Compiled
by: Suesha Saha, Anushka Das, Siddhant Das
MAJMC
Sem 2
NATIONAL NEWS
History's
Biggest Census: Why India's New Population Count is Controversial
India has launched the
world's largest census, a $1.24 billion exercise deploying over three million
officials to survey approximately 1.4 billion citizens. It is the eighth census
since independence and the first since 2011. Covering 28 states and eight union
territories — including over 7,000 towns and 640,000 villages — the census will
be conducted digitally for the first time. Enumerators will use smartphone apps
to record answers to 33 questions. Citizens may also self-enumerate via an
online portal and receive a unique digital ID. Notably, caste enumeration will
be included for the first time in nearly a century.
(Source: Al Jazeera,
April 1, 2026)
West
Bengal Election Tensions & Supreme Court Intervention
Tensions escalated in
West Bengal's Malda district over protests related to voter list exclusions
ahead of elections. The Chief Justice of India sharply criticized the state
government for failing to protect seven judicial officers who were
"gheraoed" — surrounded and held — by an angry mob until midnight.
Taking serious note of the breakdown in law and order, the Supreme Court
summoned the Director General of Police and the Chief Secretary for an urgent
hearing via video conferencing. The incident raised significant concerns about
the safety of judicial officials and the state government's accountability
during the electoral process.
(Source: India TV News,
April 2, 2026)
Russia-India
Energy Talks Amid West Asia Crisis
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Denis
Manturov visited India from April 3–4, 2026, holding meetings with Prime
Minister Modi and several senior ministers. Amid ongoing disruptions to energy
supplies through the West Asia corridor, Russia reassured India of its capacity
to steadily increase crude oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) deliveries.
Additionally, Russia has raised its mineral fertilizer exports to India by 40%
and is jointly exploring a urea production project with India. The talks
underscored the growing strategic energy partnership between the two nations in
the face of global supply chain uncertainties.
(Source: PTI, April 2,
2026)
Indian
Navy Receives New Anti-Submarine Warship 'Agray'
The Indian Navy has
officially received 'Agray,' the fourth indigenous Anti-Submarine Warfare
Shallow Water Craft, designed and constructed by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and
Engineers (GRSE) in Kolkata. The warship is equipped with lightweight
torpedoes, indigenously developed rocket launchers, and advanced shallow-water
SONAR systems, significantly boosting India's anti-submarine warfare and
coastal surveillance capabilities. The vessel's induction marks another
milestone under the government's Aatmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India)
defence initiative, reinforcing the country's commitment to developing
homegrown naval technology and reducing dependence on foreign defence equipment
for maritime security operations.
(Source: PIB, March 30,
2026)
Congress
Calls Lok Sabha Seat Expansion a 'Weapon of Mass Distraction'
The Congress party
launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, April 5,
2026, over his proposal to increase the number of Lok Sabha seats. Congress
accused the Prime Minister of "bulldozing" a move that would
disproportionately benefit larger, more populous states. The opposition
labelled the proposal a "Weapon of Mass Distraction," alleging that
Modi is misleading and "hoodwinking" the public. The controversy
follows Modi's announcement that Parliament's Budget Session has been extended
by three days to facilitate implementation of the 33% women's reservation law
from 2029 onward.
(Source: The Hindu,
April 5, 2026)
REGIONAL NEWS
Election Commission
orders large-scale administrative reshuffle
Ahead of the elections,
the Election Commission carried out a significant reshuffle of administrative
officials in West Bengal. Around 173 police officers and 83 Block Development
Officers were transferred across multiple districts, including key constituencies.
The move aimed to ensure neutrality and transparency in election management,
especially amid ongoing legal scrutiny over bureaucratic transfers. This is
considered one of the largest such reshuffles in recent times and reflects the
Commission’s attempt to maintain fair electoral practices during a politically
sensitive period
(Source: MSN.com, March
30, 2026)
Massive voter roll
controversy affects lakhs
A major controversy
emerged over West Bengal’s electoral rolls, where over 23 lakh voters were
reportedly excluded after a revision exercise. The situation worsened as
tribunals meant to hear appeals remained non-functional, leaving many voters
without recourse before deadlines. This raised concerns about possible
disenfranchisement during the elections. Political parties criticized the
administrative lapses, and tensions grew between authorities and stakeholders.
The issue has become a critical electoral concern, as it could influence voter
participation and fairness in the upcoming polls.
(Source: National
Herald, March 31, 2026)
Heatwave-like Conditions
Grip Kolkata
Between March 30 and
April 3, Kolkata and nearby districts saw a sharp rise in temperature, with the
mercury exceeding 35°C for the first time this year. The India Meteorological
Department warned that temperatures might increase further in the coming days.
High humidity levels will make conditions uncomfortable for residents. Areas
like Dum Dum and Howrah recorded even higher temperatures. This sudden spike
has raised concerns about early summer heatwaves, leading to health advisories
urging people to stay hydrated and avoid outdoor activities during peak
afternoon hours.
(Source: Milleniumpost.in, April 2, 2026)
A team of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) visited Mothabari and Kaliachak police stations in Malda district to conduct a probe into the gherao of seven judicial officers by protesting locals over the deletion of names in the SIR exercise. The NIA team consists of 24 members led by a senior official.
Moffakkerul Islam, the alleged mastermind behind the Malda violence where judicial officials were held hostage, was on Friday (April 3, 2026) arrested by West Bengal Police. Mr. Islam, a lawyer and resident of Itahar in Uttar Dinajpur district, was seen making speeches outside the block development office at Kaliachak II block and urging the crowd not to leave the area. He had contested the 2021 Assembly polls as a candidate of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM).
(The Hindu, April 3, 2026)
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
UN peacekeepers killed
amid Israel-Hezbollah clashes
Further
attacks have been reported across the Middle East as the war enters a second
month, with two more Indonesian peacekeepers killed in Southern Lebanon on
Monday, following the death of a fellow ‘blue helmet’ a day earlier.
On the diplomatic front, the UN has announced a taskforce to restore the flow
of fertilizer and aid through the Strait of Hormuz, while the UN's atomic
watchdog confirms an attack on a heavy water facility at Khondab in Iran.
(Source: Al
Jazeera, March 30,2026)
Why are oil prices
surging after Trump’s Iran threats — and will Brent crude break $110?
The global economy felt
a sudden, heavy blow as oil prices took a sharp turn upward following President
Donald Trump’s renewed military threats against Iran, a move that saw Brent
crude reach $107.60 and West Texas Intermediate hit $108.36. This surge has
left families and businesses everywhere worried about whether fuel will
continue to flow safely through the vital Strait of Hormuz, especially as
markets across Europe and Asia begin to sink under the weight of this
uncertainty. Analysts now warn that without a swift shift toward diplomacy, the
global benchmark could soon break the $110 mark, marking a deeply stressful
moment for the energy market and people across the globe as the world watches
to see if the coming weeks will bring a path to peace or further hardship.
(Source: The Economic
Times, April 2, 2026)
Projectile hits near
Iran’s Bushehr nuclear plant, killing one: IAEA
A security guard
tragically lost his life when a strike landed near the Bushehr nuclear plant, a
loss that has brought the harsh reality of the conflict right to the facility's
doorstep. While the IAEA confirms the reactor is safe and radiation levels haven't
spiked, the blast was close enough to damage a nearby building and leave the
staff shaken. The growing danger has already prompted Russia to begin
evacuating its engineers, showing that even with the machinery secure, the
people working there are facing an increasingly terrifying situation.
(Source: Al Jazeera,
April 4, 2026)
‘Unbalanced’: Tehran
rejects Trump’s 48-hour ultimatum on reopening Strait of Hormuz
Tehran has dismissed
President Trump’s 48-hour ultimatum as "unbalanced," a defiant stance
that comes at an incredibly fragile moment. This political standoff follows the
tragic death of a security guard near the Bushehr nuclear plant—a loss that
brings the human cost of this conflict into sharp focus. While the IAEA
confirms the reactor is safe and radiation levels haven't spiked, the blast was
close enough to rattle the staff and prompt Russia to begin evacuating its
engineers. It is a sobering situation where high-level threats and military
strikes are leaving the people on the ground caught in a terrifying and
uncertain crossfire
(Source:
The Indian Express, April 5, 2026)
Artemis II astronauts
preparing for historic lunar flyby
NASA’s Artemis II
crew—Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen—is
currently on Flight Day 5 of their journey, having successfully passed the
halfway point to the Moon. Since launching on April 1, 2026, their spacecraft, Integrity,
has performed beautifully as they prepare for a historic lunar flyby this
Monday. By passing within 4,600 miles of the lunar surface, these four
individuals will venture further into deep space than anyone has in over fifty
years.
(Source: The Hindu,
April 5, 2026)
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