Katra, the base camp for Vaishno Devi temple resumed normalcy after a week-long shutdown. The government released 18 protesters and suspended the ropeway project until concerns are addressed. Pilgrims returned to the town, and traffic movement was restored. The project aimed to help senior citizens, but locals feared losing their livelihoods.
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Lloyds Metals and Energy Limited allotted shares worth Rs 1,260 each at a nominal value of Rs 4 to its 6,000 workers in Maoist-affected Gadchiroli. The shares, distributed on tenure basis, make the workforce stakeholders in the company. The company plans to expand its steel plant operations significantly.
Flights of major Indian carriers, including Air India Group and IndiGo, will shift from Mumbai’s Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport to Navi Mumbai International Airport by this summer. The switch depends on CSMIA’s T2 capacity expansion and T1 demolition plans. Clarity on these details is anticipated soon, as airlines need to inform passengers promptly.
PM Narendra Modi and Bangladesh's Muhammad Yunus will discuss various issues during the BIMSTEC summit in Thailand on April 3-4. This will be their first meeting since Yunus became chief adviser. While Dhaka has requested the meeting, New Delhi is still considering it. Modi will also engage in diplomatic discussions with other heads of state and Thai royalty.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami announced the renaming of various locations across Uttarakhand to reflect public sentiment and honour historical figures. Additionally, he visited patients affected by food poisoning in Coronation Hospital, with investigations underway to hold responsible parties accountable for the suspected adulteration in buckwheat flour.
Opposition parties continued to criticize the BJP's waqf bill, labeling it unconstitutional and divisive. They argued the bill targets Muslims and could incite communal tension. Key leaders from Congress, TMC, DMK, RJD, and others expressed concerns about its impact on peace and social harmony.
Indore and Udaipur have become the first Indian cities to gain international recognition as accredited wetland cities under the Ramsar Convention, an intergovernmental treaty focused on wetland conservation. Although Bhopal was also nominated, it missed out due to ecological concerns. Currently, 85 Indian wetlands are protected under this treaty, which includes 172 member countries globally.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav announced support for Aam Aadmi Party over Congress in upcoming Delhi elections, emphasizing that regional parties strong against BJP should be backed. The decision follows the INDIA bloc's principle to support dominant regional parties where they are strong.
Between 2022 and 2024, 20.8 lakh kg of narcotic drugs were destroyed in India, with annual figures showing a decline. The Narcotics Control Bureau intercepted 96 Darknet trafficking cases between 2020 and 2024. There were also increases in seizures of opium and cannabis-based drugs, while seizures of psychotropic substances and cocaine witnessed a decline.
At the launch of the Art of India's fourth edition in Mumbai, speakers emphasized how art and aesthetics pervade Indian life. They highlighted India's rich cultural heritage and the need to appreciate and preserve indigenous art forms, while artists showcased works reflecting environmental and social issues.
Two security personnel were injured in an IED blast triggered by Naxalites in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district amid ongoing anti-Naxal operations. Security forces, including the CRPF and CoBRA commandos, have intensified their efforts, uncovering Maoist hideouts and seizing weapons and explosives following increased IED attacks.