Top news of the day: March 25, 2026

No increase in prices of petrol, diesel, says government

Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG), Sujata Sharma, on Wednesday (March 25, 2026) said that there has been no increase in the prices of petrol and diesel. “Do not believe in rumours,” MoPNG said. She added that 26 States have been accorded 22,000 tonnes of commercial LPG as of date, and 2.5 lakh new PNG connections have been accorded in the last 25 days. 

U.S. sends Iran a ceasefire plan but Tehran dismisses talks

Iran has received an American 15-point plan for a ceasefire for the Iran war through intermediaries from Pakistan, officials in Islamabad said Wednesday (March 25, 2026). The proposal was sent even as Washington began to move paratroopers to West Asia to back up a contingent of Marines already heading there.

Gurugram rape case: Supreme Court criticises Haryana Police’s insensitive handling of four-year-old child’s rape case

The Supreme Court on Wednesday (March 25, 2026) reprimanded the Haryana Police and its child welfare committee for their insensitive handling of a four-year-old’s rape case. The Court was hearing the parents’ petition, in which they alleged inaction by the Gurugram police. The Court, on March 23, 2026, issued notices to the Haryana Government, its DGP and others on a plea seeking a CBI or SIT probe into the rape of a four-year-old girl in Gurugram.

ECI probing glitch that marked all Bengal voters ‘under adjudication’: Official

The Election Commission is examining the cause of a technical glitch that briefly showed all voters in West Bengal as “under adjudication”, an official said on Wednesday (March 25, 2026). The problem came to light on Tuesday (March 24) night when voters attempting to access their details on the ECI website using their EPIC numbers found their status marked as “under adjudication”, even in cases where names were already included in the final electoral rolls.

Supreme Court says MHA’s Vande Mataram advisory not a ‘threat to conform’

The Supreme Court of India on Wednesday (March 25, 2026) said the January 28 guidelines issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs on playing the National Song ‘Vande Mataram’ in full at public and ceremonial occasions are not a “threat to conform” and do not fall foul of constitutional freedoms.

Iranian military mocks Trump’s claim of U.S.-Iran negotiations

An Iranian military spokesperson mocked U.S. attempts at a ceasefire deal on Wednesday (March 25, 2026), insisting that the Americans were only negotiating with themselves. Lt. Col. Ebrahim Zolfaghari, a spokesperson for the Iranian military’s Khatam Al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, made the statement in a prerecorded video aired on State television.

Constitution makers knew what they were doing: FM Sitharaman defends Centre’s cess collections

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday (March 25, 2026) emphatically reiterated the Centre’s right to collect cesses and surcharges, saying the Constitution allowed it and the Centre would continue to use this provision. However, she also added that, over the last six years, the government has spent on the States 105% of what it had collected through cesses and surcharges. That is, its spending has exceeded its collections. 

Delhi Assembly gets second bomb threat in two days; Budget session continues amid security sweep

Amid the ongoing Budget session, the Delhi Assembly received a bomb threat for the second consecutive day on Wednesday (March 25, 2026). The dog squad and bomb squad personnel checked the Assembly premises after bomb threats were sent to the Assembly’s and Speaker’s official email addresses at 9.50 a.m. Regardless of the threat, the Budget session started at 11 a.m..

FCRA amendment bill to introduce a new authority to manage assets of NGOs that lose licence

A legislation brought by the government to amend the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) will significantly tighten its oversight of foreign-funded organisations, proposing the creation of a powerful new authority to seize and manage the assets of non-profits that lose their licence.

Rupee closes at record low of 94.05 against U.S. dollar

The rupee slumped 29 paise to close at a record low of 94.05 (provisional) against the U.S. dollar on Wednesday (March 25, 2026) as heavy FII outflows and simmering tensions in West Asia kept investors on the edge. Even a drop in global crude oil prices, weaker greenback, and positive sentiments in the domestic equity markets could not provide any respite to the local unit, forex traders said.

Petroleum Ministry issues directions to strengthen natural gas infra, address present complexities and delays

Seeking to accelerate the push for piped natural gas (PNG), the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG), late on Tuesday (March 24, 2026), invoking the Essential Commodities Act (ECA), instituted reforms to ease provisions towards expanding piped gas network — both domestic and commercial.

Mohamed Salah announces Liverpool departure, ending nine-year stint that made him club legend

Liverpool star Mohamed Salah announced on Tuesday (March 25, 2026) that he will leave the English club at the end of the season, marking an earlier-than-planned departure for one of the club’s greatest-ever scorers and football’s biggest names. The 33-year-old Egypt forward, who has scored 255 goals in 435 appearances for Liverpool, “reached an agreement” to quit the team a year before his contract was due to expire, the Premier League champions said.

Published – March 25, 2026 05:57 pm IST