April 18, 2026
75 articles published on this date
IRGC Fires on Two Indian-Flagged Ships as Tenth Vessel Crosses Hormuz
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...
Tenth Indian Ship Crosses Strait of Hormuz Amid Iranian Gunboat Firing
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...
UAE Minister Calls Strait of Hormuz Closure "Economic Terrorism," Flags Impact on India
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 African Cheetahs Arrive at Bannerghatta Biological Park Under Animal Exchange Programme
Four cheetahs (two male, two female) from South Africa arrived at Bengaluru's Bannerghatta Biological Park on April 18, 2026, under an Animal Exchange...
Punjab's New Sacrilege Law: Life Imprisonment for Desecration of Guru Granth Sahib
The Punjab Legislative Assembly unanimously passed the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Bill, 2026 — an anti-sacrilege law prescribing...
India Calls In Iranian Envoy, Conveys Deep Concern Over Firing on Indian Oil Tankers
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 Forced to Turn Back as Iran Reimpos es Hormuz Restrictions
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...
Iran Fully Closes Strait of Hormuz in Response to U.S. Naval 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...
Opposition Moves Fresh Motion Seeking Removal of Chief Election Commissioner 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...
India's Maoist Insurgency: From Red Corridor to Near-Collapse
India's decadeslong Maoist insurgency has reached a historic turning point, with the government declaring near-total victory by March 2026 following...
Iran Envoy Says U.S. 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 at 4th IGoM Meeting
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...
Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill Fails in Lok Sabha: Vote Count, Cabinet Response, and the Road to 2029
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...
Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill Defeated: Southern States Warn of Representation Loss and Women's Quota Delay
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...
Women's Reservation: Opposition Backs 2023 Act, Opposes Delimitation Linkage in 131st Amendment Bill
Following the defeat of the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026 in the Lok Sabha on April 17, 2026, opposition leaders including Congress MP Priyanka...
Rupee Depreciation Pushes Indian Firms Toward Yuan Payments and 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...
Punjab's Border Farmers: Zero Line, Fence Set-Back, and the Push for Agricultural Access
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...
Sattankulam Custodial Deaths: Nine Policemen Sentenced to Death for Killing Jayaraj and Benicks
On April 6, 2026, a Madurai sessions court sentenced all nine policemen convicted in the Sattankulam custodial deaths case to death — classifying the case...
India 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...
India Summons Iranian Envoy, Demands Immediate Resumption of Safe Passage for India-Bound Ships
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...
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: India Opens Nuclear Power Sector to Private Participation
The Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) has cleared the FDI policy framework under the SHANTI Act and forwarded it for inter-ministerial consultation The...
Constitution Amendment Bill on Women's Quota Falls Short in Lok Sabha: Delimitation Debate Continues
The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026 — which proposed expanding Lok Sabha seats from 543 to 850 and linking this expansion to the implementation of...
PMGSY-III Outlay Raised by ₹3,727 Crore as Rural Road Scheme Gets Timeline Extension
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...
Cabinet Approves ₹24,815 Crore Railway Multi-Tracking Projects in UP and Andhra Pradesh
The Union Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved two railway multi-tracking projects on April 18...
Manipur Sibling Killings Reignite Ethnic Tensions: Three Years of Meitei-Kuki Conflict
On April 7, 2026, a rocket-like projectile struck a house in Tronglaobi village near Moirang, Bishnupur district, Manipur, killing two young siblings — a...
Militant Ambush in Manipur's Ukhrul Kills Ex-Serviceman, Undermines Peace Outreach
Unidentified armed militants ambushed a convoy of four civilian vehicles travelling along the Imphal–Ukhrul road between Litan and TM Kasom under Litan...
Cabinet Approves ₹12,980 Crore Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool with Sovereign Guarantee
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...
US Extends Russia Oil Sanctions Waiver to May 16: India's Energy Imports Get Short-Term Relief
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 —...
Odisha Becomes India's First State to Launch Marine Spatial Plan: Blue Economy and Coastal Governance
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...
Women's Reservation in Local Bodies: OBC Inclusion and States' Rights Debate
Debates have intensified around extending the 33% women's reservation in local bodies to include OBC women, with state governments and political parties...
Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool: India Builds Domestic Maritime Risk Cover Amid Hormuz Crisis
The Union Cabinet established the Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool (BMI Pool) — India's first domestic sovereign-backed maritime insurance mechanism — with a...
Iran Reimports Strait of Hormuz Restrictions Amid Escalating Naval Standoff
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...
Iranian IRGC Gunboats Fire on Tanker in Strait of Hormuz as Iran Reimposes Restrictions
Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) gunboats fired on a tanker transiting the Strait of Hormuz on April 18, 2026 — confirmed by the United Kingdom...
Cabinet Extends PMGSY-III Till March 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...
One Indian Vessel Crosses Hormuz as IRGC Opens Fire; Four Others Turn Back
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...
Iran War Energy Shock Accelerates Nuclear Power Push Across Asia and 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...
Indian Vessels Forced to Reverse Course in Strait of Hormuz After Iranian Gunfire
Two Indian-flagged vessels, including an Indian-registered super tanker carrying approximately 2 million barrels of Iraqi crude oil, reversed course in the...
Iran Reimposed Strait of Hormuz Restrictions as US Port Blockade Continues
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...
Iran-US Nuclear Talks Stall: No Date Set for Next Round as Framework Remains Unresolved
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...
India Approves Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool: ₹12,980 Crore Sovereign Guarantee for Shipping
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 $7 Billion Warship Deal: Japan's Most Consequential Post-War Military Export
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...
India Records 55,200 Startup Registrations in FY26: Highest Since Startup India Launch
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...
Strait of Hormuz Reopening: Energy Flow Recovery Will Be Gradual, Not Immediate
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...
Iran's Threat to Close the Strait of Hormuz Amid US Naval Blockade
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...
Iran Reopens Strait of Hormuz but Threatens Renewed Closure Amid US Naval 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...
India Drops Proposal to Mandate Aadhaar App Pre-Installation on Smartphones
India's Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) have decided not to mandate the...
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...
DGFT Strengthens Norms Committees to Speed Up Export Authorisations
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has undertaken reforms to strengthen Norms Committees (NCs) under the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) to...
India Lodges Formal Protest Over Hormuz Disruptions as 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...
PMGSY-III Extended to March 2028: Cabinet Approves Enhanced Rural Road Outlay
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...
Ukraine's Security Chief Visits India: Talks on Peace Prospects and Bilateral Ties
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 Defeats Constitutional Amendment Bill: How Political Consensus Collapsed
The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, introduced on April 16, 2026, was defeated on April 17 — the first such defeat for the ruling government...
Manipur Highway Ambush in Ukhrul Kills Two: NIA Probe Announced
Two Tangkhul Naga civilians — an ex-serviceman (SW Chinaoshang, former Naga Regiment) from Tashar village, and Yaruingam Vashum (42) from Kharasom CV...
Cabinet Approves Rail Multitracking Projects in UP and Andhra Pradesh: 601 km Network Expansion
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by the Prime Minister, approved two railway multitracking projects covering Uttar Pradesh and...
Iran Reviews US Nuclear Proposals Amid Hormuz Standoff; Pakistan Acts as Intermediary
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...
Pakistan-Saudi Arabia-Turkey-Egypt Quad Holds Third Consultative Meeting at Antalya Forum
The Foreign Ministers of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt held their third consultative meeting in Antalya, Turkey, on April 17, 2026, on the...
Delimitation Bill, 2026: Government Defends Pre-Census Expansion of Lok Sabha Seats
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi defended the government's Delimitation Bill, 2026 and the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, stating that the BJP would...
US Blockade of Iranian Ports to Remain Until Nuclear Deal: Strait of Hormuz Standoff Continues
The US administration stated that the American naval blockade of Iranian ports and shipping will remain in full force until Iran reaches a deal —...
Cabinet Clears ₹24,815 Crore Railway Multi-Tracking Projects in UP and 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...
ISRO to Lead G20 Collaborative Satellite Launch by 2027 for Climate and Environmental Monitoring
ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan announced that a satellite being developed collaboratively by G20 nations, under India's leadership, is expected to be launched...
Constitution Amendment Bill Defeat: Political Battle Lines Over Women's Reservation and Delimitation
The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026 — which sought to expand Lok Sabha seats to 850, enable delimitation on 2011 census data, and operationalise...
Indian Tankers Turn Back as IRGC Gunfire Hits Ships in Strait of Hormuz
Indian-flagged crude tankers, including VLCCs Sanmar Herald and Jag Arnav, were intercepted and fired upon by Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)...
Government Activates Price Support for Potato, Gram, and Tur: Protecting Farmers from Distress Sales
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...
Below-Normal Monsoon and West Asia Conflict Threaten India's Agriculture Outlook
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...
Opposition Demands Immediate Implementation of 2023 Women's Reservation Law After 131st Amendment Defeat
Following the defeat of the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026 in the Lok Sabha, senior opposition leaders demanded the immediate implementation of...
Indian Tanker Desh Garima Navigates Strait of Hormuz as Iran Restricts US Access
The Indian oil tanker Desh Garima successfully crossed the Strait of Hormuz amid heightened tensions as Iran tightened passage restrictions against...
Lok Sabha Rejects 33% Quota Bill: Political Fallout and Implementation Debate
The Lok Sabha rejected the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, which sought to expand Parliament to 850 seats and link delimitation to implementation...
Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill 2026 Defeated in Lok Sabha: Women's Reservation and Delimitation Linked
The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, introduced in Lok Sabha on April 16, 2026, was defeated — the first constitutional amendment bill brought by...
Delimitation and the Constitutional Principle of "One Vote, One Value"
In the Lok Sabha debate on the Delimitation Bill, 2026 and the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, the Home Minister argued that delimitation was...
Women in the Constituent Assembly Who Opposed Reservation for Women
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...
Dr. Bharti Nominated to WHO's Global 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...
Iran's Hormuz Closure Threat Amid US Blockade and Nuclear Negotiations
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...
US Sanctions Waivers on Russian Oil: Geopolitics of Energy and Western Alliances
The United States extended a temporary sanctions waiver allowing certain countries, including India, to purchase Russian crude oil, as global oil supply...
Women's Reservation Constitution Amendment Bill Defeated in Lok Sabha
The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, which sought to implement 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies by 2029, was...