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026 in the Lok Sabha on April 17, 2026, opposition leaders including Congress MP Priyanka G...
Rupee depreciation forces Indian firms to adopt Yuan payments, boost local sourcing
A weakening Indian rupee is compelling Indian businesses to make payments for Chinese imports in Chinese yuan (renminbi/CNY) rather than US dollars, reducing...
Punjab’s border farmers caught between fence and Zero Line
The Central government has ordered a survey in six border districts of Punjab to assess relocation of the border fence closer to the actual international bou...
Justice is served in Sattankulam
On April 6, 2026, a Madurai sessions court sentenced all nine policemen convicted in the Sattankulam custodial deaths case to death — classifying the case as...
Centre sets up expert panel to steer AI governance framework
The Central Government has constituted a new expert panel to provide guidance on artificial intelligence governance, aimed at aligning policy across ministri...
'Resume process of facilitating India-bound ships at earliest': MEA to Iran envoy after Hormuz firing
India's MEA summoned Iranian Ambassador Dr. Mohammad Fathali and conveyed a "strong protest" over the firing on Indian-flagged vessels in the Strait of Hormu...
Iran closes Hormuz again, fires at two Indian carriers, Delhi summons Tehran envoy
Iran re-closed the Strait of Hormuz and IRGC naval units fired at two Indian-flagged carriers attempting transit, in what became a major diplomatic incident ...
SHANTI Act push: Atomic Energy Commission clears FDI policy, sends it for inter-ministerial consultation
The Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) has cleared the FDI policy framework under the SHANTI Act and forwarded it for inter-ministerial consultation The Sustaina...
Delimitation row not over with defeat of amended women’s quota Bill in Lok Sabha: Here’s why
The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026 — which proposed expanding Lok Sabha seats from 543 to 850 and linking this expansion to the implementation of ...
Cabinet extends rural roads scheme, increases outlay by Rs 3,727 crore
The Union Cabinet approved an increase in the outlay for Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana-III by ₹3,727 crore, raising the total revised allocation to ₹83,97...
To decongest, Cabinet clears Rs 24K-cr multi-tracking projects in UP, Andhra
The Union Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved two railway multi-tracking projects on April 18, 20...
In Manipur, the killing of two siblings threatens to turn back the clock
On April 7, 2026, a rocket-like projectile struck a house in Tronglaobi village near Moirang, Bishnupur district, Manipur, killing two young siblings — a fiv...
Day after Manipur CM’s visit, ex armyman among 2 killed in Ukhrul attack
Unidentified armed militants ambushed a convoy of four civilian vehicles travelling along the Imphal–Ukhrul road between Litan and TM Kasom under Litan polic...
Govt nod for Rs 12,980-crore maritime insurance pool amid global shipping upheaval
The Union Cabinet approved the creation of the Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool (BMI Pool) on April 18, 2026, backed by a sovereign guarantee of ₹12,980 crore....
US makes a U-turn, extends sanctions waiver for Russian oil till May 16; India stands to benefit
In a reversal of its earlier position, the US Treasury Department extended a sanctions waiver permitting the purchase of Russian oil until May 16, 2026 — rep...
Explained: Odisha becomes first state to launch Marine Spatial Plan. Here is what to know
Odisha signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR) on April 16, 2026, in the presence of Chief Minister Mohan C...
States’ rights, OBC inclusion: Before legislature, the debates over 33% women’s reservation in local bodies
Debates have intensified around extending the 33% women's reservation in local bodies to include OBC women, with state governments and political parties stak...
Govt sets up ₹12,980-cr maritime insurance pool
The Union Cabinet established the Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool (BMI Pool) — India's first domestic sovereign-backed maritime insurance mechanism — with a s...
Iran's 'valiant navy' ready to inflict 'new bitter defeats' on its enemies: Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei
Iran's newly appointed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei issued a defiant statement on April 18, 2026, declaring Iran's navy "ready to inflict new bi...
Iranian gunboats fire on tanker in Strait of Hormuz, British military says
Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) gunboats fired on a tanker transiting the Strait of Hormuz on April 18, 2026 — confirmed by the United Kingdom Marit...
Cabinet extends PMGSY-III till 2028; outlay raised to ₹83,977 crore
The Union Cabinet on April 18, 2026, approved the continuation of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana-III (PMGSY-III) beyond its original deadline of March 2025...
One Indian vessel crosses Hormuz, four others turn back as IRGC opens fire
Ship tracking data showed oil tanker Desh Garima successfully crossed the Strait of Hormuz on April 18, 2026, becoming one of the few Indian vessels to compl...
Iran war energy shock drives nuclear power plans in hard-hit Asia, Africa
The disruption to global energy supplies caused by the 2026 Iran conflict has accelerated nuclear power plans across Asia and Africa, as oil and gas shipment...
Two Indian ships reverse course in Hormuz strait, says vessel tracker
Two Indian-flagged vessels, including an Indian-registered super tanker carrying approximately 2 million barrels of Iraqi crude oil, reversed course in the S...
Iran reimposes restrictions on Strait of Hormuz, accusing U.S. of violating deal to reopen it
Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz again on April 18, 2026, one day after declaring it open, accusing the United States of violating a prior understanding by m...
No date set for next round of Iran-U.S. talks: Iran Deputy Foreign Minister
Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh stated on April 18, 2026, that no date has been set for the next round of Iran-US peace and nuclear talks, a...
India approves ₹12,980 crore maritime insurance pool amid rising shipping risks
The Union Cabinet approved the creation of the Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool (BMI Pool) with a sovereign guarantee of ₹12,980 crore to ensure uninterrupted ...
Australia, Japan sign contracts to start $7 billion warship deal
Australia and Japan signed formal contracts on April 18, 2026, launching a landmark A$10 billion (~$7 billion) deal for Japan to supply warships to the Royal...
India adds 55,200 startups in FY26; job creation tops 23.36 lakh
The government recognised 55,200 startups in FY 2025-26, the highest number in any single financial year since the launch of the Startup India initiative in ...
Recovery of energy flows will be ‘gradual rather than immediate’ as Hormuz re-opens post ceasefire
Iran reopened the Strait of Hormuz on April 17, 2026, as part of a two-week ceasefire arrangement with the US, prompting a sharp drop in oil prices — Brent c...
Iran threatens to again close Strait of Hormuz, if U.S. blockade continues
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, declaring that no vessel should move from its anchorage in the...
Iran reopens Strait of Hormuz, but threatens to close it again as US maintains blockade
Iran announced it was reopening the Strait of Hormuz to commercial traffic after the April 8, 2026 ceasefire, but threatened to close it again as the US main...
India drops proposal to mandate national ID app Aadhaar on smartphones after pushback
India's Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) have decided not to mandate the p...
MEA summons Iranian envoy after IRGC opens fire on Indian-flagged vessels in Hormuz
India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) summoned Iranian Ambassador Dr. Mohammad Fathali after the IRGC Navy opened fire on Indian-flagged vessels attempt...
Government strengthens DGFT Norms Committees to speed up export authorisations, cut delays
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has undertaken reforms to strengthen Norms Committees (NCs) under the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) to sp...
Strait of Hormuz tension: India protests after ships forced to turn back
India formally protested to Iran after Indian-flagged vessels were fired upon by IRGC gunboats and several ships were forced to abandon their Hormuz transit ...
Cabinet nod for continuation of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana-III till March 2028
The Union Cabinet has approved the continuation of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana-III (PMGSY-III) beyond March 2025, extending the timeline to March 2028 T...
Top Ukrainian official in India, meets Doval & Jaishankar to discuss bilateral ties, war with Russia
Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council (RNBO) Secretary Rustem Umerov visited New Delhi on April 17, 2026, and held separate meetings with National ...
Opposition unity, neither automatic nor obvious, sinks Constitutional Amendment Bill
The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, introduced on April 16, 2026, was defeated on April 17 — the first such defeat for the ruling government since...
Two killed in ambush on Manipur highway
Two Tangkhul Naga civilians — an ex-serviceman (SW Chinaoshang, former Naga Regiment) from Tashar village, and Yaruingam Vashum (42) from Kharasom CV village...
Cabinet approves two rail multitracking projects in Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh, expanding network by 601 km
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by the Prime Minister, approved two railway multitracking projects covering Uttar Pradesh and Andhr...
Iran ‘reviewing new proposals’ put forward by U.S.; Trump says cannot ‘blackmail’ with Strait of Hormuz
Iran's Supreme National Security Council stated it was reviewing new proposals put forward by the US, delivered through Pakistan Army Chief Gen. Asim Munir w...
Foreign Ministers of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, and Egypt hold third consultative meeting in Antalya
The Foreign Ministers of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt held their third consultative meeting in Antalya, Turkey, on April 17, 2026, on the sideli...
Even if there are 543 or 850 seats, BJP will win: Union Minister Pralhad Joshi on Delimitation
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi defended the government's Delimitation Bill, 2026 and the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, stating that the BJP would ...
Trump says U.S. blockade of Iranian ports will ‘remain’ if no deal reached
The US administration stated that the American naval blockade of Iranian ports and shipping will remain in full force until Iran reaches a deal — specificall...
Union Cabinet approves ₹24,815 crore multi-tracking projects across 15 districts in U.P., Andhra Pradesh
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by the Prime Minister, approved two railway multi-tracking projects worth ₹24,815 crore on April 18...
G20 satellite expected to be launched in 2027: ISRO chief Narayanan
ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan announced that a satellite being developed collaboratively by G20 nations, under India's leadership, is expected to be launched in...
BJP, Opposition in war of words after Constitution Amendment Bill defeat
The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026 — which sought to expand Lok Sabha seats to 850, enable delimitation on 2011 census data, and operationalise th...
Gunfire in Hormuz: Indian-flagged tanker among ships targeted as Iran closes strait again
Indian-flagged crude tankers, including VLCCs Sanmar Herald and Jag Arnav, were intercepted and fired upon by Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) gunboa...
Govt clears UP potato buy at Rs 6,500/ton, hikes gram cap in Andhra Pradesh
The government has approved procurement of 20 lakh metric tonnes of potatoes in Uttar Pradesh at ₹6,500 per tonne under the Price Support Scheme The gram (ch...
Below-normal monsoon and West Asia conflict cloud India's agriculture outlook: BoB
The Bank of Baroda's (BoB) economic research unit flagged that India's agricultural outlook for 2026–27 is threatened by a dual shock: a below-normal monsoon...
'Give women their rights, right now': Priyanka Gandhi demands immediate implementation of 2023 Women's Reservation bill
Following the defeat of the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026 in the Lok Sabha, senior opposition leaders demanded the immediate implementation of th...
Another Indian oil tanker crosses Hormuz as Iran shuts Strait for US
The Indian oil tanker Desh Garima successfully crossed the Strait of Hormuz amid heightened tensions as Iran tightened passage restrictions against US-linked...
PM Modi apologises to women after Lok Sabha rejects 33% quota bill, vows to ‘remove every obstacle’ to ensure representation
The Lok Sabha rejected the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, which sought to expand Parliament to 850 seats and link delimitation to implementation ...
Women reservation bill fails in Lok Sabha: Strategic move or poor planning?
The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, introduced in Lok Sabha on April 16, 2026, was defeated — the first constitutional amendment bill brought by t...
Delimitation needed to preserve one vote, one value: Amit Shah in Lok Sabha
In the Lok Sabha debate on the Delimitation Bill, 2026 and the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, the Home Minister argued that delimitation was cons...
As Bill on women’s reservation in Houses is defeated, remembering the women who opposed it in Constituent Assembly
As the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026 on women's reservation was defeated in the Lok Sabha, attention turned to a little-discussed chapter of cons...
Dr. Bharti nominated to WHO’s oversight committee for neglected tropical diseases
Dr. Bharti has been nominated as an independent expert on neglected zoonotic diseases to the 18-member Global Oversight Committee (GOC) under the WHO's Negle...
Iran-Israel war LIVE: Strait of Hormuz to remain closed if U.S. doesnt remove blockade, says Iran's main negotiator
Iran's Parliament Speaker and chief negotiator MB Ghalibaf threatened to keep the Strait of Hormuz closed unless the US removes its naval blockade from the w...
U.S. extends waiver allowing countries to buy Russian oil
The United States extended a temporary sanctions waiver allowing certain countries, including India, to purchase Russian crude oil, as global oil supply tigh...
'Insult meted out to Nari Shakti will never be forgiven': Jaishankar lambasts Oppn after Constitutional Amendment Bill defeat in LS
The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, which sought to implement 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies by 2029, was defeate...