Morning Digest: Education Ministry notifies NCERT as deemed university; Trump announces destruction of Iran’s tallest bridge, and more

Several minority scholarship schemes discontinued after 2021-22, Minority Affairs Minister tells Rajya Sabha

The Centre has discontinued the implementation of several scholarship schemes for minority students beyond 2021-22, Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju tells Rajya Sabha on Monday (March 30, 3036). The Minister was responding to a question by Member of Parliament (CPI-M) from Kerala, John Brittas, who had sought details of the scholarship schemes currently available for the minority students at all stages of education and the number of beneficiaries, State-wise.

Education Ministry notifies NCERT as deemed university

The Education Ministry has issued a notification declaring the National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT), as an institution deemed to be a university, enabling it to offer courses/programmes and confer degrees. The notification confers this status on the NCERT, along with its six regional institutes, provided that a list of conditions is met.

Trump announces destruction of Iran’s tallest bridge

U.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday (April 2, 2026) the tallest bridge in Iran had been destroyed, hours after threatening to bomb the country “back to the Stone Ages.” Ghodratollah Seif, the Deputy Governor of Alborz Province, where the B1 bridge is located, said the strike had killed eight people and wounded 95 others, according to state TV and Fars news agency.

Election Commission asks NIA to probe Malda violence

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Thursday (April 2, 2026) asked the National Investigation Agency to investigate the violence in Malda district of West Bengal, where seven judicial officers were gheraoed by a mob on Wednesday (April 1, 2026) evening. During the hearing on the matter on Thursday (April 2, 2026), the Supreme Court had directed the commission to entrust the investigation into the incident to an independent agency, such as the Central Bureau of Investigation or the National Investigation Agency.

Trump fires Pam Bondi as U.S. attorney general, White House official says

U.S. President Donald Trump removed Attorney General Pam Bondi from her post on Thursday (April 2, 2026), a White House official said, following mounting frustration with ​her performance, including her handling of investigative files related to the late financier and sex offender Jeffrey ‌Epstein. Mr. Trump had also reportedly grown frustrated that Ms. Bondi was not moving quickly enough ​to prosecute critics and adversaries who he wanted to face criminal charges.

HC gives Kejriwal ‘last chance’ to reply to ED plea

The Delhi High Court on Thursday granted a final opportunity to former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, and others to respond to a plea by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) seeking to expunge “unwarranted” remarks made against it by a trial court while discharging them in the liquor case. Noting that none of the respondents except one had filed their replies despite seeking time earlier, Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma said arguments would be heard on April 22. “Last opportunity is granted to file reply, failing which the right to file reply will close. Arguments will be heard on the next date of hearing,” the court said.

Governor bound by Cabinet’s advice: Madras High Court

A Full Bench (comprising three judges) of the Madras High Court, on Thursday (April 2, 2026), held that the Governor, whether he/she likes it or not, is bound by the advice of the Council of Ministers while exercising powers under Article 161 of the Constitution in matters relating to remission and premature release of convicts. The Bench comprising Justices A.D. Jagadish Chandira, G.K. Ilanthiraiyan, and Sunder Mohan also ruled that the Governor, under no circumstance, could exercise any discretion whatsoever to take a different view from the one taken by the Council of Ministers. The Bench was answering a reference made to it by a Division Bench.

West Asia crisis: Rajnath Singh chairs high-level meet to minimise impact on India

Amid the evolving conflict in West Asia, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday chaired the second meeting of the Informal Group of Ministers (IGoM) to assess the situation and chart measures to minimise its impact on India. The meeting, held at Kartavya Bhawan-2, reviewed recent developments in the region and deliberated on proactive steps to mitigate potential economic and strategic fallout arising from the ongoing crisis.

Pakistan says onus on Afghanistan to end hostilities

Pakistan said Thursday (April 2, 2026) that the burden of ending its cross-border conflict lay with Afghanistan, as the two sides held preliminary talks to try to end hostilities. The neighbours and one-time allies have been locked in an escalating conflict over claims from Islamabad that Afghanistan is harbouring militants responsible for cross-border attacks, which the Taliban government denies.

AAP writes to Rajya Sabha to remove Raghav Chadha as party’s deputy leader

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Thursday wrote a letter to the Rajya Sabha Secretariat seeking the appointment of MP Ashok Mittal as the deputy leader of the party in the Upper House, replacing MP Raghav Chadha, according to party sources .Although the party did not issue an official statement, the move comes amid a growing rift between the AAP leadership and Mr. Chadha, who until not so long ago was considered very close to party chief Arvind Kejriwal, over the past many months.

IPL 2026: Sunrisers open account with a clinical win over Knight Riders

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) put up a united effort, including Nitish Kumar’s all-round show and Heinrich Klaasen’s solid half-century, to record a convincing 65-run victory over Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and open its account in IPL 2026 at the Eden Gardens here on Thursday (April 2, 2026). After home skipper Ajinkya Rahane won the toss on his 200th appearance and inserted the visitors in, SRH relied on its flamboyant openers Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma’s breathtaking knocks and Klaasen and Nitish Kumar’s crucial contributions down the order to post a formidable 226 for eight.

Published – April 03, 2026 07:34 am IST