Top news of the day: March 15, 2026

Two-phase elections in West Bengal; Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry to vote in one phase

The Election Commission of India, on Sunday (March 15, 2026), announced the schedule for the Assembly elections in Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Puducherry. While West Bengal will vote in two phase, all the other elections will happen in a single phase.

Assam, Kerala and the Union Territory of Puducherry will go to polls on April 9, 2026. In Tamil Nadu, the election will be conducted on April 23. The first phase of elections will happen on April 23, 2026 in West Bengal and the second phase on April 29, 2026. The counting for all these elections will be held on May 4, 2026.

Trump says U.S. not ready to agree deal to end Iran war

Donald Trump warned that he is not ready to seek a deal to end the war with Iran, as U.S. ally Israel launched a new wave of strikes on Sunday (March 15, 2026) and Tehran’s Revolutionary Guards threatened to hunt down and kill the Israeli leader. The U.S. President, in an interview with NBC News, said he thought Tehran was keen to come to the table but that Washington would fight on for better terms and might bomb targets on Iran’s oil hub Kharg Island once, again, “just for fun”.

Mamata government to clear DA arrears of staff, pensioners

An hour before the Election Commission of India announced the poll schedule for West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday (March 15, 2026) said that her government will clear DA arrears of its employees and pensioners from March this year. The arrears relate to the Revision of Pay and Allowances (ROPA) 2009, a long-standing demand of government employees and pensioners, covering salaries and allowances of teachers, municipal and panchayat staffers, and other grant-in-aid institutions.

Excise policy case: Delhi HC Chief Justice refuses to transfer CBI plea against discharge of Kejriwal, others

The Chief Justice of Delhi High Court, D.K. Upadhyaya, has declined a request by former Chief Minister and AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal and others to transfer CBI’s plea against their discharge in the excise policy case from Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma to another judge.

According to sources privy to the development, Justice Upadhyaya opined that Justice Sharma was hearing CBI’s petition against the trial court’s decision in accordance with the roster, and there was no reason to pass an order of transfer on the administrative side.

Rahul writes to PM Modi, seeks Bharat Ratna for BSP founder Kanshi Ram

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday (March 15, 2026) to confer the Bharat Ratna on Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) founder Kanshi Ram posthumously, asserting that this would honour the aspirations of millions of people who continue to view him as a symbol of empowerment and hope. In a letter to PM Modi, Mr. Gandhi said Kanshi Ram transformed the nature of Indian politics and through his movements, raised political awareness among Bahujans and the poor.

Antonelli takes first F1 win with Mercedes one-two in China

A tearful Kimi Antonelli celebrated a breakthrough first ​win of his Formula One career on Sunday (March 15, 2026) after ⁠leading championship-leading teammate George Russell in a Mercedes one-two in China from pole position. The 19-year-old Italian driver became the second-youngest race winner in ‌the sport’s history after four-time world champion Max Verstappen, who took his first victory with Red Bull at ‌18 in 2016.

Jal Jeevan Mission: Cabinet nod to Kerala Water Authority for availing ₹4,000 crore more as loan from NABARD

The State Cabinet has cleared a Kerala Water Authority (KWA) proposal for availing ₹4,000 crore more as loan from the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) for completing rural water supply works under the Centrally-assisted Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM). The Cabinet also decided to award JJM works worth ₹153.37 crore on the condition that the State would meet their expense if the Central share was not issued on time. They include four works in Thiruvananthapuram district, three in Ernakulam district and one each in Pathanamthitta, Malappuram and Idukki districts.

Environment Ministry endorses names of 10-member expert committee set up to define Aravalli hills

The Union Environment Ministry has told the Supreme Court that it has no objection to the Central Empowered Committee’s proposed 10-member high-powered expert committee, which has been tasked to come up with a uniform definition for the Aravalli hills and ranges.

In an affidavit filed before the top court, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has endorsed the names suggested for the high-powered expert committee comprising in-service and retired bureaucrats associated with the Forest Survey of India (FSI), Geological Survey of India (GSI) and Survey of India, along with academicians.

U.S. says can provide ‘reliable’ energy supply to Asia-Pacific

The United States can provide “reliable” energy supplies to Asia-Pacific, U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said Saturday (March 14, 2026), as the West Asia war cripples the region’s oil and gas flow.

Oil and gas prices have surged since U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran killed its supreme leader and plunged the West Asia into war.

India-EU ties in focus as Jaishankar starts 2-day visit to Brussels

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Sunday (March 15, 2026) kick-started a two-day visit to Brussels for talks with his counterparts from member states of 27-nation European Union. It is the first high-level visit from India to Brussels headquartered EU after the two sides firmed up a landmark Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in January.

We have allowed some ships: Iranian envoy Fathali on passage of vessels via Strait of Hormuz

Amid the escalating conflict in West Asia, Iranian ambassador to India, Mohammad Fathali, on Saturday (March 14, 2026) said Iran has “allowed some ships” to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic trade route.

He, however, did not specify the number of vessels that have been allowed to pass through.

Published – March 15, 2026 05:56 pm IST