Month: April 2026

Opposition MPs on Wednesday protested at the Makar Dwar of Parliament, demanding the withdrawal of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026.

Congress MP Hibi Eden called it a “draconian law” that could affect minorities and NGOs across the country.

Speaking to ANI, Eden said, “It is a draconian law which will hamper the interests of not just the minorities but many NGOs running in India…We will strongly condemn and object, and demand withdrawal of this bill.”

Congress MP Dharamvir Gandhi said,”…We are against it. It should be an impartial decision which benefits all sections of society; it cannot be selective.”

Revolutionary Socialist Party MP NK Premchandran said, “It is not the question of Christian or any particular community. It is a planned agenda on the part of the BJP to take away the privileges and rights of the minorities…”

The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, has been listed for consideration and passage in the Lok Sabha today, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah set to move that the Bill, which seeks further amendments to the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010, be taken up for discussion.

The FCRA Bill, 2026, was introduced in Lok Sabha on March 25 and seeks to amend the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010, and is aimed at enhancing the transparency and accountability of foreign contributions in India.

Further, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is slated to move a statutory resolution approving Notification No. 07/2026-Central Excise, which imposes a Special Additional Excise Duty of Rs 50 per litre on Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF).

The decision comes in the backdrop of rising global crude oil prices and escalating operational costs in the aviation sector.

The House will begin proceedings at 11 AM, starting with question hour followed by the laying of papers by ministers, including Jitendra Singh (Science & Technology) and Ravneet Singh (Railways).

The House will also take up reports and statements of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) for the fiscal year 2025-26. Key presentations by BJP MP Jagdambika Pal and Jai Prakash include the 39th to 44th Reports on matters ranging from excesses over voted grants and charged appropriations to derailments in Indian Railways and issues concerning service tax/GST collections from passengers. (ANI)

Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra on Wednesday alleged that BJP cadres were caught submitting tens of thousands of Form-6 applications to add new voters to electoral rolls, raising questions about the fairness of the process.

Moitra claimed, “Yesterday and the day before, BJP’s cadres were caught red-handed with 30,000 to 40,000 Form-6. With Form-6, any new voter can get themselves added to the voter list. Even if there are a lot of young people in one booth who have been added to the voter list, at most 50 Form-6 can be collected by any party’s booth-level agent.”

She further questioned, “If Form-6 is not allowed in appeal cases, then how are BJP’s booth-level agents being allowed to submit Form-6 in thousands? In Maharashtra, 40 lakh new voters were added in 5 months…”

Moitra’s remarks come amid heightened scrutiny over voter enrolment practices ahead of upcoming elections, with opposition parties raising concerns about possible misuse of electoral procedures.

Earlier, the TMC supporters launched an indefinite protest near the Chief Electoral Officer’s (CEO) office in Kolkata, alleging large-scale irregularities in the submission of Form 6 applications and demanding strict action against those involved.

The protest, which entered its second day, comes amid heightened political tensions following violent clashes between TMC and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers in the area.

Protesters, including booth-level officers (BLOs) backed by the ruling party, have vowed to continue their agitation without a deadline. They have accused Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar of colluding with the BJP, a charge that has further escalated the political confrontation.

Amid the ongoing protest, TMC supporters reiterated their demand for action against those allegedly attempting to submit bulk Form 6 applications. “Action must be taken against those found guilty of attempting to submit Form 6 applications at the Chief Electoral Officer’s office in Kolkata,” one of the protesters said.

Demonstrators raised slogans and staged sit-ins near the CEO’s office, asserting that the alleged irregularities could impact the integrity of the electoral process in West Bengal.

The controversy stems from an incident that occurred on Tuesday when BLOs claimed they intercepted a BJP worker attempting to enter the CEO’s office with over 400 Form 6 applications. Form 6 is used for inclusion of names in the electoral rolls, and the large number of applications raised suspicions among TMC supporters.

Following the claim, TMC workers gathered outside the office in protest on Tuesday while BJP supporters also reached the spot, leading to a heated exchange that soon spiralled into violence.

Police said more than 500 supporters from both the BJP and the TMC sides were involved in the clash, which continued for over eight hours and created a tense atmosphere in the heart of the city. Police and central forces had to intervene to bring the situation under control. Personnel equipped with batons had used mild force to disperse the crowd and prevent further escalation.

In response to the unrest, authorities have significantly tightened security arrangements in the area on Wednesday. A heavy deployment of police and central forces has been put in place to maintain law and order and to ensure that no further clashes occur. Barricades have been erected along key stretches of Hare Street near the CEO’s office to regulate movement and prevent large gatherings.

Traffic restrictions have also been imposed as part of the security measures. Vehicular movement toward the CEO’s office has been curtailed, with routes diverted to alternate roads, leading to inconvenience for commuters.

Officials said these steps are precautionary and will remain in force until the situation stabilises.

With both sides standing firm and the protest showing no signs of easing, the situation around the CEO’s office remains sensitive.

Authorities said they continue to monitor developments closely to prevent any further flare-up in the political standoff over the Form 6 issue. (ANI)

Twenty-five Maoist cadres, including 12 women, surrendered before security forces in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district on March 31, with authorities recovering 7 kg of gold, Rs 2.92 crore in cash, and 93 weapons from their possession.

Inspector General (IG) Bastar P. Sunderraj termed the development a significant milestone in anti-Naxal operations, stating that Naxalite activities in the Bastar division have been “almost completely eradicated” under ongoing efforts.

“Today, on March 31, 2026, we have gathered here in the Bijapur district of the Bastar division to witness this moment. Today, Naxalite activities in the Bastar division have been completely eradicated. We have nearly achieved our full objective. For the remaining Naxalites, time is running short. Our campaign continues unabated,” he said.

Highlighting the surrender, he added, “A total of 25 Maoist cadres, including 12 women, have chosen to abandon the path of violence and join the mainstream. Based on the information provided by them and our prior intelligence, 7 kg of gold, Rs 2.92 crore in cash, and 93 weapons have been recovered from Maoist possession… We are viewing this day as a significant milestone in the history of the entire Naxalism operation.”

Sunderraj further described the development as a key step in “Mission 2026,” adding that authorities are hopeful remaining cadres will follow suit and join the mainstream. He also paid tribute to security personnel, public representatives, and local residents who have contributed to restoring peace in the Bastar region.

Along the same lines, Sukma district has also been declared completely free of Maoist influence following the surrender and rehabilitation of two female Naxalites, Superintendent of Police (SP) Sukma Kiran G Chavan said on Tuesday.

SP Chavan said the two women were members of Company Number 8 of the Naxalite organisation and had a combined bounty of Rs 16 lakhs on their heads.

Speaking to ANI, he said, “Today, March 31, 2026, in the Sukma district, two female Naxalites have surrendered and undergone rehabilitation. They were members of Company Number 8 of the Naxalite organisation. A bounty of Rs 16 lakhs had been placed on their heads…”

He further said that weapons and cash were recovered during the process. “6 automatic weapons, including one INSAS LMG, two AK-47s, and three other firearms, along with roughly Rs 10 lakh in cash, were recovered from them…”

He noted that,” Following today’s surrender, the Sukma district has been declared completely free of Maoist influence.”

Explaining the development, the SP said sustained operations by security forces over the past two years, along with the establishment of camps in interior regions, led to this outcome.

“…This achievement is the result of continuous efforts over the past two years, during which security forces established camps in the interior regions and conducted sustained operations that resulted in the deaths of over 90 Naxalites…” he said.

SP Chavan added that, ” more than 600 Naxalites have been arrested, and approximately 800 others have surrendered and undergone rehabilitation…”

Chavan also highlighted the improvement in security and development in the region, stating that interior areas are now more accessible and development work is progressing steadily.

Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Monday that Naxalism has been almost eradicated from Bastar and the region is now on the path of progress.

Replying to the debate in Lok Sabha on efforts to free the country from Left Wing Extremism, Amit Shah said, “Today, Naxalism has been almost eradicated from Bastar. A campaign was launched to establish a school in every single village across Bastar. A drive was undertaken to open a ration shop in every village within the region. Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and Community Health Centres (CHCs) have been established in every Tehsil and Panchayat. Aadhaar cards and ration cards have been issued to the people, and they are now receiving five kilograms of food grains. (ANI)

Congress leaders on Wednesday expressed strong concerns over the recent hike in commercial LPG prices, saying it will burden ordinary citizens and increase costs for businesses.

Speaking on the issue, Congress MP Manickam Tagore said, “This will lead to an increase in the price of food served in hotels and restaurants. The common citizens will suffer the most…The PM must stop the increase in prices of LPG cylinders.”

Congress MP Vamsi Krishna Gaddam added, “This govt has put the common man into a panic mode. We will raise our voice against this. We assure the people that we will raise this issue in Parliament.”

Meanwhile, Congress MP Pramod Tiwari also criticised the Centre over the recent hike in LPG prices, questioning how long the government will continue to increase rates and alleging that it is burdening the public.

Speaking to ANI, Tiwari said, “There has been a continuous rise in the price of LPG. Till how long will the government continue to raise the prices of LPG? The PM should answer how much his govt will loot the people?”

Congress MP Rajiv Shukla said,” This is a very steep hike in the price of the commercial LPG cylinder. This will affect the small business and impact the common man.”

The prices of LPG cylinders have been revised upward with effect from April 1, with commercial and smaller cylinders witnessing a significant increase across key cities.

In Delhi, the price of a 19 kg commercial LPG cylinder has been increased to Rs 2,078.50, marking a rise of Rs 195.50. Meanwhile, the 5 kg FTL cylinder is now priced at Rs 549 per refill, reflecting an increase of Rs 51, sources said.

In Kolkata, the price of a 19 kg commercial LPG cylinder has gone up by Rs 218, indicating a broader trend of rising fuel costs across urban centres.

Meanwhile, domestic cooking gas LPG rates, which were last hiked by Rs 60 per 14.2-kg cylinder on March 7, remain unchanged. It costs Rs 913 per 14.2-kg cylinder in Delhi. (ANI)

India’s gross GST collections rose to Rs 2,00,064 crore in March 2026, marking an 8.8 per cent increase compared to Rs 1,83,845 crore in March 2025, according to the data released by the finance ministry.

On a year-on-year (YoY) basis, the total gross GST revenue for FY26 stood at Rs 22.27 lakh crore, up 8.3 per cent from Rs 20.55 lakh crore in FY25, indicating sustained momentum in tax collections.

The March collections crossing the Rs 2 lakh crore mark suggest a strong end-of-year push in compliance and economic activity.

Domestic GST revenue grew 5.9 per cent YoY in March to Rs 1.46 lakh crore, reflecting stable internal consumption. But Import-related GST revenue surged 17.8 per cent YoY, significantly outpacing domestic growth, pointing to higher import activity and improved customs collections.

IGST collections showed strong expansion, rising to Rs 1.06 lakh crore in March, driven largely by imports. CGST and SGST collections also recorded moderate increases, indicating balanced growth across central and state tax components.

Total GST refunds rose 13.8 per cent YoY in March to Rs 22,074 crore. After adjusting for refunds, net GST revenue increased 8.2 per cent YoY to Rs 1.77 lakh crore.

Net GST collections for FY26 stood at Rs 19.34 lakh crore, up 7.1 per cent YoY, indicating consistent revenue buoyancy despite higher refunds.

According to the data, several large states such as Maharashtra (+17%), Karnataka (+14%) and Telangana (+19%) recorded strong SGST growth in March, while some states like Tamil Nadu (-8%) and Assam (-15%) saw declines.

The March GST data reflects robust YoY growth driven by imports and steady domestic demand, with collections maintaining an upward trajectory through FY26. The crossing of the Rs 2 lakh crore mark underscores improved compliance and economic resilience. (ANI)