The Hindu Morning Digest: March 28, 2026

PM calls for ‘Team India’ effort in meet with CMs over West Asia crisis

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday (March 27, 2026) stressed the need for co-ordination between the Centre and States to overcome the supply chain crisis engendered by the war in West Asia. He also called for a “Team India” effort to ensure supply of fuel and fertillizers, and a crackdown on hoarders and rumour-mongers.

5 killed as avalanche hits Srinagar-Leh National Highway

Five people were feared dead and many vehicles were stranded after an avalanche hit the high-altitude Zojila Pass, which connects the Kashmir Valley with Ladakh, on Friday (March 27, 2026). At least five others were injured in the incident.

Iran-Israel war LIVE: U.S. expects Iran operation to conclude in weeks, not months, says Rubio

Secretary ‌of State Marco Rubio said ⁠on Friday (March 27, 2026) the ‌U.S. expects ‌its ‌operation ⁠in ⁠Iran to conclude in “weeks, not months” ‌after he met with ‌G7 foreign ministers in France.

No plans for a lockdown in the country: Nirmala Sitharaman

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said in the Rajya Sabha on Friday (March 27, 2026) that the Centre is active and responding to the rapidly changing situation in the country as a result of the war in West Asia.

2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly election will be a close battle, says P. Chidambaram 

The upcoming 2026 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election will be a close contest between two strong fronts and not a one-sided battle like the 2024 Indian General Election, according to veteran Congress leader and former Union Minister P. Chidambaram.

Being married in consensual live-in relationship not crime: Allahabad High Court

The Allahabad High Court has granted legal protection to a couple living together in a consensual live-in relationship, saying that being married does not make it a crime for a man to stay with an adult woman.

Jaishankar raises concerns about food, fuel, fertilizer shortages at G-7 meet

As the U.S.-Israel war against Iran approached the close of its fourth week, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar discussed India and the Global South’s concerns about food, fuel, and fertilizer shortages with his counterparts from the G-7 advanced economies and others, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

Defence Acquisition Council approves proposals worth ₹2.38 lakh crore

The Defence Acquisition Council, chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, on Friday (March 27, 2026) granted Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for capital acquisition proposals worth about ₹2.38 lakh crore, significantly enhancing India’s combat, surveillance and mobility capabilities across the armed forces.

Say no to VIP pressure during poll flying: DGCA tells pilots

“Say no to VIP pressure”, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said in a new order issued on Friday (March 27, 2026), revising norms for flying dignitaries and election operations, which also include enhanced weather safeguards.

Hoping to paper cracks in BRICS over war, New Delhi sends out invitations for FMs’ meet and Summit

Hoping to forge an elusive consensus over the war in West Asia, New Delhi is going ahead with planning key meetings of BRICS countries this year in India, and has sent out invitations for the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting to be held in May and the 18th BRICS Summit in September.

Parliament approves Finance Bill 2026

Parliament on Friday (March 27, 2026) approved the Finance Bill 2026 with the Rajya Sabha returning it to the Lok Sabha with a voice vote, completing the budgetary exercise for the next fiscal starting April 1.

In reset of bilateral ties, Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister expected to visit India in April

Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman is expected to visit India in the first week of April, diplomatic sources have confirmed. 

5 India-bound LPG ships stay anchored near Hormuz Strait

Five LPG carriers, all Indian flagged and bound for India, are anchored north off Dubai-Ras Al Khaimah, just southwest of the Strait of Hormuz, as per ship tracker websites.

Chhattisgarh High Court says signs, gestures are oral evidence, upholds conviction of man for raping disabled woman

In a recent order, the Chhattisgarh High Court said that testimony through signs and gestures shall be treated as substantive oral evidence, while dismissing the appeal of a man convicted for raping a speech and hearing impaired woman from Balod district in 2023.

NIA gets 10-day custody of 7 foreign nationals held for suspected Myanmar links

A Delhi court on Friday (March 27, 2026) extended by 10 days the remand of seven foreign nationals who are in the custody of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) over suspected links to ethnic armed groups in Myanmar.