The Hindu Morning Digest: March 21, 2026

Trump says considering ‘winding down’ Iran war but rules out ceasefire

President Donald Trump said that the United States was considering “winding down” military operations against Iran but was not seeking a ceasefire with the Islamic republic. Mr. Trump, in a post on Truth Social, said the United States was “getting very close to meeting our objectives as we consider winding down our great Military efforts in the Middle East”.

Growth of eight core sectors halved to 2.3% in February, before West Asia crisis began

India’s core industrial growth slowed sharply even before the crisis in West Asia began, with government data showing growth in the eight core sectors of the economy slowing to a three-month low of 2.3% in February 2026. This slowdown in February, as shown by the data on the Index of Eight Core Industries released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry on Friday, comes at a time when economists and policymakers are expecting a further slowdown in March in response to the supply and export constraints brought on by the war in West Asia. 

UNI office sealed in Delhi; staffers allege manhandling by the police

The Delhi Police along with paramilitary forces allegedly dragged at least 50 journalists out of the United News of India’s (UNI) Rafi Marg office following a court order over a land dispute. Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) Sachin Sharma told The Hindu that the Delhi Police along with the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel visited the premises of the UNI office to provide security to the Land and Development Office after the High Court gave an order to vacate the premises in favour of the latter. “

Uttarakhand HC declines to quash FIR against ‘Mohammad Deepak’, orders him to refrain from social media posts

The Uttarakhand High Court refused to quash an FIR lodged against Kotdwar-based gym owner Deepak Kumar who came into national focus after he confronted a group of right-wing activists accused of harassing a 71-year-old Muslim shop owner and pressuring him to rename his store in the town on January 26. A video of the confrontation later went viral, particularly for the moment when he identified himself as ‘Mera naam Mohammad Deepak’.

CAPF Bill says IPS officers’ deputation necessary for Union-State coordination, reserves 50% I-G rank posts for IPS

The Central Armed Police Forces (General Administration) Bill, 2026, that is likely to be tabled in the Rajya Sabha next week, states that in all CAPFs, 50% of the total posts in the rank of Inspector General, at least 67% posts in the rank of Additional Director General and all posts in the rank of Special Director General and Director General shall be filled by Indian Police Service (IPS) officers on deputation. Till now, such postings were done based on executive orders, and the Bill will codify the provisions.

‘Lethargic’ officials who left Chambal sanctuary to the mercy of sand miners will be held liable: SC

The Supreme Court observed that State officials who by their “lethargy and inaction” allowed sand mining to flourish in the fragile lotic ecosystem of the National Chambal Sanctuary would be vicariously liable aiding and abetting. A Bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta, in a suo motu case, reminded Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, in whose tri-junction the sanctuary is located, that every act of destruction of wildlife habitat in a protected area would attract offences and penalties under multiple laws, including the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.

Man dies after getting stuck in R.G. Kar Hospital lift; BJP accuses Bengal govt. of negligence

A 40-year-old man died after being struck inside a lift in Kolkata’s R.G. Kar Hospital and Medical College. The Opposition accuses the West Bengal government of negligence in State hospitals and calls for a change in the administration. Arup Bandyopadhyay, a resident of Dum Dum, was at the R.G. Kar Hospital for his son’s treatment when he got trapped in a lift at the trauma care centre. There was no lift operator present at the time of the incident, so the exact cause of the death remains unclear till now. 

Assam CM, regional party chiefs file nominations

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and the presidents of two non-NDA regional parties were among the top candidates who filed their nomination papers. Mr. Sarma filed his papers for the Jalukbari constituency in Guwahati. While Pramod Boro, the president of the United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL), submitted his nomination for the Tamulpur seat in western Assam’s Tamulpur town, his Raijor Dal counterpart Akhil Gogoi filed his for the Sibsagar seat in eastern Assam’s Sivasagar town.

U.S. to deploy 3 more warships and roughly 2,500 more Marines to the West Asia, official says

The U.S. military is deploying three more warships and roughly 2,500 more marines to the West Asia, an official says. One U.S. official confirmed that the USS Boxer and two other amphibious assault ships, along with roughly 2,500 Marines of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, have deployed from their home port of San Diego and are bound for the West Asia.

Mamata makes 10 commitments to woo West Bengal voters

The Trinamool Congress has promised to bring medical care to the doorsteps of voters in West Bengal, as part of 10 commitments highlighted in its poll manifesto released by party chairperson and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, just a month before the Assembly election. This promise of duare chikitsa (doorstep medical care) is a follow-up to previous schemes by the Trinamool Congress government to provide duare sarkar and duare ration (doorstep governance and foodgrains), in a bid to decentralise government benefits.

The Voice of Hind Rajab banned in India orally by CBFC, distributor says

The Voice of Hind Rajab, an Oscar nominated film about a 5-year-old girl who was killed by Israeli forces in early 2024 in the Gaza war, has been orally rejected by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), the film’s India distributor Manoj Nandwana said. The theatrical ban on the film was first reported by Hollywood trade publication Variety.

Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei says Iran dealt enemies ‘dizzying blow’

Iran’s Supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei said the country had dealt its enemies a “dizzying blow” in the war with the United States and Israel, as fresh blasts hit Tehran on the first day of the Persian New Year festival. He released ​a ⁠message marking ‌the start of Persian ‌New ‌Year ⁠which he ⁠named the year of ​a “resistance economy under ‌national unity and national security.”

Work from home, avoid air travel to deal with higher energy prices: International Energy Agency

The International Energy Agency (IEA), which this month agreed a record ​release of oil from strategic stockpiles to deal ‌with the effects of the U.S-Israeli war ​with Iran, outlined proposals to ease oil price pressures on consumers, such as working-from-home and avoiding air travel. The ​IEA said such ‌proposals included working from home, reducing highway speed limits by at least 10 km per hour, and avoiding air travel ‌if other means of transport were available.

Government proposal to preload Aadhaar app on phones faced pushback

The government privately proposed in January that firms like Apple, Samsung and Google consider ‌pre-installing its biometric identification app Aadhaar on phones, a move opposed by a group representing ​the smartphone giants, industry letters show. The tussle over preloading state-run apps has become a ⁠recurring flashpoint between Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government and tech firms, with the Aadhaar request one of six that IT industry body Manufacturers’ Association for Information Technology (MAIT) has pushed back against, according to the letters.

Israel hits Tehran with airstrikes on Persian New Year as war jolts energy markets

Israel pounded Tehran with airstrikes as Iranians marked Nowruz, or the Persian New Year, in the midst of a war that has sent shock waves through the global economy and risked drawing Iran’s Arab neighbors directly into the conflict. Activists reported hearing strikes around Iran’s capital. The attacks came a day after Israel pledged to refrain from more strikes on a key Iranian gas field and Iran intensified attacks on oil and natural gas facilities around the Gulf.

Bhatti presents welfare oriented budget for Telangana with emphasis on urban and rural development

Telangana Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka presented a welfare oriented budget for the 2026-27 financial year in the Legislative Assembly with a heavy accent on both urban and rural development.

CBI questions Anil Ambani for second day in connection with ₹2,929-crore cheating case

The CBI questioned industrialist Anil Ambani for the second consecutive day in connection with a Rs 2,929-crore cheating case, registered against Reliance Communications Ltd. and him on a complaint by the State Bank of India (SBI), officials said.

Trump calls NATO ‘cowards’ over lack of support in Iran war

President Donald ​Trump assailed NATO allies over ‌their lack of support for the ​U.S.-Israel war against ⁠Iran, calling the longtime U.S. allies “cowards.” “Without the U.S.A., NATO IS A PAPER TIGER!” ‌Mr. Trump said in a social media post. Mr. Trump has been ‌calling for major U.S. ‌allies ⁠and others, none of which ⁠were consulted or advised on the war, to help secure the safety of ​shipping through ‌the Strait of Hormuz. 

Nicobarese delegation meets LoP Rahul Gandhi, says tribal lands being encroached for mega project

Nicobarese leaders brought their complaint about a mega-infrastructure project’s encroachment on their ancestral tribal lands to the national capital this week, meeting the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi. The delegation, led by Barnabas Manju, chief of the Tribal Council of Great and Little Nicobar, and Titus Peter, 1st Captain of Pulobhabi village, told Mr. Gandhi and other Congress leaders that their appeals to the government regarding the ₹92,000 crore project on Great Nicobar Island have been ignored.

EC directs political parties to get advertisements pre-certified

Ahead of the Assembly polls in four States and one Union Territory, the Election Commission (EC) directed political parties to get their advertisements pre-certified by Media Certification and Monitoring Committees (MCMC) and individual candidates to share details of their authentic social media accounts at the time of filing nominations.

Chuck Norris, martial arts master and actor whose toughness became internet lore, dies at 86

Chuck Norris, the martial arts grandmaster and action star whose roles in “Walker, Texas Ranger” and other television shows and movies made him an iconic tough guy — sparking internet parodies and adoration from presidents — has died at 86. Norris died on Thursday (March 19, 2026), in what his family described as a “sudden passing.” “While we would like to keep the circumstances private, please know that he was surrounded by his family and was at peace,” the family said in a statement posted to social media.

Published – March 21, 2026 06:45 am IST