The Hindu Morning Digest: March 22, 2026

Iran-Israel war LIVE: Trump threatens attacks on Iran’s power plants if Tehran doesn’t reopen Strait of Hormuz in 48 hours

President Donald Trump on Saturday (March 21, 2026) said the U.S. will “obliterate” Iranian power plants if it doesn’t fully open the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours.

Centre removes caps on airfares after three months

The Centre has withdrawn air fare caps that were introduced in December to curb spike in ticket prices after IndiGo’s widespread flight cancellations.

Air India CEO warns of travel demand hit as fuel costs surge, flags possible flight cuts

Air India CEO Campbell Wilson warned airline employees of a possible travel demand squeeze due to the rising cost of aviation turbine fuel and urged for “tighter-than-ever” control on all non-essential spending.

Nitish Kumar skips namaz at Patna’s Gandhi Maidan for first time in 20 years

For the first time in 20 years of his tenure as Chief Minister of Bihar, Nitish Kumar did not turn up at Patna’s Gandhi Maidan where a large number of people gathered to offer namaz on the occasion of Id.

Safety of Indians living in UAE is a ‘priority’: Envoy

The UAE has assured India that the safety of Indians living in the Gulf country is its “priority”, stressing that they are protected and treated like family, especially amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia which has seen the emirate facing attacks from Iran.

EC forms 19 appellate tribunals in West Bengal for appeals on electoral rolls

The Election Commission of India (EC) formed 19 Appellate Tribunals for West Bengal to hear disputed case appeals rejected by the judicial officers who are disposing of the 60 lakh under-adjudication cases in the State following the Special Intensive Revision (SIR). The move comes amid rising concerns over pending adjudication cases in the State, even as Assembly election is just a month away. 

Sri Lanka looks to India-backed Trincomalee project amid energy crisis

Redeveloping the Second World War-era oil tank farms in Sri Lanka’s eastern Trincomalee district is the “permanent solution” to the energy crisis, Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath said, adding that the government was taking steps to expedite the project backed by India and the United Arab Emirates.

Don’t remove any genuine voter from electoral rolls, parliamentary committee tells EC

A Parliamentary Standing Committee has asked the Election Commission to ensure that no genuine elector is excluded from the voters’ lists or subjected to undue hardship during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), which has concluded in many States and will begin in others soon.

In call with PM Modi, Iran President proposes West Asia security framework; seeks India’s role as BRICS chair to halt hostilities

Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian said on ‌Saturday (March 21, 2026) that there needs to ​be an “immediate cessation” of ⁠what he described as U.S.-Israeli aggression to end the war and wider ‌regional conflict, Iran’s Embassy in India said ‌in an X post on ‌Saturday (March 21, 2026).

Robert Mueller, special counsel who probed but did not charge Trump, dies at 81

Robert Mueller, the no-nonsense former FBI chief who documented Russia’s interference in the 2016 U.S. election and its contacts with Donald Trump’s campaign but opted not to bring criminal charges against a sitting President, has died at age 81, multiple news outlets reported on Saturday (March 21, 2026).

U.S. says ‘took out’ Iran base threatening blocked Strait of Hormuz oil route

The U.S. military declared on Saturday (March 21, 2026) it had taken out an Iranian bunker housing weapons threatening oil and gas shipments in the Strait of Hormuz, as thousands of Iranians marked Id al-Fitr with prayer.

State cannot put ‘arbitrary ceiling’ on disability limits when RPwD Act does not prescribe any: SC

The Supreme Court has laid down that the state cannot impose “arbitrary” upper limits of disability to exclude candidates with special needs from jobs when they are otherwise equipped to perform their official responsibilities.

Feminists, lawyers urge MPs to reject ‘unconstitutional’ amendments to transgender Act

On Saturday (March 21, 2026), over 100 members of feminist and lawyer groups wrote an open letter to MPs, appealing to them to reject the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026. They termed it “unconstitutional” as it seeks to introduce “arbitrary and inhumane requirements”, which will make access to fundamental rights and entitlements impossible for a large number of transgender persons. 

Government complains about backlog, but feeds it too as the biggest litigant, says Supreme Court judge Nagarathna

Supreme Court judge Justice B.V. Nagarathna on Saturday (March 21, 2026) said the government raises concerns about backlog in courts while simultaneously feeding that pendency through relentless litigation.

Omar, Mehbooba slam closure of Jama Masjid on Id, Hazratbal prayer omission for Iran, Palestine

The closure of the historic Jama Masjid for Id prayers and omission of any special prayers for Iran and Palestine at Srinagar’s Hazratbal shrine by the J&K Waqf Board on Saturday (March 21, 2026) drew criticism from Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti.