Top news of the day: March 17, 2026

Ali Larijani, Iran’s security chief, killed in overnight attacks: Israel Defence Minister

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said on Tuesday (March 17, 2026) that Iran’s powerful national security chief Ali Larijani was “eliminated last night”, along with the commander of the Islamic republic’s Basij paramilitary force. The killing of Mr. Larijani, if confirmed by Tehran, would represent the highest-profile assassination since Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei and other senior figures were slain during the wave of US-Israeli strikes that started the war on February 28.

It’s Mamata vs. Suvendu again; Trinamool to contest 291 seats in Bengal polls

Trinamool Congress supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will fight her protege turned bitter rival, the BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari, from the Bhabanipur seat in Kolkata in the 2026 Assembly elections. In the 2021 election, Mr. Adhikari defeated Ms. Banerjee in Nandigram by 1,956 votes, following which the Chief Minister had to shift to the Bhabanipur seat from where she won a bypoll and which she currently represents.

Viral video shows crowd in cinema hall pledging to boycott Muslims after ‘Kerala Story 2’ screening, draws flak

A video, purportedly from Maharashtra’s Palghar district, showing people in a cinema hall chanting slogans and pledging to boycott Muslims socially and economically has triggered strong reactions. Reacting to claims by a Congress MP that the viral video was shot in a cinema hall in Vasai on March 10, 2026, a senior police official from the Mira-Bhayandar Vasai-Virar (MBVV) Police Commissionerate told PTI on Tuesday (March 17, 2026) that the veracity of the video is yet to be ascertained.

I was thrown into jail, with no communication with my legal team or family, says Sonam Wangchuk

Ladakhi activist Sonam Wangchuk said on Tuesday (March 17, 2026) that he was “bundled and thrown into jail” with no communication with his family and legal team for almost ten days. Mr. Wangchuk was released from Jodhpur Central Jail on Saturday (March 14, 2026), after the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) revoked with “immediate effect” his 170-day detention under the National Security Act (NSA). He was detained under the provisions of the National Security Act (NSA) last year after police took action against his protest demanding Statehood and Sixth Schedule status for the Union Territory of Ladakh.

‘Not for all LPG consumers’: Govt clarifies on eKYC norms

The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, on Tuesday (March 17, 2026), had clarified that LPG biometric Aadhaar authentication (eKYC) is only required for unauthenticated LPG customers and not for all customers. The clarification came as some news report have been circulating on the issue of biometric aadhaar authentication for LPG consumers.

Postal department launches premium services with 24-hour, 48-hour delivery guarantee

The Department of Posts on Tuesday (March 17, 2026) rolled out three premium services, with 24-hour and 48-hour delivery guarantees for urgent and time-sensitive consignments, as it seeks to reinvent itself against a growing field of courier services that promise delivery within hours. Launching the services — 24 Speed Post, 24 Speed Post Parcel, and 48 Speed Post — Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said India Post’s revenue growth is encouraging, with a 20% growth in the 11 months of FY26.

India condemns Pakistan airstrikes on Kabul hospital

India on Tuesday (March 17, 2026) “unequivocally” condemned Pakistan’s alleged airstrikes on the Omid Addiction Treatment Hospital in Kabul, Afghanistan, calling it a “cowardly and unconscionable act of violence”. The statement released by the Ministry of External Affairs said the Monday night (March 16) strike “has claimed the lives of a large number of civilians in a facility which can by no means be justified as a military target”, adding that Pakistan is “now trying to dress up a massacre as a military operation”.

Congress reiterates demand for all‑party meeting on Women’s Reservation Act rollout

After informal feelers failed to bring the Congress and other Opposition parties to the table to discuss accelerating the implementation of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, popularly known as the Women’s Reservation Act, 2023, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju wrote to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday (March 16, 2026) reiterating the request. The Congress, in response, once again conveyed that the issue should be discussed in an all‑party meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

India’s second LPG carrier ‘Nanda Devi’ arrives at Gujarat port

India’s second LPG carrier ‘Nanda Devi’ arrived safely at Vadinar port in Gujarat on Tuesday (March 17, 2026), carrying 46,500 metric tonnes of gas after navigating the Strait of Hormuz amid the West Asia conflict, an official said. The first ship, ‘Shivalik’, reached Mundra Port in Gujarat on Monday (March 16, 2026).

Parliamentary panel suggests a raise to EPF pension, says ₹1,000 inadequate to meet basic needs

A Parliamentary panel on Tuesday (March 17, 2026) recommended an urgent, comprehensive review of the ₹1,000 minimum monthly pension under the Employees’ Pension Scheme, 1995, to raise it to a more realistic and dignified level. This assumes significance in view of pensioners’ demand to raise the pension to ₹7,500 per month, as ₹1,000 is not sufficient to make both ends meet.

NZ vs SA second T20I: New Zealand beats South Africa by 68 runs, levels series

Devon Conway topped all scorers with 60 as New Zealand beat South Africa by 68 runs in the second Twenty20 to level their five-match series at 1-1 on Tuesday (March 17, 2026). New Zealand made 175-6 after being sent in on a pitch which became trickier as the evening wore on. South Africa was bowled out for 107 in 15.3 overs as pacers Ben Sears and Lockie Ferguson shared six wickets. Batters struggled for timing on a pitch which provided variable pace and bounce and all 10 South Africa wickets fell to catches.

Panel submits report on Uniform Civil Code to Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel

A five-member committee constituted by the Gujarat government to draft the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) for the state submitted its detailed and final report to Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Tuesday (March 17, 2026). The State government is likely to table a draft bill on the UCC in the legislature Assembly during the ongoing Budget session.

In Focus podcast | LPG crisis: Is the Strait of Hormuz blockade India’s biggest energy security test yet?

The rapidly escalating crisis in West Asia has sent shockwaves through the world’s energy supply. Iran has effectively closing the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow channel through which nearly a third of the world’s LPG passes, after joint strikes by the U.S. and Israel killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several other leaders. The West Asian country has also hit Israel and American bases in the Persian Gulf, and also targeted oil and gas facilities in the region.

Published – March 17, 2026 05:51 pm IST